Eoghan Mc Bride has nothing but praise for An Crann Óg
Read More10 gcúis le teacht chuig Féile Tóstail “Loinneog Lúnasa” i nGaoth Dobhair
10 gcúis le teacht chuig Féile Tóstail “Loinneog Lúnasa” i nGaoth Dobhair in Iarthuaisceart Dhún na nGall, ina bhfuil níos mó ná 170 imeachtaí Tóstail againn.
Deir ball de choiste na féile, Cathal Ó Gallchóir, tá níos mó i gceist le Loinneog Lúnasa ná ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar oidhreacht chultúrtha shaibhir an cheantair. “Bhí muid ag iarraidh féile a chruthú a dhéanfadh, ní amháin ceiliúradh ar an traidisiún ach a chothódh agus a spreagfadh ceoltóirí agus amhránaithe leis an traidisiún sin a thabhairt leo. Sin an fáth go bhfuil ceardlanna, ceolchoirmeacha agus seisiúin eagraithe againn leis an chuid is fearr de cheol na hÉireann. Tá bród millteanach ar Loinneog Lúnasa scileanna cuimsitheacha an cheantair a chur chun tosaigh”.
Má tá cúis de dhíth ort le teacht, seo chugat deich gcinn.
Is príomh-imeacht Tóstail na Gaeltachta í Loinneog Lúnasa, urraithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, Tionscnamh Lugh, Foras na Gaeilge, Fáilte Ireland agus Tóstal Dhún na nGall.
Beidh teacht le cheile speisialta de phíobairí uillinn a bhéas mar pháirt de réimse imeachtaí eagraithe i gcomhar leis Na Píobairí Uilinn. Beidh píobairí ó i bhfad is i gcéin ag taisteal le freastal ar cheardlanna le Gay McKeon, Tommy Keane, Emmet Gill agus Seán Óg Potts.
Beidh Moya Brennan, amhránaí clúiteach le Clannad, ag pilleadh ar a baile dúchais do choirm ceoil i dTábhairne Leo, áit a mbeidh sí ag gabháil cheoil i gcuideachta baill óga dá clann féin.
Tá Maighread agus Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, iar-bhaill den sárghrúpa Skara Brae ag bualadh i gcuideachta an chruitire Laoise Kelly i dTeach Hiúdaí Beag. (a bhfuil cliú air mar an áit a mbíonn na seisiúin is fearr in Éirinn!)
Ó tharla go raibh Gaoth Dobhair ar an ghearrliosta de na háiteacha is fearr le cuairt a thabhairt orthu in Éirinn sa phobalbhreith is déanaí san Irish Times agus ó fógraíodh go bhfuil an méid is mó Bratacha Gorma bainte amach ag Dún na nGall as na contaetha uilig sa tír, níl am níos fearr ann le cuairt a thabhairt ar an cheantar bríomhar Gaeltachta is faide thiar thuaidh in Éirinn.
Mar chuid de athbheochan thraidisiún na gcurach, beidh taispeántas rása curach le coimhéad, no le páirt a ghlacadh ann, ó ché Mhachaire Gathlán. Le Cumann na gCurach Gaoth Dobhair agus Seoltoireacht Selkie.
Beidh taispeántas “Glass Album sa Ghailearaí i nGaoth Dobhair ina mbeidh ealaín úr ag ealaíontóirí comhaimseartha ar nós Walead Beshty, Matt Collishaw agus Eoghan Mc Tigue. Faigheann siad inspioráid ó chartlann grianghraf leis an ghrianghrafadóir as Doire James Glass maidir leis an cás cúirte do dhúnmharú a cuireadh in éadan an Ath. Mac Pháidín as Gaoth Dobhair le linn Cogadh na Talún i 1889.
Cuirfidh an grúpa An Crann Óg agus Aoife Ní Fhearraigh tús leis an fhéile le coirm bhríomhar ceoil ag Teach Mhicí – an gnó teaghlaigh is sine sa pharóiste, áit a raibh bainis ag Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh agus Frankie Kennedy agus ar bhuail Phil Coulter “The Town I Loved so Well” ar an phianó san óstán. Agus ná déan dearmad go bhfaighfidh tú pionta Guinness den scoth ann fosta!
Beidh léiriú speisialta den scannán faisnéise “An Píobaire Mór” i gcomhar le hAcadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Rugadh Tarlach Mac Suibhne i gContae Dhún na nGall agus tá sé curtha i reilig Mhachaire Gathlán. Bhain sé cliú agus cáil amach nuair a ghlac sé páirt sa World Exhibition i Chicago agus bhain Craobh an Domhain sa Phíobaireacht.
Beidh ceardlanna damhsa agus amhránaíochta ar an tsean- nós le Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde agus Jacqui Bradley agus céilithe agus léirithe damhsa seit i dTeach Jack ar an Ghlaisigh.
Agus, má tá ocras ort ina dhiaidh sin uilig, gheobhaidh tú an bia mara is fearr sa Ghaeltacht i dTeach Sheáin Óig.
Bígí linn ag Loinneog Lúnasa 2013.
10 Reasons to come to Loinneog Lúnasa in Gaoth Dobhair
Loinneog Lúnasa is a Gathering Festival in Gaoth Dobhair in Northwest Donegal.
If you needed a reason to come, here’s 10!
According to festival committee member Cathal Ó Gallachóir, Loinneog Lúnasa is more than a celebration of the locality’s rich cultural heritage. “We wanted to create a festival that would not only celebrate our tradition, but also nurture and encourage musicians and singers to carry the tradition forward. This is why we have organised workshops, recitals and concerts with the best of Irish music. Loinneog Lúnasa is proud to promote such a rich tapestry of local talent”.
