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Kilfenora

Kilfenora

The Home of Traditional Ceili Music and The Gateway to the Burren

The Home of Traditional Céilí Music and The Gateway to the Burren

  • Home
  • About
    • About Kilfenora
    • History
    • The Burren
    • Music
    • Kilfenora Ceili Band
    • Father Ted
    • Kilfenora Timeline
    • Kilfenora Time Capsule
    • Farming
    • Sport
  • News
  • Events
    • Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2025
    • Festival concert – Máirtín O’Connor Band
    • “The Sounds of Kilfenora” project launch
    • Riches of Clare concert, Kilfenora Cathedral
    • Architectural Heritage of Kilfenora Cathedral – 25 June lecture
    • Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2024
    • Main concert – Kilfenora Trad Fest 27.4.24
    • Céilís and Riches of Clare @ Kilfenora Trad Fest
    • Celebration of Irish Dance in Kilfenora
    • CD launches at Kilfenora Trad Fest 2024
    • Dance and music workshops
    • Past Events
      • Kilfenora Trad Festival 2023
      • Heritage events in Kilfenora in August
      • Kilfenora Trad Festival 2022
  • Visit Us
    • Visit Us
    • Kilfenora
    • Kilfenora Cathedral & Crosses
    • Holy Well
    • Around Kilfenora
    • Walking and Cycling
  • Facilities
    • Facilities Overview
    • Resources
    • Accommodation
  • Kilfenora Community
    • Kilfenora Development
      • Kilfenora Development News
    • Kilfenora Tidy Towns
      • Kilfenora Tidy Towns News
    • Kilfenora Sustainable Energy Community
      • Kilfenora Sustainable Energy Community News
  • Find Us

Events

Concert at Kilfenora Trad Festival 2023

A glittering array of talent will be on show at the main Saturday night concert (22 April) at Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2023. Tickets are €20, and available online here. You can also get tickets at Custy’s shop in Ennis, at Vaughans pub in Kilfenora, or phone Noel O’Donoghue on 0878364780.

The cast will be spearheaded by Órlaith McAuliffe, one of Irish music’s top flautists, with over 20 All-Ireland titles to her name and voted Young Musician of the Year in the 2016 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards. She will be accompanied by Daithí Gormley, All-Ireland button accordion champion in 2015, and leader of the Knocknashee Céilí Band; Dylan Carlos, All-Ireland Senior Fiddle champion in 2019; and Brian McGrath, pianist and banjo player supreme, perhaps the most in-demand accompanist in Irish traditional music, and who last played in Kilfenora in 2016 with At the Racket.  See below for brief biographies.

Orlaith McAuliffe
Daithi Gormley

In addition, we will feature three of the finest singers from Co Clare, who have all released wonderful CDs in recent times.

  • Katie Theasby, well-known for her flute and whistle playing, is a band member of Shaskeen and starred at the Temple Bar Trad Fest 2023. She has performed with artists such as Paddy Keenan, Stocktons Wing, Ron Kavana and Kinky Friedman amongst others. Her accompanists include Mike Hanrahan, Ger O’Donnell, Alan Wallace and Dave Saunders. The title song of her CD “I Remember You Singing” was gifted to her by Finbar Furey, with whom she has also performed.
  • Kathleen Malone, whose CD “My Island Home” also features her much-loved singer and musician father Jerry Lynch (RIP) as well as Eimear Howley; check out her facebook page for some lovely songs accompanied by Pat Dowling. All proceeds from the album go to Burren Chernobyl Project for which Katheen has long served as a volunteer.
  • Theresa Garrihy, classically trained but equally accomplished in other genres, and who had a great launch of her CD “Home” (also featuring Adrian McMahon, Rachel Reid, Pat Dowling, Martin O’ Malley) in Kilfenora in December.

And finally we will have a performance from an award-winner at the Meitheal Summer School, Emily Greaney on harp and concertina from County Galway. Having started playing at 6 years old she has progressed to tour internationally, for example with Dr Janet Harbison’s ‘Irish Harp Orchestra’ and on Joanie Madden’s cruises. Also a dancer, she has won All Ireland titles with the Abbeyknockmoy Set Dancers.

