WELCOME I am very proud of how TradFest has grown over the past six years to become a firm fixture on the Irish Festival Calendar. Year on year the festival has presented some of the biggest names in Irish music, alongside many exciting new performers and musicians. In our headline concerts we have assembled a line-up of some of the most iconic figures in Irish Traditional music coupled with some of the most exciting names emerging in Irish talent. Our pub trail this year will see a record breaking 200 free music sessions. Families will not be disappointed, with outdoor stages and an emphasis on young Irish Music and dance talent: street entertainment and the children’s club are just some of the many free events taking place. One of the highlights of this year’s festival is certainly Clannads performance in Christ Church Cathedral. I know that these nights will be unforgettable as for the first time in over 20 years Pol will join Moya, Ciaran, Noel and Padraig in the classic line up for a full performance with a large ensemble. The concert will celebrate Clannads 40 year anniversary and their performance will encompass songs spanning their 40 year career. Altan, who have established themselves as one of the most important live acts to play traditional Irish music on the world stage; will also celebrate an anniversary in Christ Church Cathedral. Joining in the musical celebration of their 25 year career will be Fairground Attractions Eddi Reader and many other well known names in music. While the TradFest this year continues to have performances from world renowned artists we are also showcasing some of Ireland’s most talented new acts. BEOGA, who will perform in The Button Factory, will provide a vibrant and energetic night of music. It is no surprise then that Wall Street Journal dubbed them “The most exciting new band to emerge from Ireland this century”. In the same night we will see more Irish talent showcased as CIORRAS take to the stage. Hailed as a modern ‘Bothy Band’ they bring a contemporary approach to Irish music. Ciorras were formed as part of the TG4 series Lorg Lunny. I am delighted that the TradFest can continue its role as nourishing and encouraging some of the most talented new artists in the country. Irish music is certainly one of our greatest treasures. The strength of Irish music will speak for itself on the Friday night concert in The Button Factory when some of the most accomplished artists in Irish music perform. This night will be an eclectic mix of Irish music, song and dance, vocal and instrumental talent. World renowned fiddle player Dessie O’Halloran will accom-
pany the Cunningham Sean Nós Dancers for ‘Fuaim Chonamara’ in the inspiring story of Irelands oldest dance form, portrayed through music, dance, song and the energy of the Connemara region. TradFest will bring together two spectacular duets. The first will see harmonica player Brendan Power join multi instrumentalist Tim Edey. The feast of spectacular talent will then continue as Jackie Daly (accordion) and Matt Cranitch (fiddle) fuse their talent. Legendary tin whistle player Mary Bergin will also join the line up. I think that the Temple Bar TradFest should be proud that despite trying economic times the festival will put on more free events than ever before. The festival will provide five days and nights of Irish music, culture and craic, that will start 2011 on a high note, and I hope that this will continue well into the new year. I have no doubt that people will enjoy a truly exciting celebration of our culture during the Temple Bar TradFest 2011.
Kieran Hanrahan I feel very privileged once again to be patron of the Temple Bar TradFest. Since its inception, Temple Bar TradFest has been an ambitious and broad-ranging national event, firming up Temple Bars reputation as Dublin’s Cultural Quarter and providing a focus for traditional music nationally and internationally. In the middle of one of the worst recessions in the history of the state, the festival continues to expand providing an even wider range of entertainment for all. I am very happy that some of my greatest friends and some of the most talented musicians in Ireland will be playing at this year’s festival and have no doubt that in these difficult economic times TradFest will lift spirits for the year ahead with a wonderful five days of inspiring song and a lasting engagement with the treasure that is Irish Culture.
Stephen Rea
Temple Bar TradFest Preview By Wendy Grace
Internationally renowned performers, bustling streets, a session around every corner, captivating dancing, craic agus ceoil, pipe bands, street performers and storytellers are just some of the many highlights you can expect from the Temple Bar TradFest 2011. Now in its 6th year the Temple Bar TradFest looks set to have its most impressive programme to date. This festival is organised by Temple Bar Traders and the principal sponsor is Bushmills Irish Whiskey, the festival is also supported by Dublin City Council, Tourism Ireland, Failte Ireland, IMRO and The Arts Council. In September 2010 Temple Bar Traders worked with Tourism Ireland to showcase this year’s TradFest at the Irish Embassy in Berlin. The evening’s entertainment included a performance from Moya Brennan, lead vocalist with Clannad, who sang to an audience made up of government ministers, media and selected dignitaries. A group of Temple Bar Traders also travelled to the event in Berlin which was expertly hosted by RTE radio presenter and TradFest programmer, Kieran Hanrahan. The evening’s entertainment also included magnificent performances from Ciorras (stars of the TG4 series Lorg Lunny) and spectacular sean nós dancing from the Cunningham Family.
The TradFest will take place from the 26-30th of January 2011. The opening concert will be held in the historic surrounds of Christ Church Cathedral with a performance from Altan and Friends. This special 25th Anniversary Dublin is part of Altan’s world tour of Asia, the US and Europe. Over 25 years of playing together, Altan have established themselves as one of the most important live acts to play traditional Irish music on the world stage. The Boston Globe has described them as “The hottest group in the Celtic realm!” A host of well known names in Irish Music will join Altan for their concert in Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate and congratulate all that they have achieved. On Saturday the 29th of January Christ Church Cathedral will once again resound with the sounds of Irish Music, this time with a performance from Irish Music legends,
Clannad who will be celebrating their 40 year anniversary.
A large factor in the continued success of the TradFest (winner of the best Trad Festival in Ireland in 2008 & 2009) is the impressive presence of RTE broadcaster and accomplished musician Kieran Hanrahan. With his wealth of experience at the heart of Irish music it is no surprise that this year’s line-up will delight and excite audiences. Speaking of the 2011 programme Kieran said: “We are very proud of how the TradFest has grown over the past six years and has become a firm fixture on the Irish festival calendar. Year on year the festival has presented some of the biggest names in Irish music alongside many exciting new performers and musicians. I have no doubt that people will enjoy a truly exciting celebration of our culture. In our headline concerts we have assembled a line-up of some of the most iconic figures in Irish Traditional music coupled with some of the most exciting names in emerging Irish Talent.”
This performance is set to be unique and indeed rare, as TradFest 2011 will play host to their first performance in Dublin in almost half a decade. Clannad have given a unique voice to modern Irish music, combining a deep love of traditional strains with a bold approach to writing and recording. Their legacy is a hugely impressive collection of albums that has kept them at the forefront of Irish Music for 40 years.
They grew up in the parish of Gweedore, Donegal, in the secluded north-west. Maire, Pol and Ciaran Brennan sang and played from an early age in their father’s bar, Leo’s Tavern. Soon they were accompanied by their uncles, Padraig and Noel Duggan, winning a talent contest in Letterkenny in 1970. Their first album, ‘Clannad’ was released in 1973. ‘Theme From Harry’s Game’ was released in the winter of 1982. It leapt into the Top five in the UK charts. Their success continued on ‘Legend’ a soundtrack commissioned for the television series, ‘Robin Of Sherwood’ in 1984. During this period, the band received numerous awards including an Ivor Novello and they also became the first Irish group to receive the prestigious BAFTA award. This primed the band for one of their most mesmeric records. ‘Macalla’, released in 1985. A chance remark to their friends in U2 resulted in Bono singing a duet with Maire on the track ‘In A Lifetime’. This charted twice, in 1986 and again in 1989. ‘PastPresent’, released in 1989 brought the music of Clannad to an even bigger audience. Summarising their first four RCA albums it became a much-loved fixture in the UK chart eventually going Top 5. The BBC had obviously noted the huge success of the soundtrack to Robin and commissioned a project that would become the outstanding album ‘Atlantic Realm’. This was followed in the same year by Clannad’s first soundtrack work on the animation, ‘Angel And The Soldier Boy’.
