Joe Heaney Festival of Traditional Irish Singing

Galway Sean Nós Singing Festival

Over the bank holiday weekend, the south Connemara village of Carna will host Féile Joe Éinniú / The Joe Heaney Festival of Traditional Singing.

2024 Festival programme

Friday, May 3rd:

• The festival opens with an official ceremony at 8pm, presided over by Toner Quinn, the editor of the Journal of Music.
• RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s morning show, Iris Aniar, will broadcast live from Ionad Cuimhneacháin na nImirceach.

Saturday, May 4th:

Morning:

• At 10.30am, workshops kick off at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim:
  • Lúibíni singing workshop for primary and secondary schoolchildren with Fearghas Mac Lochlainn.
  • English-language singing workshop with Eithne Ní Chatháin.
  • Sean-nós singing workshop with Micheál Ó Cuaig.
• No fees for these classes held at Ionad Cuimhneacháin na nImirceach in Carna.

Afternoon:

• 12.30pm: Traditional music session for young people.
• 2.30pm: Mórsheisiún Amhránaíochta na Féile (main singing session) at Tigh Mhóráin featuring local singers and guests.
• 3:00pm: Music session at Tigh Leavy.

Evening:

• 8pm: Festival concert at Ionad Cuimhneacháin na nImirceach, featuring various artists including uilleann piper David Power, singer Feilimí O’Connor, fiddle and pipes duet Fidelma and Mick O’Brien, and many more.

Sunday, May 5th:

Afternoon:

• 2pm: Singing competitions for children up to 18 years old.
• 4pm: Launch of a new poetry collection by Aingeal Ní Chualáin and a website dedicated to Máire Ní Ghuairim at Áras na hOllscoile.

Evening:

• 6.30pm: Music and memories of Seán ’ac Dhonncha presented by his family at Tigh Mheaic.

Monday:

Midday:

• Festival concludes with a music and song session at Tigh Mhoráin.

What to expect at the festival

About Féile Joe Éinniú (festival of traditional singing)

Joe Heaney, the legendary sean nós singer from Carna, died in Seattle in 1984, and this festival honors his life and musical legacy. Since 1986, the event has been run annually in Heaney’s honor. Naturally, sean nós singing takes center stage, followed by traditional singing in other languages. Throughout the weekend, there is a considerable presence of traditional music and dance.

Over the course of the weekend, a diverse program of events will be presented with the goal of exhibiting the rich musical legacy of the local area as well as inviting representatives from other cultures to introduce and share their traditions. Aside from a number of informal music gigs and sessions, this year’s schedule features an art display by local students, seminars, an album launch, a traditional concert, a children’s singing competition, a céilí, and a visit to Heaney’s resting place.

Contact

Phone: 087-6753451
Email: [email protected].