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Simply Music Inishowen

Simply Music Inishowen

Simply Music Inishowen Offers:

  • One-to-one and group tuition on various instruments plus voice and music theory
  • Classes open to all ages (children and adults) at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels
  • Tuition for grade exams OR competitions OR for fun only
  • Occasional workshops and special events throughout the year including Halloween and Summer Camps and various concerts
  • Various Outreach Programmes including Music Therapy for special needs, In-School Performance, Exploring Music and Whistle Wizards
  • Participatory workshops and projects specially designed for any group through our Outreach Programme

Simply Music employs fully qualified and experienced music instructors for all courses including:

Keenan Barrett, Ray Curran, Leo Doherty, Marie Fitzpatrick, Louise Moore, Louise McKinney, Siobhan Shiels, Maura Sloyan, Jim Woods

For more information contact:

Ciara Herron, Simply Music Inishowen, Tullyarvan Mill, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

Tel: +353 74 93 20355

Web: www.simplymusicinishowen.com

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Tip O’Neill Donegal Diaspora Award

Tip O’Neill Donegal Diaspora Award

More than 80 O’Neills are scheduled to travel from America for the inaugural Tip O’Neill Donegal Diaspora Award in memory of the late former speaker of the US House of Representatives. The clan gathering, starting this Friday 7th September 2012, will take place in Buncrana, Co Donegal, home of O’Neill’s maternal ancestors.

US-based journalist Niall O’Dowd will be the first recipient of the award.

The weekend programme will also include the presentation of Irish-American Partnership bursaries to five local national schools and the first annual Tip O’Neill lecture to be delivered by Prof Paul Arthur.

A sculpture commemorating O’Neill will also be unveiled at Buncrana’s Shore Front by the town’s mayor, James Gill.

O’Neill’s daughter Susan O’Neill said her father’s grandmother Eunice Fullerton was born outside Buncrana, “so this part of the world still resonates as home for many of us”.

She added: “There are over 80 making the trip and this is a great opportunity for members of our family to visit our ancestral home and meet the local community.”

This article appeared in The Irish Times – Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Slideshow – Autumn in Buncrana

Moville Pottery

In business for over 35 years, Moville Pottery is owned & run by Lowry Wasson and Brian Mclaughlin.

They manufacturers of fine thrown stoneware pottery and also stock local crafts from around Inishowen, Yankee Candle, Pilgrim Jewellery, Danish Design Watches, Fred Bennett and many many more.

Bespoke Dinnerware
We have been contracted by the award winning Harry’s Restaurant situated in Bridgend, to supply them with bespoke dinnerware. Harry’s is renowned for using the very best in locally sourced raw materials in the production of their wonderfull food. They have now taken this approach to another level by sourcing the dinnerware locally as well. We have been working with Harry’s manager Donal & his head Chef to produce these specially designed dishes.

In the video (below) you can see how we throw,turn & handle our hand made stoneware mugs. We make these at our pottery, situated in the beautiful Inishowen peninsula, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Visit www.movillepottery.com

Contact Details

Moville Pottery
Glencrow
Moville
Co Donegal
Ireland

T: 00353 74 9382059
W: www.movillepottery.com

Pottery Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 12 noon- 5 pm

Moville Pottery in the News

One of Inishowen’s most famous businesses has been awarded a unique opportunity to promote its shop on an international stage thanks to the City of Culture. Read more

Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival

Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival
Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th July 2012

The organising committee for this year’s Buncrana Music, Arts and Culture Festival have this week launched the full programme of events. The festival, which had been in jeopardy, was only saved in March when a new committee was formed.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26 with a big country music night with live music on the Main Street with music by Gerry Guthrie from 8.30pm followed by Patrick Feeney and his band, who this week received a standing ovation from his audience at the Highland Radio concert.

There is also a car treasure hunt starting from the Lake of Shadows Hotel at 6pm.

The North Pole Cycling Club are also holding a 30km road race leaving from the fire station at 7pm.

Friday sees the activities continue with a Dog Show on the shore greens commencing at 3pm. There will be live music each day from 2.30pm from Friday to Sunday outside The Coffee Cup; everyone is welcome to bring their own instruments.

On Friday night at 8.30 the Main Street comes alive with the ever popular Kopykat Killers followed at 10pm by Shadowplay who played at last year’s festival. At 11pm the Plaza plays host to local favourite Martin Cuffe and up and coming star Johnny Brady, while there is a festival disco in club Libertys.

