Special musical home gig to take place at An Áislann in Kilcar

Kilcar musician and film producer Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill and renowned pianist Natalie Ní Chasaide are playing a special home gig at An Áislann Kilcar on Wednesday July 24 at 8pm. 

They are also launching a new single this Friday 19 July, Bánchnoic Éireann Ó, which will form part of their debut album The Devil's Dream which will be released in the autumn.

Next Wednesday, they will be joined on the night by sean nós singer Róisín Chambers, whose grandmother was from Fintown, as well as Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz (De Dannan) on cello and Conor Lyons (The Bonny Men) on bouzouki.

To open the night there will also be a special performance from the new generation of young musicians from Kilcar and Glencolmcille areas. 

Fiddle player Iarfhlaith hails from Inver/Kilcar in southwest Donegal, a region famous for its vibrant traditional fiddle style

He told DonegalLive:

ABOVE: Renowned Sean nós singer Roisin Chambers will also be performing 

"Is mór an onóir dúinn a bheith ag seinm ar ais sa bhaile i gCill Chartha. Irish traditional music is the fabric of our identity in south west Donegal and it really means a lot to us to get to perform these beautiful melodies from the locality and do something different with them. We have played all around the world but nothing matches the opportunity to get to play at home."

Iarfhlaith’s own playing and repertoire is strongly reflective of the musical expression of the past masters of the tradition; a clear, sweet tone employing unusual and distinct technical aspects of the fiddle music of southwest Donegal.

A regular performer and contributor on national television, Iarfhlaith has performed at the highest professional levels and has served as a fiddle masterclass teacher on a regular basis in Donegal, around Ireland and the world.

Natalie added: "Irish traditional music is thriving in south west Donegal at the moment with a whole new generation of young people embracing and developing the tradition. We are delighted that this new generation of local musicians will open our concert on the night. This is also a chance for the public to see renowned singer Róisín Chambers perform accompanied by established musicians Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz (De Dannan) and Conor Lyons (The Bonny Men)."

ABOVE: Another special guest on the night will be Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz

Hailing from the famous musical family “Na Caisaidigh”, Natalie is a renowned multi instrumentalist from Dublin. 

She is one of Ireland’s leading piano accompanists of traditional music and is most well known as a key member of traditional Irish music group “The Bonny Men”. 

Predominantly a pianist, Natalie adopts an innovative approach to accompanying Irish traditional melodies including the use of harmoniums, organs, concertina, vocals and fiddle.

ABOVE: Conor Lyons is a master of the bouzouki

Natalie's family Na Casaidigh were brought up in Gaoth Dobhair in the 1950's. 

Her uncles and aunties went on to form a band of the same name and played for two visiting American Presidents in their time.

The concert is supported by Donegal County Council and Ealaín Na Gaeltachta.