It’s one of Donegal’s most welcoming and best-known bars and this July will see a raft of events taking place to celebrate fifty years since the late Leo Brennan opened Tabhairne Leo as a live music venue.
Famous not only for being Donegal’s premier live music venue Leo’s also gave birth to the career of Irish Folk legends Clannad with the various members of the Brennan family learning how to pull pints as well as honing their immense musical talents under the watchful and encouraging eyes of both their father and mother as they worked tirelessly behind the bar in what soon became not just a local, but internationally renowned bar for it’s music programme and friendliness.
The careers of Brennan family are well documented. Clannad, Moya Brennan, and Enya are international stars on the world music scene and Leo’s is a shrine to their success with the walls of the bar draped in priceless memorabilia covering the journey from the tiny village of Meenaleck to the stages of the world and now Leo’s has the accolade of having recently won the IMRO music venue award for 2017.
July 12th-16th sees a special series of music events taking place featuring Donovan, Clannad, Hazel O’Connor, Moya Brennan and Donegal’s other legend Daniel O’Donnell alongside free family fun days, The Highland Radio Road Show and a fifty musician traditional session in what promises to be one of the biggest and most memorable birthday parties Donegal has ever seen.
Call into Leo’s today and there’s guaranteed good food, a warm fire, cold Guinness, fantastic music and great craic. From time to time even the various members of Clannad are in the bar and as someone who knows from personal experience, they are very approachable and gracious in giving up their time to talk to fans.
Folk and Tumble caught Clannad’s last Belfast concert and we can’t wait to see them again at Leo’s for the birthday celebrations.
Tickets for Leo’s 50th anniversary are available in the bar or line via Earagail Arts Festival.