Féile Patrick Byrne 2020

Due the current situation with the Coronavirus and Government recommendations, this year’s Féile Patrick Byrne is being postponed until later this year. Please keep an eye out for an update.

Beginning in 2007 the Carrickmacross branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have organised a traditional music festival in honour of the 19th century harper Patrick Byrne who was the first Irish traditional musician ever photographed. This festival known as Féile Patrick Byrne is held annually on the Palm Sunday weekend and takes place in and around Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.

Féile Patrick Byrne aims to showcase the very best of traditional music and dance through Concerts, Workshops, Sessions, Lectures & Talks, a Heritage Walk and a Sets Céilí.

Féile Patrick Byrne is the perfect event to sample genuine traditional music sessions. With the session trail you’ll discover the real tradition and have an opportunity to get involved by playing, singing or dancing.

This years official opening and the annual Patrick Byrne Lecture will be held in The Shirley Arms, commencing at 8pm.  Gerry O’Connor will be delivering this year’s lecture which is titled ‘The Rose in the Gap’. His talk will highlight the rich body of music, song and dance which was in circulation in the area 100 years ago. This lecture is a must for anyone interested in local cultural history. Admission to this event is free.

For those of you who would like to attend the recording of a live album, with all the dynamics that such an event entails, then the concert on Thursday night is definitely for you. Fourteen years after recording their first live album, Gerry O’Connor and Gilles le Bigot will be recording their second live album in St. Finbarr’s Church. Those attending will get to experience two superb musicians close-up while also being part of the recording process.

Along with the concerts, there will be workshops including a Hands-on beginners’ Harp workshop with Sylvia Crawford on Historical Harp and a Sean Nós dancing workshop given by Gerard Butler. There will also be a session trail and a sets céilí with The Salamanca Céilí Band, as well as heritage events.

For full details of the programme please visit feilepatrickbyrne, or follow on Facebook for the latest information. If you have any queries about the festival or wish to register for one of the Workshops, then please send an email to patrickbyrnefestival@gmail.com.