RESIDENTS in a care facility in Donegal were serenaded by an impromptu concern by a staff member yesterday.

As visiting restrictions continue, staff at Saint Columbcille Village in Clonmany continue to find ways to entertain their residence.

Teddy Doran treated the residents to a fine rendition of ‘Home to Donegal’, Daniel O’Donnell’s popular classic.

“He’s not Daniel, but he’s the next best thing!” one said.

A Donegal singer/songwriter is hitting all the right notes as he offers his music in aid of a local charity project.

Jim Carbin is set to donate all proceeds from a special track to ChefAid Donegal – a voluntary meal delivery service for the vulnerable during Covid-19.

The song, Emma, from his 2018 album Long Time Comin’ is for sale for €2 on Bandcamp.

Carbin said all proceeds will now go to ChefAid.

And he is hoping that people will connect with the song while supporting the fundraiser.

He said: “This track includes my good friends The Henry Girls, it is about a mutual friend who sadly passed away.  I thought that the song would reflect the loss that some people may be going through be that loss of actual people or just loss of contact with people.”

“It’s a song about loss and love and friendship..things many of us will need, have or be missing.”

To preview or download ‘Emma’ visit Jim’s bandcamp page at: https://jimcarbin.bandcamp.com/track/emma

Donegal singer Mickey Joe Harte has teamed up with Irish comedy stars The 2 Johnnies to record “the duet the world needed in this time of crisis”.

Recording from their homes in Donegal and Tipperary, they collaborated on a mash-up of ‘Mysterious Girl’ and Mickey Joe’s legendary Eurovision 2003 song ‘We’ve Got the World’.

The video has fast become a hit on social media, clocking up over 230,000 views in less than 24 hours.

And fans of Mickey Joe and The 2 Johnnies are crying out for more.

One social media user said the track is “definitely number 1”

Others have thanked the lads for making them smile and laugh.

“Peter Andre eat your heart out,” commented another fan.

Meanwhile, Mickey Joe Harte has been treating followers to regular live music sessions from his home during the isolation period. You can catch the #mj@midday videos on Facebook and Instagram.

Donegal entertainer Fergus Cleary is clearly keeping up with his creativity while cocooning during Covid-19!

The Convoy man is well-known for his stage plays and poetry writing.

But these times have inspired him to write a new Covid-19 song from the safety of his home.

Fergus debuted the track from his front door, with his niece Helen Crossan recording from a safe distance.

The funny lyrics delve into pandemic norms such as Garda checkpoints, home shopping deliveries and boredom – and the lack of a love life!

Fergus’ track is sure to become an online hit… and friends are already hoping to make it into a chart topper!

AN eight-year-old Donegal schoolboy has dedicated a superb version of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ to frontline workers.

Kris Friel, who lives in Lifford, sang the powerful rendition in his home.

Kris is a pupil at St Columba’s NS, Clady.

He dedicated the song to workers currently fighting the Covid-19 virus.

Donegal cartoonist Jarla will be zooming into the nation’s households next week after being asked to appear on RTE’s hugely popular Operation Transformation.

Although an avid fan of the gym himself, the Letterkenny man won’t be flexing his muscles on the show.

Instead, Jarla (Duffy) will be teaching the featured families how to cartoon from the comfort of their homes.

Jarla, who is originally from Convent Road (Back Road) has built up a huge following in recent years as a cartoon tutor.

His work features in dozens of schools across the county and also in Letterkenny University Hospital where he is a frontline worker.

In recent weeks he has launched his own cartooning YouTube show to help children pass the time during lockdown.

RTE heard of his talents and called to his home in Glencar recently to film him doing what he does best.

A delighted Jarla told Donegal Daily “It’s nice to get a bit of exposure but I’m just delighted that the kids are tuning into the YouTube channel.

“I love cartooning and I’ve been at it for as long as I can remember. It’s great to see the satisfaction kids get when they see their finished cartoons,” he said.

Talented young choir singers from across Donegal have found a way around cancelled rehearsals by taking the virtual approach to performing together.

Fans of the Donegal Youth Choir have been blown away by their new recording of Coldplay’s Fix You.

The young performers launched the video on Thursday in the hope of spreading some positivity during the Covid-19 crisis.

Choir Leader Sara McLaughlin commented on the inspiration for the project: “One of our choir members recently commented that “it was like a part of her life was missing”. That’s what music and being a part of this choir family means, it is part of who we are.”

Since they were unable to meet for regular rehearsals, Sara decided a great way to keep the choir alive would be to do a virtual get together. The video was a huge undertaking, with 24 performers recording clips from home. The footage was compiled with the help of Kevin Murray on music.

