Earagail Arts Festival Logo |
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| Location(s) | County Donegal, Ireland |
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| Years active | 1988 - present |
| Date(s) | June/July |
| Genre | Arts |
| Website | www.eaf.ie |
The Earagail Arts Festival (Féile Ealaíne an Earagail) is an annual festival which takes place in County Donegal, Ireland, every June/July. The festival began in June 1988 and celebrated its 21st birthday in 2009.
The Festival includes parades, street performances and numerous plays, musical concerts and comedy acts in towns and villages across County Donegal. Letterkenny is at the centre of the festival with various venues such as An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre and Donegal County Museum in the town hosting events.
It also runs events amid the fantastic scenery of Donegal itself. Drive-in movies at Downings Beach and at Ards Forest Park have been sell-outs in past years and the natural beauty of Glenveagh, Glebe House and Gallery; Earagail, Muckish and Aghla mountains, Tory Island and Magheraroarty Beach all form regular backdrops to the festival programme.
The 2009 Festival was launched in The Ramada Encore Hotel (now The Station House Hotel) on the Oldtown Road in Letterkenny. Launched on 2 June, it ran from the 4th to 19th of July.
Highlights include, The Festival Carnival Parade and Village Fete in Letterkenny on 12 July. Depending on your musical tastes; Quarterdeck, The Stunning, Mary Black, The Henry Girls, Bassekou Kouate and The Hot 8 Brass Band are all worth hearing and the Festival website gives all the details.
Visual Arts, Theatre, Comedy, Poetry, Writing Workshops and events for kids and families are all well represented too, so there is something for everyone; all great value and much of it free!
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The line-up for the 2001 festival included The Undertones, Richard Thompson, John Herald, Johnny Vegas, Phil Kay, Louis de Paor, The Wrigley Sisters, Dan Crary and Beppe Gambetta.
The line-up for the 2002 festival included Mory Kanté, Lambchop, Gail Davies, Hazel O'Connor and Adam Hills.
The line-up for the 2003 festival included Roy Hargrove, Mickey Harte, The Revs, Cathal Ó Searcaigh and Henry McCullough.
The line-up for the 2004 festival included David Strassman, Bob Geldof and Andy Irvine.
The line-up for the 2005 festival included The Saw Doctors, Kathryn Williams, Richie Havens and Pierce Turner.
The line-up for the 2006 festival included John Nee, Joanna MacGregor, Eddi Reader, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Kíla.
The line-up for the 2007 festival included The Skatalites, Patrick Street, Seth Lakeman, Declan O'Rourke and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet.
The 2008 festival was officially launched at the Grill Music Venue. The line-up for the festival included Dave Geraghty, Altan, Donal Lunny, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Lisa Hannigan. [1]
The Arts Festival is principally funded by The Arts Council, Donegal County Council and Fáilte Ireland. Additional funders include Office of Public Works, The National Lottery and Letterkenny Town Council. The festival is sponsored by Kia Motors, Grill Music Venue and RTÉ.