Donegal’s premier summer event, Earagail Arts Festival (12th – 26th July) kicks off this weekend with a host of fantastic events.
On Saturday night, 12th July, the festival will host its opening concert, Macalla (Ireland & Iraq), in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny (8pm).
Blending Middle Eastern and traditional Irish music, Macalla (below) is a new music collaboration between Irish and Iraqi folk and traditional musicians.
Macalla, blending Middle Eastern and traditional Irish music.
Inspired by the music of Celtic harpist Turlough O’Carolan, this new commission features Lucia McGinnis (Harp), Niwar Issa (Qanun), Saman Kareem (Oud), Helin Star Qadir (Violin), Kawar Rajab Khalid (Percussion) from the pan-Iraqi ensemble Mshakt with Martin Coyle (Bouzouki), Denise Boyle (Fiddle) and Paul Cutliffe (Uilleann pipes and whistle) of the North West Folk Collective.
Other highlights to look out for this weekend include Session Americana in the Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey (Friday 11th), Lies Where it Falls by Ruairi Conaghan (Saturday 12th) and Groovy Sunday: Miles Davis Kind of Blue (Sunday 13th), both at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny.
VISIT https://eaf.ie/ FOR MORE INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
The festival features an expanded programme of circus, music, workshops, street arts performances and camps as part of its annual Wild Atlantic Weekends, returning to Castlefinn, and coming to Ionad Cois Locha in Dunlewey for the first time.
Continuing to make the arts more accessible for all, the festival has introduced newly-reduced family prices (Only €30 for a Family of 5) for the circus shows in Castlefinn, Gaoth Dobhair and Letterkenny.
Catch ‘Bamboo’ at Castle Grove Country House outside Letterkenny.
No Fit State presents Bamboo at Castle Grove Country House outside Letterkenny this Sunday 13th July at 2 and 4pm and Monday 14th at 2pm.
Bamboo is high-impact, high skill circus production using only bamboo and human bodies – revealing the fragility and beauty of our interconnected life on this planet.
Roll up for a series of one hour-long drop-in circus skills workshops for children aged 7 to 11 hosted in the Big Top at CPI, Castlefinn, Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th July (daily), where some of Ireland’s most skilled circus performers introduce you to some neat acrobatic and circus skills as well a few props in a fun “try it out” atmosphere.
The spectacular Tumble Circus.
Also on those days, at 3.30pm each day, you can spend an afternoon in the company of some of the most extraordinary death-defying aerialists, hilarious comedians and mind-boggling acrobats Ireland has to offer with Tumble Circus’s new show Talamh and the hilarious Dr Jones & Professor Barnard.
Circus Éire will also come to Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey for the first time with Tumble Circus again, as well as Stephen McGinley’s “Mo Cheol an Sorcas” as Gaeilge, from Thursday 24th July – Saturday 26th July.
VISIT https://eaf.ie/ FOR MORE INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
Lord Of The Isles & Ellen Renton.
Earagail Arts Festival presents a stellar line-up of music, from international acts such as DJ Big Cheeks (Rwanda), The Truffle Valley Boys (USA), Lord Of The Isles & Ellen Renton (Scotland) and Irish artists such as Lisa Lambe & Steve Cooney, Réalta, The Outcasts, , Aobha Ní Aragáin, Paul Harrigan & Cairde, The Pox Men, The Breeze and Ramper.
The festival line-up features a host of theatre, dance and spoken word events with highlights including The Journals Fleadh in Rathmullan and Ramelton, a free evening of spoken word and song, Oíche Airneáil Ghleann Bheatha, in The Glenveagh Inn, An Tearmann, free performances by contemporary Irish dance company Ériu/Na Mic Ua gCorra and solo performer Kristyn Fontanella on Gola Island, Lisdoon Nirvana and the new play starring Frankie McCafferty.
Earagail Arts Festival is delighted to be working with RAMP – Rathmullan Music Project and Irish Aerial Dance Fest which will also present an exciting line-up of events in July, including the EAF co-commissioned Hip H’Opera, H.O.M.E.
As well as fantastic live events the festival also showcases an extensive visual arts programme, working with Artlink Fort Dunree, Donegal County Museum, An Gailearaí, Crolly Distillery, An GrianÁn Theatre, and Regional Cultural Centre. The visual arts programme will showcase the work of both established and emerging artists from Ireland and beyond.
Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Donegal County Council and Wild Atlantic Way.
VISIT https://eaf.ie/ FOR MORE INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
Tags:
