Summer Concerts

ITMP are excited to be bringing our third annual Summer Concert Series online for 2020.
Events include showings of concerts and performances from 2018 and 2019.
There will also be a number of new performances by local musicians in August schedule.
The full line up for July is listed here and you can watch by tuning into our Facebook page where the events are hosted as a Watch Party.
We look forward to you joining us and we look forward to bringing you our live events as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thank you for your continued support.
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INISHOWEN

A celebration of the traditional music of Inishowen

Performed by the Inishowen Trad Orchestra and choir

Sat 4th April, Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, Inishowen, County Donegal

2020 is the twenty first anniversary of Inishowen Traditional Music Project (ITMP) and to commemorate and celebrate this momentous achievement, ITMP has embarked on its most ambitious project to date.

It has assembled a group of over 100 musicians and singers to form the Inishowen Trad Orchestra and choir, and engaged renowned musician and composer Martin Tourish to select and arrange an hour piece of music and song which traces the story of Inishowen’s rich musical tradition from 1100AD to the present day.

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Moxie in Concert Sun 11th October

Inishowen Traditional Music Project
Autumn Series presents

Moxie in Concert

Sun 11th OctoberThe Colgan Hall-Carndonagh plus special workshops with Moxie  Sat 10th and Sun 11th October

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Willie Bonner – A Tribute

  An Acknowledgement

The Inishowen Traditional Music Project was established in 1999. From the beginning, Willie  Bonner was a wonderful supporter of the project attending many of the concerts and sessions in Glengad Community Centre and in Mc Grory’s of Culdaff as well as many other singing and music events in the Inishowen Peninsula.

In acknowledging the passing of our good friend Willie Bonner we asked his niece Mary Bonner originally from Boston ,USA  to write the following words about Willie. 

 

Willie Bonner 5Willie Bonner 1928-2013

Inishowen has lost one of its most loyal music supporters, with the recent passing of Willie Bonner of Portaleen, Malin.

Willie was my uncle. He was a warm, wise and highly respected man.  People came from far and wide to ask for information and advice about boats.  There was nothing about boats Willie did not know.  In recent years, he participated in the building of traditional curraghs, mentoring the group with his knowledge and utilizing his skill of working with his hands.

Throughout his life, Willie travelled extensively throughout Ireland, North and South, as well as Scotland and England.  His destinations were predominantly port towns and fishing villages.  As for places in the world he hadn’t visited, he most certainly read about them.

L-R John, Willie and Mary Bonner

L-R John, Willie and Mary Bonner

Any time I was making travel plans within Ireland or the UK, Willie recommended wonderful places to visit.  I fondly recall a conversation we had before I set off for a tour of the west coast of Scotland, which included a visit to Iona.  Willie described the tranquil and mystical atmosphere of Iona.  To my astonishment, I experienced the same during my time there. We agreed later that neither of us had ever felt anything like the peaceful sensation experienced on Iona. I am so glad we shared this special experience, even though we didn’t visit Iona together.

When it came to travel or anything else, he never steered me wrong!  I am  certain that there are many other who people would be able to say the same about Willie.

In addition to his love of boats, his respect for traditions such as the curraghs, his skill of working with his hands, and his natural interest and curiosity about the world, Willie loved live music.

For many years, Willie was a familiar face at the Inishowen Singing Weekend in Clonmany.  He would also be found at story-telling, art exhibits, plays and especially the music sessions every year since the first Charles Macklin Autumn School in Culdaff in 1990.

He had a genuine appreciation for Inishowen’s local musicians – Tom Byrne,  The Henry Girls and so many more.   He also took special pride in his talented neighbours, Paula and Melanie Houten.

Whenever Mary Black sang in McGrory’s, Willie and I were there.

Willie and Mary at Altan's Concert 2011

Willie and Mary at Altan’s Concert 2011

For many years, we looked forward to our annual night out at the Altan concert between Christmas and New Year at McGrory’s in Culdaff.  No matter how bad the weather and the roads were, Willie was a steadfast member of the audience every year since Altan first played in McGrory’s.

However, Willie’s favourite nights were Fridays in McGrory’s Front Bar.  He would settle into his usual corner seat inside the door. He would take his cap off, fold it and rest it on the seat back behind him.  Later, I would know it was time to go home when the cap was lifted and unfolded.

Willie preferred the quieter nights.  When the bar was crowded and the conversations got loud, he would lament in the fact that there was beautiful music being played in the corner and he could not hear it.  He relished the quiet nights when he could see the fire, say hello to a few familiar faces, and hear the music he loved so much.

Willie was always glad to see Mick Denieffe come through the door with his accordion case and Roisin McGrory with her fiddle, along with John McGrory and often a variety of other musicians who turned up on the night.

Willie Bonner 2 Web SmlWillie loved all the music – the slow melodies and the lively tunes.  But he would always wait for one piece of music in particular,  Ashokan Farewell .    Our conversation stopped as a look of serenity crossed his face when he heard “his song” – always played so beautiful by Roisin McGrory.   Now and then, he would mention, in a calm and matter-of-fact way, that it was the music he wanted as he was escorted from the chapel after his funeral.

So when that day arrived, 21st September 2013, the gifted musicians – Roisin McGrory, Mick Denieffe, Melanie Houten and John McGrory –  whose music he enjoyed countless times over the years-  paid a wonderful tribute to Willie Bonner with one final music session to send him on his way.  And at the end of the service, Willie got his final wish;  Roisin played Ashokan Farewell, the beautiful and bittersweet melody he cherished.

 

Mary Bonner – November 2013

 

Willie Bonner 3 Web Ex Lge

 

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Dinny Mc Laughlin – Ark of Tides – Have a Listen

Dinny McLaughlin“Ark of Tides” from Dinny Mc Laughlin is a collection new tunes and songs on CD/DVD.

Enjoy this great performance of music from the Inishowen Peninsula and hear Dinny’s story in music among  the  “High Kings of Aileach”  and the “King and Queen of Barna”.

 

ArcOfTidesFront

Ark of Tides Track 1

Ark of Tides Track 2

Ark of Tides Track 3

Ark of Tides Track 11

 

 

 

The CD /DVD is currently available at:

  McGrory’s of Culdaff.

An Culturlann” Great St. James’s Street  Derry.

Barr’s Shop and Mac’s Newsagent Buncrana.

Farrens Shop Moville

Inishowen Music  Committee Members

Price 18 euro or  £15

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Dinny recording with Musicians Louise Mc Kinney, Melanie Houton, Roisin Mc Grory, Clodagh Warnock, Edel Mc Laughlin and Martin Tourish

Dinny recording with Musicians Louise Mc Kinney, Melanie Houton, Roisin Mc Grory, Clodagh Warnock, Edel Mc Laughlin and Martin Tourish

Visit Inishowen Music website:  http://inishowenmusic.ie

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Musicians

For lovers of Traditional Irish Music, The Front Bar is a haven with its regular sessions on Tuesday and Friday nights. Featuring both local and visiting musicians, it is known as one of the best Traditional Sessions in the country.

Sessions

For lovers of Traditional Irish Music, The Front Bar is a haven with its regular sessions on Tuesday and Friday nights. Featuring both local and visiting musicians, it is known as one of the best Traditional Sessions in the country.

Teaching and Workshops

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