The ‘Banba’ album once again gave Clannad a Top 5 hit in the UK charts in 1993. They released the albums ‘Lore’ (1996) and the Grammy Award winning ‘Landmarks’ (1998), again proving that no other act had such a distinctive imprint, such a variety of style and tone. In 2003, Clannad released The Best of Clannad: In a Lifetime, which is one of their biggest-selling albums to date. With this plethora of musical achievements under their belt there is no doubt that the performances in Christ Church during the Temple Bar TradFest 2011 promise to be 3 unforgettable nights, celebrating 40 years of song from one of Ireland best known and loved bands. In between these spectacular concerts, the Temple Bar TradFest will also play host to some of the best known names in Irish Music as well as showcasing up-coming Irish Talent. Following sell out concerts during last year’s TradFest, on Thursday the 27th of January BEOGA will take to the stage in the Button Factory. Guaranteed to live up to their name- the Irish word for ‘lively’ the band from county Antrim were drawn together in 2002 after ‘jamming’ in a ferocious session at the all-Ireland Fleadh. Since then BEOGA has expanded the vocabulary of Irish music with a unique accent of their own blending bluesy riffs with jazz and pop beats producing melodious traditional music played to some of the most imaginative and contemporary accompaniment in Irish music today. Wall Street Journal dubs them “the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century.” “Individually talented and collectively inspired, this is a group who speak a language called music with a flu-
ency beloved of the best multi-linguists” (Siobhan Long Irish Times January 2005) The release of Beoga’s 2009 album ‘The Incident’ (which was shortlisted for a Grammy award) has seen the supergroup continue to blaze a pioneering trail, rewarding fans with their fresh creative energy and seducing a diverse array of music lovers. Their performance during the TradFest will have every toe tapping in the house and add depth to an already eclectic mix during the festival.
The TradFest will continue its role as providing a platform for showcasing the best in up-coming Irish talent as on the same night the Button Factory will play host to Ciorras. Hailed as ‘a modern Bothy band’, Ciorras bring a contemporary approach to traditional music. Ciorras, were formed as a band earlier this year when the individual members were among a large number of young musicians who featured in the hit TG4 series, Lorg Lunny. These 8 young musicians were invited by Irish music legend Dónal Lunny to create a new band with a fresh, new unique sound in traditional music. With an impressive assortment of instruments between them including
fiddle, concertina, pipes, piano accordion, keyboards, percussion, lowwhistles, voice and no less than 4 exceptional flute players, the possibilities are endless as demonstrated in their choice of repertoire woven among imaginative and original arrangements and played with an energy and enthusiasm that showcases the phenomenal playing ability and musicality of these outstanding young musicians.
best in established Irish Traditional music talent. The evening’s entertainment will see 4 incredibly talented soloists come together as two duets to create a exceptional night of Irish music. The first of the duets sees harmonica player Brendan Power joins multi instrumentalist Tim Edey. The first time Tim and Brendan met the musical sparks flew! Since then they have tried to perform together whenever they have time off from their busy individual careers. UK-based New Zealander Brendan Power is acknowledged by many as one of the most creative, skilled & versatile harmonica players around today.He has recorded fifteen solo CDs to date, in a wide variety of musical genres. Since he moved to Britain in 1992, Brendan’s eclectic skills and sympathetic ear have made him an in-demand session player, leading to live and recording work with artists such as Sting, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, James Galway, Paul Young, Shirley Bassey and many more. His playing is also heard on many Hollywood movie soundtracks (eg. the 2008 Oscar winning soundtrack for ‘Atonement’), and BBC TV series. He’s featured on the internationally-syndicated Jools Holland Show and toured worldwide, performing in venues such as China’s Great Hall of the People and The Kremlin. Tim Edey is regarded by many to be one of the finest multi-instrumental players of his generation. Tim currently plays guitar with the Sharon Shannon Band, in a duet with the lovely Perthshire singer Isobel Crowe, guests with Session A9+Charlie McKerron+Marc Clements and often plays with Kerry Irish music marvel Seamus Begley and the equally legendary Manchester Irish duo Michael McGoldrick+Dezi Donnelly. He is a current master of more than ten instruments including; melodeon, accordion, guitar, banjo, bass, piano, mandolin, whistle, bodhran and bouzouki.
accordion and fiddle recordings. In 2005 Jackie Daly was named Ceoltóir na Bliana (Musician of the Year) in the Gradam Ceoil awards of the Irish-language television station TG4. Matt Cranitch is renowned as a fiddleplayer and teacher, both at home in Ireland and abroad. He has performed extensively with various groups at concerts and festivals, as well as on radio and television. In 2010, Jackie and Matt collaborated and released The Living Stream, a recording of chiefly Sliabh Luachra music. “Cranitch and Daly reach their greatest heights as a duo, interweaving fiddle and box on a set list that swings from their boisterous reading of The Heather Breeze to Jackie’s beautiful, bare-boned slow air, Ceo ar Mhuisire .” (Irish Times Sep 24th 2010)
The streets of Temple Bar will come alive with the pubs throughout offering a real experience of Irish Culture and Craic. There will be free trad sessions throughout the festival in an extensive pub trail featuring hundreds of Irish Trad Acts. This year will also see the return of the legendery Sean O’ Se and his hugely popular singers club in the Temple Bar Hotel. (Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th January) Outdoor stages will also be peppered throughout Temple Bar featuring a myriad of performances including that of the Siamsa Cois Life which is entirely focused on young musicians, singers and dancers coming from a host of organisations such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann and Dublin dance Schools throughout Ireland. Interested schools need to contact Temple Bar Traders on 01 6772397 to book their places, which are limited.
Tim and Brendan will also give workshops during the festival and celebrate the launch of their first album together. The feast of spectacular talent will then continue as Jackie Daly (accordion) and Matt Cranitch (fiddle) fuse their talent together. For many years, Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly have been among the foremost interpreters of the rich Sliabh Luachra tradition of instrumental music. The unique cultural area on the borders of northwest Cork and east Kerry provides a special repertoire of tunes as well as a very distinctive style of playing, and has long been a source of inspiration for both Jackie and Matt. Through their respective performances over many years, they have established enviable individual reputations in the world of Irish traditional music. Together however, the music that they create displays an additional collaborative dimension.
