Fleadhfest Dún na nGall Episode 1

FleadhFest is an exciting initiative being undertaken by Comhaltas Units during 2021, in circumstances when normal Fleadh Cheoil activity is not possible. FleadhFest is the story of Comhaltas told from the point of view of each County and Province - the story of the people, community and culture which sustains our traditions of music, song, dance, storytelling and language, ensuring it is a living tradition which can be passed on to future generations.

[@erikm8372]

Wow, Ms. Teresa McClure is so good on the piano accordion.

[@annmckinney4647]

I really enjoyed your video! The scenery around Donegal, the tune choice, a variety of instruments, stories and songs that are timeless and the well orchestrated storyline and narration are all to be commended! Well done!
Ann Gorman-McKinney
Hamilton Irish Arts
Canada

[@erikm8372]

These are absolutely amazing videos. Thank you so much, one day I’ll be back. Last I was in Donegal was in April of 2004!

[@LarrySanger]

Stunning how you can get through a whole 38 minutes about trad in Donegal and I didn’t recognize a single musician. It’s like it’s another separate musical tradition.

[@erikm8372]

You could say that. When I was in Limerick, I was chatting with a much older man about Donegal music and how my friends and I loved it so much, and he said “forget music, it’s a totally different language up there!” Which is semi-true too I suppose…
The Irish language, dialect and accents really seem to go in tandem with the musical styles. If you notice, everywhere the music tradition is strongest, the Gaeltacht won’t be too far. That’s debatable of course, and not an exact thing-But if you think about Shliabh Luachra, Leitrim, Fermanagh, areas of Clare, Galway/Connemara, Sligo, Donegal…some of the strongest and most world-famous musical traditions, and also strong Irish-speaking areas.

[@LarrySanger]

@@erikm8372 What I mean is that I'm pretty familiar with Donegal musicians (though I haven't been there in a long time) and none I know were in the video. The Comhaltas tradition (which certainly does produce very nice music) seems almost separate from the more organic roots tradition that originated in Donegal itself...