The most northerly country music festival in Ireland will be staged on the main street of the wee town on the Inishowen peninsula from Saturday, 5 August, until Sunday, 13 August.
The year marks the golden jubilee of the Clonmany Festival, an incredible achievement and making it by far Ireland’s most enduring street festival. Not only that, it is also the biggest country music street festival on the island of Ireland.
Clonmany resonates with the welcome of Donegal. The hospitality is truly special and it is hard not to think of some of the lines of that great Donegal song composed by Seán McBride back in the mid 1950s: “I’m happy to be back again and I greet you one and all. For there’s no place on earth just like the homes of Donegal.”
That rings true in every sense when one considers the amount of people who make the long journey to Clonmany year after year. What started off in the late 1960s has, especially in the last decade, blossomed into a cultural celebration and a week-long jamboree with so many of Ireland’s foremost country entertainers.
Hugo Boyce, one of the original co-founders of the Clonmany Festival way back then, along with a dedicated committee, is still overseeing the big week and is immensely proud of how the roots run deep in this region. In his own colourful summary, Hugo says Clonmany is now the Klondike of Country Music.
Several thousand people are once again expected to descend on Clonmany in the coming days. They have even introduced a festival warm-up evening on 5 August this year, featuring Seamus Moore, Keelan, Slim Attraction and Martin Cuffe.
Mayo’s Gerry Guthrie and band play the 4pm to 6pm afternoon slot on Sunday. The Coyle School of Dancers are on-stage at 8pm, while Johnny Brady and band provide the music from 9.30pm onwards.
The two band session on Monday 7 August features Jim Devine at 8pm and Lisa McHugh at 9.30pm.
Shunie Crampsey opens on Tuesday 8 August, with Mike Denver and band on at 9.30pm. Dominic Kirwan is the opening act on Wednesday 9 August, followed by Carlow’s Derek Ryan and band. Donegal folk, McCarron, Porter and David James are the opening act on Thursday 10 August, with Nathan Carter and band the headline act at 9.30pm. One of the biggest crowds of the festival is expected for the nostalgia night on Friday, 11 August. The show starts at 8pm and over the next three hours will feature Philomena Begley, Ray Lynam, Brendan Shine and TR Dallas, and the acclaimed Conquerors Band.
Robert Mizzell and The Country Kings top the bill on Saturday, 12 August, with support from Barry Kirwan and band.
The festival will close on a high on Sunday 13 August, with Jimmy Buckley and band on-stage from 4pm to 6pm, with the honours of bringing the curtains down on the golden jubilee festival falling to Michael English and his band at 9.30pm.
Clonmany has carved out a unique reputation as the market-leader in street festivals. It truly is an amazing achievement and a wonderful credit to all associated with this noble community. The street subscription for the open-air shows is just €5 and children under 12 go free. Now, that ‘bates’ Banagher.
• The Clonmany Agricultural Show is also celebrating its golden jubilee and takes place next Tuesday, 8 August. It markets itself as being “the biggest and best agriculture show in Donegal”. The show now attracts thousands of visitors from across Ireland and the UK, from farmers to young families. CL
The most northerly country music festival in Ireland will be staged on the main street of the wee town on the Inishowen peninsula from Saturday, 5 August, until Sunday, 13 August.
The year marks the golden jubilee of the Clonmany Festival, an incredible achievement and making it by far Ireland’s most enduring street festival. Not only that, it is also the biggest country music street festival on the island of Ireland.
Clonmany resonates with the welcome of Donegal. The hospitality is truly special and it is hard not to think of some of the lines of that great Donegal song composed by Seán McBride back in the mid 1950s: “I’m happy to be back again and I greet you one and all. For there’s no place on earth just like the homes of Donegal.”
That rings true in every sense when one considers the amount of people who make the long journey to Clonmany year after year. What started off in the late 1960s has, especially in the last decade, blossomed into a cultural celebration and a week-long jamboree with so many of Ireland’s foremost country entertainers.
Hugo Boyce, one of the original co-founders of the Clonmany Festival way back then, along with a dedicated committee, is still overseeing the big week and is immensely proud of how the roots run deep in this region. In his own colourful summary, Hugo says Clonmany is now the Klondike of Country Music.
Several thousand people are once again expected to descend on Clonmany in the coming days. They have even introduced a festival warm-up evening on 5 August this year, featuring Seamus Moore, Keelan, Slim Attraction and Martin Cuffe.
Mayo’s Gerry Guthrie and band play the 4pm to 6pm afternoon slot on Sunday. The Coyle School of Dancers are on-stage at 8pm, while Johnny Brady and band provide the music from 9.30pm onwards.
The two band session on Monday 7 August features Jim Devine at 8pm and Lisa McHugh at 9.30pm.
Shunie Crampsey opens on Tuesday 8 August, with Mike Denver and band on at 9.30pm. Dominic Kirwan is the opening act on Wednesday 9 August, followed by Carlow’s Derek Ryan and band. Donegal folk, McCarron, Porter and David James are the opening act on Thursday 10 August, with Nathan Carter and band the headline act at 9.30pm. One of the biggest crowds of the festival is expected for the nostalgia night on Friday, 11 August. The show starts at 8pm and over the next three hours will feature Philomena Begley, Ray Lynam, Brendan Shine and TR Dallas, and the acclaimed Conquerors Band.
Robert Mizzell and The Country Kings top the bill on Saturday, 12 August, with support from Barry Kirwan and band.
The festival will close on a high on Sunday 13 August, with Jimmy Buckley and band on-stage from 4pm to 6pm, with the honours of bringing the curtains down on the golden jubilee festival falling to Michael English and his band at 9.30pm.
Clonmany has carved out a unique reputation as the market-leader in street festivals. It truly is an amazing achievement and a wonderful credit to all associated with this noble community. The street subscription for the open-air shows is just €5 and children under 12 go free. Now, that ‘bates’ Banagher.
• The Clonmany Agricultural Show is also celebrating its golden jubilee and takes place next Tuesday, 8 August. It markets itself as being “the biggest and best agriculture show in Donegal”. The show now attracts thousands of visitors from across Ireland and the UK, from farmers to young families. CL 
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