With less than three weeks to go until the 47th International Pan Celtic Festival gets underway in Letterkenny, the new 2018 Festival Programme was unveiled on Wednesday last at a special event in An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny by Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Gerry McMonagle along with the Mayor of Letterkenny Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh.
This programme sets out details on what's on over the course of the festival which will take place from 3 - 8 April. The International Pan Celtic Festival is a unique celebration of the Celtic culture and bears witness to majestic displays of Celtic dancing, pipe band performances, choral performances and even Celtic rock and pop music in all of the Celtic languages from Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany and of course Ireland.
There will be many highlights during the week but one of the most colourful will be the carnival street parade and busking competition that will take place in Letterkenny on Friday 6 April.
Speaking at the launch Cllr McMonagle said that we in Donegal we have a rich abundance of culture in our heritage, language and our traditional music, saying "it is this which is our unique selling point when promoting Donegal around the world.
"Some of our most respected traditional musicians and singers hail from Donegal, including Dinny McLaughlin, Clannad, Altan and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh who will be helping us officially open the Festival on Tuesday 3rd April at 7.30pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel. It is therefore fitting that we can share this mix of Celtic arts with our fellow Celts from Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Scotland and the Isle of Man."
Mayor of Letterkenny Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh is looking forward to the week long celebration which will see up to 5,000 visitors coming to Letterkenny especially for the festival. "This festival was last hosted in Letterkenny in 2007 and it was a wonderful celebration of our shared cultures and traditions and I am sure that our visitors will receive another warm and hearty welcome from the people of Letterkenny and indeed the entire county."
Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha Cathaoirleach of Comhairle Idirnáisiúnta Pan Cheilteach is delighted to be back in Leitir Ceanainn again, having enjoyed the warmth of this host-town’s welcome and hospitality in the past. She said "we look forward to renewing old friendships and, most importantly, to embracing a new generation who will continue to celebrate our shared Celtic heritage. Our greatest aspiration is to encourage networks of cooperation across our six nations to support the work of each nation in strengthening our languages, our culture and our traditional arts."
Liam Ward Director of Service with Donegal County Council acknowledged the massive role played by the local community and other stakeholders in developing this exciting programme for this event.
"Donegal County Council is delighted to be leading out on this initiative but we could not have developed such a diverse and exciting programme without the buy-in of all the community. I want to acknowledge our stakeholders who have contributed to the festival and without whose help and support this would not be possible. Gabhaim míle buíochas le Líonra Leitir Ceanainn, Cumann Luthchleas Gael Naomh Adhamhnáin, an Bord Camogaíochta Dhún na nGall, Donegal Volunteer Centre, Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Shop LK, Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter and of course Comhaltas Leitir Ceanainn.”
The Cathaoirleach concluded the launch by encouraging the people of Letterkenny and Donegal to come along and enjoy the many events and activities planned for the week. To find out more about what's on, check out the festival programme or pick up your free brochure at the Tourist Information Office, Council Office or library.
Clár Imeachtaí don 47ú Féile Idirnáisiúnta Phan-Cheilteach seolta
Agus níos lú ná trí seachtaine le dul go dtí go gcuirfear tús leis an 47ú Féile Idirnáisiúnta Pan-Cheilteach i Leitir Ceanainn, rinne Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, An Clr. Gerry McMonagle, i gcomhar le Méara Leitir Ceanainn An Clr Jimmy Kavanagh, Clár Imeachtaí na Féile le haghaidh 2018 a sheoladh inné ag ócáid speisialta in Amharclann an Ghrianáin i Leitir Ceanainn.
Tá eolas sa leabhrán seo faoi na himeachtaí a bheas ar siúl le linn na féile idir 3-8 Aibreán. Is é atá san Fhéile Idirnáisiúnta Phan-Cheilteach ceiliúradh speisialta ar an chultúr Ceilteach. Bíonn taispeántais den damhsa Ceilteach ann, chomh maith le bannaí píobaí, cóir, agus fiú rac Ceilteach agus pop Ceilteach sna teangacha Ceilteacha ar fad ón Albain, an Bhreatain Bheag, Corn na Breataine, Manainn, an Bhriotáin agus Éire dár ndóigh.
