Short January's newsletter

Welcome to our first newsletter of the year! We’ve been a bit quiet lately — as many of you know, we’re busy updating the space until at least the first week of February, which means no events here until next month. Still, we wanted to take the chance to say hi and share a few things with you.

EVENT RUN BY THE NCF OUTSIDE THE SPACE: THE GAELTACHT EXPRESS

Saturday January 31st / Depart: 5pm (from Ballina) Dunnes Store bustop / Return: before midnight

‘Bhfuil giota beag Gaeilge agat? Are you curious what lies hidden in the corner of Mayo, behind the great bog? Is there a Gaeltacht in Mayo at all at all at all?

You can find out by boarding the inaugural Gaeltacht express leaving Ballina at 5pm, Saturday the 31st January and returning home sometime before mean oíche, le cúnamh Dé.

We’ll be stopping at Teach Denny in Ros Dúmhach and Teach Chonghóile in Ceathrú Thaidhg and having the craic along the way, speaking a bit of Irish and more than likely playing a bit of music.

For more info here: https://thencf.art/events/2026/01/31/thencf-gaeltacht-express

NEWS FROM OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS

Wazo Coop is launching a call for applications for a three-day experimental Action Lab in Valdefuentes, Extremadura (Spain), taking place 10–12 March as part of the EU-funded project A-Live Music Venues (A-LMV). The project supports live music venues in urban and non-urban European areas affected by seasonal population changes.

The Action Lab will bring together 10 representatives of European live music venues for capacity-building, peer learning, and hands-on experimentation focused on cross-venue cooperation, temporary use of spaces, and engaging mobile audiences.

Travel and accommodation costs are fully covered for selected participants. Applications close on 30 January 2026 (23:59 CET). Selection is competitive, and applicants will be contacted directly if chosen. All personal data will be handled confidentially under GDPR.

-Applications https://forms.gle/edTc3mw2hNrQdqgTA-Terms and conditions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1onL3rrGqU00n08XTmOv8kbex5H4mOHlV-More info about the project: https://alivemusicvenues.eu/

We’ll be back next month with a lot of exciting events!