DUNGLOE, CO. DONEGAL HOSTS FIRST EVER TRAD FESTIVAL “Seisiún Thír Chonaill” which will be run over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Seisiún Thír Chonaill, will create a unique festive weekend of Traditional Irish Music. The festival will be centered on a Traditional Irish Music Session Competition bringing the town alive with the very best in traditional music for a full three days. The Festival prize fund includes €2,000 for the winning traditional group, €1,000 for the runner-up group and €500 for third place. It is intended that each group entry will be sponsored by pubs from all around the county and in particular by those pubs who have regular traditional music sessions .The winning pub will receive a plaque declaring its status as -Winner of Seisiún Thír Chonaill, - Donegal Trad. Pub of the year 2010.”

All Sessions will be held in a regular pub environment without amplification. Each group will play 2 x 1/2 hour sessions culminating in a finale that will take place on the Main Street stage on Sunday afternoon where winners will be announced.

Seisiún Thír Chonaill will be opened on Friday 4th June by C.C.E. Mín na Cróise who celebrated there 30th anniversary in 2009. Directly after the opening, “FIDIL” - a group whose members include Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Aodhán Ó Domhnaill and Damian Mc Geehin will play on the main street. Fidil are rapidly forging a reputation for exhilarating and challenging music that draws on the rich heritage of their native land. Their music making is marked by an intricate and intelligent approach that still manages to maintain the element of fiery exuberance that is the hallmark of traditional fiddle music from Donegal. This is traditional music for the 21st century - mindful of its origins but breathtakingly exciting in its ambition and delivery.

On Saturday Dinny Mc Laughlin from Shandrum, Buncrana Co. Donegal one of Irelands greatest fiddle players heads a group of talented musicians. Sunday afternoon will see The Henry Girls live on the Main Street - Joleen, Lorna and Karen McLaughlin - , three sisters from Inishowen in Co. Donegal. Their music is an eclectic mix of folk, blues and Traditional Irish, with three part harmonies. On Sunday evening we will have the Seisiún Thír Chonaill Grand Finally where all Musicians will come together on the Main Street for an Open Air Session.

As well as the Pub competition there will also be a post primary schools competition - Seisiún Pobailscoil Thir Chonaill,

Sessions will take place in the Rosses Community School, Dungloe.

The Prize fund for this competition includes €500 for the winning group, €300 for runner up and €100 for third place. Prize money will be awarded to the winning school to help encourage the teaching of traditional music in our schools. The winning school group will also receive a plaque declaring it the best traditional - Irish Music Session School Group in Donegal 2010.

Dungloe will be alive with the sound of music during this week end. Competitors and casual musicians are all welcome.

As well as the above events there will also be a range of festive fun events throughout the weekend.

For further info contact Ms. Geraldine Bonner at 086 8180080