For the fourth consecutive year, we had the privilege of partnering with Culture Night Donegal, and what a great celebration it was! With each passing year, Culture Night continues to grow in popularity, uniting communities for an evening of arts, music, heritage, and creative expression.

Culture Night is a national moment that connects people across the country to cultural activities locally and nationally. On this ‘one night for all’, people of all ages can take time out to explore the richness and joy of Irish culture and heritage.

The programme for 2024 offered a mix of 41 diverse live events in 29 different venues celebrating our unique local cultural identity as Donegal opened up to an evening of accessible, family friendly events – all completely free of charge.

People were invited to come out for night-time experience of all types of culture – visual art, music, theatre, sculpture, spoken word, dance, moving image and more. The trail through Culture Night offered audiences experiences all over the town, with indoor and outdoor events happening in diverse places, traditional cultural venues and other, unexpected locations.

The evening offers people the opportunity to experience indoor and outdoor events in diverse places including Fort Dunree in Buncrana, Donegal Rail Museum in Donegal Town, The Plaza in Buncrana, Letterkenny Town Park, Donegal County Museum, the Regional Cultural Centre, An Grianán Theatre, The Cathedral Quarter and The Central Library, as well as a host of other events on the night.

Presented by Donegal County Council Arts Service, the Town Park event was a phenomenal success this year with over 2,000 people coming out to explore the variety of creative and cultural delights on offer. This year, a number of new events took place across Buncrana with great success.

Our focus, (as always!) was on trying to get as much visibility and engagement leading up to the event. We implemented a multi-channel approach that included coverage in local and national newspapers, radio stations, and online publications. We used social media platforms to create an engaging content calendar featuring event spotlights and countdowns to the night.

Culture Night 2024 generated a great turnout, with thousands of attendees immersing themselves in a diverse range of performances, exhibitions, and workshops. From live music and dance to poetry readings and interactive installations, the night was a celebration of Donegal’s rich culture.

Culture Night is not only a chance to enjoy the rich artistic offerings of the county, but also an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the diverse cultural landscape around us. It’s clear from the crowd’s energy and engagement each year, that Culture Night has become a cherished tradition, and one we’re delighted to be a part of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working with exceptional clients always brings its own rewards, and this year, we were thrilled to see some of Donegal’s most talented brands featured in a variety of Christmas gift guides. From fine Irish whiskey to exquisite, handcrafted pottery, we’re excited to share the fantastic coverage our clients received.

Sunday Business Post

One standout was Ruby Silkie Irish Whiskey, which made its way into several prominent gift guides. Its unique blend of Irish whiskey, known for its smooth taste and rich heritage, was featured in high-profile publications. Readers looking for a truly distinctive gift were drawn to Silkie’s charm, and it was exciting to see it shine in print as the perfect choice for whiskey lovers this Christmas.

Irish Independent

Equally impressive, Kevin Callaghan Pottery also enjoyed fantastic recognition in this season’s gift guides. His beautifully handcrafted ceramic pieces, which blend traditional craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic, were highlighted as the ideal gift for those seeking something personal and unique. Kevin’s work stood out in multiple guides, and it was wonderful to see his artistry receive the recognition it deserves.

Irish Times, ‘It’s Christmas’ Magazine in association with The Gloss

Check out the scope of coverage below:

Kevin Callaghan Pottery

The Irish Times

Irish Daily Star

The Sunday Independent, Life Magazine

House and Home

Irish Daily Mail

Mallow Mia

Irish Examiner

The Gloss

The Evening Herald

Irish Daily Mail

Irish Independent ‘All Wrapped Up’ Christmas Gift Guide

Sliabh Liag Distillers

Hot Press

The Evening Herald

Go Wild

Irish Examiner

New Kid Coffee

The Gloss

Irish Daily Mail

IMAGE

Food Coast Donegal put together a wonderful calendar of events throughout 2024, collaborating on a variety of promotional events and launches that showcased the best of Donegal’s vibrant food scene.

Food Coast Donegal is more than just an initiative—it’s a movement that has elevated Donegal’s status as a premier culinary destination. With its focus on supporting and promoting local food producers, manufacturers, retailers, and hospitality outlets, Food Coast Donegal is reshaping how the world sees Donegal. It’s about recognising the county not just for its stunning landscapes, but for its pioneering role in growing start-ups and nurturing existing food businesses.

A Year of Unforgettable Culinary Events

2024 marked another successful year for Food Coast Donegal, and the Calendar of Events was a highlight, offering exclusive food and drink experiences in collaboration with some of the region’s finest producers.

The season kicked off in March with the Food Coast Donegal Producer Showcase, where attendees got the chance to meet local producers and sample their creations. From there, the events continued to roll in, offering diverse experiences that brought together the best of Donegal’s food and drink culture.

This year’s calendar featured highlights such as Ballyholey Farm’s interactive ‘Dig for Your Dinner’, Mallow Mia’s family-friendly ‘S’mores, Songs and Rocky Road’ workshop, and the Long Table Events, where community dining experiences showcased locally sourced ingredients and the culinary talents of Donegal’s chefs.

Each event was not just a celebration of food but a showcase of the incredible talent and dedication that thrives in Donegal’s food sector. From farm to table, from the passion of local producers to the chefs who bring these ingredients to life, Food Coast Donegal is proving that Donegal is more than ready to take its place as a leading food destination.

The success of the Food Coast Donegal events in 2024 speaks volumes about the growing recognition of Donegal as a food tourism destination. These events have not only attracted locals but have also drawn food lovers and tourists from outside the county, eager to experience the unique flavours of Donegal.

