Make it a long weekend to catch all the fun Loinneog Lúnasa.
The Loinneog Lúnasa music and cultural festival will take place in Gaoth Dobhair from Aug 3rd to the 8th, with a varied, quality programme of events to entertain both visitors and locals of all ages.
Internationally acclaimed trad artists Na Casaidigh will headline evening concerts during the weekend festival, but the fun starts with Clann Mhic Cumhaill with their new CD ‘Aisling a Fhíorú’ on Wednesday in Teach Mhicí.
“We want to concentrate on quality events and activities which reflect the strong influence the area has on Irish music and culture”, said a spokesperson for the organising committee.
“I think it’s obvious from this year’s programme that we’re taking a huge step forward in that respect with internationally renowned acts with local connections, thanks to support from Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall and our local sponsors.”
Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde brings together his three choirs from Gaoth Dobhair, Derry and Belfast to sing beautifully arranged Irish songs as Glórthaí Uladh, Óstán na Cúirte Friday at 8pm.
The festival programme is filled with music and dance, guided walks, family events and fun.
To make the most of the beautiful scenery in the area there are a number of very interesting guided walking tours. Take a boat trip to Inis Bó Finne with a man who knows the island well, An tAth. Brian Ó Fearraigh. Discover off the beaten track hidden gems with the very entertaining and knowledgeable gardener Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí on Saturday 3.30pm meeting at the Heights, Bun na Leaca. Sunday at 8pm join the adventure with a twilight beach walk leaving from Óstán Ghaoth Dobhair.
On Saturday there will be a Family Day organised by Cumann Curach Ghaoth Dobhair at Cé Mhachaire Gathláin. The festivities kick off at 2pm and will include a curach exhibition, music, food and other fun.
There is a music workshop in An Crannóg, delivered by two internationally renowned musicians Seathrún and Aongus Ó Casaide. The workshop run from 10am to 1pm and cost €5. There will be a food and crafts market starting at 11am on Saturday at An Crannóg.
Also on Saturday, the Family Fun Day at Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Dobhar, starts at 1pm, with nature walks starting from the same centre at 2pm on Sunday. But of course, the Gaeltacht parish of Gaoth Dobhair is particularly known for Irish music and culture, and the heart of the weekend festival is culture: music, dancing and the Irish language. “Focal ar Fhocal”, Friday 6 to 8pm is an Irish Language writing and singing workshop, also at Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Dobhar.
There are a number of top-class concerts over the weekend, on Sunday at 9.30 there will be an evening of music and song with the local legend Moya Brennan, taking the stage with her family and friends at in the world-famous home of Clannad and Enya Tábhairne Leo, Croithlí.
On Friday and Sunday night there will be céilí dancing in Teach Jack an Ghlaisigh. Teach Hiúdaí Beag an Bun Beag, has seen some of the finest talent in Ireland in the Irish traditional music scene, play here at their long-standing traditional music seisiún over the decades. Check it out Friday and Monday night.
The full festival programme is available by clicking here and on Facebook.
Contact details An Crannóg 0749532208 or cfgd@eircom.net.
Ceol agus craic i nGaoth Dobhair do Loinneog Lúnasa!
I measc na buaic phointí cultúrtha sa cheantar, tá Loinneog Lúnasa, ceiliúradh ar an tsaibhreas atá forleathan san áit.
Tá lucht eagruithe Loinneog Lúnasa gnóthach leis na h-ullmhúcháin do dheireadh seachtaine fada de cheol, cultúr agus craic i nGaoth Dobhair, i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Seo an cúigiú bliain den fhéile chultúrtha, agus beidh sé ag tarlú ar fud na paróiste ón 3-8ú Lúnasa.
Mar bhuaic phointí eile den chlár, beidh ceol le amhránaithe cáiliúla idirnáisiúnta chomh maith le tallann óg.
Cuirfear tús leis an fhéile le ceolchoirm bríomhar leis an ghrúpa áitiúl Clann Mhic Cumhaill i dTeach Mhicí oíche Chéadaoin. Tá dlúthdhiosca úr acu le amhráin agus dánta I gcuimhne ar laochra 1916 ‘Aisling a Fhíorú’.
Beidh dhá ghlúin de Na Casaidigh i dTeach Jack ar an Ghlaisigh Déardaoin le seisiún ina dhiaidh leis an ghrúpa óg as an cheantair An Crann Óg.
Bhéarann Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde le chéile trí chór a bhfuil sé ina stiúirtheoir orthu – Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid (Gaoth Dobhair), Cór Uí Chanáin (Doire) agus Cór Loch Lao (Béal Feirste). Ceolfaidh siad rogha d’amhráin fhonnmhara Chúige Uladh le tionlacan ar fhidil, píob uilleann agus bocsa ceoil. Beidh seo in Óstán na Cúirte ag a hocht ar an Aoine agus seisiún dTí Hiúdaí na dhiaidh.
Fillfidh an ceoltóir cáiliúil idirnáisiúnta le Clannad, Moya Brennan le oíche speisialta ceoil a chur ar fáil i dTábhairne Leo, lena clann ceolmhar féin ina cuideachta agus cairde.
Tá éagsúlacht de imeachtaí teaghlaigh ag tarlú i rith an lae agus neart seisiún ceoil agus damhsa ins na tábhairní agus óstáin áitiúla. Deir ball de choiste eagruithe Loinneog Lúnasa “Bhí muid ag iarraidh féile a chruthú a dhéanfadh ceiliúir ar an traidisiún láidir atá sa cheantar, ach a dhéanfadh spreagadh ar cheoltóirí óga an traidisiún sin a iompar ar aghaidh. Sin an fáth a bhfuil béim againn ar cheardlainne agus ceolchoirmeacha leis na ceoltóirí is fearr. Tá bród mhór orainn go ndéanann Loinneog Lúnasa an tobar domhan seo de thálainn áitiúil a cheiliúradh agus a chothú.”
Teagmháil
cfgd@eircom.net
0749532208.
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