Music lovers in for a treat as Féile na Tána returns to Louth

Music lovers in County Louth and beyond will be delighted to welcome back renowned cultural festival, Féile na Tána, which is now celebrating it's tenth year, and is announcing over á week of amazing events taking place across the region.

The Cooley Peninsula is busy getting all the final touches in place to welcome over 35 musicians, singers, poets, dancers, and over a hundred enthusiastic music students who are taking part in the festival which celebrates the rich regional and national heritage of traditional arts.

It is expected that people will travel from far and wide to attend the festival, and indeed there was a great turn out last year, with a full house at many events.

Highlights this year include a concert with three giants of Irish traditional music, Paddy Keenan on uilleann pipes, Paddy Glackin on fiddle and Steve Cooney on guitar on Sunday 28th January at 4pm in Carlingford Heritage Centre. 

On Thursday 1st February there will be a very special evening to celebrate St. Brigid's Day with performances by Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre on fiddle and guitar alongside singer Cathie Ryan accompanied by Matt Mancuso on guitar and fiddle, and speaking about the links of St. Brigid to the area is local historian, Seamus Murphy. 

There will also be a 'make your own St Brigid's Cross' with hands-on demonstrations for young and old who attend on the night.

Féile na Tána have commissioned renowned composer, Peadar Ó Riada to compose a piece especially for a concert taking place on Friday 2nd February which will also feature Cork sean nós singer, Máire Ní Chéileachair and the Harps Alive Cross Border Harp Ensemble in association with Harp Ireland.

Due to huge demand year on year, Bush Post Primary School will host 13 workshops from 2pm-5pm on Saturday 3rd February. 

Most workshops are for more advanced players with three years or more experience on their instrument, however, even beginners will be able to join the easy tin-whistle, singing or sean-nós dancing classes.

The tutors, as always, are world renowned and you will see why if you come along to the concert on Saturday 3rd February at 8pm in St. Michael's Hall, Carlingford, Co. Louth with Mary Bergin and Máirtín O’Connor; Mícheal Ó Raghallaigh, Michael Rooney and Edwina Guckian; Blaithín Mhic Cana and Donnchadh Mac Aodha; Dónal O’Connor, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn and Nuala Kennedy and Tara Breen, Enda Scahill and Robbie Harris – they are sure to raise the roof!

Workshops on offer include fiddle with Louth fiddler, Dónal O’Connor, tin-whistle with Mary Bergin, uilleann pipes with Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, harp with Michael Rooney, singing with Bláithín Mhic Cana, flute with Nuala Kennedy, banjo with Enda Scahill, accordian with Máirtín O'Connor and many more.

In a return to Féile na Tána, Poetry Ireland are presenting a very special afternoon event on our new bank holiday, Monday 5th February at 4pm, featuring Aosdána poet, Moya Cannon with uilleann piper, Séamus Ó Rócháin entitled 'Drawing From the Vernacular' at Carlingford Heritage Centre.

And if all that wasn't enough, there will be plenty of sessions, singing circles, young musicians concerts, céilís and more throughout the festival! 

For more information and to book, head over to the website, www.feilenatana.com.

Féile na Tána said it is very proud of its association with renowned local musicians, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre, who again as artistic directors have curated events of the highest level from many of our leading traditional artists.

They also thanked The Arts Council and Create Louth for their continued support, and collaborators Poetry Ireland, Harp Ireland and Music Generation Louth. Bígí linn!