Fifth Running of Fei lena Tana inCarlingford

The fifth Féile na Tána festival takes place in Carlingford this coming weekend, starting on Friday, February 1, and continuing over the weekend. It is a traditional music festival voluntarily run by a small committee and the artistic directors are local musicians, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre.

Féile na Tána will bring the very best of Irish traditional music to the heart of the Cooley Peninsula , featuring renowned musicians including Caoimhín O’Raghallaigh, Mary Bergin, Mick O’Brien, Laoise Kelly, Éamon De Barra, Mairtín O’Connor, Edel Fox, Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Cathal Hayden, Robbie Harris, Des Cafferkey, Edwina Guckian, John McIntyre and Zoe Conway. The musicians will all lead workshops in Bush Post Primary School in Bush on Saturday February 2 and then perform in a tutor’s concert at 7.30pm in St. Michaels’ Hall, Carlingford.

There promises to be a great session after the concert in the Village Hotel in Carlingford at 9.30pm - all are welcome to come along and join in or simply soak up the atmosphere!

For those adults or children who might want to dip their toes in and try out some workshops, there are easy workshops in singing, sean nos dancing and tin whistle. All the other classes are for students with three or more years experience, and cover a wide range of instruments - fiddle, whistle, uileann pipes, flute, harp, concertina, accordion, guitar, banjo and bodhran.

Another highlight of the festival will be the Sunday afternoon concert featuring world renowned performers, Máirtín O’Connor from Galway on accordion and Cathal Hayden from Tyrone on fiddle and banjo.

There will also be performances from some of Ireland’s best young musicians including Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, CCÉ Craobh Dún Dealgan Grupa Cheoil, Faoi Gheasa De La Salle College, Dundalk, and players from Dublin and Laois also. This unique concert will be at 4pm in St. Michael’s Hall in Carlingford.

The launch concert on Friday 1st February is free to attend at 7pm in St. Michael’s Hall. Achill harpist Laoise Kelly will perform as well as local musicians from the Traditional Orchestra Of Scoil Naomh Lorcan, Omeath, and afterwords tea and buns will be served while a children friendly session takes place.

Féile na Tána is kindly funded by Create Louth and The Arts Council, and sponsored by Carlingford Guest House, The Four Seasons Hotel, Councillor John McGahon and Lee Opticians, Warrenpoint and Crossmaglen.

For more information on the festival in- cluding workshop registration, concerts and accommodation, go to www.feilenatana.com.