Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar 2020

INISHOWEN INTERNATIONAL FOLK SONG & BALLAD SEMINAR 2020 CANCELLED due to the ongoing uncertainties around the spread of the Coronavirus.

Each year on the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day the Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar takes place on the Inishowen Peninsula, in County Donegal. This year will mark its 31st year, with singers and lovers of traditional song coming from all over the world to celebrate the art of unaccompanied singing over the 4 days of the festival in performances, informal sessions, lectures and workshops in a community where the tradition is still alive and vibrant.

The highlight of the festival is the Concert on Saturday afternoon which will feature: Eta Nash & Eugene Mooney (Newfoundland); Treasa Ní Mhiolláin & Deirdre Ní Chonghaile (Aran Islands); John The Twin McNamara & Laoise Kelly (Achill Island); Lillis Ó Laoire (Donegal); Members of the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle & Clonmany Parish National Schools (Donegal).

The Festival is organised by the Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle (ITSC), who for several years have been collaborating in the Inishowen Song Project with the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA). This involves collecting and archiving material related to traditional singing, including sound recordings, videos, photographs and lyrics. With songs traditionally handed down from singer to singer orally, this is a very important project.

The Festival is based in the Ballyliffin Hotel, Ballyliffin Village. There will be sessions held over the course of the weekend in the following venues: McFeeley’s Bar, Clonmany; Market House, Clonmany; The North Pole Bar, Drumfries; Mac Tam’s Bar, Clonmany and The Rusty Nail, Crossconnell. These sessions are marvellous free entertainment and are open for all to attend.

For details of the full programme for the Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar, please visit inishowensinging.ie. You can also follow on Facebook for the very latest information.

If you have any queries concerning the weekend and for tickets for either the full weekend or just the concert, please email [email protected].