TradFest

17/06/2026

Wishing the incredible Peggy Seeger a very Happy Birthday from Team TradFest 💚

In amongst her busy career spanning over 70 years, Peggy has found the time to join us at TradFest multiple times to perform alongside incredible artists, and to share her amazing life in the music industry with us all. Because of her never-ending support, it was only right that Peggy was presented with a lifetime achievement award by President Catherine Connolly at the launch of TradFest 2026 in The GPO, Dublin.

Thank you, Peggy, for being an incredible role model for women in the trad & folk scene, but also to all women in their respective fields and continuing to encourage them to keep pushing, never stop and to never take no for an answer 🤝

15/06/2026

💚 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT 🪉

Introducing our artists for Cruit: Harpers' Gathering 2026!

We've got the ultimate lineup to celebrate the harp, its history, and the stories it tells on Friday, 17th and Saturday, 18th July in Donegal.

Featuring:
Stephen Rea
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh
Neil Martin
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill
Michelle Mulcahy
Louise Mulcahy
Cormac De Barra
Lisa Lambe
Lauren Ní Néill
Cathal Ó Searcaigh
Aihblín McCann
Eugene McKenna

This is a weekend of music and story you won't want to miss, in one of the most beautiful places on the island of Ireland.

Get your tickets today via the link below🎟️
https://tradfest.com/cruit-harpers-gathering/

A special thanks to our fellow partners and funders who helped make this event possible.
Harp Ireland| The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon | The Heritage Council | Donegal County Council | Donegal.ie

13/06/2026

“It’s certainly the strangest album I’ve ever made. But then what do you expect of a vintage songwriter?” – Peggy Seeger 💚

Ahead of her birthday next Wednesday, our dear friend of TradFest and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Peggy Seeger has released her final album, Vintage.

A singer, songwriter, activist and one of the most influential figures in folk music, Peggy has spent more than seven decades using song to tell stories, challenge injustice, and connect people through music. Vintage brings together a collection of previously unreleased songs spanning almost four decades, offering a deeply personal insight into Peggy’s remarkable songwriting legacy.

From the political to the personal, the playful to the profound, Vintage is a fitting final chapter from a true folk icon. We encourage everyone to give it a listen and celebrate the extraordinary body of work Peggy has shared with the world.

You can find Vintage now on streaming platforms and through Peggy’s official channels.

Photo credit: Irene Pyper Scott
Artwork: Kitty MacColl & Fraser MacColl
Production & Mastering: Calum MacColl

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

Tonight’s episode of Ireland in Music on RTÉ One shines a light on the artistry of Stephen Rea and Louise Mulcahy 💚

A renowned uilleann piper and flute player, Louise Mulcahy has become one of the leading voices in Irish traditional music, performing and teaching across Ireland and beyond. Joining her is Academy Award-nominated actor Stephen Rea, one of Ireland’s most celebrated performers, whose distinguished career has spanned theatre, film and television for decades.

Filmed in Fingal, tonight’s performance sees Louise and Stephen bring together music and poetry in a powerful interpretation of Derek Mahon’s Trump Time and Bean Dubh A’ Ghleanna, creating a unique meeting of words, music and place 🎶

If you’re looking forward to Cruit: Harpers’ Gathering this July, you’ll also have the chance to catch Louise and Stephen performing in Donegal.

This week’s episode also features performances from Skippers Alley & Edwina Guckian, Willzee & Luka Bloom, Villagers, Irish Women in Harmony and The Pale

Catch Ireland in Music tonight at 8:30 pm on RTÉ One or Sunday at 2:30 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player

Special thanks to our partners Tourism Ireland , Tourism Northern Ireland, Dublin City Council , Love Temple Bar , Limerick City & County Council , Clare County Council , Derry City and Strabane District Council , Fingal County Council , Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Hines and Donegal County Council for supporting this incredible programme!

11/06/2026

Run, don’t walk an extra event has been added for Cruit: Harpers’ Gathering🪉

Join us on Saturday, 18th July for the first ever harp workshops on Cruit Island. Beginner, intermediate and advanced students will have an opportunity to learn from master harpers Michelle Mulcahy , Cormac de Barra and Lauren O'Neill . Come along to hear their unique insights on the music of the ancient harpers, slow airs and dance music on harp; a gathering not to be missed!

Get your tickets today at tradfest.com 🎟️

A special thanks to our fellow partners and funders who helped make this event possible.
Harp Ireland , The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon , The Heritage Council , Donegal County Council , Donegal.ie

05/06/2026

Tonight’s episode of Ireland in Music on RTÉ One celebrates the timeless sound of Donegal’s Clannad Irish Band 💚

Formed in Gweedore, Co. Donegal, Clannad are one of Ireland’s most influential musical groups, renowned for their ethereal harmonies and pioneering blend of traditional Irish music with contemporary soundscapes 🎶 Their distinctive style helped bring the Irish language and Celtic music to audiences around the world, shaping generations of artists in their wake.

Led by the unmistakable voice of Moya Brennan alongside Ciarán Brennan, Noel Duggan and Pádraig Duggan, Clannad created a musical legacy that continues to resonate across the globe.

Following Moya Brennan’s passing in April 2026, just months after her celebrated appearance at TradFest earlier this year, tonight’s programme offers a fitting tribute to one of Ireland’s most treasured musical voices and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.

This week’s episode also features an outstanding collection of artists and locations from across the island, including Denise Chaila with Clannad in Donegal, Kíla in Meath, Dark Tropics in Armagh, MOXIE in Temple Bar, Imelda May in Dublin, Na Mooneys in Donegal, and Mundy in Fingal 🎶 Together they showcase the diversity, creativity and the richness of Ireland’s musical landscape.

Catch Ireland in Music tonight at 8:30 pm on RTÉ One or Sunday at 2:30 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Special thanks to our partners Tourism Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, Meath County Council, Dublin City Council, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Fingal County Council, Love Temple Bar, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Donegal County Council for supporting this incredible programme 💚

03/06/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ronan Gallagher, a much-loved friend of TradFest and the wider Temple Bar family.

Ronan brought so much warmth and joy to our Smithwick’s Sessions over the years, performing with The Ronan Gallagher Band and leaving lasting memories with everyone who had the pleasure of hearing him play.

A wonderful musician and a wonderful man, he will be sorely missed.

Our heartfelt condolences go to his brother Pádraig Óg, his nephew Jack, the team at Gallagher’s Boxty House, and all of Ronan’s family, friends, and bandmates at this difficult time.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam. 🕯️

29/05/2026

performing with & at The Button Factory.

An electrifying performance that brought the audience to their feet, showcasing the energy and soul of contemporary Irish trad music. 🎶

25/05/2026

10,000+ trad & folk music friends 💚

Recently, TradFest tipped over the 10K mark here on Instagram. This isn't TradFest's original account, you might remember we had to start all over right before TradFest 2025!

So this page, these artists we're lucky enough to feature, the stories we share and the music we hear, watch and post about, is a testament to our culture and community 💚

TradFest will continue to push the boundaries, make sure everyone has space on stage, support shared music and culture and the access to it, and continue our mission that has always been - creating an inclusive, fun, diverse and eclectic festival to light up the dark days of winter here in Dublin.

'Trad without Frontiers' - it was never just a tag line.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir as bheith linn
Thank you all so much for being with us

We go again | 20-24th January 2027

Le meas & le grá
Team TradFest 💚

📽️ Full capture & edit:
Lucas Sousa, Team TradFest 2026
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