RTE’s Nationwide catches Inishowen’s wow factor
Malin Town from the air with the Earagail Arts Festival tent at its centre.
Inishowen’s potential for cultural tourism was highlighted on RTE’s Nationwide magazine programme last week.
Malin Town and Trawbreaga Bay made a strong backdrop for a feature on the Home with the Henry Girls’ songwriting workshop which was held in July during The Earagail Arts Festival.
The Henry Girls played five concerts on Malin Town’s village green during the festival.
Their week-long songwriting workshop brought participants from far and wide to Inishowen.
Describing the yearly event to RTE, Henry Girl Karen McLaughlin said: “We are here in our home village Malin and we invite people to come here to write songs, do music workshops, and relax.”
The attendees drew inspiration from the natural beauty of Inishowen to encourage their songwriting ambitions.
“I looked through some poems of Dinny McLaughlin, that well-known musician and poet from Buncrana and I found one of his poems called ‘Hope’,” Karen told Nationwide.
From the poem, the workshop participants developed a song with The Henry Girls which they jointly performed at the week’s final concert.
They participants were more than happy with the result.
“It’s been an emotional ride, it’s been intense and it’s been tiring, but it’s been literally the best week ever. I couldn’t recommend it enough,” said workshop member Carol Wilson.
Home with the Henry Girls returns next year. Details are available at www.thehenrygirls.com
The edition of RTE Nationwide is currently available to view on RTEPlayer