Dungiven Comhaltas celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Workshop & Concert
18 February 2009, 6:02 PM GMT
Craobh Dún Geimhin – Dungiven Comhaltas branch announce the launch of Anam Ceol, a day promoting culture and tradition in the run up to St. Patrick’s Day.
The name comes from Gaeilge, meaning ‘soul music’, and is a true description of the music of our ancestors, promoted and sustained by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
The festivities will be held in the town on 14th March, and will include the branch’s first annual Comhaltas Youth Concert and a music and dance workshop for improvers.
The Co. Derry Annual Comhaltas Youth Concert is sure to be the highlight event, if last year’s initial Fleadh Youth Concert (held over the Derry Fleadh weekend) is anything to go by.
‘Last year, we had such a wide range of performances. Each branch of Comhaltas in Derry occupied a slot in the concert, giving us a diverse range of tunes, traditional songs, storytelling, and Irish dancing. It was a great opportunity for some of the area’s up and coming talents to perform in front of a packed hall.’
This year will no doubt be even better, and the branch are delighted to announce that guests will include the Hampsey Harp School from Garvagh, and All-Ireland Fleadh Finalists Oakleaf Grupa Cheoil. Local Irish dancers will also take part, as well as the tutors who will be taking workshops on the day. The concert will be held from 6.30pm – 9pm in St. Canice’s Hall, Main Street. Admission is £4 for adults, and there will be free entry for anyone under 18.
Dungiven’s Comhaltas branch based the day around their own junior members as an outlet for the progress being made at their weekly music classes running in St. Patrick’s College every Thursday night. For this reason, they will be running a workshop in whistle, fiddle and traditional singing, inviting guest musicians to tutor their members and develop playing skills.
The workshop is open not only to branch members, but to anyone, and is specifically for improvers (those who have been playing their instrument for a year or more.) Attendees will be tutored by esteemed musicians James Mahon from Dublin (tin whistle), Roisin McGrory from Co. Donegal (fiddle), and Mairead Walls from Co. Antrim (traditional singing).
Organisers look forward to a good night’s music and craic in Dungiven Castle after everything’s over, where a seisiún will be held from 10pm. The branch is sending out an open invitation for everyone to come out and enjoy their cultural events in the run up to the national holiday.
Information on the Anam Ceol weekend and Dungiven Comhaltas can be found at our website.
Posted By Dungiven