The video has already gathered over 2,300 views on Facebook and is set to go live on Youtube later today.

Three Donegal siblings have created an online hit after recording their own catchy song for the Covid-19 lockdown.

Like all children, the Breathnach’s of Manorcunningham are at home and “stuck with the family”.

But, after some consideration, they decided to turn their situation into a group project to make others smile.

Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin pupils Sadbh, Colm Óg and Aoife tapped into their music and drama skills to put their own spin on an Oliver musical hit. The young performers themed their song on advice for the lockdown and Sadbh, the eldest, took on the directing duties of the video.

Sadbh played the part of Dodger in DYMT’s production of OLIVER last summer, so she knows the song very well.

The children were busy working on the song and dance for two days. And their hard work clearly paid off, as the video has gained over 30,000 views and was featured on the Six O’Clock Show on Virgin Media One.

With thanks to mum Sinead Gibson for sharing the video.

The Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival is the latest local event to be postponed this year due to Covid-19.

The 43rd annual festival was set to take place on from 30th July to 2nd August, 2020.

However, due to government guidelines the planned events can no longer take place.

Organisers announced the decision last night, saying: “We look very much forward to welcoming you back to the Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival in near future.”

Donegal singing star Daniel O’Donnell has teamed up with friends to record an uplifting new song themed on the pandemic.

The song was created in collaboration with fellow country singer Sean O’Farrell and debuted through a ‘Zoom’ performance.

The upbeat song, called “Don’t Let The Music Die“, was inspired by country singers who are missing their fans and missing being out on the road during lockdown.

The hopeful lyrics celebrate the power of music during challenging times.

“While the world is stopped, the music’s not and we all need to sing. Our song will help us make it through, whatever life may bring.”

Daniel brought some of his band together, virtually, to record the song which has received a hugely positive response online.

Fans from around the world have praised the “beautiful song”, while some wrote that they’ve enjoyed dancing along to the track at home.

“A fantastic song with such lovely words. Thank you for getting together in this video and brightening everyone’s day,” wrote one fan.

Another said: “Thank you Daniel & Sean so thoughtful of you to go to so much trouble to bring such a gorgeous duet with lovely lyrics into our homes.”

Country star David James and musician Al Mc Quilkin are hosting a live concert on Facebook tonight to raise money for the Donegal Hospice. 

The concert is set to be a great feel-good hour of music and a chance for fans to get back jiving in their kitchens and living rooms.

Starting from 7pm on the David James Music page, the show will aim to drum up funds via online donations on www.idonate.ie

David will be singing some top hits, with Al on guitar, and they’ll also be taking some requests.

Every cent raised in the hour and afterwards will go towards the vital services of Donegal Hospice, which is in need of support now more than ever due to Covid-19 impacting on annual fundraisers.

“We really hope we can help raise some much needed funds for them,” David said.

To support the fund, please visit: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11385300_david–james–amp–al-mc-quilkin-facebook-live.html

The popular Warehouse Bar + Kitchen in Letterkenny is taking a virtual approach to raising money for the local charity ChefAid Letterkenny.

This Friday 15th May, from 6.30pm until 11pm, the bar is hosting an online benefit concert.

The entire event will be streamed live on Facebook and features performances from a host of national and local musicians. Mundy, Little Hours, Johnny Brady, Jake Carter, Callum Kearney, High Heeled Converse, Mark S Black, Cheryl-Ann and the Davy K Project.

Funds raised will help Chef Aid to provide almost 300 cooked meals a day to the elderly and vulnerable throughout the Letterkenny area during the Covid Pandemic at a cost off over €700 a day.

“Chef Aid Letterkenny are offering an invaluable service to the most vulnerable in our community and we want to help raise some much needed funds and raise awareness for their work,” explains Warehouse Bar + Kitchen Manager Michael Skelly.

“We have a  massive line up of well known national and local artists. The event will be a lot of fun and I would encourage the local community to show their support and tune in on Friday and make a donation”.

A PayPal account has been set up for the event and donations can be made via PayPal.me/warehousebk

DANIEL O’Donnell gave some of his elderly fans a real treat with an impromptu ‘concert’ in the garden of a community hospital.

The Donegal singing star visited Falcarragh Community Hospital on Friday afternoon.

Daniel sang for the residents in the 35-bed unit and spoke through the window to his adoring fans.

“They were actually watching one of his videos in the morning,” Anne-Marie Duffy, the Clinical Nurse Manager at Falcarragh Community Hospital, told Donegal Daily.

“Words can’t express the joy he brought us. They all love Daniel, naturally enough. After they had watched his videos, we went and told them that we had a special guest coming. It was just so surreal.”

