With the Earagail Arts Festival in the West from the 8th to 14th July, and it being the year of the Gathering, there are lots of interesting and fun things to do in the Gaeltacht this week, here’s 10 which are free!
Gathering of Traditional Irish Music
Trad fans are in for a treat as Duffy’s Bar in Annagry prepares for a festival of Irish music and hard-shoe dancing on 12-14 july.
On Friday 12th July local trad group Fíoruisce will launch the weekend gathering with a lively session in Duffy’s.
The following afternoon trad fans will have the chance to sample locally caught seafood as the famous bar and beer garden will serve mussels, cockles, herring and mackerel — cooked traditionally on firewood in the pub’s massive outdoor smoker. Free!
Saturday night entertainment will feature the best of traditional fiddle-playing with Glenties’ famous Campbell Brothers. Free!
Music by trad band Whinbush and an exhibition of hard-shoe dancing will bring the festival to a close on Sunday afternoon. The weekend gathering is expected to attract locals as well as visitors who will be attending the Clannad and Altan concerts organised by the Earagail Arts Festival.
All free!Trad fans are in for a treat as
Aonach Jack
A traditional Irish Market Fair – Saturday the 13th July – 11-5pm
Enjoy this 150 year old Irish traditional fair where old customs are displayed from 1850 onwards. Countless stalls will line the village, exhibiting local handcrafts such as pottery, jewelry, basket weaving, handmade tweeds and organic local produce along with home baking.
On display, skills in cradle making, weaving and secrets of traditional fabrics and many other traditional Irish customs revived on the day. With plentyof music and a selection of farm animals for children including pigs and donkeys.
Come and enjoy this wonderful fair and immerse yourself in the old Irish ways. Leos Tavern home of Clannad and Enya, Meenaleck.
Alistair Simmons Basket Maker open house 8-14th July
Alistair Simmons has been making hand crafted baskets for 30 years, his cottage is nestled in the trees beside Muckish, follow the blue signs. will be available between the hours of 2pm and 6pm during the week of the 8th till 14th of July, to show his work at his cottage.
Liz Doyle Open house
A rare opportunity to witness an artist at home as Malachy Doyle, children’s author, provides a once off picture book reading at his home on Cruit Island.
His many popular books, including Tales from Old Ireland and Cillian agus an Ron, are available from Erratic Makers, Dungloe and Burtonport Welcome Centre.
Malachy and his wife, Liz, whose paintings are in both galleries, welcome visitors to their home on July 11-14 (4-8pm), where you can see their work.
Session at Teach Billy Gortahork
Every Tuesday evening from about 10 pm – hail, rain or shine, you can be entranced by the best traditional Irish music “seisiun” or session in the region.
There is NO cover charge. Don’t rush in and fly out again. The fire will be lit, the pint perfect and things will happen in their own good time.
Bonners bar Mullaghduff Weekend gathering of friends and family
What a great weekend planned of “craic out the back”. Family fun day’s, bringing together all that’s good about our heritage of arts, crafts, food and music.
Saturday Arts and Crafts market, bouncy castle, music from 4pm till late. Sunday concert with the Brennan sisters and seafood buffet supper.
Sean Nos Festival at the Gweedore bar Falcarragh
Gweedore Bar Falcarragh presents a “Sean Nós” singing and dancing festival 14th and 15th July. Junior and senior competitions, workshops with famous Sean Nós performers and prizes to be won.
Open music sessions nightly, ceiligh and two hand dancing. If you Everyone welcome to this old style cultural festival.
Glass Album Commissions An Gailearí Gaoth Dobhair
The Glass Album Commissions features new work by a number of leading contemporary artists including Walead Beshty, Matt Collishaw, Will Curwen and Eoghan Mc Tigue.
The work is inspired by the nineteenth-century archive photographs by Derry photographer James Glass relating to the famous 1889 “Land War” murder trial of the priest Fr. Mc Fadden from Gaothdobhair.
The project is curated by Declan Sheehan and Padraig Timoney.
An Cosan Glas Loinnir 13th July Carrickfinn
An Cosán Glas return with another breathtaking and dramatic night-time outdoor exhibition of large-scale illuminated sculptures set amongst the sand dunes at Magheraroarty near Gortahork.
Taking inspiration from the spectacular surrounding landscape of the mountains and seascapes of Magheraroarty, the artist’s pieces, together with music and the work created in children’s Cois Farraige art workshops, makes for a memorable and magical night for all of the family.