Starry line-up for Travellers Tunes concert at Letterkenny's RCC

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh from Altan and Kevin Doherty from Four Men and a Dog are included in the line-up for the ‘Travellers Tunes’ concert in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Saturday, January 31, at 2pm.

Also featuring are well-known fiddlers Roisin McGrory (Culdaff), Bianca Rohleder (Dublin), Conor Caldwell (Belfast) and Martin McGinley (Ramelton), and percussionist Robbie Fottrell.

The concert is part of Letterkenny Trad Week and celebrates the major contribution of Travellers to traditional music in Donegal and far beyond. There’s a particular focus on the famous Doherty clan of travelling musicians, including the fiddler John Doherty.

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Martin McGinley says ‘Travellers Tunes’ promises to be a special occasion: "It’s going to be a relaxed get-together with these super musicians and singers playing tunes together and also sharing songs, stories and perhaps even a poem or two. They’re all very familiar with what the Dohertys have passed on to us – the brilliant tunes and songs but also the rich folklore associated with the music in Donegal.

"For instance, Mairéad is just back from being in the States with Altan. The group’s set list for recent concerts includes ‘John Doherty’s reels’ and other tunes associated with the Dohertys. Altan have done so much to bring the music of the Dohertys around the world.”

Fiddler Bianca Rohleder, who’s coming from Dublin for the concert, is the grand-daughter of fiddler Simon Doherty (1885-1962), a brother of John Doherty’s. Originally from Ballyshannon, Bianca has toured the world as a musician and singer and has also composed and performed music for film and television.

Also making the trip from Dublin will be Robbie Fottrell on bodhran and assorted percussion. Robbie has played with the likes of Damien Dempsey and has recently recorded with renowned drummer and producer John Reynolds.

‘Travellers Tunes’ will mark a rare enough concert appearance in Donegal for Buncrana singer-songwriter Kevin Doherty. Kevin’s probably best-known for his work with Four Men and a Dog but has released several acclaimed albums of his own songs as well as an album with former Altan fiddler Ciaran Tourish, also from Buncrana.

Kevin has also recently been awarded a PhD for work on the poet Seamus Heaney. At the concert, he’s likely to be pressed to read one of Heaney’s poems in the collection ‘Station Island’ (1984), featuring the Traveller Simon Sweeney.

Also on stage from Inishowen will be Roisin McGrory, Culdaff, well-known as a fiddler and composer of tunes, and also for her work with the Inishowen Traditional Music Project. Roisin’s second solo fiddle album ‘Pór’ was released in 2024.

Conor Caldwell is a fiddler and academic from Belfast who has guested with Donegal fiddle trio ‘Fidil’. He has done a PhD on John Doherty.

‘Travellers Tunes’ is one of three events in the RCC on Saturday week focused on the Traveller community. At 11am Rab Cherry of the Donegal fiddle organisation Cairdeas will give a talk on his years of research into the Doherty clan, including music clips. And at 1pm there’s the launch by Senator Eileen Flynn of three podcasts which Martin McGinley has put together for the Donegal Travellers’ Project.

Tickets for ‘Travellers Tunes’ next Saturday are €10 and available at regionalculturalcentre.com and at the door (if there’s room!)