An Inishowen music festival which raised tens of thousands of euro for schools in Africa is making a comeback ten years after it last ran.
Carnstock will be back in Carndonagh next month and will be showcasing some of the best musical acts from around the north west and further afield.
The festival first ran in 2005 and 2006 and raised over €25,000 for two schools in Sierra Leone in its first year alone.
Now local musician Siobhan Shiels is leading a group of people to bring the festival back to help showcase the musical talent in the county and also highlight Carndonagh as a town to host events.
Over 20 acts will be taking to the stage in the town’s Diamond over the weekend of September 10th and 11th.
Money raised by the festival will support three groups: Lifeline, a community
response offering a first step to support women and children in Inishowen
who are experiencing domestic violence; Asylum Links EU, which helps refugees in Greece through access to reliable, up-to-date asylum information; and Carnstock Sparks, a fund to help local artists, athletes, musicians, scientists, or any big dreamers, achieve their goals.
This year the Carnstock Sparks funding will go to local group Great White Lies to contribute to the band’s trip to Los Angeles to appear at the YouBloom music festival.
Music is just one element of the weekend however, and there will also be a parade led by the Inishowen Carnival Group which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
A pavement art competition, a baby rave, a traditional music session, a treasure hunt and a history tour, are just some of the other events being held over the weekend.
Acts that will be taking part include Mutual Friend, Don’t Fear the Natives, Great White Lies, Constant Supply, Lauren Bird, Velvet Alibi, Comrade Hat, and The Inishowen Gospel Choir.
Siobhan, who is the songwriter and singer with Great White Lies, says a group of local people decided to bring the festival back because the area has no music festival for local bands.
“We want to help promote local bands from Donegal and Derry and provide a good show and let people have a good giggle as well,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for Carndonagh to showcase what a great town it is and what a warm, friendly and welcoming place it is.
“Inishowen has always had a great community spirit, and here and the whole north west is the home to some great musical talent.
“This is a chance for us to celebrate that and raise money for some very worthwhile causes as well.”
