Tomas Bamford, Arts Coordinator with the Earagail Arts Festival pictured with Shiloh Gormley of the Station House Hotel.
Pictured at the launch of the 28th Earagail Arts Festival is Rosemary Russell and her colleague from Pramerica with the festival’s Arts Administrator, Tomas Bamford.
Sinead Boyle of Florence Food Co., who provided the catering for the launch, is pictured with Grace Korbel and Eve-Anne McCarron from the Donegal Local Enterprise Office and Rick LeVert of Kinnegar Brewing.
FEATURES: Earagail Arts Festival launched an exciting festival programme at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny this week. Now in its 28th year, the Earagail Arts Festival takes place from Friday, 8th – Sunday, 24th July.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor of Letterkenny, Councillor Gerry McMonagle said: “Donegal County Council is delighted to continue its support of the Earagail Arts Festival. Over the last 28 years, the festival has united people from different cultures and all walks of life to experience the very best of arts and culture in Donegal.
“Firmly established within our tourism fabric, Earagail Arts Festival has made a valuable contribution to our economy and I’d encourage everyone in the county to take advantage of the wonderful and exciting events and attend the inspiring performances throughout Donegal this summer.
“We’d like to congratulate Festival Director, Paul Brown and his team on this year’s very exciting programme and we look forward to working with Paul and the team as they deliver another world-class music and culture event.”
Festival Director, Paul Brown said: “In the year of 2016, a year of commemoration and contemplation, The Earagail Arts Festival in turn reflects on our sense of cultural borders.
For this, the 28 th annual festival, we are delighted to unveil a major new video piece by Turner Prize nominee Willie Doherty examining the legacy of the 1916 Easter Rising, one of the national projects of the Arts Council of Ireland’s ART: 2016 centenary programme. An extensive selection of music features unique collaborations from English and Irish folk artists alongside the premiere of a new commission, In The Shadows of Stream and world music from the voodoo trance of Haiti to the Saharan blues of Mali.”
“In addition, in partnership with the Swell Festival on the island of Arranmore, we are proud to present The Mountain Stage – two days of Irish electronica, bi-lingual spoken word, contemporary Scots/Irish Gaelic and American roots music. Following in the footsteps of the immensely popular Fiesta project, Unified our centre-piece theatre production, investigates the culture of industrial Donegal from the viewpoint of one of its largest factories, Unifi. Finally, this year’s festival comes to a close on the village green of Ireland’s most northerly town, Malin, with a two-day celebration of Irish Street Art and Circus fun for all the family. So whether you’re a resident or holidaymaker we invite you to come and awaken your senses in this magnificent county on the Wild Atlantic fringe of Europe”, he added.
As part of the annual festival, Earagail Arts Festival will also present the second Donegal International Folk and Roots Weekend.
Situated along Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way, this festival is the perfect opportunity to mix culture and exploration, delving into Donegal’s rich musical heritage and stunning undiscovered landscapes. Taking place from Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th July, the Donegal International Folk and Roots Weekend will feature a host of local and international artists.
The four-day festival will have something to suit every type of traveller, including guided walks, seisiún trails, workshops and concerts in the heart of Ireland’s undiscovered magical county of Donegal.
For full details on the Earagail Arts programme visit www.eaf.ie. Earagail Arts Festival is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council.
