Kilkenny TradFest Returns with oodles of live free music gigs and sessions

After two years of cancellations and disappointments, Kilkenny TradFest is back once more with a brilliant programme of lively, in-person performances across Kilkenny. 

This year’s TradFest is an extended five-day programme, kicking off on Wednesday 16 to Sunday, March 20.

It comprises the Music Trail: a wide variety of free music sessions with a mixture of Trad, Ballads and Folk hosted by Kilkenny’s finest pubs and hostelries throughout the city’s small medieval streets (many of which are also award-winning venues, with excellent pub grub too). 

Local musicians led by Billy and daughter Caoimhe Carrigan set a lively, joyful tone at the launch of TradFest on Thursday night at Paris Texas. Speaking at the launch and representing the main sponsors of TradFest ‘Bulmers Irish Cider’, Tadhg Buckley described how starting his new role as Sales Manager two years ago as the pandemic broke was a very bleak time for all in hospitalityfull of uncertainty. He said that ‘the return of trade through the lifting of restrictions marked a new dawn with no more looking back’. Thanking Pat and Pamela Crotty of Paris Texas for hosting the launch he wished their team and all teams across pubs and venues in Kilkenny well with the return of trade. 

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Fidelis Doherty recalled how the celebration of St Patrick’s Day was ‘once marked by simply attending the parade , with not much more to do, and returning home’. She spoke enthusiastically about ‘ just how far celebrations have come in marking our national day with such great music, entertainment creating real enjoyment for everyone’ . In launching TradFest, she encouraged attendees to ‘ have fun, enjoy the variety of live music’ playfully adding - and capturing the mood of the launch - to ‘have a dance and let TradFest rock’. The Cathaoirleach thanked ‘Marian Flannery for her dynamism, and her team, for creating such a great programme and wished TradFest every success’.

MC for the night Martin Bridgemen paid special and fond tribute to former Chair of TradFest Minister Malcolm Noonan. As and one of the founding members, he thanked Minister Noonan for his earlier work and commitment with the festival. He also thanked former TradFest committee member and musician Martin Coughlan for his time and support. 

In total, there are 88 free music sessions  scheduled to take place across pubs and venues from one corner of the city to the next. This great line-up of participating venues reflects the commitment by local vintners to mark the return of live music as restrictions life and to resume socialising. The Music Trail is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the familiarity of some of our favourite places again to enjoy a coffee, bevvy or a bite while listening to great music. The venues include: 

An Poc Fada (Rose Inn Street); Billy Byrnes (John Street);Bollards (Kieran Street) ;                    Brewery Corner(Parliament Street ); Cat & The Fiddle (Irish Town) ; Christy’s (Patrick Street); Doherty’s (Friary Street); Hacketts (Parliament Street) ; Hibernian (Patrick Street);                       Kilford (John St) ; Kilkenny Inn (Vicar Street); Kyteler's Inn (Kieran Street); Lanigan’s (Rose Inn Street); Langton’s (John Street); Matt the Millers (John Street); Ormonde Hotel (Ormonde Street) ; Paris Texas (High Street); Pumphouse (Parliament Street); Rafter Dempsey’s (Friary Street); Ryan’s (Friary Street); Syd Harkin’s (Rose Inn Street); Sullivan’s Taproom (John Street); The Cat & Fiddle (Irish Town); The River Court (John Street); Syd Harkin’s (Rose Inn Street); The Front Room (John Street);The World’s End (John Street); The Village Inn (Upper Patrick Street) 

The Headline Trail Act  at Paris Texas, Friday 18th  features box player extraordinaire Peter Browne, with musical friends Sligo guitarist Shane McGowan, guitar; and Damien McNeffin on banjo. The skill and energy of their music is renowned; from the cut and thrust of jig tunes to jazz rhythms creating fantastic sounds. their concert is bound to engage and enthral audiences. Peter Browne produced their first solo album ‘Sidewinder’ in 2019 to great acclaim. 

The recent win by local eatery Paris Texas, High Street, Kilkenny of the ‘Best Tourism/Hospitality Business’ in the Large Business category at ActionCOACH Business Excellence Awards just last month (January 2022) is another accolade for Kilkenny. The commitment by local venues to maintaining and improving standards ensures Kilkenny’s brand as a destination for quality food, culture and tourism remains strong.

On Wednesday (March 16) Cleere’s Bar and Theatre  kickoff with ‘The Bonnymen’ who ‘Hot Press’ describe as having ‘a reputation for electric live performances with and energy reminiscent of the Bothy Band’. This reflects the tone of TradFest which is all about experiencing, enjoying and discovering familiar and new musicians right across the city. Performances follow by Seo Linn on Friday 18th and Inni-K Sunday 20th March. (This special series are paid gigs) 

Chairperson of Kilkenny TradFest Brendan Treacy acknowledging sponsorship by Bulkers Irish Cider and said ‘After the challenges of the pandemic, we are relieved and excited to finally be back in action, and to presenting another great programme of live gigs and concerts. He added that this was – in a way – the relaunch of Kilkenny, with TradFest being the first festival of the year’.

Established in 2013, organised by Kilkenny City Vintners, and supported by Kilkenny County Council, TradFest has attracted numerous accolades for its quality programming of music. In 2016 it was awarded ‘Small Festival of the Year’ award by IMRO ‘in recognition of Ireland’s live music venues who provide the public with exceptional live music experiences, week in, week out’.

Other concert venues are: The Watergate Theatre  feature the Kilfenora Ceili Band (Thurs 17th); George Murphy & The Rising Sons (Sat 19th) and the legendary Paul Brady (March 20th) 

The new Medieval Mile Music Series is a very special new addition featuring five head-line acts. Taking place nightly (Thursday 16th – 20th March) it promises to be a wonderful, unique experience to enjoy magnificent music in a spectacular setting. The five glorious performances comprise: exciting blends of fiddle and guitar music from husband and wife folk duo Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre; songs from sean-nós tradition by the uniquely talented Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney; Ireland’s most renowned Irish button accordionist Mairtin O’Connor; award-winning Folk singer Aoife Scott from the renowned Mary Black family and band, trad virtuoso Kevin Burke, and also The Goodman Trio: acclaimed uileann piper Mick O’Brien, multi-instrumentalist Emer Mayock and the renowned fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain. 

The Medieval Mile Museum Music Series is brought to you by Kilkenny County Council’s Arts Office and funded by the Local Live Public Performance Scheme - Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture Media and Sports.

Tickets are €20 & all proceeds in aid of Amber Womens Refuge.  

For information : www.kilkennytradfest.com