Tá an fhéile seo bunaithe ó 1986, le comóradh a dhéanamh ar shaol agus ar shaothar an amhránaí sean-nóis a bhásaigh i Seattle i 1984 agus atá curtha i gcré na cille ina cheantar dúchais.

This festival commemorates the life and musical legacy of Joe Heaney, the renowned ‘Sean Nós’ traditional singer from Carna, who died in Seattle USA in 1984. The festival is held annually in Heaney’s honour since 1986. Naturally, the main emphasis is on sean-nós singing, closely followed by traditional singing in other languages. That said, a strong strand of traditional music and dance runs through the whole weekend. A wide and varied programme of events is featured with the aim of showcasing the rich musical tradition of the local area and also inviting representatives from other cultures to introduce and share their traditions over the course of the weekend.

Joe Heaney was born in Carna in 1919. He lived in London and Scotland before emigrating to the States, where he made appearances at folk festivals, concerts and clubs. In 1982 the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Heaney America’s highest honour in folk and traditional arts, the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship. Heaney’s works did not become truly popular in his homeland until many years after his death. Today he is hailed as a seminal figure of traditional song and is revered by those who follow traditional music.

LIST OF EVENTS FOR 2013

FRIDAY 3 MAY
TIME: 7.30pm
VENUE: Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim
EVENT: Official Opening with Guest Speaker Fr. Eddie Bheairtle Ó Conghaile. Music and Entertainment with Local & Visiting Artists

TIME: 10.30pm 
VENUE: Tigh Mheaic 
EVENT: Danny O’Mahony (accordion), Cyril O’Donoghue (bouzouki), Johnny Ringo McDonagh (bodhrán), featuring local Sean Nós Singers and Dancers.

SATURDAY 4 MAY
TIME: 10.00am – 2.00pm
COVER: €10 Adults / 2nd Level Students. Primary School pupils free of charge.
VENUE: Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim
EVENT: Workshops - Sean Nós Singing Tutor: Gearóidín Bhreathnach English Ballads Tutor: Rosie Stewart Sean Nós Dancing Tutors: Róisín Ní Mhainín (advanced) & Proinsias Ó hIarnáin (beginners)

TIME: 3.00pm – 6.00pm VENUE: Tigh Mhóráin 
EVENT: Main Festival Singing Session with a host of Local and Guest Singers 

TIME: 7.30pm
COVER: €20 (discount for families)
VENUE: Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara
EVENT: Traditional Festival Concert featuring: Ailean Domhnallach, Mairí Smith, Calum Mac Millan (Scotland) ● Nathan Pilatzke (Canada) ● Breandán Ó Ceannabháin ● Danny O’Mahony & The Shannonvale Céilí Band ● Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh ● Gearóidín Bhreathnach ● Mick & Aoife O’Brien ● Néillidh & Caoimhe Mulligan ● Liz & Yvonne Kane ● Toner Quinn ● Johnny Ringo McDonagh ● Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha ● Róisín Ní Mhainín ● Conal Ó Flatharta ● Cormac Ó Briain ● Proinsias, Breandán & Labhrás Ó hIarnáin ● Jason McGuinness ● Máire Éinniú ●

TIME: 10.30pm
VENUE: Carna Bay Hotel
EVENT: Open Session
TIME: 10.30pm
VENUE: Tigh Mheaic
EVENT: Music, Song and Dance. Featuring Don Stiffe and the Hernons: Marcus, Proinsias, Labhrás and Breandán.

SUNDAY 5 MAY
TIME: 11.30am
EVENT: Festival mass at 11.30am, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, followed by a visit to Joe Heaney’s Grave in Maíros Cemetery.

TIME: 12.30pm
VENUE: Tigh Mhóráin
EVENT: Singing & Music Session with Local and Visiting Artists

TIME: 2.00pm
VENUE: Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim
EVENT: Childrens Singing Competition – Under 9, 12, 15, 18. (Joe Heaney Perpetual Cup – Under 15)

TIME: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
VENUE: Tigh Mheaic
EVENT: Presentation of Song & Music from Scotland featuring Mairí Smith (song), Ailean Dòmhnallach (song & pipes) & Calum MacMillan (song & pipes). Featuring special accompanying guests: Bríd Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Néillidh Mulligan & Gearóidín Bhreathnach.

TIME: 8.00pm
VENUE: Carna Bay Hotel
EVENT: Album Launch: ‘Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts’ “The music is drawn from collection made by Canon James Goodman in the mid-nineteenth century in his native province of Munster” Mick O’Brien (pipes), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle) agus Emer Mayock (flute). Guest Speaker: Seán McKiernan.

TIME: 10.30pm VENUE: Tigh Mheaic
EVENT: Open Session.

TIME: 10.30pm
VENUE: Carna Bay Hotel
EVENT: Music, Song and Dance. Featuring Pat Coyne and the Hernons: Marcus, Proinsias, Labhrás and Breandán.

MONDAY 6 MAY
TIME: 12.30pm
VENUE: Tigh Mhóráin
EVENT: Farewell Singing & Music Session with Local and Visiting Artists

INFO: www.facebook.com/joeheaneyfestival CONTACT: michealocuaig [at] hotmail.com / (095) 33599 / 087-1826970