Letterkenny Trad Week  set to return on June bank holiday weekend

The new dates for Letterkenny’s annual celebration of Irish traditional, folk and world music have been set after it was rescheduled from its usual January dates.
Letterkenny Trad Week 2022 will be held from Wednesday, June 1 to Sunday, June 5.

Presented by the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) and An Grianán Theatre, the annual festival features a host of exciting acts in its 2022 line-up.

The line-up has a particular Donegal flavour this year with acts from across the county, beginning with highly-regarded fiddle player Damien McGeehan who will officially mark the launch of his recently latest release in the RCC on Wednesday, June 1.

The Ardara native recently released his eagerly-anticipated second solo album, Kin, which has received rave reviews at home and abroad. Receiving airplay across the globe, Kin has been featured as album of the week on RTÉ RnaG, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and has been described by BBC Radio’s Frank Hennessy as “a full-blown fiddle masterclass”.

On Thursday, 2nd June the RCC hosts a real Inishowen family affair when well-known multi-instrumentalist and Burnfoot native Paul Harrigan launches his new album, The Seven Waves, supported by his nieces, Culdaff sisters Deirdre and Ella McGrory.

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The new supergroup Pontún adds brings a blend of folk traditions from Ireland and Africa to the RCC on Friday, June.3 The Irish-based band features Éamonn Galldubh on whistle and uilleann pipes, Robbie Harris on percussion, Niwel Tsumbu on guitar and vocals and the legendary Steve Cooney also joins them on bass.

The spirit and sound of Altan, who make a very welcome return to An Grianán Theatre for Trad Week on Saturday 4th June, comes from the deep and rich musical tradition of their native County Donegal. Fronted by one of Donegal and Ireland’s leading musical ladies, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Altan always bring high energy and world-class performances.

The 2022 festivities will come to a close with a real hooley in the RCC with the double-header that is Caitlín and Ciarán and The Friel Sisters on Sunday, June 5.

Acclaimed Irish musicians each in their own right, Gaoth Dobhair-based Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh have joined forces to create one of traditional music’s most impressive acts.

Partners on and off stage, the pair’s spirited music and dance is rooted in the tradition; brimming with soul and life. Through fiddle, concertina and dance, Caitlín and Ciarán breathe fire into musical pieces, combining their arts with chemistry and energy.

The Friel Sisters, Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel are young traditional musicians born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland with their family roots firmly entrenched in the Donegal Gaeltacht.

They play a mixture of music interspersed with songs in English and Irish, many from their family repertoire. Being siblings, they achieve a close blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes.

Letterkenny Trad Week, presented by the Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre, takes place from June, 1 to 5. Visit regionalculturalcentre.com or angrianan.com for more.