Perfectly complimenting Thursday’s exploration of the new, Friday the 28th of January will bring together the
Jackie Daly’s musical career is notable for partnerships with several fiddlers, beginning with Séamus Creagh. Their 1977 album, Jackie Daly agus Séamus Creagh, brought Sliabh Luachra music to a wider audience and, with its tight unison playing, set the standard for future
A stellar line up of Irish Music is not all that the Temple Bar TradFest has to offer as 2011 will include a greatly expanded family programme. Colourful and imaginative street performers will bring the cobblestones to life,
while storytellers will roam the bars and public spaces telling tales of Irish mythology. The Ark will present a series of concerts for all the family with performances to include Barcó the virtuoso musical brothers of the De Barra family along with a very special guest or two. Sean Nós Dance group The Cunningham Family will take The Ark’s stage by storm with their energetic and unique dance blending the old and the new, the contemporary and the ancient for an unforgettable performance. Emerging young talent will also be showcased as the 2011 Siansa Gael Linn winning group IoscaÍd will perform. A children’s club will provide an indoor wonderland filled with entertainment from face painters to craft workers to balloon modellers. The Irish Film Institute will be programming a number of exclusive film screenings while GaelChultúr will offer a two-hour crash course in Irish song, dance and language. All participants are guaranteed to leave with at least a ‘cupla focal’ and a few steps as well. The programme for TradFest 2011 is both impressive and ambitious which not only firms up Temple Bars reputation as Dublin’s cultural quarter but also provides a focus for Irish music and culture nationally and internationally. The TradFest 2011 Takes place in Temple Bar Dublin, Ireland from the 26th-30th January, 2011. www.templebartrad.com
Headline Shows Wednesday 26th January 2011 Christ Church Cathedral
Altan
Eddi Reader and Special Guests Thursday 27th January 2011 Button Factory
Thursday 27th January 2011 Christ Church Cathedral
Beoga
Clannad
Ciorras Stars of TG4 series Lorg Lunny
Friday 28th January 2011 Button Factory
Jackie Daly
Matt Cranitch Brendan Power & Tim Edey Dessie O’Halloran Mary Bergin Cunningham Sean Nos Dancers
40th Anniversary Concert
Friday 28th January 2011 Christ Church Cathedral
Clannad
40th Anniversary Concert
Saturday 29th January 2011 Christ Church Cathedral
Clannad
40th Anniversary Concert
Courtesy of The National Library of Ireland
The History of Temple Bar Do you know Temple Bar? I’m sure you do. The most famous Dublin area with a bar called Temple Bar brings into Dublin lots of tourists who want to enjoy the great Irish night. Red, yellow, green and other coloured lights welcome people ready and waiting to discover the authentic Irish party.
Courtesy of The National Library of Ireland
But do you know when this Moulin Rouge like area was born? It is said that in 1599 a man called Sir William Temple founded the area and it was named after him. A renowned teacher and philosopher Sir Temple came to Dublin and built his house and gardens on newly reclaimed land there on the corner of Temple Lane and the street called Temple Bar. In 1656 it was his son, Sir John Temple, who bought additional land and made it possible for the development of the area everybody knows today as Temple Bar. However, this is only part of the story. The place we know today as Temple Bar was a built up area even in the eighteenth century, a period of time in which people who lived there flourished from their selling of crafts and commerce. This period began in 1707 when the Customs House located on the north bank of River Liffey was built. The building, designed by James Gandon, was built to act as the new house for Dublin Port, bringing the opportunity to start doing business in there until the following century. In the Nineteenth Century The Customs House was used by the local government for the collection of taxes from the incoming and out going trade after Dublin Port was moved downriver. Despite this, that period of flourishing business and commerce ended in the Twentieth Century, when for a few years the area went through a period of urban decline. When people thought the area was worthless, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) - the Irish name for Ireland’s Transport Authority - believed in the land’s potential and bought the site in order to turn it into a central bus station. The announcement of the possible construction of a central bus station caught the attention of the Irish people, especially those with a business
years. The amazing neoclassical Custom House with its four facades, the Olympia Theatre built in 1879 and called “The Empire Palace Theatre” in the old days or the Ha’penny Bridge built in 1816, to mention but a few examples, made people conscious of the fact that this area needed to be preserved.
interest in the area. CIE realised the potential the area had and decided instead to rent out the small buildings in Temple Bar at low prices, giving Irish people the opportunity to once again set up new businesses in the area, such as restaurants, clothes shops and art galleries. This newly found atmosphere - created by the increased artistic presence on Dublin’s ‘left bank’- played a large part in helping Temple Bar rapidly become the new meeting point for people that it is today. Temple Bar was once again an area focused on commerce. In addition, these young artists, painters, property owners, fashion designers, jewellers, business people and others made Temple Bar become the now well known bohemian area it is. Casual meetings, parties, business meetings, arts exhibitions, performances - or just spending time walking the streets - created new life in the area, a new trend in Dublin’s Centre, the seed of the current Temple Bar, an atmosphere that you can still feel inside yourself while you are walking down Fownes Street, Dame Street, Essex Street, Anglesea Street or Westmoreland street. Apart from this rejuvenation of the area mainly caused by young artists, another movement played a large part in its revival. Members of An Taisce, the National Conservation Association, kept an eye on Temple Bar’s architecture discovering that the zone had an impressive architectural heritage that had survived almost 200
So what are you waiting for? What’s on now? Now it’s time to enjoy ‘Temple Bar TradFest’: the best traditional Irish music and cultural festival in town! Aren’t you glad you asked? Welcome!
The initiative put in place was supported by local residents and the mobilisation was so strong that the then candidate for Taoiseach in 1987, Charles Haughey, began a campaign for the preservation of Temple Bar. This pledge was duly followed by government action. Funding and tax incentives were put in place and Temple Bar Properties were established in 1991 to bring to fruition this scheme of conservation and renewal. Nowadays, Temple Bar is one of the leading cultural districts and entertainment zones within the State. The area attracts 60,000 people on a daily basis and it is home to over 3,000 residents. Moreover, it contains many Irish cultural institutions such as the Irish Film Insitute (IFI), the Irish Photography Centre, the Ark (a chidren’s cultural centre), Filmbase, the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, the Projects Art Centre (Theatre) and many more. But where does one find out about all these wonderful places to start with? There is one characteristic we cannot let go unmentioned, the live music and the great atmosphere which is available in the many great pubs in the area. After sunset, all of them create an amazing atmosphere livened up with the traditional folk music which turns the Temple Bar zone into the major centre of nightlife. During the day it is also very popular being as close as it is to other major attractions like Cow’s Lane Market (a fashion and design market).
Courtesy of The National Library of Ireland
Clannad
Clannad have given a unique voice to modern Irish music. They have combined a deep love of traditional strains with a bold approach to writing and recording. Their legacy is a hugely impressive collection of albums, touching on folk, rock, ambient, jazz and world music. Many of these records have featured lyrics in their native Gaelic tongue, while others have been performed in English. Either way, those vocals have plugged directly into the popular imagination. They grew up in the parish of Gweedore, Donegal, in the secluded north-west. Maire, Pol and Ciaran Brennan sang and played from an early age in their father’s bar, Leo’s Tavern. Soon they were accompanied by their uncles, Padraig and Noel Duggan, winning a talent contest in Letterkenny in 1970. Their first album, ‘Clannad’ was released in 1973. They were celebrated at home,
and found an appreciative folk audience in Germany. The 1982 album , ‘Fuaim’, featured sister Enya. ‘Theme From Harry’s Game’ was released in the winter of 1982. Radio programmers and audiences were captivated by the dense harmonies and the Gaelic words. It leapt into the Top five in the UK charts. The ‘Magical Ring’ album followed in 1983, and by now brothers Pol and Ciaran were writing evocative and powerful music. This was furthered on ‘Legend’ a soundtrack commissioned for the television series, ‘Robin Of Sherwood’ in 1984. During this period, the band received numerous awards including an Ivor Novello and a BAFTA for their ground-breaking work on this album. This primed the band for one of their most mesmeric records. ‘Macalla’, released in 1985, featured more electronic arrangements, while Maire’s voice was reaching the extremes of joy and melancholy. A chance remark to their friends in U2 resulted in Bono singing a duet with Maire on the track ‘In A Lifetime’. This charted twice, in 1986 and again in 1989. The follow-up, ‘Sirius’ was completed in Los Angeles with some of the city’s most famous musicians, as the Clannad sound took another unscripted change. ‘PastPresent’, released in 1989 brought the music of Clannad to an even bigger audience. Summarising their
first four RCA albums it became a much-loved fixture in the UK chart eventually going Top 5. The BBC had obviously noted the huge success of the soundtrack to Robin and commissioned a project that would become the outstanding album ‘Atlantic Realm’. This was followed in the same year by Clannad’s first soundtrack work on an animation, ‘Angel And The Soldier Boy’. 1989 was also the year that Pol Brennan made the decision to part to part with the group to pursue his own musical career.
