It has been almost a month since we, the new EVS volunteers, arrived in Leitrim to work with GEAI. This week we attended some cultural events in Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballinaglera – great experiences!
On Thursday 4th October we enjoyed a concert at The Dock Arts Centre: Caitlin and Ciaran with special guest Siobhan O Donnell! It was our first traditional Irish music concert and we were delighted to hear them playing the fiddle and concertina as well as dancing to traditional tunes. Siobhan O Donnell was brilliant at the guitar and she charmed us with her spectacular voice.
On Friday 5th, the Ballinaglera Traditional Music Weekend kicked off! A great concert was held in Ballinaglera Community Hall and we enjoyed the fun between flautist Marcus Hernon, his family and amazing singer Don Stiffe. Another immersion into Irish culture!
And that was not the end! Sunday evening saw us enjoying a traditional music session in Rynn’s Pub, Ballinaglera. People gathered together singing traditional songs and reciting poems as well as playing flutes, fiddles and guitars. Does everyone in Ireland play an instrument? After that we went to Mulvey’s Pub where we listened to Ballinaglera’s “Young Stars”, children already proficient in Irish music. It was incredible to see how involved they are with traditional music at an early age.