Temple Bar TradFest
The Temple Bar TradFest is an annual traditional Irish Music and Cultural Festival. The purpose of the festival is to promote Irish musical traditions. This 5-day festival takes place the last week of January every year in Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland.
History
The Temple Bar TradFest was set up and organised by The Temple Bar Company. The first festival took place in January 2006 in Temple Bar. It was set up because while Dublin and Temple Bar are associated with music and culture, Dublin was lacking a festival solely for traditional Irish Music and Culture.
2006
The artists performing at that festival included:
- Skara Brae, Noel Hill, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Mick O'Brien
- Cran, Liz and Yvonne Kane, Seán McKeon
- Aidan Coffey, Seamus Creagh, Peter Horan, Gerry Harrington and Rosie Stewart
- Seán Tyrell, Tony O'Connell, Andy Morrow, Arty McGlynn and Tommy Peoples
2007
The artists performing at that festival included:
- Liam O'Flynn, Sean Kane and Matt Molloy
- Temple House Ceili Band
- Martin Quinn and Angeline Carberry/Michael O'Raghallaigh/John and Pip Murphy
- John Spillane
- Edel Fox & Ronan O'Flaherty
- Peter Horan & Gerry Harrington
- Séan & Séan Óg Potts
- Kevin Glackin
- Cathal McConnell
- Ronan Browne & Peter O'Loughlin
- Mich Hanley
- Johnny B Connolly
- Danny Diamond & Jonas Fromseier
- Christina Pierse
- Seán McKeon & Liam O'Connor
- Caoimhe Hogarty
- Michelle O'Brien & Siobhan Peoples
- Connor McEvoy
- Mikie Smyth
- Julie Fowlis
- Lunasa
- Dervish
The Festival patron was Irish actor Brendan Gleeson.
2008
The artists performing at that festival included:
- At First light/Breda and Claire Keville
- John McEvoy and John Wynne/Sineád Caher
- Clan Ranald
- Niamh Ní Charra
- Gráda/Susan McKeown
- Julie Fowlis/Paul Brock and Enda Scahill
- Mozaik/Jackie Daly/Tommy and Siobhán peoples/Róisón Elsafty
- Terence O'Reilly
The Festival patron was Irish actor Stephen Rea.
2009
The artists performing at that festival included:
- The Glackin Brothers (Paddy, Seamus and Kevin Glackin)
- Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan
- Solas
- Seán MeKeon, Liam O'Connor, Aidan O'Donnell and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
- Michael McGoldrick& Genticorum
- T with the Maggies (Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Moya Brennan)
The Festival patron was Irish actor Stephen Rea.
2010
The festival celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2010.
The artists performing at the 2010 Tradfest included:
- Líadan
- Beoga
- Téada. Support act: Spraoi
- Matt Molloy, Arty McGlynn and John Carty. Mary McPartlan, Rick Epping, and Áidan Brennan
- Noel Hill, Tony Linnane and Alec Finn. Support act1: We Banjo 3. Support act 2: Niamh de Búrca, Mick O'Brien and Mark Kelly
- Finbar Furey. Support act: Lo Còr de la Plana
The festival patron was Stephen Rea. The festival programmer was Kieran Hanrahan.
2011
An estimated 60.000 visitors attended the 2011 festival. 2011 was the first time concerts were held in the iconic Christ Church Cathedral. Clannad and Altan performed special anniversary concerts celebrating over 4 decades of making music. It was also the first time that the original line up of Clannad had performed in over 5 years. Special musical guests joining Clannad on stage during the festival included Brian Kennedy, Paul Noonan and Anúna.
The artists performing at the 2011 Temple Bar TradFest included:
- Clannad at Christ Church Cathedral
- Altan with guest artist Eddi Reader at Christ Church Cathedral
- Anúna
- Beoga and Ciorras
- Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch
- Tim Edey and Brendan Power
- Seán O Sé
- Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley
- The Furey Brothers
- The Legend of Luke Kelly
The festival patron was Stephen Rea. The festival programmer and artist director was Kieran Hanrahan.
