The annual Loinneog Lúnasa music and cultural festival will begin on Thursday, August 9th continuing until Monday, 13th in Gaoth Dobhair.
This festival is establishing a reputation in the Northwest for providing quality music, (from both local and visiting musicians) and cultural events in combination with an array of family-friendly fun activities, and guided walks.
However, the main focus as always is on the musical and cultural heritage of the Gaoth Dobhair area.
This year the festival is celebrating “10 Years of An Crann Óg”, the youthful Gaoth Dobhair based traditional group who have developed from a community project to a highly regarded group of musicians, who have recorded 2 CD’s, and perform extensively locally, nationally and internationally.
The official opening happens on Thursday the 9th at 7.30 in the foyer of Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair and then the music kicks off with a concert at 8.30 in the Amharclann with “Na Mooneys” – which include Mairéad, Gearóid, Ann and Ciaran, from the renowned clann Uí Mhaonaigh from Gaoth Dobhair.
This concert is presented in association with Trad Ard, which is a series of concerts running through the summer in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair .
The development of An Crann Óg will be showcased with two separate concerts in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair.
On Friday August 10th we have “An Crann Óg : an chead ghlúin” which will include most of the original line-up of the group, many of which have gone on to be performers, actors and various other professions.
Then on Saturday 11th August the second concert will be with “An Crann Óg : mar atá inniú” which will be a performance from the current line-up, along with upcoming younger musicians who are being trained and developed through Scoil Cheoil na Crannóige.
The group and the festival organisers want to emphasise that these will be two very different performances. There is a great value reduced rate of €20.00 for anyone wishing to attend both concerts (individual concerts are €15.00per night)
Starting at 12.00 on Saturday, outside Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, there’s “Lá Mór Faoin Aer” a family fun day, with barbecue, the Happy Camper, craft stalls, bouncy castle and face painting, music and plenty more for all the family.
At 4.30 on Saturday 11th in Ionad Naomh Pádraig, there will be a creative writing and song composing workshop – in Irish- with Máire Dinny Wren and Brídín Ní Bhraonain. Details from 074-9532949.
For those who may have missed the recent, sold out “50 Years Celebration of Leo’s Tavern”, you will have another chance to hear the voice of Clannad, Moya Brennan in “Oíche Cheoil le Moya Brennan, a clann agus cairde” in Leo’s Tavern on Sunday night (12th ). This has become a regular and very welcome feature of Loinneog Lúnasa. Moya and her own family perform in the intimate space of Leo’s where it all started for herself and her siblings from Clannad many years ago. Admission of €8.00 is at the door from 9.30 and the advice is to come early to get a good seat!
If you can’t make it to Leo’s there will be a Céilí Mór in the recognised local “Céilí House”, Teach Jack in Glassagh. Music is by Ceilí Time and there’s tea and home-made bread included in the admission cost of €8.00
On Monday night, August 13th, Loinneog Lúnasa are honoured to welcome 3 legends of Irish traditional music to perform on the stage of Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair as “KGB”! They are – Paddy Keenan, Frankie Gavin and Dermot Byrne. Earlier in the day, all 3 will give masterclasses ( Fiddle, UileannPipes and Accordian) at 3.30 in An Crannóg.
These workshops are aimed at advanced students in each instrument and places must be reserved in advance by calling 074-9532208 or email cfgd@eircom.net
Tickets for all the Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair concerts can be purchased in advance from Siopa Mhatt, in Bun Beg, from Amahrclann Ghaoth Dobhair or from an Crannog. Tickets can be reserved by calling 074 9532208. Admission to all other events is at the door.
In addition to the concerts of course there’s a full programme of other events to grab your attention and keep young and old interested, from guided walks of Gabhla and Inis Meain islands to Curragh racing , music sessions, and an exhibition called Lacuna, by Kate Nolan in An Gailearaí.
Loinneog Lúnasa is a combined community effort to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Gaoth Dobhair and it’s surroundings, and the people of Gaoth Dobhair extend a warm invitation to all to come and join them in that celebration!
Loinneog Lúnasa is organised in association with Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair and is supported by Fóras na Gaeilge and Ealain na Gaeltachta
See www.loinneoglunasa,com for full program details or call 074-9532208.
