Family of Eamonn Ghrainne.
Frank Sweeney.
Maire Ni Choilm.
FEATURES: Minister Joe McHugh will launch the Féile na Seanbheairice which is happening from the 26th - 28th June.
The festival will include a host of events including sean-nós dancing, drama, concerts, hill walking, historical bus tour and much more.
Corn Cuimhneacháin Éamoinn Ghráinne will be held on Friday the 26th of June and will be the flagship event of the festival.
The competition is open to sean-nós singers of all ages. The cup will be presented to the winner of the competition and prizes will be awarded in the following categories: best male singer; best female signer; and best singer under 18 years of age.
Minister of State, Joe McHugh, TD, will be on hand to present the cup to the overall winner.
Patricia Nic Ruairí, daughter of Éamoinn Ghráinne Mac Ruairí, will host a singing workshop for children on Saturday morning at 11.30am.
This will be followed by Corn Amhránaíochta Éamoinn Ghráinne do dhaoine óga, a singing competition for children.
The children and their families are sure to enjoy a fun and friendly occasion.
Corn na Sean Bheairice, a sean-nós dancing competition promises to be one of the highlights of the festival.
This is the fourth year of the competition and audiences will remember last years mesmerising displays of sean-nós dancing that gained a tumultuous reaction from a large and lively audience.
This year, over twenty people of all ages, most of them from Donegal, are expected to compete; all hoping they can beat last years winner, Jonathan McCloy from Belfast, and ensure the cup is won by a Donegal person for the first time.
On Saturday night, the 27th An tSean Bheairic will host a concert presentation featuring singers from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
From Scotland, Mary Ann Kennedy – the highly respected musician, singer, writer, producer and broadcaster (well-known to Raidió na Gaeltachta listeners) – joins Ruth Keggin, leading young singer of the current Manx Gaelic revival, and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, a traditional singer and classical musician from a Connemara sean nós song dynasty.
The age-old links of the Gaelic language in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man are forged anew in aon teanga/un çhengey, a concert presentation that reunites the song traditions of the Gaelic nations.
Together they have created a Gaelic song-world that delves into traditional roots while boldly asserting the place of the Gaelic languages and culture in a contemporary world.
Preceding the concert there will be a short drama, written and performed by a very talented young singer from Cloughaneely, Conor Ó Gallachóir.
The drama, based on the life of Micí Mac Gabhann, features stories and song and is worth the admission fee alone.
On Sunday morning there will be a family hill walk along the old railway line and later you can hop on a bus which will take you on a tour of Cloughaneely's historical sites.
On Sunday evening you can come and listen to some of the best musicians and singers from the Donegal Gaeltacht in an informal and relaxing setting.
You can enjoy some tapas, a glass of wine or a coffee and listen to beautiful music and song.
You are welcome to sing a song if you wish or simply just listen. The host for the evening is Claire Nic Ruairí.
Máire Ní Chasaide, manager of An tSean Bheairic had this to say: “We have some of the most unique and valuable cultural assets here in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
"It is a very rich culture that is unique and which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
"Sometimes we don’t realise how valuable it is or appreciate how vibrant it is.
"Therefore, I am delighted that the festival is showcasing the best of Gaeltacht culture in a way that audiences of all types will enjoy and I believe we have struck on an exciting and vibrant programme and have a festival with a very strong identity”.
Tickets and brochures available at an tSean Bheairic. For further information contact Paddy at 074 9180655. Programme available at: www.falcarraghvisitorcentre.com