2012
The 2012 Temple Bar TradFest was by far the most successful to date across all areas including ticket sales, footfall, variety and calibre of talent, number of events an overall media exposure. The Temple Bar Tradfest continues to be Dublin's largest and fastest growing Irish Music and Cultural festival and the single largest cultural event held in Temple Bar on an annual basis.
It lasted 5 days, from Wednesday 25 January to Sunday 29 January, with concerts in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin City Hall and The Button Factory.
The artists performing at the 2012 Temple Bar TradFest included:
- The Dubliners which celebrated their 50th anniversary
- Michael McGoldrick
- Ralph McTell
- Voices & Harps
- Mick O'Brien (musician)
- Frankie Gavin (musician)
- Tommy Sands
- Cathy Jordan
- The Artane Senior Band
- The Rolling Drones
- Paddy Casey
- Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra
- Cor Chuil Aodha
- Inish Turk Beggers
- Noel O'Grady
- Edel Fox
- Lisa O'Neill
The festival patron was Stephen Rea. The festival programmer and artist director was Kieran Hanrahan.
2013
2013 was the 8th year for the Temple Bar TradFest, the 2013 festival lasted 6 days, from Tuesday 22 January to Sunday 27 January, with concerts at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Dublin City Hall, St. Werburgh Church and The Button Factory. Other highlights include over 200 free events, music trail, singers club, open sessions, two outdoor stages, the international Celtic Irish dance show, master classes and showcases, gigs for kids, children's club, pipe bands, street performers, a rural Irish village in the city and much more.
The artists performing at the 2013 Temple Bar TradFest included:
- Sharon Shannon
- T with the Maggies
- Ralph McTell
- Maura O Connell
- Siansa Gael Linn
- Jonie Maden
- Brian Conway
- Billy Mc Comiskey
- A Stór Mo Chroí
- Martin hayes, Dennis Cahill and The Sands Family
- The Pride of New York
- London Calling
- Royal Irish Academy of Music performing the Connemara Suite
- O'Riada Re Imagined
- Neil Martin West Ocean String Quartet with Stephen Rea
- The De Cuellar Suite
- Téada with Seamus Begley, Perfect Friction, Aoife Scott and Truancy
- Remembering Barney McKenna
The Temple Bar Tradfest continues to be Dublin's largest and fastest growing Irish Music and Cultural festival and the single largest cultural event held in Temple Bar on an annual basis.
Preview 2014
The 9th Temple Bar TradFest will kick off 2014 with celebration of Irish traditional music and culture, over 5 days and 5 nights. The festival features over 200 free events including music trail and family programme.
Throughout the festival artists from Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain and Latvia will perform at some of Dublin's iconic venues: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Werburgh’s Church, City Hall, St. Michan’s Church and Button Factory.
Headline concerts include Stockton’s Wing & Frankie Gavin & De Dannan, Paul Brady, Frances Black, Eleanor McEvoy and a concert In Celebration of Frankie Kennedy; His Life & Music featuring Altan & Guests.
The family programme brings street performers, face painting, mobile farms, outdoor stages, live painting, craft market and much more on the streets of Temple Bar!
Visit http://www.templebartrad.com for the full programme and ticket information.
Organization
The Temple Bar TradFest is organised by Temple Bar Company, formerly TASCQ (Traders in the Area Supporting the Cultural Quarter Limited), a not for profit trade group in Temple Bar, founded in 2003.
- managing director Martin Harte
- Director of Marketing and Events Claudine Murray
- Administration and Marketing Executive Salla Paananen
- Festival Programmer Kieran Hanrahan
Sponsors
Sponsors are:
- Temple Bar Company
- Failte Ireland
- Dublin City Council
- Smithwicks
- The Arts Council
- Culture Ireland
- Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
- Aer Lingus