Daniel called the hospital to say he could pop over in the afternoon.

Staff quickly rallied to get their patients at the ready.

Anne-Marie said: “It was just fantastic. It was such a treat for them all. Daniel is just such a great ambassador for Donegal.

“He went up to the windows, asking where they were from and everything. It was literally like a concert, we got the blinds and the curtains down from the windows so we could line them all up to watch out.

“It was beautiful and very emotional actually. The residents were in aw of him.”

A comical Donegal man may have recorded one of the most entertaining Eurovision shows in years!

Loughanure native Denis Sweeney-Brophy, now living in Edinburgh, wasn’t going to let the cancellation of this year’s Eurovision song contest pass without a party.

Donning his best outfits, Denis put on his own highlights show in his living room, showcasing all the Ireland winners over the years.

The fantastic production has brought laughter to many of Denis’ Facebook friends and is being shared far and wide on social media.

Who’s your winner? Watch here: 

A BUDDING Donegal actress has been nominated for one of the top gongs at the 2020 Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) awards.

Anna Gallagher from Gartan is one of three nominees for the best actress award.

Anna is nominated for her starring role as Nancy in the Donegal Youth Musical Theatre’s production of Oliver.

DYMT’s big show was held at An Grianán Theatre in August. DYMT are under the direction of Artistic Director and West End Director Séimí Campbell.

Anna Gallagher (Nancy) performing at the Official Launch of OLIVER!

The Letterkenny-based Encore Performing Arts Academy have four nominees.

Their production of Hairspray is among the nominees for the best visual.

Emile Rainey, who played Edna, is nominated for the best actor in a supporting role award; Marie O’Donnell is a nominee for the best female singer; while Andrew Tinney is nominated for the best male singer award.

The nominations for the ’19/20 season were launched online on the AIMS website and social media channels today.

Winners will be announced on Saturday 19th of September with further details to follow.

Speaking at the Nominations AIMS National President Rob Donnelly said: “These nominations are testament to the hard work and dedication from all of the wonderful societies around the country who work tirelessly in order to bring the curtain up on each show.

“While this year has been unlike any other, we want to continue to send good wishes and good vibes to all the societies and their members. Remember staying apart isn’t forever and we hope soon to be united and raise the curtain again. However, until we reach that day, we hope  these nominations bring some joy, smiles and much cheering in a time of uncertainty.”

Daniel O’Donnell brought a ray of happiness to Dungloe Community Hospital again this week when he sang to residents in the sunshine.

The Kincasslagh singer was in the summer spirit on Monday when he performed a private outdoor concert at the nursing home.

In keeping with Covid-19 guidelines, Daniel kept a safe distance from residents and staff by performing in the courtyard. It was the perfect weather for all the windows of the nursing home to be opened wide for the music to flow inside.

A recording of Daniel’s ‘Release Me’ was shared on the Dungloe Hospital Facebook page, where fans once again praised the singer’s kind gesture.

“One in a million, such a great man always thinking of others,” wrote one Facebook user.

Another said: “You are one beautiful person. Must bring such joy to the people and makes their day. Gives them something different to talk about.”

“This man is a special gift from heaven. Thank you for giving the music back into our lives. You are loved all over the world,” said another comment.

Daniel has been surprising nursing home and care home residents all around his local area throughout the Covid-19 emergency. Dungloe, Gweedore and Falcarragh homes have all welcomed concerts from the entertainer at a time when no visitors are permitted.

But Daniel has been given special permission from Gardaí to travel to community hospitals and brighten the residents’ days in a safe way.

Daniel reveals he got letter from Gardai to do his live Covid concerts

A LETTERKENNY man has been nominated for two BAFTA Awards for his work on a stunning show on Netflix.

Michael Harte’s name is rapidly rising in the industry having worked previously on the likes of Identical Strangers and On The President’s Orders.

Now, the talented documentary editor’s work on Don’t F–k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer has been shortlisted for two BAFTA awards.

The three-part series, produced by Raw TV for Netflix, follows a group of internet sleuths who launched a manhunt for Luka Magnotta, after he gained international notoriety in 2010 for sharing a graphic video online of himself killing two kittens.

Magnotta was later convicted for murdering Chinese international student Jun Lin in grisly circumstances.

Harte’s work is nominated in the Editing: Factual and the Series: Factual categories.

He began his career on RTE’s The Savage Eye and has gone on to edit on television projects such as The Undateables’

He has also been the man behind well-known documentaries on UK and Irish television, including One Killer Punch, Educating Cardiff, No Place to Call Home and more.

The of the 2020 British Academy Television Craft Awards will be revealed on Friday 17 July and the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards on Friday 31 July.