A new deal with Atlantic Records in the USA saw the band reach new heights of success there throughout the 90’s Their ‘Anam’ album made the top 20 in 1990. ‘Theme From Harry’s Game’ featured on the 1992 film ‘Patriot Games’, featuring Harrison Ford, raising the band’s profile again in America. Their was increasingly in demand for soundtrack work, appearing on Last Of The Mohicans and Message In A Bottle. The ‘Banba’ album once again gave Clannad a Top 5 hit in the UK charts They released the albums ‘Lore’ (1996) and the Grammy Award winning ‘Landmarks’ (1998), again proving that no other act had such a distinctive imprint, such a variety of style and tone. With Pol Brennan now reunited with the band, the five members are preparing a very special show in Christchurch Cathedral for Tradfest 2011.
Clannad Q&A How did these shows come about? Tradfest had wanted us to perform at the festival for a while but it was always about finding the right venue. When Christchurch Cathedral was suggested, we thought that it would be a really fitting location for a Clannad concert.
And not just one show now but three shows? Yes, Tradfest did an initial launch in Berlin and once the word got out amongst the Clannad fan community, tickets for the Saturday show started to sell out very quickly. Before it had even been advertised in Ireland, tickets had been sold in all corners of the globe. Luckily with the co-operation of Christ Church we were able to add in the two more nights.
And the line up is back to five members? Well, it’s something we have been talking about doing for a while but it needed the right opportunity to make it happen. Performing in the cathedral meant we had to look at putting on a more intimate style show then we usually do so it seemed the right occasion to get back to that classic five piece line up. Pol has joined on stage in the past few years for a couple of special occasions but
this is the first time in twenty years we will have built a show around the five of us being involved.
What are the plans for the show? Well we wouldn’t want to give too much away in advance, but the basic idea is, that a section of the show will feature just the five of us on stage, as it was at the start for many years. Then at various points we will have guest musicians joining us. We are also planning for a couple of very special guests to join us for certain songs. We have been very excited this week in selecting the songs for the set, many of which we haven’t performed live in years and years.
And I believe you are celebrating your 40 year career? Yes this was another reason to do this type of show at this particular time. The beginnings of the band were such a gradual process really, from when we entered competitions in 1970 through to our first album release in 1973, but by 1971 we were out performing regularly as Clannad, hence that is why we look upon this year as our anniversary.
How has your music evolved over those years? When we were very first playing together in Leo’s Tavern, we would perform covers of artists of the day like The Beach Boys or Joni Mitchell. With the influence of our parents and grandparents, we began to discover the wealth of traditional songs that belonged to Donegal, songs that were in danger of being forgotten forever. We set about bringing contemporary sensibilities to these songs. Sometimes in the beginning, certain quarters frowned upon that approach but we always felt that we kept the heart and soul of the songs intact. The sound evolved even more when we began mixing in synthesizers and other musicians. I suppose our biggest and most natural evolvement though, was the unique blending of our harmony voices which came to define not just the Clannad sound but what is also now more widely known as the ‘Celtic Sound’.
What do you see as the greatest achievement of your career to date? It’s hard to select just one as there were a lot of very special things that happened for us. Winning the Letterkenny Folk Festival in 1970, the prize of which was a record deal with Phillips, was enormous at the time and who knows how different things may have been without it. Every award we have won has been special, the Ivor Novello, the Bafta, the Grammy, the not one, but two Lifetime Achievement awards in Ireland! I guess though a very defining moment in our career had to be when Theme From Harry’s Game went into the top five of the UK charts and there we were, this family band
from Gweedore performing a Gaelic language song on Britain’s Top Of The Pops.
Any other highlights of such a long career? The fact that still after all these years we can go to a country that we have never ever been to before and find that there is an audience there who know and appreciate our work. Also that there is constantly a new younger audience discovering our music for the first time.
What does the future hold for Clannad? We want to put on a really special show in Christchurch Cathedral and then we will look at the possibilities of taking that show around the world. We have also just recently started writing together again and we really hope to have a brand new Clannad album out later in 2011.
Altan New Album - released March 2010 - 25th Anniversary Celebration with the RTE Concert Orchestra. Over 25 years of playing together, Altan have established themselves as one of the most important live acts to play traditional Irish music in Ireland and on the World stage. The Boston Globe has described them as “The hottest group in the Celtic realm!” Altan have toured all over the USA and Europe. They also enjoy popularity in Japan where they frequently tour and have hosted Altan festivals in the middle of Tokyo to thousands of enthusiastic fans.
Founding members, the late Frankie Kennedy and his partner Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, lead singer and fiddler with the band, began their musical career whilst teaching in a school in Malahide in North County Dublin, playing music for fun and enjoyment not knowing that it would end up as their main way of life and bring them all over the world! Frankie and Mairead started out by playing with and meeting older musicians from the Donegal tradition, like John Doherty, Con Cassidy, James Byrne, Dinny McLaughlin,Vincent Campbell and Mairéad’s own father Francie, who shared their music with them and most importantly, their friendship. The pair learned their music, tried to emulate their style and listened to their general philosophy of life, which, in retrospect was just as important as the music. Later it would be Francie who translated the beautiful Gaelic songs into English on all of the Altan recordings to date. Francie was also responsible for the translations of ‘Barbara Allen’ and ‘In the Sweet Bye and Bye’ on two projects with the legendary Dolly Parton which Altan were involved with. Frankie and Mairead made their first forays into live shows in the USA in 1985, releasing two albums together as a duo; 1983’s “Ceol Aduaidh” (Music of the North) and the self-titled “Altan” in 1987.
Altan have proven to be important ambassadors of the music and culture of Ireland, so much so that they were invited to accompany the Irish President, Mary McAleese on several State visits, visiting Greece, Korea and Japan. Altan were asked to play at the White House twice by US President Bill Clinton, and played again for him when he visited Ireland. In 2006, the Irish government honoured the band by putting them on an official Irish postage stamp, one of the highest honours bestowed upon any living artist in Ireland (the only others honoured in this set of four stamps were The Chieftains. Altan have played their music in some of the most prestigious venues in the world; The Sydney Opera
Altan Q&A How and when was the band formed?
Altan have celebrated 25 years on the road in 2010. The band was formed when Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her late husband Frankie Kennedy were asked to make their second recording by an American record label; Green Linnet records. (The first recording was a duet album called Ceol Aduaidh produced by Nicky Ryan and had a young, Enya as special guest on one of the tracks which was issued by Irish record company, Gael Linn). The new recording was called “Altan” and was produced by Dónal Lunny, and featured along with Mairéad and Frankie, Ciaran Curran on bouzouki, Mark Kelly on guitar which formed the basis of the band.
Who writes the songs?
