Tullamore TradFest 2023
This year’s festival begins TOMORROW Night, Thursday 30th March with a trad session in The Goalpost Pub hosted by visiting musicians, and two of West Kerry’s finest musicians, Eoin and Méabh Begley. This session kicks off the three-day extravaganza of jigs, reels, songs, dance which will see traditional music enthusiasts from all over Ireland and further afield, gather to celebrate the rich and vibrant traditional music heritage of the midlands.
This year the Tullamore TradFest committee are delighted to announce a new partnership with Bord na Móna acting as title sponsor for the festival. According to Tullamore TradFest Committee Member Denise Lowery, "We are absolutely delighted to have Bord na Móna on board as the main sponsor of Tullamore TradFest. As a long-standing member of the midlands community, Bord na Móna has been a significant contributor to the region's economy and sustainability efforts. We share their commitment to the environment and the betterment of our community. We are especially excited about this partnership because it allows us to expand the festival's reach and impact. With Bord na Mona's support, we can bring even more world-class traditional Irish music and dance to Tullamore, and showcase the best of Irish culture to visitors from all over the country and beyond. We believe that this new sponsorship deal will help us create an even more exciting and enjoyable experience for festival-goers, while also supporting local businesses and promoting the region as a tourist destination. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Tullamore for TradFest 2023 and show them what our community is all about."
Patricia Mulligan - Community Engagement Manager for Bord na Móna continued, “Bord na Móna is as a proud member of the midland community over many years.We are delighted to support the Tullamore TradFest 2023 and wish the festival every success in bringinginternational and locally acclaimed musicians to perform in concert to the benefit of Tullamore and the surrounding area “
The festival takes place over the course of next weekend (March 31st to April 2nd) and comprises of concerts, workshops, recitals, sessions and free family entertainment. One of the main highlights is set to be the concert this Friday night in the Tullamore Court Hotel @ 7:30pm. "Next Friday, we're thrilled to bring together some of the best traditional Irish musicians for a night of unforgettable music. Frankie Gavin is one of Ireland's leading fiddle players, known for his dynamic and virtuosic playing style. With a career spanning over four decades, Gavin has earned a reputation as a master of traditional Irish music, having performed and recorded with some of the genre's most iconic figures. Frankie, joined by Diarmuid O'Meachair on melodeon and Catherine McHugh on piano, will be headlining the show. But that's not all - we also have incredible support acts lined up, including Alisha McMahon on harp, Aoibheann Queally on concertina, Rebecca McCarthy Kent on fiddle, Michaela Keenaghan on vocals, and Jack Lynch showcasing his sean nós dancing. Another late addition to this already jam packed line-up is the Leinster Youth Group. It's going to be a fantastic showcase of Irish traditional music kicking off in The Tullamore Court Hotel at 7:30pm on Friday. We also have our official festival launch in the Tullamore Court Hotel from 7pm on the same night with an outside broadcast from the hotel foyer by Midlands 103FM so please come along early and join in the musi and fun" - Tommy Craven, Committee Member.
Saturday April 2nd sees the introduction of an early, family friendly concert at 5pm and the return of the Festival Club later that night (9:30pm) for festival revellers. According to Committee Member Gary Lynch, "We are honoured to have Anne Conroy Burke, Eileen O'Brien, Mary Conroy and Deirdre McSherry perform at this year's festival. Their tribute to the late great accordionists Joe Burke and Paddy O'Brien promises to be another highlight of the festival. Committee Member Michael Buckley continued, "We are also excited to announce that our Festival Club is back and better than ever! This night is not to be missed - it's a wild, electric night of the best of craic! We have a fantastic lineup this year, including the double-bill headline of local legends, Best Foot Forward, and the talented trio of Conor Moriarty on accordion, Rebecca McCarthy Kent on fiddle/piano, and Sean Kelliher on guitar. Their performances promise to be a highlight of the festival and we can't wait to see them bring the house down at The Bridge House on Saturday night."
One of the key aims of the festival is to celebrate and acknowledge the rich musical heritage of Offaly and those that contribute to it.
Committee Member, James Hogan, expressed excitement for the upcoming Hup! Offaly concert (Sun, April 2, Tullamore Court Hotel @ 6pm)celebrating the traditional music of Offaly. "This event is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of our county and the outstanding contributions of local musicians to the traditional music scene," said Hogan. "We are delighted to have a diverse range of performers on the night from, Jiglets, a local group of up and coming 4, 5, and 6 year old enthusiasts to more seasoned performers like Samantha Hughes and friends. We are especially honoured to pay tribute to the late Lelia Brady, a beloved member of our community, and showcase performances from members of her family, friends, and the Árd Escir Céilí Band. We are also thrilled to induct Frank and Mary Brennan into our newly established Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of last year's inductee, Ellen Comerford Flanagan. This concert promises to be a memorable evening of music and culture for all who attend."
In addition to the paid concerts there are more than 150 hours of free entertainment over the TradFest weekend for all to enjoy. There is the festival ‘Session Trail’ which sees traditional music sessions take over multiple premises over the weekend. There are also a vast array of family friendly entertainment from recitals (Accordion @ 3pm Saturday in Coláiste Choilm – Fiddle & Flute, 2pm and 3pm respectively in Killeligh Teach Ceoil, Offaly Street) along with a ‘GIG RIG’ in the Bridge Shopping Centre (Saturday & Sunday), and another ‘GIG RIG’ in O’Connor Square all day Sunday.
