Donegal roots of giant of country and bluegrass Sara Carter Dougherty to be celebrated at Clann gathering

‘Sara Dougherty: The Un-Crowned Queen of Country Music’, a special one-off gig in McGrory’s Hotel, will kick off the 2026 Ó Dochartaigh Clann Gathering, which will take place in Inishowen between August 12 and August 15.

The original show, produced by Idir Dha Loch Productions, tells ‘the remarkable and often overlooked story of one of the pioneering figures of early country music — a woman whose voice, songs, and influence helped shape the foundations of the genre itself’, according to the organisers.

Born in the Appalachians in 1898 Sara Carter went on become a lynchpin of the The Carter Family from the 1920s to the 1950s, shaping the development of bluegrass and country music in the United States.

Her vocals and instrumentation can be heard on seminal recordings of the genre including, ‘Single Girl, Married Girl’, ‘Keep on the Sunny Side’, ‘Wildwood Flower’, ‘On the Sea of Galilee’, ‘Will the Circle be Unbroken?’ and ‘No Depression in Heaven’.

Though born in Wise County, Virginia, Sara’s maiden name suggested an origin in this part of the world.

Intrigued by her name, the Carndonagh-born Saw Doctor and producer Pearse Doherty, suspected a possible Irish — and perhaps Donegal — connection.

That curiosity led to a chance meeting in July 2025 with Eva Doherty Gremmert of the Ó Dochartaigh Clann Association.

Further research revealed that Sara’s second great-grandfather, James Dougherty, was born near Letterkenny in 1771 before emigrating to the United States, uncovering a fascinating ancestral link between the pioneering country music icon and Donegal.

The gala premiere of the concert in McGrory’s at 7pm on Wednesday, August 15, will kick off four days of programming for the 2026 Gathering.

The current schedule is as follows:

August 13, 2026 – Thursday

10am to 4pm – Bus Tour of Inishowen and O Dochartaigh Antiquities including Lunch.

7pm – 9pm – Clann Genealogy Forum – Open Conversation about Genealogy research.

9.30pm – Pub Quiz.

August 14, 2026 – Friday

10am to 4pm – Heritage Lectures at McGrory's with a light lunch.

10am to 4pm – Cultural Crafts workshops in the hall in Culdaff.

8pm – Céilí Dance at McGrory's.

August 15, 2026 – Saturday

10am – Visit the Doagh Famine Village.

Noon – Lunch on your own.

2pm – Meet at Clonmany Market House for the Clonmany Genealogy & Heritage exhibition

6pm – Closing banquet with traditional entertainment at McGrory's.

The per-person ticket price for the entire four-day gathering is €295.

Tickets for the Sara Dougherty concert can be purchased separately from McGrory’s for €20.

Special guests on the night will include acclaimed singer-songwriter Finbarr Doherty, singer and fiddle player Helen McCabe, along with many more admirers of Sara Carter and her timeless songs.

Those interested in attending are advised to book early.

For more information and tickets visit: https://www.odochartaighassociation.org/ and https://www.mcgrorys.ie/