MINISTER Eamon O'Cuiv launched the Pan Celtic International Festival in Letterkenny on Tuesday which is expected to attract around 12,000 people to the town.
Celts from Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany have converged on the town for a celebration of culture through music, song, dance and craic.
This is the second year Letterkenny has hosted the festival which provides colourful street parades, band and choral performances in all of the Celtic languages. The opening ceremony on Tuesday night was attended by around 650 people and all of the different Celtic nations gave a display of music and dancing.
In tandem with the Pan Celtic International Festival the town this week was also hosting the Oireachtas na Casca which runs until Sunday. It offers a whole range of competitions, events and lectures in Irish.
Cathleen Coughlan, Chairperson of the Letterkenny Pan Celtic International Festival committee welcomed the many participants and visitors to the town.
"Minister O'Cuiv spoke of the value of the festival to the town in economic, social and cultural terms. He also recalled a trip his grandfather Eamon deValera made following the trail of the Earls from Rathmullan 400 years ago," Ms Coughlan said.
She added that the former President and Taoiseach visited all Ireland's offshore islands and travelled from Tory to Barra in Scotland which was the beginnings of the forging of the links which exist between the countries today.
The announcement was warmly welcomed that Donegal Town will host the Pan Celtic International Festival in 2008 and 2009.
Festival President Fiona McArdle spoke of the increased interest in minority languages of the Celtic nations.
She added that hosting the festival gave people an opportunity to come and learn minority languages. Some of the week's events include classes in Gallic and Gaelic language with an option for classes in Breton or Cornish. She spoke of the close linguistic links between spoken Manx Gaelic and the native Donegal tongue.
Among the wide range of events being staged as part of both festivals is the popular town parade which takes place today (Friday) at 2 pm. The different nations will perform in a parade from the Grianan Theatre to the Market Square.
This evening at 7 pm there are the Gala Choral performances by choirs from the Celtic nations in An Grianán Theatre.
Saturday sees a combination of events including a Pan Celtic Camogie Blitz at various pitches around the town at 10am. Throughout the day groups from different nations will perform on the street. There will be competitions in harping, singing, inter-Celtic dancing and fiddling.
The festivals conclude on Sunday with a Celtic Mass in St Eunan's Cathedral at 10am and the Camogie final in O'Donnell park at 12.30 pm.
For further information on any of the events the festival office for Friday and Saturday is located at the Mount Errigal Hotel.
