As part of Letterkenny Trad Week, one of Donegal’s finest bands, Altan, will takee the stage.

On one of his many visits to the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair, Belfast born flute player Frankie Kennedy met fiddler and singer Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, sparking off a deep musical connection, marriage in 1981, and a journey that took them all over the world. Their vision was to bring the unique repertoire of Donegal music to the world and that mission is still as strong as ever.

In the mid 80s, Mairéad and Frankie recruited bouzouki player Ciaran Curran from Fermanagh, whose intricate counterpoint is at the centre of the Altan sound, and guitarist Mark Kelly from Dublin. In 1992, the album Harvest Storm brought with it Dáithí Sproule on guitar, having played with the wonderful Skara Brae with the Ó Domhnaill family, and Buncrana native, Ciaran Tourish on fiddle.

One of the band’s finest hours came with the release of Island Angel in 1993, which was recognized by Billboard World Music Charts as the second biggest selling world music album globally in 1994. Shortly after the release of this album, accordionist Dermot Byrne joined the band. However, in September 1994, the band suffered the loss of Frankie Kennedy.

A former TG4 Young Musician of the Year, Martin Tourish, took over on the accordion in late 2013. The band’s album, The Widening Gyre, was recorded in Nashville with many American guests like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jerry Douglas and Alison Brown.

Tickets, costing  €27.50 each plus €1 fee, are available from https://angrianan.ticketsolve.com/shows/873624067/events/128371601/seats?_ga=2.103751236.59140229.1643795417-718429212.1546608174&zone=Default