Seeing how Food Coast Donegal has impacted the local community and helped raise the profile of Donegal’s food sector is truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this remarkable initiative.

For more information on the Food Coast Donegal initiative and their upcoming events, keep an eye on their Instagram.

There was a great calendar of events, beautifully illustrated by Laura Buchanan.

 

Algarn’s shore walk and cooking demonstration

Chef’s Spring Table at Biddy O’Barnes

Dig For Your Dinner at Ballyholey Farm

 

Kinnegar Brewing

S’mores, Songs and Rocky Roads at Mallow Mia

Meet the Producers Dinner at Arnold’s Hotel

Long Table at Wild Garlic Table

Food Coast Producers Showcase at The Silver Tassie

Donegal Town 550 Long Table

 

LOOM Irish Linen is weaving its own success story in reclaiming this ancient, indigenous fabric, with the release of its limited edition striped pyjama set. Designed and manufactured in Ireland, the pyjamas come in three beautiful shades: mint, blue, and pink.

Founded by Melissa Steele during the pandemic, Loom Irish Linen was created with sleep and sustainability in mind; the brand believes that investing in your sleep is crucial to your future wellbeing, while choosing a natural, eco-friendly and indigenous fibre such as linen plays a part in being sustainable. A truly Irish product, the pyjamas are designed in Co. Tipperary and manufactured in Co. Dublin from linen that is milled in Co. Antrim. We were delighted to help LOOM Irish Linen raise its profile in national media. See www.loomirishlinen.com

IRISH TIMES MAGAZINE

RTE GUIDE

SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

WOMAN’S WAY

VIP MAGAZINE

IRISH INDEPENDENT CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

SUNDAY INDEPENDENT LIFE MAGAZINE

In January we were delighted to welcome Hui Chin Tan to our team. Hui is from Malaysia and came to Letterkenny to study a Masters of Science in Management and Marketing Practice at LYIT. She joined us for a three-month placement and we loved having her! Sadly, we said farewell to her today with an Easter themed afternoon tea, but before she finished up, she very kindly wrote a blog about the things she learned during her time here, which you can read below. We’ve kept it very much in Hui’s own words as that is part of the magic of the piece! Happy Easter everyone.

 

 

During my internship, I have learnt how Public Relations (PR) and social media can work for business. I have started my work practically from the first day of the first week of internship. Thus, I have learnt various knowledge and skills in marketing within the industrial training period. From this, I absorb about how a PR company can help their clients increase their brand awareness and thus increase their sales. And through my observation, I think that the impact of online social media is very important to all marketing sector for all business. Managing Director of The Right Angle is Mary Crawford who is supported by Grace Shields, Client Services Manager. Two of them is very kind and they had taught and assisted me on all the skills that I am unfamiliar with.

 

 

I have practically learned about some basic information in marketing skills which is very different from the things that I learn in theory. I have learned to do some business writing in order to help the business promote their products and events. And through this, I have a chance to improve my English writing skills.

 

In addition, I also learn how to use Canva to design graphic for commercial purposes. And I have done many designs for a different kind of business to promote their events and products. They also teach me about how to make a research on FM’s DJ and do a Press List in Excel to save all the information and details that I have found. Other than that, I have experienced the video shooting section while working in The Right Angle and this enables me to see the behind scenes of a video making. I have been observing how an interview is made and how the respondent introduces themselves and their company.

 

 

In addition, I have learned about the practice of Microsoft Excel. I learnt about how to work up a critical path for a business. I start to work on it by referencing a sample template and based on that format I start to plan and customise the events which are suitable for a business. Other than that, I also help to fill in the Excel spreadsheet template using names and email addresses from the company account. Not only this, but I also need to update with the event’s exhibitors list. And through this, I have learnt how to use Excel more expertly.

 

Furthermore, I learnt how to update social media sites for the clients’ company, for example, update their company’s website, Facebook timeline posts and information. And this is very important to let all the audience know about the company and what services and products that they offer. Also, I have done several types of blog posts for some business in order to introduce their places and thus encourage people to visit their hotel and restaurants.

 

Besides, I have learnt something new which is make up a PowerPoint file for the client’s company let the company know what The Right Angle has done for their advertising recently. Through this, the client can have clear details about how their money was spent based on the outcome.

 

 

Also, I gain some knowledge about how the social media competitions run when I work with the database collection. All the business needs to update a new database of their clients when there is a new competition for their audience. And most databases the company get, the more information the company get from their clients and this will help to boost up numbers of invitation for the next company events. In addition, I also run through the process of select and pick out potential winners from the competition and from this I need to make sure the potential winners have attended the competition with the rules required. This is because we need to ensure there will be no problems occurring because the winner did not match with the rules required.

 

During my internship, I have learnt and done a press release for some business in order to send to the journalist. In addition, I also work on listing press release for an event to find out more information about the event or festival in order to let the audience know more about the events. Others than that, I have learnt something new which is build up a mail Chimp for business and this can help to send the invitation to their existing clients. I learn how to use the mail Chimp step by step and I use about half an hour to pick up the skills.

 

Throughout my work placement, the most things that I have done is mainly based on the graphic design. I have designed numerous graphics included bios for those company, company logo, flyer, Facebook post, Facebook cover, banner advertisements, competition graphics and so on. Also, through my industrial training I have gone through some of Ireland’s celebration events, for example, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Halloween and so on. I found that social media advertisement plays the main role during this celebration. Many companies will advertise heavily mainly in those few days in order to inspire consumers to spend on their products and services. And this really works.