The festival wishes to provide first class tuition on a number of instruments, starting with the fiddle and flute. Later we hope to incorporate more instruments, singing, dancing, recitation and storytelling. The folklore of each tune will be passed on as well as the tune.

John 'The Tae' Gallagher was born in West End, Ardara in 1923. At the age of four he began playing the fiddle and at the age of five he gave his first performance at a local concert.

From this he progressed to playing at dance halls and finally solo playing at special functions etc. He also performed complex duets with another local fiddler called James Josie 'The Post' McHugh. John 'The Tae' Gallagher won Oireachtas Senior Fiddle competition in 1956 and in 1959 won the All Ireland Senior Competition at the Fleadh in Thurles.

Friday 3rd May 2002

7.00pm - 9.00pm
Registration for Summer School of Music in Heritage Centre:
Fidil agus feadóg mór

Fee: Adults €50
Children €25
Family rates available

Beginners, intermediate and advanced students catered for.

Official Opening

9.30pm
OPening of the festival in the Green House Bar. Unveiling of the special corner in the Green House Bar to famous Ardara Fiddler Josie 'The Post' McHugh.

Irish music in all pubs, everybody welcome to take part.

Saturday 4th May 2002

9.00am - 10.00am
Final Registration in Heritage Centre

10.00am - 12.00pm
Flute School in Heritage Centre - Marcus O' Murchú and Sean Lee.
Fiddle School in St. Mary's National School - James Byrne, Derek McGinley and Seamus Gibson.

2.00pm - 4.00pm
Flute and Fiddle Schools continue in the afternoon.

Evening Events

Heritage Centre
7.00pm
Documentry on the Music of John 'The Tae'

8.00pm
Irish Music, storytelling and recitation by famous broadcaster, Ciaran Mac Mathúna, Packie Manus Byrne, and others.

Central Bar
10.30pm
Rince Sciobóil (Barn Dance)
Seisiúní Ceoil (Irish music in all pubs, everybody welcome to take part)

Sunday 5th May 2002

10.00am - 12.30pm
Morning Fiddle/Flute classes in Heritage Centre and St. Mary's National School.

2.00pm - 4.0pm
Flute and Fiddle Schools continue in the afternoon.

6.00pm
Storytelling & Recitations in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel

8.00pm
An Evening Not to be Missed!
The Festival Concert in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel.
The concert will feature an array of young talent from the community. Members of famous local fiddler family 'The Campbells' will join James Byrne, Derek McGinley, Sean Lee, the Ó Rourkes and others.

Fringe Events

Ardara Resource Centre
Art Exhibition, Wood Road, Ardara

Heritage Centre
Exhibition of Paintings by Stephen Bennett

Ardara Dramatic Society
Perform "Majesty of the Law" by Frank O Connor