Saturday 28th July has a jammed packed programme of events starting with a carnival parade on the Main Street from 12.30pm. This event is being organised by Donegal Youth Service and continues from 1pm to 6pm at the shore greens with a host of activities including a Teddy Bears picnic and a range of fun events for the kids. From 1pm there will also be a mini-music festival and craft fair at Swan Park. The festival also coincides with The Feel Good Fortnight organised by Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide.

Defending Aileach-eireanns edge visit Buncrana with their fabulous display of Ireland’s only replica of an ancient Irish chariot, as well as an Irish medieval combat display and sword making. These range of events promises to be a great day for everyone.

Saturday evening sees live music on Buncrana’s Main Street at 8.30pm with highly popular local band Overplay. At 10pm the Main Street will see Rattle n Hum play to the crowds, described as the finest U2 tribute band on the planet by Hotpress magazine. The Knights of Leon, another extremely popular act play in the plaza from midnight, with a festival disco in club Libertys.

In a slight change to previous years the Sunday will see a host of events on the main street from 5.30pm. There will be free face painting, bouncy castles and disney characters for the children square. The highlight of the festival will see the 8-piece Garth Brooks experience perform on stage at 10pm.

Buncrana Camera Club will host a photographic exhibition from 12 midday in the former Ruanna Shop.

All bars and clubs will have extended opening throughout the festival. Cullens Amusements will have their Funfair on the Shore greens throughout the festival. This is recognised as the premier fairground in Ireland.

The organising would also like anyone willing to help steward the festival to please contact Nicholas on 086 8435031 or Pat on 086 8179209 urgently.

Finally, the committee are extremely grateful to all our main sponsors who made this year’s festival viable.

Inishowen to Benefit from City of Culture Year

Inishowen to Benefit from City of Culture Year

Tourism in Inishowen has a major opportunity to cash in as more than a million visitors are expected to visit Derry within the next twelve months.

This week almost thirty marquee names in Derry tourism circles were invited on an inaugural tour of the Inishowen 100 to “familiarise” themselves with the region.

One of those enthused was Tower Hotel receptionist Chiree Bowan who said: “I have definitely been guilty in the past of sending people to the Antrim coast or the Giants Causeway for a day trip, but now I will be highly recommending Inishowen.

“I thought the Famine Village was brilliant and the scenery throughout the peninsula was beautiful. There is so much to do, but now when tourists ask where would be good for a day out I will certainly be mentioning Inishowen first.

The tour was the brainchild of Inishowen Tourism’s City of Culture liaison officer, Jennifer O’Donnell, who said it was designed to create positive links with the city.

“They are expecting over 400,000 people to come to Derry for the Fleadh alone next August,” explained Jennifer. “Those numbers are unreal; we can’t be left behind. This is a major opportunity for local businesses to get a major boost so our main aim for now is to strengthen the link between Derry and, it’s natural hinterland, Inishowen.”

This week’s trip took in Fort Dunree, The Famine Village and An Grianan of Aileach, and is the first of many ventures which will see the tourist office try to establish the peninsula as a must see destination

The Carn woman says it is vital to strength these links.

“We need to promote Inishowen in the run up to the City of Culture, so we decide in invite people down to give them first hand experience of what was on offer. The majority of people who were on the trip have never been to any of the destinations and now a lot of them are dying to come back and spend more time here.”

She added: “Next week I will be inviting community groups to public meetings in Buncrana, Carndonagh and Moville on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. This way the public can get involved and give their ideas on how to promote their towns.”

Amongst the Derry City tourism staff travelling around Inishowen on Wednesday, were frontline staff from hotels across the city, an idea which Bronagh Masoliver, from the Derry Tourist Office believes is key.

“The people here are receptionists and frontline staff who deal with the public on a daily basis. Not everyone who comes to Derry goes to the tourists offices, but they all come to hotels and you can be guaranteed they will asking the receptionist were they should go for a day trip.”

Preserving Authentic Ireland

Preserving Authentic Ireland at The Red Door Fahan

Every Wednesday Night during June July and August

Experiencing Ireland’s cultural heritage is still one of the greatest motivations for tourists to the country. Despite all else that is going on in Ireland, they want to learn about our traditions, lifestyle and what makes the place and people unique. The role of providing this experience lies largely with tourism providers and entering the summer season, we are stepping up to the mark.

