15th annual Gig’n the Bann festival

This festival has become one of the major events on the summer festival calendar having built a reputation for offering a most impressive line-up of top performers spanning traditional, Scottish and folk music circles.

The ethos of the festival is to bring together musical traditions across all cultural divides and the direction pursued in recent years has been to incorporate the Ulster Scots tradition alongside traditional Irish music.

This has greatly enhanced audience participation in a diverse range of events.

It has also meant that people from different sides of the community have become exposed to music, song and dance that they may not have been familiar with before.

The festival programme for 2014 will again include the usual mix of concerts, traditional music sessions and the Bard’n the Bann competition which features local writers and now in its sixth year continues to grow as an integral part of the festival.

There is also the opportunity to hear world class pipe bands at the Pipe’n the Bann event which is usually one of the highlights of the festival.

The organising committee hope that the 2014 Gig’n The Bann Festival Programme will be even more entertaining than previous years so if you feel you would like to experience the unique welcome afforded to all visitors who spend the weekend in the village.

What’s on at Gig’n The Bann

Thursday, September 11:

5K Run’n the Bann/Walk’n the Bann at 7pm. Admission (Run) £6, (Walk) £3 per person or £6 per family. Registration from 6pm to 6.45pm at the 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church Hall.

All proceeds from this event will go to support the work of the Community Rescue Service.

Friday, September 12:

Concert for Primary Schools

Art Exhibition by Conor Larkin in The Wild Duck Inn from 6pm to 9pm. Admission free.

Concert in The Wild Duck Inn, from 8pm featuring We Banjo 3, Cuig, and Idyllic Dolls. Admission £12.

Saturday, September 13:

Art Exhibition by Conor Larkin in The Wild Duck Inn from 11am to 7pm. Admission free.

Pipe’n The Bann at Bank Square from 1pm to 5pm. Admission free. In the case of inclement weather this event will be moved to the Riverside Suite at The Wild Duck Inn.

Cafe Sessions at 3 Sixteen Coffee Shop and the Rose Cafe from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Admission free.

Family Fun Day a the playing fields on the Townhill Road from 2 pm to 5pm. Admission free. In the case of inclement weather this event will be moved to the 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church Hall.

Celtic Thistle Solo Piping Competition at the Men’s Shed (at the rear of MC’s Take-Away) from 5pm. Admission free

Festival Concert at The Wild Duck Riverside Suite at 8.30pm featuring Niamh McGlinchey, Reel It In, and De Danann. Doors open 8pm, admission £15. Tickets can be purchased in Portglenone from ‘All Occasions’ or ‘Cards & Candy’ or can be reserved by emailing [email protected]

Acoustic Café at 3 Sixteen coffee shop, Main Street, 9pm to late. Admission free.

Sunday, September 14:

Art Exhibition by Conor Larkin in The Wild Duck Inn from 11am to 7pm. Admission free.

Giro d’Portglenone at Bank Square from 2pm. Admission £5.

Set Dancing & Sean-Nós Dance Workshop at Roger Casements Social Club from 3pm to 5pm. Admission £5.

Praise’n the Bann at Bank Square at 6.30pm.

Ann O’Brien Stage a The Wild Duck Riverside Suite featuring The Fureys from 7.30pm. Admission £15.

Acoustic Café at 3 Sixteen coffee shop, Main Street, from 9pm to late.