Spiddal's New Music Club

Spiddal's New Music Club

Breandán Ó hEaghra and Charlie Lennon are the performers for the opening night of the club this Friday, with Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin as MC.

Starting this Friday, 21 October, a new monthly night of music, Ardán, is being held in An Tobar bar, An Spidéal, County Galway, hosted by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin (pictured).

Mac Dhonnagáin explains that while there is a lot of great session music in the area, this is different. As the name reflects, Ardán has more of a stage-based format, and is about formally presenting performers involved in composing new music. New songs in Irish, either in a contemporary or traditional mode, and new tunes (ceol uirlise) will be the focus, though not to the exclusion of all else. For instance, Mac Dhonnagáin is planning that sean-nós dance will feature in the future for its improvised inventiveness.

Another form certain to feature is what is known as Country Chonamara (country music songs composed in Irish), which is, as Mac Dhonnagáin explains, ‘a rich vein in the area, really the mainstream, in fact.’ In that context, he hopes the likes of John Beag would feature in the future, performing the songs of local composers such as Ciarán Ó Fátharta and Tom a’ tSeoighe (see below).

Songwriter Breandán Ó hEaghra (who has a new CD out, titled An Fear Nár Mhair ach Soicind) and Charlie Lennon are the performers for the opening night of the club, this Friday, and Mac Dhonnagáin is MC.

There is also an open mic aspect to the club, giving others in the audience an opportunity to do a set.

Meanwhile, Mac Dhonnagáin himself (who may well perform from time to time), is working on, among many other things, the follow up to the award-winning children’s book and CD, Gugalaí Gug.

Ardán is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

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Published on 17 October 2011

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