Iraqi music collaboration set for Earagail Arts Festival this weekend

A bold new cross-cultural music collaboration between traditional musicians from Northern Ireland and Iraq will take to the stage at the Earagail Arts Festival.

The project, titled Macalla (meaning echo in Irish), brings together Derry/Londonderry’s North West Folk Collective and Iraq’s Mshakht Collective. Supported by the British Council, the collaboration has been two years in the making and explores the musical connections between Irish and Middle Eastern traditions.

Macalla will perform in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Saturday, July 12 at 8pm.

At the heart of the ensemble are two iconic instruments: the Irish harp and the Iraqi qanun, a zither-like instrument played horizontally. They’re joined by the Middle Eastern oud (a short-necked lute), Irish pipes, bouzouki, Iraqi violin, Donegal fiddle, and Middle Eastern percussion. Together, the eight-piece group weaves a rich, cross-cultural sound rooted in the musical traditions of Ireland and Iraq.

The roots of Macalla lie in a previous British Council-supported initiative, Citadels of the Sun, which saw musician Martin Coyle working with musicians from Rajasthan. A life-changing first visit to Iraq soon after inspired him to form the Northwest Folk Collective, now a hub for globally-minded musicians based in Derry/Londonderry.

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“In Mosul, the city we were working in, the community brought us in - they cooked for us, played music with us, and made space for us in the middle of tragedy,” said Martin, recalling a devastating fire that struck shortly before their arrival. “That welcome really shaped how I see music as a tool for connection.”

Since then, both collectives have been working together remotely and in person - arranging music, translating melodies and composing new pieces that reflect the shared storytelling roots and traditions of both places.

This performance, set to take place at Letterkenny’s Regional Cultural Centre, promises to be a captivating and unforgettable event.

“Saturday is shaping up to be a truly unique and intimate experience, giving us the chance to tell the full story of how this project came about and how it’s developed over the past two years,” said Martin. “What’s exciting is that audiences might recognise certain melodies, but not in the way they’re about to hear them. The qanun, in particular, has silenced entire rooms - people stop in their tracks. There’s something powerful about hearing familiar music played through the lens of another culture.

“I really hope it challenges some stereotypes too - it’s about showing how much we actually have in common. A lot of our traditional music is rooted in dance and folklore, and even rhythmically, things align. We’ve found loads of crossover - for example, a lot of Middle Eastern music is in 6/8 time, just like Irish jigs. It just fits.  Most people probably won’t have seen or heard live Middle Eastern music before, especially not fused with Irish traditions - it’s a different flavour, and it works beautifully.”

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A major driving force behind the evolution of the project has been Paul Brown, Macalla's Creative Producer) and Director of the Earagail Arts Festival.

“Paul Brown at Earagail Arts has been absolutely instrumental in bringing this project to life,” said Martin. “He’s been at the heart of it from the beginning - making connections, supporting our vision and helping it grow into something far bigger than we imagined. His belief in the power of collaboration has really shaped the direction of this work.

“It was Paul who helped forge links between the festival and international partners, enabling the ensemble to explore new platforms for performance. His unwavering support, not just as a producer but as a believer in the project's potential, has made him a central figure in its journey.

“Now what I’m most looking forward to is just getting everyone back in a room and playing together. We don’t get to do that often. So much of this has been developed remotely - now it’s time to bring it to life on stage, bounce off each other, and enjoy the gigs.”

Jonathan Stewart, Director of the British Council Northern Ireland, praised the collaboration, saying: “Macalla is a powerful demonstration of the creative magic that happens when artists from different cultures come together. Through music, the project not only celebrates diversity and mutual understanding, but also produces something completely original and moving. We’re incredibly proud to support this collaboration and thrilled to see it take centre stage at Earagail Arts Festival - a festival that has long championed cultural exchange, artistic innovation and a strong sense of place.”

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To purchase tickets visit: https://eaf.ie/events/macalla-ireland-iraq/

Macalla features Lucia McGinnis (Harp), Niwar Issa (Qanun), Saman Kareem (Oud), Helin Star Qadir (violin), Giovani Squillacioti (Percussion) from the pan-Iraqi ensemble Mshakt with Martin Coyle (Bouzouki), Denise Boyle (Fiddle) and Paul Cutliffe (Uillean pipes and whistle) of he North West Folk Collective.

North West Folk Collective are a voluntary arts group striving to unite the community and participants with an emphasis on the arts, culture and the cultural diversity present within the traditional, folk and roots scene in the North West. Through professional showcasing and community engagement we aim to offer a platform for both artists and participants through bespoke arts-based projects, workshops and showcase opportunities in collaboration with the larger cultural community in the city and beyond.