NEW TRADITIONAL MUSIC EVENT FOR THE IRISH CALENDAR
On October 1st–2nd next, friends and fans of the well-known Sean-nós singer from Carna, Connemara, Seán ‘Ac Dhonncha - or “Johnny Joe Pheatsín” as he was otherwise known – will descend on Ahascragh, a small, picturesque village in East County Galway, Sean’s homeplace for over thirty five years. On this special, inaugural Tribute Weekend, musicians and singers from all over Ireland will travel to honour Seán’s legacy and to celebrate his life and singular contribution to Irish language and culture.
Entitled Ómós do Sheán ‘Ac Dhonncha, this Weekend Tribute to a major figure in traditional music circles particularly during the Sixties and Seventies, will comprise a formal Launch of the event, a Photographic Exhibition, viewing of a television programme previously transmitted by RTE and TG4, several Instrument Recitals and multiple informal Music sessions across the eleven identified session locations in the village. The line-up of performers is still being confirmed but Recital performances on accordeon, flute, fiddle, pipes, banjo and accompaniment will feature along, of course, with a particular emphasis on traditional singing and Sean nós from Connemara, in particular.
Further details will be made available on www.seanacdhonncha.ie
This will be the first time the village of Ahascragh will have seen a Traditional Music extravaganza such as this and excitement is growing in the area at the prospect. A major community initiative has been launched to secure the accommodation that will be required for Weekend attendees, given that the nearby Ballinasloe Fair will exert a huge demand on accommodation there. However, ‘Ómós’ Committee organisers are confident that the accommodation challenge provided by the Weekend provides a unique opportunity for local people to make new friends and to feel that they are a part of and are contributing to the success of the festival. The organising Committee also have high hopes that Ómós do Sheán ‘Ac Dhonncha will become an annual event whose prominence as a Weekend of high quality music and singing within a particularly intimate local character and with worthy purpose, will continue to grow over coming years.
