DLR Welcomes TradFest: A Dublin-Wide Celebration of Music

TradFest, Ireland’s largest festival of traditional and folk music, is expanding its footprint to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown marking a major milestone as the festival becomes a truly Dublin-wide event. Already firmly established in Dublin city centre, Fingal and South Dublin, TradFest will now complete the picture by bringing its much-loved programme to the last remaining municipal area: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. This new chapter will see TradFest activate some of Dún Laoghaire’s most atmospheric and historic venues, aligning perfectly with the festival’s long-standing commitment to showcasing heritage buildings and breathing new cultural life into much-loved spaces.

TradFest in Dún Laoghaire will feature Ger O’Donnell & Trevor Sexton with support from Sweet Jayne; Black Bank Folk with special guests Tola Custy & Laoise Kelly at The Purty Kitchen.  Sonny Condell & Robbie Overson (Scullion);, Duke Special with support from Bróna Keogh; Leo O’Kelly (Tír na nÓg) with support from The Velvet Tide at Walters. A TradFest Hooley in Johnny Foxes. The National Maritime Museum of Ireland will see an intimate performance by folk legend Ralph McTell, as well as Ocean Child – a powerful musical narrative featuring TradFest patron and acclaimed actor Stephen Rea.

At the heart of this expansion are the core values that have defined TradFest since its inception: accessibility, equity, and inclusion. The festival is committed to ensuring that audiences can experience world-class traditional and folk music in their own communities. By programming events across all four Dublin local authority areas, TradFest aims to bring trad and folk music to every corner of Dublin.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive and Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

“We are delighted to welcome TradFest to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown as it expands to become a county-wide celebration of traditional and folk music. Music has long played a vital role in the cultural life of our communities, and this partnership reflects our commitment to supporting live performance and cultural vibrancy. Hosting world-class musicians in our historic venues not only enriches our cultural landscape but also contributes meaningfully to our growing nighttime economy. It strengthens our identity as a vibrant, inclusive place to live, work, and visit. We look forward to seeing both residents and visitors experience the unique atmosphere that TradFest brings to the county.”

TradFest’s Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown programme will complement its existing line-up across Dublin city centre, Fingal and South Dublin, further strengthening the festival’s role as a national and international showcase for traditional and folk music, and as a champion of Dublin’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. With a focus on welcoming audiences of all ages, keeping ticketing as affordable as possible, and supporting artists at every stage of their career development, TradFest continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.

“Bringing TradFest to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is a very special moment for us,” said Martin Harte, Festival Director. “For years we’ve worked to make TradFest a festival that belongs to the whole of Dublin – not just the city centre, but the suburbs, the coastline, and the communities that give this county its unique character. With our new programme in Dún Laoghaire, we’re completing that vision. We’re honoured to present performances like Ocean Child with our patron Stephen Rea, and a very special intimate concert with Ralph McTell in the Maritime Museum, alongside a stunning line-up of renowned artists in local venues. We can’t wait to welcome audiences to experience the warmth, storytelling and connection that only live trad and folk music can offer.”

For full programme details, including the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown events, ticket information, and updates, please visit www.tradfest.ie