This years Loinneog Lúnasa festival in Gaoth Dobhair is the main gathering event for the Gaeltacht and promises to be a weekend of ceol culture and craic.
With a line up including Moya Brennan, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Tionól na bPíobairí Uilleann and young emerging talent An Crann Óg. Tá féile speisialta romhainn!
Living here in the Gaeltacht, we are surrounded by amazing music, everywhere you go, any night of the week, but nothing stops your in your tracks more than listening to An Crann Óg. This supremely talented group of young traditional musicians can carry you away with their authentic sound, their talent, their interaction and their simplicity. They have it all, and quite trendy too.
From being out and about on the Gaeltacht music scene mng.ie got quite intrigued about where An Crann Óg originated from and met with Caitlín Joe Jack, their teacher and her brother PJ to find out more.
It was a summer camp in 2008 at An Crannog, Derrybeg, Caitlín tells us “we spent three weeks teaching music to a group of young people. After three weeks, even though there were few instruments, it was very clear, these students were interested in the music and the songs. An Crann Óg were formed”.
Between playing concerts, festivals, sessions, competing in the Fleadh, and massive events like An Cabaret Craicailte this young group are going from strength to strength. Not to mention summer parites at Aras an Uachtaran, yearly trips to Germany and feile Inis Oir and Cathal Curran and Shane Greene supporting Philomena Begley at Festifal Falcarragh, this young group never stop.
At a recent event in Aislann Rann na Feirsde with Aisteoirí Gaoth Dobahir mar páirt do Féile Eallíon an Earagail, mng.ie was approached by an American tourist who was quite literally blown away by An Crann Óg’s talent. “Do you know of them she said, where can I get their music, do you have any videos you can send me, I just love it”.
This kind of talent doesn’t come without hard work, An Crann Óg practise 4 nights a week at An Crannog. Caitlín and PJ donate their time to organising this. Asked why? “For the pure love of traditional music and song and to help young people learning music understand and appreciate that Altan, Clannad, Aoife Ní Fhearraigh and others worked hard to get where they are today”.
Caitlín and PJ ensure that An Crann Óg understand and appreciate where they come from and the talent that is in this area. They couldn’t have better guidance with their background in traditional music.
The young musicians often go to Ionad Cois Locha to see how other artists perform to learn and appreciate from this,
“Tionscnamh Lugh provide us with the most amazing opportunity to enjoy and experience the finest in Irish Traditonal Music”, says Caitlín.
Places like Hiudaí Beags, Teac Jack, Leos and events like An Cabaret Craicailte help to keep our culture alive, keep it growing, and it helps to keep the language alive as well.
Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríghde, well known local actor described the Joe Jacks family “they’re the reason I love Irish traditional music so much. They have done so much good work over the years with the youth of the area in regards music and culture that they deserve every ounce of praise. Clann ar dóigh. For me they are the Godfathers of Trad”.
Amanda Healy singer song writer recently did the sound for their gig at Féile An Sean Bheairice said “you haven’t heard Irish traditional music till you’ve heard this group, they are Amazing, I was blown away”.
Mairead Mooney from the mighty Altan, who has played with An Crann Óg many times, says "Tá ceol agus amhráin an Chrann Óg freamhaithe i gceol traditisiúnta iar thuaisceart Thír Chonaill. Seo an cheantar Gaeltachta as a d'eascair siad agus a d'fhoghlaim siad a gcuid éalaíon óna sinsear. Deimhníonn siad lena gcuid ceoil go bhfuil an tradisiúin caomhnaithe don todhchaí".
With all this in mind, you’re very welcome you to come to Teach Mhicí Derrybeg Thursday the 8th August. An Crann Óg will open this years Loinneog Lunasa, with Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, another spell binding singer from this area.
As the main Gathering event for the Gaoth Dobhair area, invite family, friends, and neighbours it promises to be a weekend of ceol culture and craic!
Mng.ie say if your children are into music, enrolling them into An Crannog for summer camp comes highly recommended when talent like this is being produced!
Bígí linn ag Loinneog Lúnasa 2013!
