Hughie Gillespie Weekend & Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition

Last weekend saw a fantastic weekend of traditional music in Ballybofey to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Hughie Gillespie - a Balybofey native and one of the greatest fiddle players Ireland has ever produced.

As part of the weekend the Balors Traditinal Musician in Residence gave a fiddle workshop in the Balor at 3 in the afternoon and also participated in a concert that night which featured an absolutely dazzling array of traditional musicians including Tommy, Brendan McHugh from Glasgow, Martin McGinley, Tony Smith, Paddy Ryan, Brid Harper, Matt McGranaghan, Annette Owens and Marian Connolly. Apologies if I've left anyone out but there was simply so much talent on the stage that I may have missed someone.

On Wednesday the 1st of Nov we had our first ever bluegrass concert featuring The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition. Not having done Bluegrass before we didn't know how this would go but in the end it was a resounding success. the band were great, we had a decent crowd considering it was a midweek after the Hallowe'en bank holiday and everyone went home happy.

A special thanks must go to Highland Radios Frank Galligan who gave help above and beyond the call of duty getting the word out about the show and came down and MCed on the night.