Altan play mostly traditional tunes and songs, exploring the rich and varied depth of material which is found in the Donegal tradition and the general Irish tradition. Over the years a few of the members have composed their own tunes and songs in the tradional music genre, which the band have recorded on various albums.
House, The Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall, The Alte Opera Frankfurt, The Greek Theatre Los Angeles and many, many more. They have played music and recorded with The Chieftains, Dolly Parton Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs to name but a few. In 2003 they won the award for Best Group at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2005, they recorded their latest studio album “Local Ground” and like every other Altan offering it was met with positive and enthusiastic reviews. The band have gained gold and platinum status in Ireland with their record sales and have won numerous awards in the music business as one of the most popular bands playing traditional folk or world music in the world.
What are the topics of your songs?
The song topics as with most traditions are derived from the love themes....but Altan also sing emmigration songs, working songs and songs praising a particular places. The tune repetoire have many different themes as their titles....mostly placenames or peoples names or funny themes!!
How has your music evolved since you first began to play music together? Altan have been playing so long together now that it is nearly like playing as one when the five members of the band play together. I suppose that it’s like family in a way ..everyone knows where they fit and the music follows that pattern.Some people are really good at coming up with the repetoire and others are really good at arrangements and presentation!!!
What are your rehearsals like?
We generally have intensive rehearsals before recording and then when we are on the road we usually brush up on details before the concerts during the soundchecks.
Beoga
Biographies
Irish Echo’s Earle Hitchner as “one of the most captivating bodhrán players I’ve heard in years”, Eamon has held the All-Ireland Bodhrán title on four occasions. Irish Music Magazine writes, “Murray has got to be the most talented up and coming bodhrán player in Ireland today.” Eamon has performed alongside many distinguished artists including Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Liam O’Maonlai and was highly commended in the 2004 Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year competition.
Liam Bradley: piano On piano/keyboard, Liam Bradley from Tobermore, Co. Derry is known throughout the world for his music for Irish dancing. He has produced recordings and provided accompaniment for major Irish Dancing events, including the All Ireland, American and Australian National Championships and the World Championships. His music has been used for many shows and performances, from the Royal Albert Hall, Áras an Uachtaráin and the White House, to a ‘Barney the Dinasaur’ DVD. He also arranged the music for the RTE television series “Rising Steps” Over the last few years, Liam has made the transition from keyboards to piano, bringing a fresh approach to traditional piano playing.
Damian McKee: button accordion
Since the birth of Beoga in 2002, it has expanded the vocabulary of Irish Music with a unique accent of its own. Wall Street Journal dubs them “the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century.” Irish Music Magazine writes “In Beoga, the Irish music world found another prodigy… madcap genius, master craftsmen.” Their distinctive sound is described by New York’s Irish Echo as “a heady, virtually headspinning sonic blend, stamping Beoga as perhaps the most audacious Irish band rooted in trad today.” The Irish American News lauds the “energy, drive, intelligent creativity, wit and real musicianship” declaring, “this is the freshest take on the tradition,” and the Boston Globe ranks Beoga “as innovative as Celtic music mavericks Solas and Lunasa,” In short, Beoga have become one of the most popular and influential ensembles in modern Irish music. Beoga (Irish word for ‘lively’) are based in County Antrim, in the north of Ireland. The bedrock of their sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition. However, they are not afraid to incorporate other genres’ nuances into their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazzolastyle jazz, to a raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, their music always returns to a wonderfully bouncy traditional sound. The result is traditional, with a huge sense of fun and adventure and it all works - wonder-
fully well. The Irish Times states, “Individually talented and collectively inspired, (Beoga) speak a language called music with a fluency beloved of the best multilinguists.” Beoga is world music, made in Ireland and the release of Beoga’s 2009 album ‘The Incident’ has seen the supergroup continue to blaze a pioneering trail, rewarding fans with their fresh creative energy and seducing a diverse array of music lovers. The string of accolades from the music industry say it best, “Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave,” Irish Music Magazine concludes. “Simply thrilling, an auditory high-wire act without a net,” writes Irish Philadelphia. “Riveting,” says the Wall Street Journal. The band was drawn together in 2002 after ‘jamming’ in a ferocious session at the All-Ireland Fleadh. From the beginning Beoga was endowed with massive musical talent, featuring the twin dueling accordians of Damian McKee and multi-instrumentalist Seán Óg Graham, pianist Liam Bradley and four times All-Ireland bodhrán champion Eamon Murray. In 2005, the lineup was complete, with the addition of Niamh Dunne, one of Ireland’s premier young talents, on vocals and fiddle.
Damian McKee, from Dunloy, Co. Antrim, is a top exponent on button accordian. In the 90’s he toured Ireland, Britain and America with Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann and over the last few years he has continued to travel worldwide as his music became popular within Irish dance circles. He is a prolific composer and many of his works feature in the Beoga repertoire. Through his teaching, Damian’s influence on traditional accordian playing in the North of Ireland is far-reaching. He is in frequent demand for workshops throughout Ireland, as well as the USA and Canada.
Seán Óg Graham: button accordian, guitar From Portglenone, Co. Antrim, Seán Óg Graham is one of Ireland’s most dynamic young button accordion players. He has achieved numerous All-Ireland titles and is also a gifted, self-taught guitarist. He has several television appearances to his credit, and has appeared as guest soloist with the Irish Harp Orchestra, the Canadian Youth Orchestra and Alan Kelly’s ‘Celtic Legends’ show. He has recorded with various Irish musicians and recently he has been accompanying ‘Solas’ members Winifred Horan and Mick McAuley at their ‘Serenade’ concerts in Ireland and Europe. Seán Óg is a talented composer and a wide range of influences is evident in his music writing. He is a graduate of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at Limerick University, where he has been guided by some of the finest musicians in the world.
Eamon Murray: bodhrán, percussion Eamon Murray from Randalstown, Co. Antrim is one of the most respected young bodhrán players in Irish music. Described by Johnny McDonagh (De Dannan/ Arcady) as “the future of bodhrán playing”, and by the
Niamh Dunne: Vocals, Fiddle
Niamh Dunne is a highly accomplished singer, songwriter, fiddler and composer from Co. Limerick. Daughter of well-known piper Mickey Dunne, Niamh has made guest appearances on several CD’s over the years. Her 2004 album, ‘Legacy’, was recorded with her father and sister Bríd, and featured among the Irish Echo top traditional albums of 2004 Niamh is a well-respected classical violinist, twice receiving the high achievers award from the London Associated Board of Western Art Music, with whom she is a qualified teacher. She is also a graduate of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick University. Prior to joining Beoga in 2005, Niamh had toured extensively with the Dunne family, and also played on the world stage with the acclaimed music and dance show “Ragús”.
Beoga Q&A How and when was the band formed?
Beoga was formed in 2002 after a ferocious session at the All Ireland Fleadh. Initially the lineup featured Damian McKee (box) and Sean Og Graham (box/guitar), along with Liam Bradley on piano and Eamon Murray on bodhran. The lads all knew each other from the vibrant traditional music scene in Antrim and Derry counties. Sean Og was also studying music at the University of Limerick, where he met Niamh Dunne. Niamh joined the band on fiddle and vocals in 2005, shortly after the release of the bands first album.
Who writes your music?
We’re lucky to have a few composers in the band. All the members have contributed tunes to the albums at one time or another, but Sean Og and Damian have provided most of our original material to date.
What achievement as a band are you most proud of, and can you tell us how that came about?
