Earagail Arts Festival’s 2023 programme kicks off this weekend with events from Tory Island, Letterkenny, Rathmullan to Culdaff and continuing for the next two weeks.

With a full programme of events along the Wild Atlantic Way from 8th to 23rd July, Earagail Arts Festival has something for all ages and backgrounds. The full line-up is available here: eaf.ie/2023-events

The festival features an expanded programme of circus, street arts performances and circus camps (some places still left) as part of its annual event, the Wild Atlantic Weekend, which comes to two new locations this year, Raphoe and Gaoth Dobhair. 

Flook + Fidil

Aniar TV returns to the festival to film four concerts for the second season of the TG4 series, Féíle Ealaine an Earagail, at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny next week.

Usher’s Island + Lisa O’Neill has already sold out, but there are still tickets left for a celebration of legendary Donegal fiddle family, The Campbells, and top class acts such as Flook, Fidil and Na Casaidigh!

A panel of female writers, thinkers and creators will explore reclaiming a narrative at Telling The Whole Story: Taking Our Place. The event will be chaired by Dr Angela Byrne with panel contributions from Kit de Waal, Senator Eileen Flynn, and curator Annemarie Ní Churreáin. Music by Mairéad O’Donnell.

Kanta Dab Dab are a sitar, bass and percussion trio from Nepal with unique contemporary compositions creating a new form of soulful fusion where Eastern and Western melodies meet to offer the audience a rare musical journey. 

Their mini tour of Donegal takes in McGrory’s Hotel, Culdaff (Saturday 8th), Balke’s bar, Letterkenny (Sunday 9th) and An Club, Oileán Thoraí (Monday 10th July) as part of the research and development stage of a new international collaborative project – Everest to Earagail – with Donegal-based musicians Fionn Robinson, Keith Mannion and Peadar Coll.

If you are near Culdaff, come and join Kanta Dab Dab for a lively evening of Himalayan culture, with music from Nepal and complimentary authentic cuisine from the region. 

Meet the artists, sample Nepalese and Bhutanese dishes and enjoy a free concert of music where Eastern and Western melodies meet.

Full information and bookings for Earagail Arts Festival are available on the festival website eaf.ie/2023-events

Kanta Dab Dab

Other musical highlights during the festival include The Frank and Walters, Ger O’Donnell & Trevor Sexton, Anna Mieke, The Henry Girls, Pretty Happy, George Houston and more.

Earagail Arts Festival is delighted to be working with a number of festivals, RAMP – Rathmullan Music Project, Irish Aerial Dance Festival and Bród na Gaeltachta, which will all present an exciting line-up of events in July.

RAMP brings to the beautiful seaside village of Rathmullan a weekend of events this weekend (Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July) showcasing the breadth and depth of experimental music and sound currently being produced.

There is also an opportunity to visit Oileán Thoraí (Tory Island) this weekend for Cosán Thoraí, an art and poetry trail, this Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July. 

Cosán Thoraí. Photo: Owen Clarke

Along this short walk you will get to see new visual artwork and listen to poems and stories by writers from Scotland and Ireland. Please note that this event will be in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Don’t miss Earagail Arts Festival 2023, 8th – 23rd July. Visit eaf.ie for more information and bookings. https://eaf.ie/2023-events/

Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by Donegal County Council, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Wild Atlantic Way.