Seamus Grant Traditional Music Festival 2023
Friday 13th October
Concert - Market House 8:00 PM
Doors open 7:30pm - Upstairs venue - wheelchair access available . Admission: €10
Thomas Strain.
Thomas is a Donegal fiddle player and composer, native to Burnfoot. He started to play music at the age of 8, learning the piano accordion ,by the age of 12, Thomas had become familiar with the music of the legendary fiddle player, Tommy Peoples, inspiring Thomas to learn the fiddle. Thomas continues to develop as a player and as a composer and is a renowned fiddle teacher.
This is a relaxed evening where Thomas will be joined by a variety of local and visiting musicians, dancers and singers including:
Daniel Miller & Leanne Doherty
Valerie Harkin School of Irish Dancing
Jim MacFarland & Róise Ní Mhurchú from Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle.
Following the Concert
Music Sessions 10:00 PM
Square Bar
Singers Session 10:00 PM
McFeeleys Bar
Saturday 14th October
Workshops - Market House
Advanced Fiddle Workshop
Thomas Strain
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Fee : €15
BOOKING ESSENTIAL - Tel: 0872849244
Clonmany Genealogy and Heritage Group
Photographic exhibition “Of Times Gone By”
Commensing : 2:00 PM
Admission : Free
CD Launch by Seamus Gibson
Seamus Gibson is one of Donegal’s most revered fiddler players. He has two recently launched CDs. ‘Fly By Night’ is a live recording featuring concert performances by Seamus and his long-time playing partner Dermot Toland on guitar and ‘The Dropper Bell’ features Seamus accompanied by Altan’s bouzouki player Ciarán Curran and Derry guitarist Ciaran O’Kane.
Paula & Melanie Houton
Sisters Paula and Melanie from Inishowen are two of the finest exponents of the Irish fiddle, flute and whistle playing traditions. As performers and teachers of their respective instruments they have played at some of Ireland’s biggest festivals and appeared on flagship television ,radio programmes for national broadcasters RTÉ, TG4 and BBC.
Paula and Melanie will be supported by several acts including :
Denis & Eamonn McGonigle
Gabby Fitzgerald
Stephen Fagan & Patsy Toland
Following the Concert
Music Session 10:00 PM
Ballyliffin Hotel
Sunday 15th October
Market House
2:00PM - 3:00 PM
Screening of ARCHIVE 23
By Inishowen Traditional Music Project
3:30PM - 6:00PM
Open session of music, songs, ceili dances.
Featuring local musicians and singers.
All age groups welcome
An Evening with Frankie Gavin and Catherine McHugh
Frankie was born in County Galway, from a musical family, as a child he played the tin whistle from the age of four. In 1974, he founded the renowned group De Dannan with Alec Finn. In addition Frankie has played and recorded with many famous acts The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Stéphane Grappelli, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. He continues to be a leading influence in the traditional music scene. Catherine McHugh is from County Galway and is one of the outstanding young accompanists and fiddle players in Irish traditional music today.