Dónal Glackin – Donegal Fiddlers (Foyer Gallery)

The Regional Cultural Centre is pleased to present a photographic portrait exhibition celebrating Donegal fiddle players. Presented in association with Féile Róise Rua, the exhibition features a collection of portraits documenting musicians who continue to practise and sustain Donegal’s rich fiddle tradition.

This collection of photographic portraits forms part of the work of Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, the TG4 Gradam award-winning organisation dedicated to promoting the development and transmission of Donegal’s traditional fiddle playing. Supported by the Arts Council, the project aims to document every living Donegal fiddler over the age of eighteen. As the work continues, the collection will serve as a visual marker in time, capturing the community of musicians practising this celebrated tradition and offering future generations a deeper understanding of the tradition bearers of today.

The portraits have been created over a number of years by Dónal Glackin, a distinguished professional photographer and videographer. Glackin’s portrait work is widely recognised and highly regarded, while his documentary film projects – including work exploring Iceland and the Northern Lights – draw strong inspiration from the landscapes of Donegal.

Commenting on Glackin’s work, Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí Chairman Aidan O’Donnell noted: “Dónal comes from a family steeped in fiddle playing and is a fiddler himself. His portraits capture the personalities of the musicians in a remarkable way but also reveal something of the character of each instrument. Matching the fiddles with their owners can be both fascinating and informative. This collection clearly demonstrates Dónal Glackin’s extraordinary photographic ability.”