Longford Amped Up with ‘Ampouailh’ in Ballinamuck

Free for all to attend and funded by Longford County Council, the recent concert was a charming evening for the village to celebrate its French connections. The five-piece band kept the audience energised and entertained with its fusion music of traditional and folk music from Brittany, France and Ireland. With catchy bass riffs, impressive violin solos and impressive skills, ‘Ampouailh’ brought festivity to quaint Ballinamuck. 

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With an introduction by Mark Cunningham on the history of Ballinamuck and its French links, he referred to the twinning turning 30 in 2026. Thanking both the Longford County Council, as well as the stewards for making the village look beautiful with French bunting up outside the hall and inside, he encouraged a round of applause for all the efforts. There was a moment’s silence for three members of the community who had passed before the performances began. 

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Members of the audience were encouraged to participate in a group, circular dance with pinkie fingers linked together near the latter part of the concert. 

The band, originating from Brittany, played in Galway the night before and are heading to Dublin over the week. They are an instrumental band who had recorded their newest album two months prior, with some of the performed tunes from the latest album. At the end of the concert, there was a stand in the corner with copies of the album for audience members to acquire. 

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