ITSC is delighted to celebrate Heritage Week 2021 by showing a selection of older videos which have been digitised by Specialist AV Ltd and preserved by Irish Traditional Music Archive / Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann through our first The Heritage Council grant award. The grant also places in long term digital preservation, field recordings made by ITMA at the annual Inishowen Singing Weekend. This grant plays a vital role in ensuring recordings of the songs and singers of Inishowen, and those who travel to celebrate our song heritage are available for future generations.
Lough Sheelin Side
Charlie McGonigle
Our first video performance features the late Charlie McGonigle singing Lough Sheelin Side recorded in McFeeley’s Bar Clonmany in March 1995. Stepping back in time and surrounded by family and friends, we fondly remember Charlie whose anniversary fell on 14 August.
Blackwater Side
Lucy Donaghey
Video 2 features local singer Lucy Donaghey who hails originally from Ballinascreen in Co. Derry. Lucy was recorded by ITMA at the 2015 Inishowen International Folk Song and Ballad Seminar singing “Blackwater Side”.
The Greyhound Song
Luke Cheevers
Luke Cheevers is the ITSC Guest for Life, in recognition of the special place he holds at the Inishowen Singing Weekend, and the friendship that has developed between the Dublin singer and Inishowen. His unique delivery and humour are well captured in a 2018 recording at the Ballyliffin Hotel made by the Irish Traditional Music Archive at the annual Inishowen Singing Weekend. These field recordings will be processed for long-term digital preservation and future access by ITMA through a 2021 grant from the Heritage Council of Ireland.
The Beaver Brig
Jim MacFarland
Derry singer Jim MacFarland has played a central role in documenting & promoting the rich song heritage of the Peninsula. Video 4 in our ITSC #HeritageWeek 2021 series features Jim at the Inishowen Singing Weekend 2016 singing The Beaver Brig.
