Childrens Action Songs Workshop

Childrens Action Songs Workshop

Maurice Leyden Workshop
Date: 5 May 2012
Time: 2-4 pm
Venue: Market House, Clonmany

The Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle May workshop will be led by Maurice Leyden from Belfast who has specialised in recording and publishing children’s songs. He promises to have children and adults dancing round the Market House, Clonmany as we go through some of the old favourites – Here we go looby loo, Fair Rosa and lots more. We would love to see you in Clonmany for a lively afternoon – and a cup of tea as well

Maurice Leyden is a traditional singer and song collector. He has a deep interest in Ulster songs quoting the singing of Len Graham, Eddie Butcher, John Maguire, Joe Holmes, John Kennedy and Paddy Tunney as major influences on him.

Maurice has published a number of books of Children’s street songs and games. The publication of the children’s book led to an unexpected development in Leyden’s singing career: he was invited by many Primary schools across the political and social divide in Northern Ireland to come and teach these traditional street games to children. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland commissioned Leyden and his wife Jane Cassidy to visit primary schools throughout the province to inculcate these traditional songs and games into the children.

Inishowen Aurora

Inishowen Aurora – superb timelapse taken by Martina Gardiner along the coast of Lough Swilly near Fort Dunree in April 2012.

Aurora display at Dunree Head, Inishowen, Co Donegal, Ireland
Date:23rd/24th April 2012.
Details: The timelapse contains almost 200 still frames taken on a Canon 5D Mark II. Each frame was captured at ISO 1600, 24mm, f2.8, 30secs over a period of around 90 minutes

Martina Gardiner Photography

Laghey Blast Festival

Laghey Blast Festival

The Countdown is on and preparations are well underway for the Laghey Blast Festival. With only one week to go to the May Bank Holiday Weekend, you will see the village of Laghey come alive for their third annual festival.

Events will kick off on Friday night 4th May with the selection of the Festival Queen. Twelve ladies from Laghey and the surrounding areas will take part in this competition in O’Carolan’s Dew Drop Inn at 9.00p.m..

To celebrate the recent success of Laghey’s Biggest Loser there will be a 5km fun run at 12 noon on Saturday 6th May.

The opening parade is also on Saturday at 1.00p.m. with marching bands, local children and The Big Heads. MC is Gerry Singer.

This year’s festival brings a variety of events and activities to suit everyone’s taste with plenty of fun and entertainment for all the family. Children’s activities include Fun Fair – pay as you go, Bouncy Castles, Children’s Olympics, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Itchy Feet, this is a free workshop for kids on drumming, Magician show on Sunday at 2.00p.m. and 5.00p.m., Birds of Prey and much more. For the adults, Arts and Craft Market, History Tour, Blast Bake Off – Bakery Competition, Funzone includes Cracker Eating Competition, Musical Chairs for the young and old, Show and Tell with local people showing their skills, Soap Box Darby – Go Cart Racing, Rambling House music, songs, stories and dance for the young at heart.

There will be balls of fun when 1,000 balls are released at the top of Main Street with first ball winning a prize of €200.00. The Ball Race competition is on Sunday at 2.00p.m. and costs only €5.00 each and you have two chances of winning. The Jack Wise Show a crazy street entertainer – sword swallower and hilarious ventriloquist not to be missed.

Saturday night’s entertainment includes original band Mojo GoGo their drummer Jordon Carty who hails from Donegal town and has toured America with Kintra. The band has recently featured on the front cover of Hot Press Magazine and has also secured a record deal in Manchester. Ardara’s singer and songwriter Emily Whelan will take to the stage on Sunday evening at 8.00p.m.

Due to the high calibre of the music acts there will be a charge of €5.00 admission to the live open-air concerts on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

Saturday night – Mojo GoGo at 7.00p.m. followed by Killers of Leon at 9.00p.m. and on Sunday night

Pump up the Jam at 7.00p.m. followed by Irish Legends Bagatelle at 9.00p.m..

We are committed to bringing you an unrivalled musical entertainment event, but we also know that no festival experience is complete without a host of other entertainment. So, whatever your tastes, the Laghey Blast Festival has got something for you.

Big crowds are expected, so please come early.

Parking restrictions will be in place, please obey the stewards at all times and make this a safe and joyful festival for everyone. Thank you for your co-operation.