Féile na dTéad comes to Dungiven!

Féile na dTéad, Festival of the Strings, this year takes place in Dungiven on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, to celebrate the unique Gaelic harping heritage of county Derry.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Feb 2010, 10:04 BST

The county has a history rich in string music and harping. From Gleann na R, the Roe Valley, came the renowned Ruair Dall Cathain, harper and composer and from Magilligan came Donnchadh hmhsaigh, one of the last great exponents of the clirseach or Gaelic harp.

The aim of the File, Festival, is to promote the playing of the ancient wire strung harp and the associated airs, songs, and Gaelic language amongst the present and younger generation of traditional musicians, in particular players of stringed instruments.

The Programme for the File is:

Aoine 5/Friday 5th: Dungiven Castle

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8pm Festival Launch: Talk and Reading by Dr Diarmaid Doibhlin on

'The Gaelic Poems of County Derry' and Clirseach recital on a stunning replica of the Downhill Harp made by local craftsman, Samus O'Kane.

Sathairn 6/Saturday 6th:

1 – 3pm: Ceardlainn Ceoil/Music Workshops St Patrick's High School, Dn Geimhin

Children's local songs and Stories, Irish and English (Anne and Francie Brolly), Clirseach and modern Irish Harp (tutors Sle Denvir and Caoimhe Cooke), Traditional song (Gaeilge and English tutor Nodlaig Brolly) Fiddle (tutors Ciara McElholm and Packie Kiely), Pipes (tutor Griogair Labhruidh)

3 – 3.30pm: Concert with participants and tutors

9pm: Ceolchoirm i Halla Dhroim Buachaill/Co

Related topics:Derry