DONEGAL CULTURE: This July there are some incredible festivals and centenary events coming to Donegal, and below are five of the best!
Colgan Heritage Weekend, Carndonagh, Friday 1 – Monday 4 July:
The theme of this special centenary edition of the annual Colgan Heritage Weekend is ‘Revolution and Change: 1916 – 2016’. The Weekend has a great programme of talks, readings, concerts and exhibitions.
Keynote speakers include Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell, Eamon McCann, John Moulden and poet Matthew Sweeney.
The musical highlight is a special performance by The Henry Girls of ‘Songs of Revolution and Change’, consisting of songs relating to the 1916 Rising.
http://www.colganheritage.com<http://www.colganheritage.com> for info and booking!
Loose Ends – Willie Doherty, Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny, July 10 –September 24:
The RCC is presenting one of the biggest projects it has ever organized, as part of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme.
It is hosting the world premiere of Loose Ends, a major new multi-screen video installation by world renowned Derry/Donegal artist Willie Doherty.
The video installation, with a voice over by the great Donegal actor Sean McGinley, and a number of large-scale photographic works have been produced in locations, on Gola Island, County Donegal and Moore Street in Dublin, that are connected with the Rising. Two fishermen from Gola, Charles Duggan and Patrick McGinley were crew members of the yacht Asgard, which transported arms used in the Rising.
Loose Ends is one of only nine Art Council ART:2016 Open Call National Projects.
http://www.regionalculturalcentre.com<http://www.regionalculturalcentre.com> for info
Irish & English Folk, Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny, Friday 15 – Sunday 17 July:
Lynched
Irish & English Folk is a special 1916 Centenary Project, exploring the relationship between Ireland and England through folk song, as part of this year’s Earagail Arts Festival.
It kicks off on Friday 15th with a brilliant double-bill of raw, fresh contemporary folk featuring Lynched from Dublin and Stick In The Wheel from London.
Two legendary folk singer-songwriters Andy Irvine from Ireland and Chris Wood from England serve up a tasty lunchtime treat on Saturday 16th.
Richard Dawson, the experimental, folk-tinged, Newcastle singer and guitarist, plays later the same evening. The final gig is Sam Lee’s ‘Other Voices’ at lunchtime on Sunday 17th. The Mercury Prize nominated folk singer brings together some Irish Traveller singers and hosts a unique sing-around featuring their incredible voices and unheard songs.
http://<http://www.regionalculturalcentre.com>ww.eaf.ie<http://ww.eaf.ie> for info
STICK IN THE WHEEL – Bows of London live at the Green Note
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c56gbjRz818
Unified, An Grianán Theatre Letterkenny, Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 July:
This summer a new production with will spin its way into the hearts of audiences across Donegal and beyond. Before Pramerica, Boston Scientific and Zeus came to Donegal there was Courtaulds-Lirelle which became UNIFI. For over thirty years, UNIFI was Letterkenny’s major employer.
Every department was a tribe and every shift had its own personality.
Lives were changed, skills learned, friendships formed, partners met, and families reared on the wages.
An Grianán has taken all those personal stories and wrapped them up in one big rip-roaring, all-singing extravaganza.
http://www.angrianan.com<http://www.angrianan.com> for info and booking
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, An Grianán Theatre Letterkenny, Friday 29 – Saturday 30 July:
On 1 July 1916, the 36th (Ulster) Division took part in one of the bloodiest battles in human history. The Battle of the Somme.
One hundred years on, the Abbey Theatre presents a major new co-production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme directed by Jeremy Herrin.
In the extraordinary circumstances of World War 1, eight ordinary men are changed, changed utterly.
This iconic war play by Frank McGuinness is a powerful portrayal of mortality, love and loss.
http://www.angrianan.com<http://www.angrianan.com> for info and booking
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