1. Loinneog Lúnasa 2013 is a key Gathering Event for the Gaeltacht, sponsored by Udaras Na Gaeltachta, Tionscnamh Lugh, Foras na Gaelige and Donegal Gathering.
2. There will be a special gathering of uilleann pipers who will participate in a series of events organised in conjunction with Na Píobairí Uilleann. Pipers will travel from near and far to attend performances and workshops with Gay McKeon, Tommy Keane, Emmet Gill and Sean Óg Potts. Full tionól info below.
3. Moya Brennan, internationally famed singer with Clannad, will return to her home stage for a concert in Leo’s Tavern, where she will perform along with her talented young family in what promises to be a musical night to remember.
4. Maighréad and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, former members of legendary folk group Skara Brae, are teaming up with harpist Laoise Kelly for an intimate performance as Gaeilge in Hiúdaí Beag’s pub. (renowned for having the best traditional Irish music sessions in the country!)
5. With the recent appearance of Gaoth Dobhair in the shortlist of best places to visit in Ireland in a recent Irish Times poll and the announcement that Donegal has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag beach awards of any county in the country, there is no better time to visit the thriving Gaeltacht area in the furthest North West of the island.
6. As part of the revival of the Curach, there will be a curach racing exhibition by Gaoth Dobhair Cumann na gCurach which can be viewed from the pier at Machaire Gáthlan. (Cé Khitty Archie achan Mháirt agus Déardaoin 7.00in agus achan Dómhnach 4.00in outside of the festival)
7. The Glass Album Exhibition will feature at An Gailearí Gaoth Dobhair, with new work by a number of leading contemporary artists including Walead Beshty, Matt Collishaw and Eoghan Mc Tigue. The work is inspired by the 19th century archive photographs by Derry Photographer James Glass relating to the famous 1889 “Land War” murder trial of the priest Fr. Mc Fadden from Gaoth Dobhair.
8. An Crann Óg, young and vibrant traditional Irish music group will open the festival with a lively performance at Teach Mhicí – the oldest family run business in the parish, where Mairead and Frankie Kennedy had their wedding reception, and where Phil Coulter once played “The town I loved so well” on the hotel piano. (you will get the best pint of Guinness here!)
9. There will be a special showing of the documentary film “An Piobaire Mór” in association with An Acadamh's television skills course. Tarlach Mac Suibhne was born in Donegal and buried in Machaire Gáthlan. He attracted international popularity when he went to play at the World Exhibition in Chicago and won the world championship in piping.
10. There will be workshops in Sean Nos dancing, with Jacqui Bradley and interpretation of songs and aers with Doiminic Mac Giolla Bhride sean nos singer and composer and Caoimhín O' Fearghail as well as the best ceilis and set dancing displays at Teach Jack Glassagh.
And if you’re peckish after all that, you will find the Best seafood chowder in the Gaeltacht at Sean Ógs, local seafood is their speciality, and special it is!
Bígí linn ag Loinneog Lúnasa 2013.
Errigal Hostel Dunlewy - Do we realise how amazing this place is?
mng.ie visited the Errigal Hostel last week, and met with Andrea, the manager of the hostel. Andrea kindly took some time out to have a chat and show us around. What a truly magnificent spot. Driving by so many times, but never actually stopping to get a closer look at this mighty 5* hostel, we were well impressed!
The view out each window, was nothing short of stunning, being at the foot of Errigal mountain and opposite the Poison Glen. This hostel can sleep 60. They have a range of rooms, doubles, twins and family rooms with mezzanine layout. Particularly appreciated the use of space, spacious yet minimal but rather cosy and cool too.
The artwork on the walls, was also very impressive, hosting works from local artists such as Ian Gordon and Caitriona Quill, it was hard not to stop and stare.
Andrea herself was keen to talk about the hostel and who they expect to host in 2013, with Germany featuring often, the hostel finds that August are the busiest times for them. A feature not to overlook is the fact that Errigal Hostel prides themselves on being Green Green Green and has been awarded The EU ECO Flower for their commitment to sustainable tourism and protection of the local environment. Well done indeed!
This is a great spot for any visitors coming to Donegal’s Gaeltacht between march and October, and especially for Abhaile – The Homecoming, on the 13th July.
Andrea, herself a longtime Clannad and Altan fan, has her ticket already “I wasn’t going to wait till the last minute” she said, and will be joined by a group of friends from down the country, also fans, for the historic event and Donegal Airport. Great to hear these crowds gathering together for this!
Errigal hostel is open from 1st March to 31st October, lets spread the word, this place is fantastic.
Rock climbing on Cruit Island with Unique Ascent
Hanging onto a rock for dear life was not something I planned on doing, until, being invited on a taster session with Iain Miller from Unique Ascent.
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“There is more rock in Donegal than the whole of Ireland put together”
“There is more rock in Donegal than the whole of Ireland put together”
Really?!
“Cruit Island is the most developed rock climbing location in Ireland”
No way?
“The most remote place in Ireland is off the coast Aranmore, at Anphort”
These are just a few of the interesting facts mng.ie learned today meeting with Iain Miller from Unique Ascent, who has been building his rock climbing business for the last two years and with 30 years experience in mountaineering and as a marine engineer, this man knows what he’s talking about.
All of this is right on our doorstep and if you are lucky enough to live in or smart enough to visit Donegal, the ultimate experience in rock climbing awaits you. Whether you are 8 or 80 years old, you can do this. Unique Ascent say all you need is a pair of trainers and a sense of humor.
There is 1.5, three or six hour sessions in groups of up to 20 people. The experience can be tailored to suit any level or need.
Not only is Iain an expert in Rock Climbing but is also a
mine of information of the hidden gems we have here in Donegal and in Ireland,
priceless knowledge and he more than wiling to share this.