Letterkenny Trad Week is bringing you a host of top class singers, musicians and dancers this January, 18th to 30th.
While our annual festival of traditional, folk and world music may not be taking place in its usual form, we still wanted to mark 2021 and celebrate our rich heritage of traditional music and song.
The Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre therefore present a series of online videos and events which are sure to whet your appetite for future gigs.
While the RCC presents a series of home videos from artists around Ireland, An Grianán Theatre brings together Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Friends for an online concert in aid of charity.
All performances will be shared on the Letterkenny Trad Week Facebook Page, which you can FOLLOW HERE, and the RCC website.
Kicking off proceedings will be the RCC’s Seisiún Fan sa Bhaile on Monday 18th and homegrown talent, Deirdre & Ella McGrory from Inishowen on whistle and piano.
Continuing each night at 8pm, until the 30th, there will be nightly video premieres from some of the finest musicians, singers and dancers this country has to offer.
On Tuesday, 19th multi-instrument multi award-winning musician Stephen Doherty from Foxford, Co Mayo gives us a taste of why he is a two-time All Ireland Champion on the Melodeon.
Moving up the west coast, we are joined by Siobhán O’Donnell from Sligo on Wednesday 20th as she introduces us to her family tradition of lilting.
We return to Donegal on Thursday 21st when talented Gaoth Dobhair man Cathál ‘Banjo’ Ó Curráin makes a welcome return to the instrument that earned him his nickname.
On Friday 22nd we are joined by Glasgow native Sheila Friel from her second family home of Derrynamansher in The Rosses. A member of well-known sister trio, The Friel Sisters, Sheila is seen most playing the uilleann pipes, but on this occasion she reminisces about the days of the Frankie Kennedy Winter School and picks up the flute for a couple of tunes.
Saturday, 23rd January, we are delighted to present Donegal-based musician and uilleann pipe-maker Martin Crossin (whistle/uilleann pipes) and his wife Mary on harp for a special performance from Milford, featuring original composition and a little Stockton’s Wing inspiration.
On Saturday 24th An Grianán Theatre presents the online stream event, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Friends, which is in aid of two very worthy causes. The renowned Gaoth Dobhair musician will be joined by the Harrigan family, Manus Lunny, and members of her group Altan, to raise funds for Donegal Hospice and Donegal Cancer Flights.
Our second week begins with a musician who is no stranger to Donegal, harpist Cormac de Barra, on Monday 25th January, a member of a well-known Dublin musical family who has been performing and collaborating with Moya Brennan for many years.
On Tuesday 26th we visit the Wild Rose County of Leitrim, where champion sean nós dancer Edwina Guckian is joined by her good friend Stephen Doherty.
On Wednesday 27th we return to County Mayo where one of the coolest musicians in the Irish trad music world, percussionist Robbie Harris, originally from Wicklow, gives us a little introduction to the bodhrán.
Representing Donegal on this occasion, Caitlín Nic Gabhann is a proud Meath musician and dancer, steeped in Irish traditional music and dance. She has taken time out from teaching students all over the globe, to give us a performance on the concertina on Thursday 28th.
The RCC is excited to be featuring emerging, and not just established talent, such as talented Conamara with brother and sister, Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta. Born into a musical family in the village of An Áird Mhóir, they were exposed to traditional Irish Music at a very young age and later developed into accomplished multi instrumentalists, singers and dancers.
Bringing Seisiún Fan sa Bhaile to a close for us will be Castlefinn man Matt McGranaghan who returns to his roots of Irish traditional music. The renowned fiddle player and musician has over 20 years experience in the music business and was recognised as a virtuosic talent from an early age.
Matt has performed in and across many genres and disciplines from trad to classical, country to pop with artists such as Dolores Keane, Nathan Carter, Mary Black, Michael English, Brendan Shine and many more.
Letterkenny Trad Week is presented by the Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre and is kindly supported by Donegal County Council and Arts Council Ireland.