Tullamore Tradfest weekend to showcase the best of Irish music and culture
Tullamore is set to come alive with the sound of traditional Irish music when the hugely-anticipated Tullamore Tradfest 2025 gets underway on Friday of next week, April 11, and continues right through until Sunday, April 13.
With over 50 events taking place at venues across the town over the weekend, many of which are free and others which are billed as being family-friendly, the Tradfest promises a bumper weekend of entertainment for all ages.
The hard-working committee behind the annual Tullamore Tradfest are urging everyone to come out and support this jam-packed feast of traditional Irish music and culture in their own town and county next weekend.
Tradfest weekend has a packed schedule of concerts, workshops and community events, beginning on Friday night, April 11, with an unmissable concert in the Bridge House Hotel at 8pm, featuring world-class musicians Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly, Tim Edey, and Amy Murphy along with local talents Clare Ann Kearns, Eimear Buckley, Grace and Katelyn Corrigan, Grace Minnock and Laura Callaghan.
Friday's concert will also include the HUP! Offaly ‘Hall of Fame’ presentation, honouring Paddy Buckley for his outstanding contribution to traditional music over many years. Tickets for the concert are priced at €20 each.
The highlight of Saturday's events will be a Family Concert at 5pm in the Bridge House Hotel, featuring The McKenna Family, Meibh, Naoise and Aoibhe Dooley and the Birr Figure Dancers.
The Family Concert is designed to showcase young talent and the next generation of traditional Irish musicians, and will include a special performance from the Group Ensemble Workshop, directed by Rebecca McCarthy-Kent. Tickets are priced at €10 per person or €20 per family (2 adults + 2 children).
A very popular feature of the Tullamore Tradfest is the Festival Club, which takes place on Saturday night at 10pm in the Bridge House and will feature performances from Pólca 4 (Pádraig Ó Sé, Gary O’Brien, Robbie Harris, Dáire Bracken) and Peter Street (Keelan McGrath, Fionn O’Hanlon, John Paul Reynolds & SimonCrehan). Tickets for the Festival Club are €15 per person.
Among the free events over Tradfest weekend is the Session Trail, with 37 sessions across 13 venues and over 100 musicians from all over Ireland and further afield.
Another very popular free event is the 'Try An Instrument' slot with Music Generation Offaly. Anyone who has ever wanted to try their hand at playing the harp, uilleann pipes, or bouzouki is invited to enrol for this free workshop, which takes place on Saturday morning, April 12, at 10.30am. Booking is essential, as 30-minute slots are available for each instrument.
Also on Saturday, from 11.30am onwards, the Bridge Centre will be the place to be for free family entertainment, featuring performances from Chorus Connections; TradSoc Ollscoil na Gaillimhe; Mary and Frank Brennan and friends; Rahan CCÉ; Offaly County Council Choir; Jamie McKeogh and friends, and Portarlington CCÉ.
A Historical Talk and Recital chronicling the fascinating history of Bernard (Barney) Delaney, a 19th-century piper from Offaly who made his mark in America, will be hosted at the Offaly Historical Society,Bury Quay, on Saturday at 3pm. This is also a free event, and, as well as featurng a talk by Seamus Kelly, there will also be a live recital with David Kinsella (pipes), Frank Kelly (piano box), Siobhán Godley (flute), and Aidan Barry (guitar).
Other highlights of Tradfest weekend include an Inclusive Session (free) on Sunday, April 13, from 3pm to 4pm, at Tullamore Library, which is aimed at children and adults withadditional needs and their families. This event, which will be hosted by Ciana McGarrigle, is designed to make traditional music more accessible to everyone.
Events at the ever-popular Gig Rig at O'Connor Square kick off at 11am on Sunday, April 13, featuring performances from Rath CCÉ; Noel Stapleton and friends; Wayne Brereton; Killeigh CCÉ; Lynch, Guinan and Godley; The Underwhelmers; Ballyboy CCÉ; The Brothers, and Ceoltóirí Óga Laighean.
Sunday will also feature a Céilí at Ballykilmurray Community Centre from 3pm top 6pm featuring the Abbey Trio Céilí Band. Admission €12 and patrons can pay at the door.
With an incredible line-up of musicians, cultural events, and family-friendly entertainment, Tullamore TradFest 2025 is set to be a spectacular weekend celebrating our rich musical heritage.
Full details on www.tullamoretradfest.com