For full festival details see our social media channels @tullamoretradfest or www.tullamoretradfest.com
For up to date details and to purchase tickets please visit www.tullamoretradfest.com or find us on our social media channels @tullamoretradfest
Tickets available by clicking here
This year’s festival begins TOMORROW Night, Thursday 30th March with a trad session in The Goalpost Pub hosted by visiting musicians, and two of West Kerry’s finest musicians, Eoin and Méabh Begley. This session kicks off the three-day extravaganza of jigs, reels, songs, dance which will see traditional music enthusiasts from all over Ireland and further afield, gather to celebrate the rich and vibrant traditional music heritage of the midlands.
This year the Tullamore TradFest committee are delighted to announce a new partnership with Bord na Móna acting as title sponsor for the festival. According to Tullamore TradFest Committee Member Denise Lowery, "We are absolutely delighted to have Bord na Móna on board as the main sponsor of Tullamore TradFest. As a long-standing member of the midlands community, Bord na Móna has been a significant contributor to the region's economy and sustainability efforts. We share their commitment to the environment and the betterment of our community. We are especially excited about this partnership because it allows us to expand the festival's reach and impact. With Bord na Mona's support, we can bring even more world-class traditional Irish music and dance to Tullamore, and showcase the best of Irish culture to visitors from all over the country and beyond. We believe that this new sponsorship deal will help us create an even more exciting and enjoyable experience for festival-goers, while also supporting local businesses and promoting the region as a tourist destination. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Tullamore for TradFest 2023 and show them what our community is all about."
Patricia Mulligan - Community Engagement Manager for Bord na Móna continued, “Bord na Móna is as a proud member of the midland community over many years.We are delighted to support the Tullamore TradFest 2023 and wish the festival every success in bringinginternational and locally acclaimed musicians to perform in concert to the benefit of Tullamore and the surrounding area “
The festival takes place over the course of next weekend (March 31st to April 2nd) and comprises of concerts, workshops, recitals, sessions and free family entertainment. One of the main highlights is set to be the concert this Friday night in the Tullamore Court Hotel @ 7:30pm. "Next Friday, we're thrilled to bring together some of the best traditional Irish musicians for a night of unforgettable music. Frankie Gavin is one of Ireland's leading fiddle players, known for his dynamic and virtuosic playing style. With a career spanning over four decades, Gavin has earned a reputation as a master of traditional Irish music, having performed and recorded with some of the genre's most iconic figures. Frankie, joined by Diarmuid O'Meachair on melodeon and Catherine McHugh on piano, will be headlining the show. But that's not all - we also have incredible support acts lined up, including Alisha McMahon on harp, Aoibheann Queally on concertina, Rebecca McCarthy Kent on fiddle, Michaela Keenaghan on vocals, and Jack Lynch showcasing his sean nós dancing. Another late addition to this already jam packed line-up is the Leinster Youth Group. It's going to be a fantastic showcase of Irish traditional music kicking off in The Tullamore Court Hotel at 7:30pm on Friday. We also have our official festival launch in the Tullamore Court Hotel from 7pm on the same night with an outside broadcast from the hotel foyer by Midlands 103FM so please come along early and join in the musi and fun" - Tommy Craven, Committee Member.
Saturday April 2nd sees the introduction of an early, family friendly concert at 5pm and the return of the Festival Club later that night (9:30pm) for festival revellers. According to Committee Member Gary Lynch, "We are honoured to have Anne Conroy Burke, Eileen O'Brien, Mary Conroy and Deirdre McSherry perform at this year's festival. Their tribute to the late great accordionists Joe Burke and Paddy O'Brien promises to be another highlight of the festival. Committee Member Michael Buckley continued, "We are also excited to announce that our Festival Club is back and better than ever! This night is not to be missed - it's a wild, electric night of the best of craic! We have a fantastic lineup this year, including the double-bill headline of local legends, Best Foot Forward, and the talented trio of Conor Moriarty on accordion, Rebecca McCarthy Kent on fiddle/piano, and Sean Kelliher on guitar. Their performances promise to be a highlight of the festival and we can't wait to see them bring the house down at The Bridge House on Saturday night."
One of the key aims of the festival is to celebrate and acknowledge the rich musical heritage of Offaly and those that contribute to it.
Committee Member, James Hogan, expressed excitement for the upcoming Hup! Offaly concert (Sun, April 2, Tullamore Court Hotel @ 6pm)celebrating the traditional music of Offaly. "This event is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of our county and the outstanding contributions of local musicians to the traditional music scene," said Hogan. "We are delighted to have a diverse range of performers on the night from, Jiglets, a local group of up and coming 4, 5, and 6 year old enthusiasts to more seasoned performers like Samantha Hughes and friends. We are especially honoured to pay tribute to the late Lelia Brady, a beloved member of our community, and showcase performances from members of her family, friends, and the Árd Escir Céilí Band. We are also thrilled to induct Frank and Mary Brennan into our newly established Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of last year's inductee, Ellen Comerford Flanagan. This concert promises to be a memorable evening of music and culture for all who attend."
In addition to the paid concerts there are more than 150 hours of free entertainment over the TradFest weekend for all to enjoy. There is the festival ‘Session Trail’ which sees traditional music sessions take over multiple premises over the weekend. There are also a vast array of family friendly entertainment from recitals (Accordion @ 3pm Saturday in Coláiste Choilm – Fiddle & Flute, 2pm and 3pm respectively in Killeligh Teach Ceoil, Offaly Street) along with a ‘GIG RIG’ in the Bridge Shopping Centre (Saturday & Sunday), and another ‘GIG RIG’ in O’Connor Square all day Sunday.
For full festival details see our social media channels @tullamoretradfest or www.tullamoretradfest.com
For up to date details and to purchase tickets please visit www.tullamoretradfest.com or find us on our social media channels @tullamoretradfest
Tickets available by clicking here
