Tickets on sale for second series of TG4 concerts

Earagail Arts Festival teams up with TG4 and Aniar TV again in 2023 to present four unforgettable concerts at An Grianán Theatre in July.

FOUR concerts featuring some of the finest artists across the traditional music genre will be filmed during Earagail Arts Festival 2023 and are now on sale!

Aniar TV make a welcome return to Donegal’s premier summer event this July to film for a second season of the TG4 series, Féíle Ealaine an Earagail, which aired on TG4 in early 2023 with great success.

The stellar line-up at An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny this summer includes a tribute to The Campbells, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Aidan O’Rourke & Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Flook + Fidil, Na Casaidigh, Usher’s Island + Lisa O’Neill.

On Friday 14th July, music lovers can celebrate one of Donegal’s most influential musical families, The Campbells, with a tribute to revered Glenties fiddle player, the late Jimmy Campbell, who passed away in 2022.

Celebrating this dynasty steeped in Donegal fiddle music will be a talented group of musicians, including Peter Campbell, Tara Connaghan, Aidan O’Donnell, Denise Boyle Martin McGinley, Fiona Gavin, Ronan Galvin and Dermot McLaughlin joined by dancers Anne Connaghan and Connie McKelvey.

Also performing on this special evening will be BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winner, Skye piper Brìghde Chaimbeul, along with Lau’s award-winning fiddler Aidan O’Rourke, and Ireland’s Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on vocals and viola.

On Saturday 15th July, iconic band Flook will take the stage with the flutes and whistles of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly, Flook weaves and spins traditionally rooted tunes into an enthralling sound – with agile but tight rhythms and virtuoso improvisation.

They will be joined by the exciting Donegal trio Fidil, Damien McGeehan, Aidan O’Donnell and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. Utilising several fiddle-playing techniques such as strumming, fingerstyle and percussion, Fidil have a truly original, fresh and exciting sound – Music for the 21st century, mindful of its origins but breathtakingly exciting in its ambition and delivery.

On Sunday 16th July, for an early 1pm show, the popular Irish folk group Na Casaidigh, renowned for their performances of classic Irish songs such as Bó na Leathadhairce, Báidín Fheilimí, Peigín Leitir Móir and Beidh Aonach Amárach, will perform classic Irish songs, celebrating the source of much of their repertoire, Abair Amhrán.

The brothers’ childhood in Gaoth Dobhair was immersed in music through their father, a long-time church choirmaster, learning piano or fiddle first, followed by other instruments including whistles, pipes, bodhrán and guitar.

Although the family moved on to Dublin and other parts of the country, Na Casaidigh and their extended clan, to this day, continue to celebrate the traditions they learned in the West Donegal Gaeltacht across the globe.

Later that evening at 8pm, Usher’s Island will take the stage, featuring five of the most influential and acclaimed names in traditional Irish music – Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, both founding members of Planxty, Paddy Glackin a member of The Bothy Band, Mike McGoldrick member of Lúnasa and Capercaillie and John Doyle who played with Solas.

Lisa O’Neill, with her unique folk sound, will also perform on this exciting evening. O’Neill has quietly built a reputation on the Irish and international scenes with her unique folk sound. Alongside Blackbird featuring in Peaky Blinders, Lisa’s last release on the Rough Trade imprint River Lea, Heard A Long Gone Song, has garnered huge acclaim, both at home and abroad.

Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by Donegal County Council, Arts Council Ireland and Wild Atlantic Way.