Donegal television presenter Tommy Martin says he hasn’t been back to his native county in almost six months and is missing it badly.

The Annagry man is the well-known face of Virgin Media Sport including its Champions League coverage.

Since sporting fixtures stopped due to Covid-19, Tommy has been redeployed to the breakfast slot.

He has fitted in well but the one thing he is missing is the hills of Donegal.

He revealed “What really hit home early in the year is you can make as many plans as you want but you just don’t know what is going to happen.

“I haven’t been home to Donegal since January and I was only saying last week, apart from the year I went travelling to Australia years ago, this is probably the longest time in my life that I haven’t been to Donegal.

“I really feel like there is nowhere I’d rather be.”

Tommy’s home from home is close to Croke Park on Dublin’s northside.

He said that the lockdown has made him think about all the things he took for granted beforehand.

He told the Mirror “The thing that really bothered me, apart from the tragic losses and the health side, is the day-to-day side of it all.

“It has taken away a lot of the things we love the most. Like going to restaurants, going to pubs, concerts or matches, it’s such a big part of the summer and the excitement of the GAA championship or even the local stuff.

“I live close to Croke Park and you can hear the roars from my house but I don’t know when we will see those big crowds of 80,000 people packed together in the stadium.

“It seems a long way away at the moment and that is quite sad.

“We really lost something really magical in our lives.”

As for a return to his role as a sports presenter within the station, he said: “As far as I know they are hoping there will be some sport back with the champion’s league and stuff by the autumn. From maybe August or September things could get back up again.

GRÁINNE Gallanagh has launched the Irish Cancer Society’s new Colour Dash Family 5K.

The Dancing With The Stars finalist from Donegal, who returned to work as a nurse, has backed the new venture, which is sponsored by Aldi Ireland.

The new event replaces the original 5K Colour Dash series, which has traditionally taken place during the summer months since 2013, in the interests of the health and wellbeing of both organisers and participants during Covid-19.

Instead, the Irish Cancer Society is dedicating Sunday July 5th as a day of fundraising that will see participants across the country run, jog, bike, or even scoot, five kilometres on a route of their choice in their own locality at any time on the day in order to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

Families, housemates, individuals and long-time supporters of Colour Dash are being asked to dress up in their brightest outfits and to decorate their bikes, scooters, running gear or even their four-legged friends in keeping with the vibrant nature of this much-loved event.

Frontline nurse Gráinne Gallanagh from Dancing with the Stars launches the Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash Family 5K supported by Aldi, which takes place on Sunday July 5th. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

There will even be spot prizes on the day for the most colourful attire! Participants nationwide are encouraged to share images of their completed 5K on social media.

Registration opens today and runs until July 5th, during which time families and individuals can sign up at www.cancer.ie/colourdash.

Participants are asked to make a donation of €25 per family or €15 per individual taking part in lieu of a registration fee, with the option for participants to further fundraise by gathering donations from family and friends.

Every participant will receive an information pack on how to take part, access to an online 5K time tracker, a downloadable medal for kids to colour in and wear once they have completed their 5K, and more.

Grainne Gallanagh, Dancing With The Stars, Irish Cancer Society,

All monies raised will be used to help the Irish Cancer Society meet increased demand for its free services for cancer patients and their families across the country. The Irish Cancer Society continues to provide vital services for cancer patients throughout the current pandemic.

Among the services and supports particularly in demand at this time are end-of-life Night Nursing care at home, the Volunteer Driver Service and a dedicated Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700 for any queries or concerns on cancer.

“From being back on the frontline as a nurse, I know that this can be a worrying time for cancer patients and their loved ones,” Grainne, who returned to the frontline in April, said.

“The Colour Dash Family 5K is a really fun way for people to show their support and fundraise for a great cause, even during Covid-19. I would encourage people to get on their runners and get creative and colourful with their outfits to help make Sunday July 5th a day to remember for both the Irish Cancer Society and the thousands of families it supports each year.”

PLANS are in place to stage the Letterkenny Busking Festival later this summer.

The Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce has planned to stage the popular outdoor festival on Saturday, August 29.

In 2019, 35 acts took part as Letterkenny’s Main Street came alive to the sound of musicians, magicians dancers, entertainers and trad groups.

The staging of the sixth annual Letterkenny Busking Festival in 2020 remains subject to clearance and the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions.

However, given that the festival date is still over two months away and due to the way the day if planned, organisers believe they will be given the green light.

The Letterkenny chamber is also set to roll out a series of ‘summer sessions’ in the town during the month of July.

Further details will be available on www.facebook.com/letterkennybuskingfestival in due course