Great line-up forthis year’s Féile na Tána
There is a stellar line up of musicians, singers and dancers making their way to Carlingford at the end of the month for the sixth annual Feile na Tana.
Programmed by festival directors Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, the event, which has been described as the ‘ best little festival in Ireland’, features workshops in traditional music, singing and dancing as well as concerts featuring the tutors and guest musicians.
The festival runs from Friday January 31 to Sunday February 2 with events taking place in St Michael’s Hall and McKevitt’s Hotel, Carlingford and Bush Post-Primary School. Beginners can attend tin whistle, dancing or singing and more advanced players have a wide choice of instruments to choose from with tuition by some of the countries top musiicans.
The weekend gets underway with the launch concert on Friday January 31 at 7pm in St Michael’s Hall, featuring renowned local musicians Zoë Conway on fiddle and John Mc Intyre on guitar. and the Traditional Orchestra of Scoil Naomh Lorcan, Omeath. There will also be tea and buns, followed by young musicians’ session in St. Michael’s Hall - all welcome and admission is free. Workshops take place on Saturday February 1 from 2pm to 5pm in Bush Post Primary School.
Student ticket costs €35/£30 and includes admission to all events.
Tutors are Donal O’Connor
Four local acts are among those allocated funding by Culture Ireland, which promotes Irish arts abroad.
In the latest round of funding, announced last week, David Keenan, Just Mustard, Goitse and Nuala Kennedy have received grants to help them bring their music to overseas audiences.
David Keenan, whose debut album was released to overwhelmingly positive reviews, has once again received support from Culture Ireland, as he has been awarded €4,000. This is for a European tour including concerts in France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Norway and Denmark in March and April. (advanced fiddle), Zoë Conway,(intermediate fiddle); Mary Bergin, (advanced tin whistle), Des Cafferky, (easy tin whistle), John McSherry, (pipes); Laoise Kelly (harp); Éamon de Barra, (flute): Máirtín O Connor, (accordian); Edel Nic an tSionnaigh, (concertina); John McIntrye; (guitar); Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (singing); Cathal Hayden (banjo); Robbie Harris, (bodhrán) and Edwina Guckian (sean nós dancing).
That evening, the tutor recital, takes place at 7.30pm in St. Michael’s Hall, featuring all the musicians giving the workshops, playing solo and together.
The festival concert takes place on Sunday February 2 in St Michael’s Hall featuring outstanding young groups
Likewise, Dundalk five-piece Just Mustard have again got support to play a number a UK showcases and European dates in Hungry, Netherlands, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic between January and April. Last year, they played support to the DC Fontaines and The Cure, and while no doubt this year will see more juicy dates, they are planning to concentrate on writing songs for their new album to follow up on their Choice nominated debut ‘ Wednesday’.
Dundalk fiddler and traditional singer Aine McGeeney’s award-winning band Goitse have been awarded €5,000 to play 16 new venues in the United States between February and from the locality and further afield including Banna Ceoil CCE Craobh Dhún Dealgan; Rulya, Dundalk; Faoi Gheasa, De La Salle College, Dundalk; Banna Ceoil CCE Carrickmacross; Breandán and Tiarnan O’Connell, Dublin; Ragaire, Drogheda; Music Generation Louth musicians; and Mealltach, Dundalk
The festival concludes with a session in Thee Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford Anyone interested in attending the workshops should email to feilenatana@gmail. com with the applicants’ name, age, address, and contact telephone number. All workshops are for players with three years or more experience with the exception of the easy tin whistle class, singing and sean nos dancing.
March. The band, who released their fifth studio album Ur last year, delighted audiences at the Fleadh in Drogheda last year.
Clare based flute player, Nuala Kennedy, who is originally from Dundalk, has received €600 towards a tour of Denmark in February. Having spent several years in Scotland, where she was a co-founder of a number of groups including The Alt, Oirialla, and the Snowflake Trio. She has also performed, toured and recorded with American songwriter Will Oldham (an album that received 5 stars from MOJO magazine), Danish ‘global roots’ band Himmerland, and cutting-edge Canadian composer the late Oliver Schroer. 2
The Chamber Choir of Ireland perform works by Arvo Part, David Lang and Louis Andriessen on Saturday night in the Carlingford Heritage Centre at 7.30pm
De La Salle Class Act is on Wednesday night in An Tain Arts Centre with a host of talented students, performances by teachers, and guest Zara Woods, from St. Louis, with Davies and Band.
For country music fans, all roads lead to the Carrickdale Hotel this weekend as the Susan McCann String of Diamonds festival takes place when Susan is joined by Louise Morrisey, Hugo Duncan, Kerry Fearon, Olivia Douglas, Courtney Harmony, and Boxcar Brian, with a special Trip Down Memory Lane concert on Sunday at 6pm. 6
Don’t forget you can always enjoy some quality time out at the Super Saturday Family Hangout every Saturday from 10am to 3pm in An Tain Arts Centre.