TG4’s recently completed new series Féile Ealaíne an Earagail is available to watch in full online, worldwide!
Féile Ealaíne an Earagail combined highlights of seven concerts recorded in front of lives audiences at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, with specially-curated intimate performances recorded in various locations around Donegal and the north-west in the summer of 2022.
Featured headline acts included The SíFiddlers, Ye Vagabonds, Goitse, Clann Mhic Ruairí, Diane Cannon with Manus Lunny & Theresa Kavanagh, Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet and The Henry Girls, plus many, many more special guests.
Produced by Aniar TV, the series was presented by two new faces on TG4 – renowned young Donegal singer and musician Cathal Ó Curráin, along with the well-known singer Sibéal Ní Chasaide from Ráth Chairn in County Meath, best known for her incredible rendition of Mise Éire in the Centenary celebration.
Maureen Kennelly, Director of the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, said the council is delighted to support the ongoing and developing work of the festival in increasing opportunities for the public to engage in the arts and express their creativity.
She said: “The importance of the festival’s work in addressing inequalities in arts provision cannot be underestimated. Over the last few years Earagail Arts Festival has worked hard to extend opportunities to a number of communities across the north-west region. Its work through the Irish language has been an essential and important resource for the area.
“We welcome the recent Féile Ealaíne an Earagail, produced by Aniar for the national Irish language broadcaster, TG4 which provides a global audience with a celebration of County Donegal itself, its vibrant culture, landscape, and rich heritage in the Irish language.”
National Irish language broadcaster TG4 is already a real force when it comes to original music programming and the new series has been a welcome addition to its programming, said Commissioning Editor, Proinsias Ni Ghrainne.
“We are delighted to partner with Earagail Arts to broadcast such a wealth of musical talent to audiences throughout Ireland and across the globe on the TG4 player’. The sharing of our music and arts is central to TG4’s existence. A huge thank you to all who have enabled this material and produced it for broadcast on TG4.”
Méabh Conaghan, Chair of Earagail Arts Festival’s Board of Directors welcomed the collaboration between Earagail Arts Festival and Aniar on the new series which has been met with widespread praise.
“To develop such an inspiring and delightful series for TG4 (and its online player) is fantastic. It brings the best music alive again following the live concerts in Summer 2022.
“Not only that, but it shines such a positive light on the whole festival, and also the wider county and Irish, homegrown talent for a worldwide audience. It is a true celebration of Irish language and culture, but is also very accessible to a non-Irish speaking audience thanks to the always available captions.
“From the talent on display, I found it inspiring to hear the grá for County Donegal recounted by some of the visiting acts i.e Neil Martin, Ryan Molloy, Goitse, who all had lovely stories to tell during the programme so far.”
Niamh Ní Bhaoill, Producer, Aniar TV, said: “I was absolutely delighted to have the best excuse ever to spend a sunny week in stunning Donegal recording at Earagail Arts Festival for Aniar TV’s latest music programme.
“It’s basically non-stop music and song and it showcases the incredible musical talent of County Donegal and the surrounding areas bringing some amazing performances to TG4’s audience both here and abroad. There is an abundance of talent out there and what better place to record it than in Donegal’s beautiful landscape which is featured right throughout the series.
“Another bonus is the fact that the series is fronted by two talented young Irish speakers, both presenting on television for the first time – young Donegal musician and singer Cathal Ó Curráin along with young singer Sibéal Ní Chasaide, who, despite having her roots firmly set in her native Meath, has a huge Donegal connection, being one of the musical Ó Casaide family. It is music all the way in this series and what more could you want!”
Speaking after the final episode in the series, CEO & Artistic Director, Paul Brown said Earagail Arts Festival was proud to be able to share the depth and scope of the festival with audiences across Ireland and further afield via the partnership with TG4 and Aniar.
“For over 35 years Earagail Arts Festival has been supporting artists from around Donegal and across the world and providing opportunities for the Irish public to access world class art on their doorsteps.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the artists, the production crews at Earagail Arts Festival, TG4 and Aniar, the festival staff and board and the many involved in bringing these performances and Earagail Arts Festival to people all over the world,” he said.
Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by Donegal County Council, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Wild Atlantic Way.
Photo Credit: John Soffe Photography, for Aniar TV
