Tremendous treat of trad in Laois at Portlaoise Trad Fest

The streets of Portlaoise will be alive with the sounds and sights of trad music, song and dance in May with the return of Portlaoise Tradfest.

Following on from last year’s inaugural event the organisers are promising just as much fun and entertainment with many new additions lined up for the 2024 edition which runs over the May bank holiday weekend. 

The newest event is the 'Trad Battle of the Bands’, which will take place in Kavanaghs Bar and Venue. The organisers say the competition is aimed at 12 – 18 years and its purpose is to bring young people together to create bands, arrange music and battle it out on the day for a chance to win a cash prize of €500. 

The session trail, the largest event, takes place in nine pubs/establishments all over the town throughout the weekend. This event will host 35 music sessions this year. The organisers say they have also listened to feedback, and this year’s session trail will have a traditional singing session, a ballad session, and a beginner adult-friendly session. More below picture. 

Pictured: Music session in Kavangh's during the 2023 Trad Fest.

The Festival club event, in partnership with Coppers Portlaoise, will see the close of the festival on each night over each night of the festival from May 3 to 5.

• Local band Trad Hits take to the stage Friday 3,
• Scotland’s Projest Smok play Saturday 4,
• Olli Muloolly from Clare will host a Trisco on Sunday 5.

'All groups play from 12:30am – 2:30am.

Music workshops in the Laois Music Centre take pace Saturday, May 4 from 11 am – 1 pm. This year we have Ali Levack – Tin Whistle, Ewan Baird – Bodhrán, Pablo Lafuente – Guitar, Cormac De Barra – Harp and Oisín Mac Diarmada – Fiddle.  MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured is the organising committee: Dale Mckay, Chairperson and Spokesperson, Bill O’Brien, Vice Chair, Ruaidhri Tierney, Secretary, Chloe Finlay, Social Media and PR Officer, David Harte, Session Trail Officer.

And finally this year, a documentary about the festival and all its events is being produced. The documentary will be hosted Tara Howley, who will attend all the events and interview members of the committee, event partners, and musicians who make this festival possible. 

"This really is a community effort, and it’s great to see such strong community spirit in the town of Portlaoise," said the committee. 

The organisers extended a special thanks to all the following for making the event possible: Laois/Offaly ETB, Downtown Portlaoise, Laois Music Centre, Vintners Association, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Coppers Nightclub, O’Mahoney Safety Solutions and Mckay Water Solutions. 

Portlaoise Trad Fest is the brainchild of Dale McKay & Siobhan Buckley to showcases the talent and hunger for traditional music in Co Laois.