Beidh cuid mhór imeachtaí den scoth ar siúl le linn na seachtaine ach ar cheann de na cinn is mó spleodar beidh paráid sráide agus comórtas buscála ar siúl i Leitir Ceanainn Dé hAoine 6 Aibreán.
Agus é ag caint ag an seoladh dúirt an Clr McMonagle go bhfuil cultúr an-saibhir againn anseo i nDún na nGall maidir le hoidhreacht, teanga agus ceol traidisiúnta. “Sin an rud is speisialta atá againn agus muid ag iarraidh Dún na nGall a chur chun cinn ar fud an domhain.
“Is as Dún na nGall cuid de na ceoltóirí agus amhránaithe is fearr dá bhfuil againn, ina measc Dinny McLaughlin, Clannad, Altán agus Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, a bheas ag cuidiú linn an Fhéile a oscailt go hoifigiúil Dé Máirt 3 Aibreán ar 7.30pm in Óstán an Mount Errigal. Mar sin de, is maith agus is cuí go dtig linn an meascan seo d’ealaíona Ceilteacha a chomhroinnt lenár gComh-Cheiltigh as an Bhreatain Bheaga, Corn na Breataine, An Bhriotáin, Alban agus Manainn” ar seisean.
Tá Méara Leitir Ceanainn, an Clr Jimmy Kavanagh, ag súil go mór leis an cheiliúradh fad seachtaine, agus beidh suas le 5,000 cuairteoir ag teacht go Leitir Ceanainn chun freastal ar an fhéile. “Reáchtaladh an fhéile seo i Leitir Ceanainn in 2007 agus bhí ceiliúradh iontach ann de na cultúir agus na traidisiúin chomhroinnte atá eadrainn, agus tá mé cinnte go mbeidh fearadh na fáilte ó bhunadh Leitir Ceanainn, agus ó bhunadh an chontae fiú, roimh na cuairteoirí.
Tá lúcháir ar Mháirín Nic Dhonnchadha, Cathaoirleach ar an Chomhairle Idirnáisiúnta Phan-Cheilteach, a bheith ar ais i Leitir Ceanainn aris, i ndiaidh di sult a bhaint as fáilte agus as flaithiúlacht an bhaile s’againne san am atá thart. “Tá muid ag súil le seanchairdis a athnuachan agus, níos tábhachtaí go fóill, fáilte a chur roimh ghlúin úr a leanfaidh leo ag ceiliúradh na hoidhreachta Ceiltí comhroinnte. Is é an rún is mó atá againn ná gréasáin de chomhoibriú a chothú ar fud na sé náisiún chun tacú le hobair gach náisiúin leis na teangacha, na cultúir agus na healaíona traidisiúnta a neartú.”
Mhol Liam Mac an Bhaird, Stiúrthóir Seirbhíse le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, an ról fíorthábhachtach atá á imirt ag an phobal áitiúil agus ag páirtithe leasmhara eile leis an chlár imeachtaí a fhorbairt don fhéile seo.
“Tá lúcháir ar Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall a bheith ag glacadh ceannaireachta ar an togra seo, ach ní thiocfadh linn a leithéid de chlár spreagúil agus lán éagsúlachta a chur le chéile gan an pobal iomlán a bheith linn. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt dár bpáirtithe leasmhara a chuidigh leis an fhéile. Níorbh fhéidir an fhéile a reáchtáil gan an cuidiú agus gan an tacaíocht sin. Gabhaim míle buíochas le Líonra Leitir Ceanainn, Cumann Luthchleas Gael Naomh Adhamhnáin, an Bord Camogaíochta Dhún na nGall, Ionad Saorálaithe Dhún na nGall, Coláiste Ailigh, Comhlachas Tráchtála Leitir Ceanainn, Shop LK, Ceantar Ardeaglaise Leitir Ceanainn agus, dár ndóigh, Comhaltas Leitir Ceanainn.”
Chuir an Cathaoirleach clabhsúr le seoladh na maidine trí phobal Leitir Ceanainn agus Dhún na nGall a spreagadh le teacht chuig an chuid mhór imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí atá beartaithe don tseachtain, agus sult a bhaint astu. Fá choinne tuilleadh eolais ar cad é a bheas ar siúl, is féidir an clár imeachtaí a sheiceáil anseo nó bileog saor in aisce a fháil san Oifig Turasóireachta, in Oifigí na Comhairle nó insan Leabharlann.
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