One of the most authentic experiences a visitor can have is to sit by the fireside in the evening listening to poetry recitations, old legends and a song or two. The Celtic tradition of storytelling has been around for over 2000 years and people would gather in each other’s houses making their own entertainment to pass the long evenings.

Local musician, painter, writer and genealogist Seoirse O’Dochartaigh helped launch our Wednesday night opening at The Red Door last night with a relaxed evening of music and chat by the open fire in Kate’s Room, the original part of the country house built in 1789. Switching from English to Gaelic throughout poems and songs, Seoirse told how this was how Irish speakers learned English in the past.

Overnight guests from America and Greece said that they had toured to other parts of Donegal before coming to Inishowen but had not encountered such ‘Irishness’ as this. Locals enjoyed finding out about the history of the area and in particular the O’Dochartaigh family name.

Wednesday nights during June, July and August

Seoirse will be at The Red Door every Wednesday Night during June July and August and everyone is welcome. Senior citizens enjoy 10% discount on food on Wednesdays so it is perfect for a night out with a difference during the week. Call 00353 74 9360289 to book but it’s not essential.

Link: Preserving Authentic Ireland

Simply Music at Tullyarvan Mill Buncrana

Simply Music at Tullyarvan Mill Buncrana

Next Sunday, June 24th Tullyarvan Mill will be rocking to the sounds of the best of Inishowen talent – all tutors and friends of Simply Music.

The concert starts at 8pm, and features none other than the Henry Girls, local band Palomino, and singer/songwriters Longfellow and Louise Moore. Admission is €8, €20 per family.

Eleanor Lamb, back in her role as manager of Simply Music after an absence of 3 years, is really looking forward to a great night.

Speaking yesterday she said: “All of these acts feature Simply Music tutors, so in a sense it’s turning the tables and giving our pupils the opportunity to listen to their tutors”.

Simply Music at Tullyarvan Mill Buncrana
Simply Music is also hosting the internationally acclaimed Blazing Bows in a community workshop as part of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, on Wed 27th June at 1pm. Admission to this event is free, and “it will be a wonderful opportunity for our pupils, their families and the wider community to listen to these wonderful musicians in an informal setting, chat, find out their approach to music, and how they learnt and got involved in the first place”, says Eleanor.

Other Simply Music events during the summer include a School of Rock from August 13th – 16th and ‘A Rainbow of Sound’ – a children’s Art and Music summer scheme to take place from July 17th – 20th, so it’s a busy summer ahead for all Inishowen music enthusiasts!

Dunree Commemoration

Dunree Commemoration

The annual remembrance service for the men and women of Inishowen who died during World War 1 will be held on Sunday June 30th 2013 in Fort Dunree Military Museum at 2.30pm.

A Prayer Service led by clergy from the Catholic, Church of Ireland, and Presbyterian faiths will be followed by a reading of the Roll of Honour and the Last Post. Wreaths will be laid by a number of organisations as well as private family flowers. Music will be provided by The Buncrana Accordian Band and The Tullintrain Pipe Band.

At least 249 men and women from Inishowen died in World War One. They came from both main traditions and fought for different reasons. They fell in France, Belgium, Gallipoli, Salonika, Iraq, Palestine, and on the high seas. For many years their sacrifice was forgotten. In the words of former President Mary McAleese, ‘Memories were put in shoeboxes’.

Last year a permanent memorial to these local men was opened by the Chairman of the Donegal CDB Peace III Partnership, Cllr Dessie Larkin (FF), and wreaths will be laid at the memorial during the ceremony.

The organisers of this annual event, the Inishowen Friends of Messine group, would like to invite everybody to come along on Sunday 24th to remember their relations and neighbours, who came from every single parish in Inishowen, and who died and were forgotten for so long.

Inishowen 100

Inishowen 100

The “Inishowen 100″ is one of Ireland’s most scenic drives. Its a 100-mile (160km) circular route around the Inishowen Peninsula in North East Donegal. Bounded on three sides by water, the peninsula is almost triangular in shape, between Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north. With splendid coastal scenery plus a good collection of ancient forts and monuments, traditional craft centres, and a dozen or so friendly villages, many people consider Inishowen to be a miniature Donegal. Scenic highlights include the breathtaking Gap of Mamore, a scenic roadway that rises to a height of 800 feet above sea level before following a twisting corkscrew descent with panoramic views of the entire northern coastline; Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point; and Fort Dunree – a magnificent viewing outpost.