Seamus Grant Traditional Music Festival 2025
Friday 10th October
Festival Opening Session
Music Sessions 7:00 PM
Square Bar
Concert - St Mary's Hall 8:00 PM
Dermy Diamond & his daughter Helen.
Dermy Diamond is a well-known figure in the Irish traditional music scene, primarily as a fiddle player. He is known for his spontaneous and inventive style, often exploring new variations on traditional tunes. He has played on several albums and participated in Music Network tours. He is also known for his work with Tara Diamond and Dáithí Sproule.
McDaid family. Featuring well known members of this local musical family from the Isle of Doagh.
Inishowen Singers . Lucy Donaghey, her dad Seamus Mcrory & her daughter Molly.
Following the Concert
Music Sessions 10:00 PM
Square Bar
Saturday 11th October
Workshops - St Francis National School
Fiddle Workshop - Zoë Conway
Guitar Workshop - John McIntyre
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Fee : €15
Banjo/Mandolin Workshop
Patsy Toland/Shane Devlin
12:00 AM - 1:30 PM Fee €15
Fitz Howard (guitar maker).
Fitz will be available to talk about guitars, fiddles, & other stringed instruments - value, repairs, etc
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR WORKSHOPS- Tel: 0872849244
The workshops will be followed by a family session in the School Hall
Clonmany Genealogy and Heritage Group
Exhibition in Market House.
Showcases photographs and artefacts that trace the heritage of the local area, celebrating the rich tapestry of its history and community life.
Open : 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Admission : Free
Following the Workshops
Music Sessions 4:30 PM
McFeeleys
Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre Together, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have been described as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC), and audiences in Ireland and beyond keep coming back for more. They have performed for rock stars, millionaires and dignitaries around the world, including Irish Presidents Mary Mc Aleese and Michael D. Higgins. They were awarded Best Live Show from popular YouTube channel, Balcony TV, and have received in excess of a combined half a million views online. “An ceol is binne agus is cruinne dá gcuala mé riamh.”
Le Chéile
Le Chéile are a group of emerging young musicians ranging in age from eleven to sixteen. They have been brought together by Roisin McGrory, to celebrate the music of Seamus Grant. The ensemble will perform a selection of tunes from Seamus’s repertoire together with a few new tunes selected especially for performance at the Seamus Grant Weekend.
Following the Concert
Music Session 10:00 PM
Ballyliffin Hotel
Sunday 12th October
St Mary's Hall 1:30PM - 5:30PM
1:30PM Film Showing- New England Fiddles & Dances. This film presents seven of the finest traditional musicians as they play in their homes and at dances and contests, passing their styles to younger fiddlers, and commenting on their music.
2:30PM Stories from Seamus Grants friends and colleagues.
3:00PM Caitríona Lagan
Short presentation by Caitríona Lagan who is the recipient of this years “Seamus Grant Bursary”.
Caitríona, a student of the Magee Campus of The University of Ulster is an award-winning traditional Irish musician from Castledawson, County Derry.
3:30PM Valerie
Harkin Dancers.
4:00PM - 5:30PM
Open session of music and songs.
Featuring local musicians and singers.
All age groups welcome
Final Festival Pub Session