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Sharon Shannon tops Buncrana Arts Festival 
An extraordinary array of musicians will gather in Buncrana at the end
of March for this year’s Ar Ais Arís traditional Arts Festival.
The jam-packed weekend of top-class music, song and dance kicks-off on
Thursday evening, March 27 and runs right through to Sunday, March 30.
After asking the people of the town who they would like to see perform
this year, the committee have arranged for Sharon Shannon and her band
Renegade (featuring flute wizard Michael McGoldrick, fiddle ace Dezi Donnelly
and guitarist Jim Murray) as well as one of the north-west’s most
popular bands of all time Four Men and a Dog.
Other highlights of this year’s programme include the first-ever
performance by Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
of a new piece he has composed especially for the festival.
He’ll be accompanied by the very best of local musicians, as well
as an orchestra in what promises to be a very memorable concert.
There’ll also be a host of concerts, gigs, workshops, singer’s
circle, traditional Masses, pub sessions, late-night gigs and recitals
featuring local and guest artists including: Aileach, Dinny McLaughlin,
Liz Doherty, Russell’s House, The Young Wolfe Tones, Maire Ni Chathasaigh,
Chris Newman, Matt McGranaghan, Simon Bradley, Tríona and Mairéad
Ni Dhomhnaill, Jimmy McBride, the St. Roch’s Céilí
Band from Glasgow and many more.
Michael Gallanagh, chairman says: “The organisers have already had
a number of anxious queries regarding the fact that this is the third
year of a three-year plan for the festival and concerns that there might
not be one next year.
“Our plan was always to run the event for three years and then take
stock to have a re-think.
“First off, organising the Ar Ais Arís is a huge commitment
from quite a large number of volunteers and it’s not really fair
to expect them to take on the task year after year, indefinitely.
“Secondly, we still want to ensure that the festival is fresh
— special and unique. So we want to explore the best way to take
it forward, not just carry on without a clear purpose.”
For more information visit www.buncranatradfest.com
or telephone 086 882 9019. |