Our favourite performance was playing the BBC Last Night of the Proms a couple of years ago to a televised audience of millions across the world. It was a very memorable night. We’re also extremely proud of our albums, and particularly when our last album ‘The Incident’ was shortlisted for a GRAMMY nomination.
What do you enjoy doing the most when you are not performing or working on your music?
Well, that differs from member to member. Damian enjoys golf and the occasional visit to the beauty salon to top up his perma-tan. Liam enjoys cookery programmes and ironing, Eamon enjoys Jeremy Kyle and Oprah re-runs, Sean Og is happiest when feeding wild ducks and Niamh practices her audition for the X Factor daily, as she wants to be the next Subo.
If you weren’t musicians, what would How has your music evolved since you you ideally do for a living instead? first began playing music together? Between us we listen to a wide range of music, so our music is constantly evolving. One of the best features of the band is being able to explore various genres, and introduce different nuances into the traditional music. This has been there from the very beginning, and is part of what keeps things fresh for us as performers. Perhaps the most major development for the band was the addition of songs to the repertoire, when Niamh joined us for our second album Mischief. It opened up the overall sound of the band to new opportunities and ideas, which was great.
What are your rehearsals generally like?
When we are on the road we don’t have much chance to rehearse. So much of our rehearsing is concentrated into a period when we are arranging an album, and immediately after the album release. It’s usually a brain storming session of ideas based around particular tunes or songs, before focusing on what works for us. We can be quite productive when we get on a roll, but there is a lot of table tennis played during some of these rehearsals!
We’d form a special ops unit, like the A-team... ‘’If you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the B-Team’’
Are you looking forward to the Tradfest show?
We played the Tradfest in 2010, so we’re delighted to be asked back so soon. It was a fantastic night and hopefully this year will be even better. Temple Bar is a great place for music and art and culture, so it’s brilliant to see trad represented so positively through the Tradfest.
Can we look forward to any new material from you soon?
Yes, we have a collection of fresh new tunes and some great songs in the pipeline. We’re very excited about some of the ideas and we hope to have a new album ready for release around April 2011.
Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch
For many years, Jackie Daly (accordion) and Matt Cranitch (fiddle) have been among the foremost interpreters of the rich Sliabh Luachra tradition of instrumental music. The unique cultural area on the borders of northwest Cork and east Kerry provides a special repertoire of tunes as well as a very distinctive style of playing, and has long been a source of inspiration for both Jackie and Matt. Through their respective performances over many years, they have established enviable individual reputations in the world of Irish traditional music. Their new CD, The Living Stream, draws very much from the Sliabh Luachra tradition, and features fourteen tracks, mostly unaccompanied. However, on a number of selections, accompaniment is provided by Paul De Grae (guitar) and Bríd ranitch (piano). This recording attests in a very comprehensive manner to the continuing relevance of the ‘living stream’ of traditional music in Ireland today. In the booklet accompanying the album, Jackie Small of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, states the following:
“An integral part of the Sliabh Luachra tradition was a wonderfully rich culture of playing slow airs, and both the musicians on this CD are acknowledged masters of the slow air”.
Ciorras
Hailed as ‘a modern Bothy band’, Ciorras brings a contemporary approach to traditional music. Ciorras were formed as a band earlier last year when the individual members were among a large number of young musicians who featured in the hit TG4 series, Lorg Lunny. As part of his journey around the country searching for young musical talent, these 8 young musicians were invited by maestro Dónal Lunny to create a new band with a fresh, new unique sound in traditional music. Thus Ciorras was born, a band centered around Dónal’s new percussion instrument, the Greadán. This exciting new band have a diverse repertoire of newly composed tunes sitting comfortably alongside the more traditional repertoire and a selection of lesserknown songs. With an impressive assortment of instruments between them including fiddle, concertina, pipes, piano accordion, keyboards, percussion, lowwhistles, vocals and no less than 4 exceptional flute players, the possibilities are endless as demonstrated in their choice of repertoire woven among imaginative and original arrangements and played with an energy and enthusiasm that showcases the phenomenal playing ability and musicality of these outstanding young musicians. Ciorras are currently promoting their debut album, Silver Lining.
Q&A Ciorras How and when was the band formed? The band was formed in a very different way to most bands. We were chosen by Dónal Lunny to be part of a band that he was assembling for the TV series Lorg Lunny. He was basically travelling around Ireland and picked a few of us who he thought would work well together in a band and we started rehearsing last January. I guess that means the TradFest is a bit of an anniversary for us!
Who writes your material? We use a good mixture of our own tunes, other contemporary compositions and some traditional stuff. You can’t lose sight of where you come from but at the same time you can’t let the music remain static either!
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together? I don’t think our music has had much chance to evolve really seeing as we are still in the early stages! We definitely have our own sound but I think we’re still cementing that at the moment rather than looking for new sounds.
What achievement of the band are you most proud of, can you tell us how that came about? I guess all of us were delighted to be picked for the band in the first place, but since then I guess the CD has been a major achievement that we’re proud of. We got a lot of help recording it from Dónal and Jimmy McCarthy and they are good people to have with you in that process. We’re definitely proud of that. We’ve also done some cool gigs and are booked for more. Really looking forward to Celtic Connections next after the TradFest!
Turlough Turlough are a three piece Irish folk group from County Meath featuring Thomas Walsh (composer of “Inishere” traditional tune), David Yeates and Conall Larkin. Recorded in Ashtown Studios with no overdubbing, the albumhas an organic feel that allows the quality of musicianship to come to thefore. Including classic Irish folk songs “Parcel of Rogues” and “The OldMan” and beautiful instrumentals such as “Itzikel” and the title track “Canyon Moonrise”. While Conall and Thomas have played together for quite a while, David joined the group having previously been part of the group “4 To The Bar” in NewYork while living there. Conall plays guitar and performs vocals, Thomas is on the accordion and David is on vocals and plays bodhrán, flute and guitar. Turlough perform in the pub trail at The Auld Dubliner and Farringtons
Tim Edey & Brendan Power Adventurous creative players are drawn to each other, and the first time Tim and Brendan met the musical sparks flew! Since then they have tried to perform together whenever they had time off from their busy individual careers. They finally decided to resist the urge no longer and get serious as a performance duo.
“The duo’s powerful blend of passion and virtuosity is infectious” They played their first festival at Celtic Colours 2010, to several standing ovations. Buddy MacDonald, MC of the late night Festival Club, said their spots were the best he’d seen in 14 years since the festival started. The buzz they created on Cape Breton caused many new fans to follow them to different shows, and resulted in a feature interview in the Cape Breton Post at the end of the week. Suffice it to say they love Canadian audiences, and Canadian audiences love them!
