KILKENNY CITY’S CLASS TRADFEST IS BACK Kilkenny City is again due to be hopping and lepping to the sounds of the best traditional music on St. Patrick’s weekend thanks to Kilkenny Tradfest.
T
he festival returns from March 12 – 17 for its 8th edition. Headliners this year include 70s trad rock ground-breakers Horslips; Andy Irvine and Paul Brady on the anniversary tour of their seminal self-titled album from the same era; Donal Lunny as part of ZoDoMo; and Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney performing at the event’s closing night gig in The Set Theatre. Over the years, Kilkenny Tradfest has developed into one of Ireland’s leading festivals. Its commitment to attracting the highest-quality acts to the stages of the city’s venues has ensured that the crowds keep coming. On top of this, the festival is popular with musicians, offering many masterclasses and the chance for attendees to improve their musical skills. Learn more about playing the accordion with Máirtín O’ Connor, the fiddle with Zoe Conway or Declan Folan, the bouzouki with Donal
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TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE - MARCH 2020
Lunny, the bodhrán with local legend Tommy Lanigan and the pipes with former long-time local resident Leonard Barry. Speaking about this year’s Kilkenny Tradfest, festival director Marian Flannery said in a statement: “In terms of the live gigs, we are thrilled with the calibre of acts. We are particularly delighted to have Horslips coming to Kilkenny for the first time since their heyday when they rocked out venues like the Carlton and the Mayfair ballrooms.” “The band changed the face of traditional music, introducing it to young people. They laid the ground for the likes of Moving Hearts, Stockton’s Wing and modern groups like Kila - who also appear live and free in Paris Texas as part of the Bulmers Trad Trail. Horslips appearance in Langton’s Ballroom on March 16 will be nostalgic and full of energy.”
To see the full line-up for Kilkenny Tradfest and for more information, visit www.kilkennytradfest.com.
