Céilí House presenter Kieran Hanrahan previews this year's Temple Bar TradFest spectacular, which kicks off this week...
TradFest Templebar is back this week, and there’s a great sense of excitement in the air as the winter turns a corner giving rise to brighter evenings and the promise of great entertainment in some of Dublin’s most iconic settings.
The combination of world-class performers in stunning venues sets the pulse racing. The cream of Ireland’s traditional and folk artists play alongside internationally renowned entertainers over a five-day period in Ireland’s capital.
Listen to the Arena TradFest Special from the Peppercanister Church in Dublin, with guests The Eskies, Zoe Conway & John McIntyre, David Kitt, Inni-K and Kern
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Away from the concert settings, there’s a chance to get up close and personal with some of the country’s favourite bands and groups in the Front Row sessions, while the Ark and TradFest present the TradFest Children’s Hub with concerts, trad sessions and workshops.
The Front Row Sessions will feature well-known names such as The Fureys, The Henry Girls, Stockton's Wing, Paddy Casey, Ryan O’Shaughnessy and The Young Folk.
Live at the Hub has developed and evolved at TradFest over the last ten years or so, and gives a platform to young up-and-coming bands and groups to perform to significant audiences. It also affords the bands the opportunity to compete for the Oliver Hughes Bursary - this carries a prize fund and an invitation to perform at the USA’s biggest festival of Irish music, The Milwaukee Irish Fest. The trip is funded by the Temple Bar Company, and the Milwaukee Irish Fest in turn attracts most of the biggest festivals from across the US - it's a great opportunity for the winning band.
This year TradFest has also teamed up with Culture Ireland to produce a Showcase event for Irish bands interested in touring the US; a total of fourteen international festivals will be on hand along with Irish festivals and promoters to hear an array of fine musical talent from around the country. This event will help establish the performers, and help set them on their way internationally.
In the TradFringe we encourage people to go behind the music; learn more about your roots in a genealogy workshop, or delve into the origin of Irish surnames; take a songwriting workshop with Eleanor McEvoy, or explore the art of Sean-Nos in a workshop with Oonagh McArdle. You can also see the premieres of two new documentaries about Irish musicians: Slán leis an gCeol/Farewell to Music is a lyrical portrait of musician and former radio and tv producer Tony MacMahon, after he is diagnosed with Parkinsons and is losing his ability to play, while Starboard Home celebrates the bond between Dublin’s port city and river through music, song and spoken word.
The 2019 music lineup is one of our most iconic yet, with a strong international lineup featuring the likes of multi-grammy award winner Kathy Mattea, evergreen folk superstars Steeleye Span and Iberian piper Carlos Nunez, whilst celebrating the cream of established Irish talent, including Eleanor McEvoy, Andy Irvine and Arty McGlynn, all the while supporting emerging artists through our headline programme and showcasing events. We are also delighted to expand and increase the hugely popular front row sessions with more concerts, more days and more fun than ever before.
We will be broadcasting a very special edition of Céilí House live from the Dublin Castle TradFest Gala concert on Saturday evening; there’s an international feel to the night, too, with Mick Moloney’s Green Fields of America from the US, The Michael McGoldrick Trio from Manchester and Waterford’s DANÚ. This extended show will also be streamed live on the RTÉ Facebook page.
The Temple Bar TradFest runs from January 23-27 - find out more about the programme here.