Dublin City Council, South East Area, proudly supports the TRADfest 2011
Family Programme The Ark
SATURDAY 29th JAN
During the Temple Bar TradFest the Ark will 2pm Barcó €10/8* 4pm The Cunningham Family €10/8* present a series of concerts for all the family celebrating the very best in Irish culture with some very well know families and SUNDAY 30th JAN friends...Barcó the virtuoso musical broth12pm Ioscaíd showcase €5 ers of the De Barra family on Harp, Guitar, 2pm The Cunningham Family €10/8* Flute/whistle will fill The Ark’s theatre 4pm Barcó €10/8* space will a lively medley of contemporary All events suitable for families and children aged 3+ and traditional Irish sounds along with a *Price for students, senior citizens, the unwaged, those very special guest or two. parenting alone and their accompanying children Toes will be tapping at The Ark’s family concerts featuring well-known family performing groups and friends. Mums, dads, grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends are all welcome to come along and celebrate the best in Irish music and dance. Barcó the virtuoso musical brothers of the De Barra family will fill The Ark’s theatre with a lively medley of contemporary and traditional Irish sounds. They’ll also be joined by a special guest or two. The Cunningham Family will take The Ark’s stage by storm with their energetic and unique dance blending the old and the new, the contemporary and the ancient for an unforgettable performance. The Ark and Tradfest are also delighted to showcase emerging young talent and will present the 2011 Siansa Gael Linn winning group IoscaÍd for a special concert.
www.ark.ie
GaelChultúr workshops
TradFest 2011 will see the return of the hugely popular Irish Music and Cultural workshops, due to a huge demand last year this year’s festival will see an increased number of workshops. www.gaelchultur.com
Siamsa Cois Life
Come and see some of the best of young Irish Talent on our outdoor showcase stages. The Siamsa Cois Life will see a purpose built stage erected in Temple Bar. Young traditional musicians and dancers from all over the country will be invited to perform as part of the festivals family programme.
Children’s Club
As part of TradFest 2011 we will have a FREE children’s club in the Temple Bar Hotel. Children can enjoy face painting, balloon modelling, craft workers and much more.
Outdoor Street Performers
Throughout the Temple Bar TradFest outdoor performances will provide entertainment for all the family. Bui Bolg will bring the cobblestones of temple bar to life with their colourful and imaginative street performers which will entertain young and old.
Storytellers
Storytellers will roam the streets and Pubs of temple bar throughout the festival telling tales of Irish Mythology.
Pub Trail
This year the pub trail is bigger than ever and pubs throughout Temple Bar will be alive with the sound of Irish Traditional music. A record breaking number of performances ranging from solo balladeers to traditional Irish music sessions to contemporary Irish and folk will be taking place throughout the festival. The festival will feature over 200 free Traditional Irish Music sessions throughout Temple Bar Pubs.
Singers Club
This year the singers club will take place in the Temple Bar Hotel, it will once again be hosted by Sean O Se. The singers club gives people a unique opportunity to hear traditional singers in an informal setting. To share a song, learn a new tune or simply listen in, make sure you drop into the singers club during TradFest 2011.
IMRO showcase
ver the course of the festival, The Irish O Music Rights organisation (IMRO) in association with Temple Bar Traders will present a series of traditionalmusic showcases and master classes in the New Theatre, Temple Bar. The music showcases will feature performances by some of Ireland’s emerging traditional music talents. As well as the showcases master classes will take place where renowned musicians will host music seminars.
Pipe Bands
The festival will feature many pipe bands. TradFest is developing a relationship with the Nova Scotia Music Festival, with the hope to share talent in the future. Kieran will be attending the Music Nova Scotia week in Canada as a delegate. Thanks to this new relationship 18 Canadian pipers will be performing at Tradfest. http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/
Indoor Stages
The Foggy Dew
The Arlington Wednesday 17.00-19.00 Legends of Tara
Thursday 17.30-19.30 The Voyagers
Friday 17.30-19.30 Finnegan’s Wake
Wednesday Saturday
17.30-19.30 Legends of Tara
Sunday 15.00-17.00 The Voyagers
18.00-19.30 Aiden Lawlor (guitar/vocals) Eamonn deBarra (flute/whistle)
Thursday 18.00-19.30 Aiden Lawlor (guitar/vocals) Eamonn deBarra (flute/whistle)
Friday 18.00-19.30 Aiden Lawlor (guitar/vocals) Eamonn deBarra (flute/whistle) 22.00-02.00 DJ
Saturday 22.00-02.00 DJ
Sunday 15.00-17.00 The Voyagers
Gallaghers Boxty House The Auld Dubliner Wednesday 14.00-16.00 Sparky Hughes 16.00-18.00 Big Dog 18.00-20.00 Sons Of Erin (guitar/vocals /bass/banjo) 21.30-23.30 Des Dublin
Thursday 14.00-16.00 Derek Mullen 16.00-18.00 Turlough 18.00-20.00 Sons Of Erin (guitar/vocals /bass/banjo) 21.30-23.30 Dave Rafferty Duo
Friday 14.30-16.30 Dave Rafferty 17.00-19.30 Brian Brody 20.00-22.00 Des Dublin
Saturday 14.30-16.30 Dave Rafferty 17.00-19.30 Brian Brody 20.00 Surprise Performance
Wednesday Sunday 12.30-15.00 Dave Rafferty Duo 15.00-17.00 Preview from Cavan Fleadh Music Song and Storytelling 18.00-20.00 Dave Eustace 21.30-00.00 Brian Brody
18.00-20.00 Rocky Roads (guitar/vocals/fiddle) 21.30-23.30 Dave Rafferty
Thursday 18.00-20.00 Rocky Roads (guitar/vocals/fiddle) 21.30-23.30 Shane Martin
Friday 18.00-20.00 Rocky Roads (guitar/vocals/ fiddle) 20.00 Mike Hanrahan & Eleanor Shanley
Saturday
Sunday
15.00-17.00 Preview from Cavan Fleadh Music Song and Storytelling 18.00-20.00 Rafferty Boys 21.30-23.30 Steven Rooney 23.30-01.30 Problematic
16.00-18.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle) 21.00-23.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle)
Friday 16.00-18.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle) 21.00-23.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle)
Saturday 15.00 Storytelling 16.00-18.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle) 21.00-23.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle)
Sunday 16.00-18.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle) 18.00 Storytelling 21.00-23.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle)
Oliver St John Gogarty Downstairs Wednesday
Farringtons Wednesday
16.00-18.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle) 21.00-23.00 Tony Burke & Friends (guitar/bouzouki & fiddle)
Thursday
13.00-17.00 Eddie Valentine (guitar/vocals) Cathal Holland (banjo/vocals) 17.45-20.15 Ar Nós na Goailhe (guitar/vocals/mandoline) 20.30-22.30 John Byrne (guitar/vocals)
Thursday 13.00-17.00 Eddie Valentine (guitar/vocals) Cathal Holland (banjo/vocals) 17.45-20.15 Ger Currane (guitar/vocals) Collie Lang (banjo/vocals) 20.30-22.30 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals)
Friday 13.00-19.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Andy Leighton (fiddle)
