Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2019

Kilfenora will stage its 11^th annual Traditional Music Festival from the 26^th through to the 29^th of April this year. Having commenced in 2009 with the 100^th anniversary of the Kilfenora Céilí Band, it has gone from strength to strength each year.

This years headline concert will feature the great Frankie Gavin and his Roaring Twenties Irish Orchestra, plus this year’s winner of the Meitheal prize for young musicians, Naoise Kettle. Tickets for the concert are €20 and available at Custy’s Music Shop in Ennis, or any of the pubs in Kilfenora – Linnanes, Nagles and Vaughans.

Throughout the festival there will be concerts and set-dancing in the home of Irish Céilí, and of course, the legendary Kilfenora Pub Sessions. The Singers’ night will be on Friday evening in Linnanes pub and will gather together some of the finest and most humorous singers and storytellers. This will be hosted by Noirin Lynch.

Also on Friday night, the Kilfenora Comhaltas branch will stage a Variety Concert in Kilfenora Hall. Entry will be €10 (pay on the door). This will feature some of the abundance of local talent, both young and old from the area.

There will also be a number of CD launches at various times over the weekend including, Josephine Marsh – “Music in the Frame”; Tommy Fitzharris and Dónal McCague – “The Bank of Turf”; Stevie Dunne – “Live at the Crosskeys” and Peter Casey “Out in the Day”.

Saturday afternoon will include 2 special free events. First, a ‘Riches of Clare’ event with some of North Clare’s talented musicians. Then, a tribute to the late Tommy Peoples – who was a former member of Kilfenora Céilí Band – by his daughter Siobhan, comprising a short talk followed by a fiddle session in Linnanes Pub.

The Star of Munster Céilí Band band leads the Saturday night céilí in Kilfenora Hall at 10pm and on Sunday it will be the turn of the Four Courts Céilí Band in Vaughans Barn at 9pm.

There will be a Trad for Teens workshop in Kilfenora Hall on Sunday following a mass with traditional music at St Fachanans Church. Bring an instrument if you are a teenager!

On Sunday afternoon at 3pm, the great Kilfenora Céilí Band will play for a free céilí in the Square – dancers and spectators welcome. They will be preceded by the Kilfenora Og Céilí Band.

Sessions in Kilfenora’s pubs will be occurring from Friday to Monday, with the cream of musicians from Clare and beyond. These are great free entertainment open to all to attend or partake in.

For up to date information regarding further information about the festival and the artists appearing please visit kilfenoraclare.com or follow on Facebook.

If you have any queries concerning the Festival, please send an email to [email protected].