A concert featuring Taylor Swift songs ‘as Gaeilge’ is one of the highlights of a bilingual festival in Galway this weekend.

The ‘Tonnta’ festival, which celebrates Galway’s status as a bilingual city, is taking place from Thursday to Sunday with 26 events across 15 venues, including ten free events.

‘Tonnta’ (which means ‘Waves’), now in its third year, takes place from January 29 to February 1 and it is organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge. It has quickly become an annual celebration of St Brigid and the Irish language.

Among the highlights is a show which features the songs of Taylor Swift, sung ‘as Gaeilge’ by Connemara native Roisin Seoighe and Imlé. There are still some tickets available for Tionscadal Taylr Swift, in partnership with IMRAM, on Saturday at the Town Hall Theatre. https://tht.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173663154

Aran Islands native Padraig Jack, who sings in both Irish and English, headlines a concert at An Taibhdhearc the opening night of the festival this Thursday (January 28) at 8pm.

Tickets are fully sold out for the concert by Imelda May, who is on a journey of discovery with the Irish language in her six-part TV series Amhráin na nGael, at the Black Box Theatre on Friday (8pm).

The festival includes a lot more than music gigs. For example Turas Folláine Chonamara, the Connemara Wellness Tour, in partnership with Udaras na Gaeltachta, includes a visit to a sauna, wild swimming, lunch by the sea, and a virtual reality show.

And on Saturday you can celebrate St Brigid with a day of crafts, songs, and storytelling at the Mick Lally Theatre.

Also on Saturday, you can also check out the stories behind the Micil poitin distillery in Salthill (6pm). Enjoy the flavours and stories of poitín-making in Connemara during a bilingual tour which involves tasting the drink which was not always legal in Ireland.

There is a colourful history behind Micil and the brothers who set up the legal distillery are delighted to share their stories, in both Irish and English. Gaeltacht an Eachréidh organised a hugely enjoyable tour of the Micil distillery ‘as Gaeilge’ last August and it comes highly recommended!

Gaillimh Le Gaeilge say you don’t have to be fluent in Irish to enjoy this bilingual festival and everyone is welcome for a festival which is now firmly established in the city’s calender of events at the start of the year.

Full details are on the Tonnta website: https://tonnta.eu/

 

Roisin Seoighe will sing the songs of Taylor Swift ‘as Gaeilge’ at the Town Hall Theatre.