Saturday 13.00-15.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Andy Leighton (fiddle) 15.00-17.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo/ vocals) 17.00-19.00 Open session
Sunday 12.30-14.30 Open session with Des Leech (accordion) 15.30-17.30 Rocky Road (guitar, vocals, fiddle) 18.00-20.00 Ian Byrne (guitar/vocals)
Oliver St John Gogarty Upstairs Fitzsimons Wednesday 219.00-21.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Andy Leighton (fiddle) 23.30-01.30 One By One After: Late Bar & Nightclub
Thursday 19.00-21.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Andy Leighton (fiddle) 23.30-01.30 John Fitzsimons After: Late Bar & Night Club
Friday 20.00-22.00 Bill Martin (guitar/vocals) Andy Leighton (fiddle) 23.30-01.30 One By One After: Late Bar & Night Club
Wednesday Saturday 21.00-23.00 Vincent McCormack 23.30-00.30 EZ Singles After: Late Bar & Nightclub
Sunday 20.00-22.00 Paul Harrison 22.30-00.30 Brotherbold After: Late Bar & Night Club
20.00-23.00 The Clan (guitar/vocals/ fiddle/ mandoline) 23.00-23.30 Irish Dancing 23.30-02.30 Late Session
22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Thursday 16.00-18.00 Session with Des Leech (accordion) 22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle
Friday 16.00-18.00 Session with Des Leech (accordion) 23.00-01.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Saturday 23.00-01.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
20.00-23.00 Rocky Road (guitar/vocals/fiddle) 23.00-23.30 Irish Dancing 23.30-02.30 Late Session
Friday 20.00-23.00 Open session: all welcome 23.00-23.30 Irish Dancing 23.30-02.30 Late Session
Saturday 20.00-23.00 Open session: all welcome 23.00-23.30 Irish Dancing 23.30-02.30 Late Session
Sunday 16.00-18.00 Tom McElvogue + album launch ‘The long Hard Road’ 20.00-22.15 Open session: all welcome 22.15-22.45 Irish Dancing 22.45-01.00 Late Sessions
Gogartys Library Bar
Gogartys Library Bar Wednesday
Thursday
Sunday 22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Wednesday 22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Thursday 16.00-18.00 Session with Des Leech (accordion) 22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle
Friday 16.00-18.00 Session with Des Leech (accordion) 23.00-01.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Saturday 23.00-01.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
Sunday 22.00-00.00 Gael Force (guitar, vocals, keyboards, uillean pipes, whistle low whistle)
The Temple Bar Hotel – Singers Club
The Palace Bar-Festival Club Wednesday
Thursday
16.00-18.00 (down) Paul Brown (guitar/vocals) Dermot Kenny (flute/whistle) 21.00-finish (up) Graham, Gerard & Friends
16.00-18.00 (down) Paul Brown (guitar/vocals) Dermot Kenny (flute/whistle) 21.00 (down) Seamus Begley 21.00 - finish (up) McKeown Brothers, Dermot Freeney & Mick ‘The Lads’
Friday 21.00-finish (down) Eoin Dillon & Friends 21.00-finish (up) Open Session, All Welcome
Saturday 15.30 Storytelling 16.00-18.00 (down) Victor, Brian & Friends 21.00-finish (up) Collection of Palace Musicians
Sunday
Wednesday
Thursday
16.00-18.00 (down) Paul Brown (guitar/vocals) Dermot Kenny (flute/whistle) 19.00 Storytelling 21.00-finish (down) Open Session, All Welcome 21.00-finish (up) The Palace Musicians
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Hosted by Seán O’Sé. Unique opportunity to hear traditional singing in unique setting. Drop by to share a song or pick up a new one!
Hosted by Seán O’Sé. Unique opportunity to hear traditional singing in unique setting. Drop by to share a song or pick up a new one!
The VAT House The Porterhouse Wednesday
Thursday
18.00-19.30 Danny Moran (guitar/vocals), Roz McVeigh (accordion), Joanne McVeigh (fiddle) 22.00-00.00 Bunko Brothers
18.00-19.30 Danny Moran (guitar/vocals), Roz McVeigh (accordion), Joanne McVeigh (fiddle) 23.30-01.30 Usual Suspects
Friday 15.00-16.30 Danny Moran (guitar/ vocals), Roz McVeigh (accordion),Joanne McVeigh (fiddle) 23.30-01.30 Woodsey
Saturday 20.00-22.00 Sliotar 00.00-02.00 Deleorean
Wednesday Sunday 18.00-23.00 Sliotar
18.00-20.00 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo) Noreen Leech (fiddle) 22.00-00.30 The Chancers (guitar, vocals, flute, fiddle)
Thursday 18.00-20.00 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo) Noreen Leech (fiddle) 22.00-00.30 Shilleleagh (guitar, vocals, banjo, fiddle)
16.00 Simon 19.00 Dublin Legacy 22.00 Lemonade
Thursday 16.00 Simon 19.00 City Fair 21.30 K9 00.00 Rafferty Boys
Friday 13.00 Lunch Session with Seamus Begley 15.30 Davy Lewis 19.00 City Fair 21.30 Davy Lewis Band 00.00 Davy and Steve
Saturday 15.30 Dan On Pipes 18.30 Simon 21.00 Davy and Jimmy 00.00 Davy Lewis Band
Sunday 13.00 Dan On Pipes 15.30 Aoife and Ian 18.30 Rafferty Boys 21.00 Davy Lewis Band
The Temple Bar Wednesday
Thursday
13.30 Sharon Hussey (fiddle/guitar/ banjo) 18.00 All Fok’d Up (Classic Trad) 22.00 Lad Lane Eugene (guitar) Ray (accordion) Colum (fiddle and vocals) Foot stomping Music
13.30 The Poetry Singer. Jamie tells stories and sings Irish songs. 18.00 The Buggy Boys. The boys sing the best known ballads. 22.00 The Galway Girls (fiddle/guitar/ banjo). Very lively.
Friday 12.30 Sparks R Flyin. Siobhan (fiddle) Sparky (guitar/ vocals) Dan (pipes) 17.00 Dave and Ronan. Trad with a touch of blues. 20.30 No Drama. Jenny (vocals) Dave (genius guitarist) Clare (guitar/vocals). Modern & Classic Irish songs. 23.00 The Folks Man. Lots of fun!
18.00-20.00 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo) Noreen Leech (fiddle) 22.00-00.30 Christy’s Lads (guitar, vocals, banjo, mandoline)
Saturday 18.00-20.00 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo) Noreen Leech (fiddle) 22.00-00.00 Flip Note (guitar, vocals, 2 fiddles)
Sunday 18.00-20.00 Martin Byrne (guitar/vocals) Stephen Leech (banjo) Noreen Leech (fiddle) 21.00-23.00 The Legend of Luke Kelly
Outdoor Stages
The Quays Wednesday
Friday
Saturday 11.30-13.00 Seán O’Sé 01.30 John Mulville & Dave Heuston. Sing famous Dublin ballads. 16.00 Storytelling 17.00 Gypsy Rovers. Songs and tunes of ancient Eire fused with modern Irish sound. 20.30 Pello Bawn 23.00 Dave & Clare. Sing all the classics.
Sunday 12.30 Dermot Byrne Blues Band. A break from Trad. 16.00. Trabba. One of the best Trad music bands around. 18.30 Storytelling 19.00 Lad Lane. (accordion/guitar/fiddle) 22.00 Mna Na Hairey. Dave/Clare/ Sharon. The best music in town on a Sunday night.
The Gig Rig (East Essex St) Saturday 12.00pm Coláiste Eoin & Íosagáin Trad Band 12.45pm St.Maurs Pipe Band 1.30pm Air Corps Pipe Band 2.15pm The Arlington Irish Dancers 3.00pm Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley 3.45pm The Furey Brothers
Sunday 12.30pm DIT Trad Ensemble 1.15pm Artane Senior Band 2.00pm Garda Band 3.00pm Shaskeen Céilí on the Cobbles 4.00pm The Legend of Luke Kelly
Siamsa Cois Life (Fownes St) Saturday 12.30pm Atlantic Steps 13.15pm Craobh Sean Treacy CCE 14.15pm Scoil Rince Dunleavy 14.50pm Nyah Festival Cavan 15.45pm Paidí Bán O Broin
Sunday 12.30pm Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh (U18 group) 1.20pm Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh (O18 group) 2.15pm Nova Scotia Pipe Band 3.15pm The Arlington Irish Dancers