Ceoltóirí Chnoc na Gaoithe recently undertook a ten day visit to South Africa as guests of the Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, Mr Liam MacGabhann, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Irish week.
The multi-talented group of musicians, singers and dancers performed at Embassy events in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone,T.D. was the guest of honour at the official Embassy events.
A full and varied programme of events was organised by Embassy Second Secretary,Louisa Heneghan, and Tulla native Paula Nolan, Head of Development – Development Specialist with the Irish Embassy in Pretoria.
The programme includes performances at the three main St. Patrick’s Day official events in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town as well as visits to townships to undertake community work, provide dance workshops for the township dance schools, collaborating with the students at the Sibikwa Arts Centre to create an Irish/South African Musical Fusion. They group travelled to Soweto to perform with the Soweto School of Music as well as challenging the local South African Gaels GAA club to a game of gaelic football and hurling.
During free time the group visited visit Pilansberg Safari park and Table Mountain before returning home on 19th March.
The musicians travelling were drawn from the band Out The Gap and members of the Cnoc na Gaoithe Senior Céílí Band and include Fergus Bogue (accordion), Pamela Queally ( fiddle), Gearóid McNamara ( piano, tin whistle and concertina), Amy McNamara (fiddle) and Kevin Carey (flute and drums) and Kate McNamara ( concertina). They are joined by four hugely talented Irish dancers, Elisha Coleman and Matthew Gillespie from Lord of the Dance with Ciara Jennings and Micheál Fogarty who have travelled to China with the group on previous occasions, Micheál is also a talented traditional and folk singer.
Just over 3 weeks to go to Tulla Trad Festival.
Please like and share and come to Tulla for a great weekend of music and dancing.
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This crew will be playing for the opening hour of the Céilí at Féile Chnoc na Gaoithe at 3pm Sunday 19th May and they will be joining the session at the CD launches at 6pm in Teddy Griffins Bar
Comhaltas: ComhaltasLive #560_6:Banna Ceoil Chnoc na Gaoithe, An Tulach
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These are photos taken at the orphanage which is going to benefit from the sale of Fergus' C.D.Thank you Lorraine Keenan from Hero Holidays for bringing us these amazing Irish volunteers. Cnoc na Gaoithe and some "Lord of the Dance" dancers... you may have come to South Africa to celebrate St. Patrick's Day but you turned our day into St. PERFECT Day. Memories to last a life time.
Fergus Bogue will launch his debut solo C.D. Díreach ón gCroí at Teddy Griffins Bar, Tulla on Sunday 19th May at 6pm. Fergus is joined on the C.D. by his sister Mairead on fiddle, Gerry McMahon on guitar and Gearóid McNamara on piano. The proceeds of the C.D are being donated to the Babies in the Bush Orphanage, Hammenskraal Dinokeng and Butterfly for Change Day care crèche which Fergus visited with Ceoltóirí Chnoc na Gaoithe during our trip to South Africa for St. Patrick's week celebrations. This is a wonderful generous gesture by Fergus and a really worthy cause. Please support The Babies in the Bush by coming to the launch and buying this C.D. Here is a taste to whet your appetite, Fergus and Gearóid playing a few tunes🎼🎵
Rita Lenihan ☺️☺️
Fergus, where can I purchase the CD online, please??
Lovely music for a great cause. Best of Luck with the venture Fergus! 😊👍🎼🎶🎵
Lovely music lads
Daniel Mckenna
Lovely lads . Nice gesture also 👍hope to make it over for the fun.
Beautiful music looking foward to getting cd.
Can you let me know when it’s available and how to purchase? I’m in South Australia.
Fergal Burke
Lovely !!
Great music Fergus an co hope it goes well and that we will be able to get a copy when it’s released
Just beautiful 🎹🎼🎤
Fergus is just gifted!! What a guy!! Looking forward to getting the CD for the radio!! J
Mighty stuff lads!
Very nice, well done.
Well done Fergus!
Mighty stuff
Lovely stuff 👍
Ill buy the cd... where can i get it?
Darragh Twomey
Mighty!
John Morgan
Aileen
Ann Crowe
Brillant