 

Órlaith McAuliffe is one of the leading flute and whistle players in Irish traditional music, holder of over 20 All-Ireland titles – at different age levels, solo and in duos and trios. She was voted Young Musician of the Year in the 2016 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards. Raised in North London by parents from Killarney, she started under her mother’s tutelage on the whistle at 9 years old. She is now a regular performer and workshop provider at Irish music festivals, and has been a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and the band Crossharbour. She is also a medical doctor, working on the front-line in the NHS. She collaborates musically with many different Irish musicians, including her concertina player sister Brogan, who holds 4 All-Ireland titles.

Daithí Gormley hails from a highly musical family from Ballintogher, Co Sligo. Described by legendary accordion player Joe Burke as a ‘master musician’, he was All-Ireland button accordion champion in 2015, and leader of the Knocknashee Céilí Band that performed mightily over several years at the Fleadh Cheoil. He has taught and performed at music festivals and Summer Schools nationally and internationally, and has researched, published and lectured extensively on the history of Irish traditional music. In 2017 Daithí and Sligo fiddler Oisín MacDiarmada published the ‘Fiddlers of Sligo’ Tunebook. In 2018 Daithí released his first solo album ‘Fiddling without a Bow – Irish Traditional Music on Button Accordion’ to much acclaim.

Dylan Carlos comes from a very musical family in Co Roscommon – a part of the country best known for flute playing. Dylan collaborates with many musicians, within the Irish tradition and more broadly. He is part of the group “Carlos Sweeney McCartin” – their debut album (2019) garnered critical acclaim. Dylan is a past all Ireland winner on fiddle, plays and teaches regularly at festivals around Ireland and abroad, and has also played with the groups “Gatehouse” and “Garadice”.

Fermanagh-born pianist Brian McGrath is one of the most in-demand accompanists in Irish traditional music. His playing is influenced by the Irish American style of dance hall traditional music played and recorded in the 1920’s-40’s.  He is also an accomplished banjo and guitar player, as exemplified on his CD “Pure Banjo” (2009); he teaches both piano and banjo. He has toured extensively, playing with the biggest names in Irish traditional music – Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, John Carty, Matt Molloy, Charlie Lennon, Joe Burke, Sean Maguire and many more – as well as singers such as Eleanor Shanley, Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell and Tommy Fleming. Brian has also been part of many bands, including De Dannan and At the Racket (who played in Kilfenora in 2016).

Dylan Carlos
Brian McGrath

 

Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2023

The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2023 will be held again on the weekend of 21-24 April.

This will be the 14th festival in a series that began in 2009 with the centenary of the Kilfenora Céilí Band. The festival is noted for great concerts and céilís, plus cracking CD launches, pub sessions and some music and dance workshops for beginners. It is intended to adopt a similar format to previous years with events and sessions on the Friday and Monday as well.

Events being planned include a concert on Saturday night @ 8pm with an array of great musicians and singers; a special night of dance and music on Friday @ 7.30pm; a céilí on Saturday night @ 9pm followed by the famous Trad Disco; and a Riches of Clare concert in Kilfenora Cathedral (Saturday @ 1pm).

Of course the highlight on Sunday will be the open-air céilí in the Square with the great Kilfenora Céilí Band.

Keep checking this website and the Festival facebook page for updates.

Concert – 4 men & a Dog on 23.4.22

Tickets are available for the main concert at Kilfenora Trad Festival at Custy’s shop in Ennis, at Linnanes pub in Kilfenora, or online here – just €20. (You can also phone Noel O’Donoghue on 0878364780.) The concert is in Kilfenora Community Hall at 8 pm on Saturday 23 April.

The headliners are the fabulous 4 Men and a Dog – one of Ireland’s premier live acts since they started in 1990, since when they have toured the world, and released 6 CDs. Their musical core is Irish traditional music, but with flavours of Americana and rock n’ roll occasionally blended in. Chock full of instrumental virtuosos, the band is famed for its exciting live performances – both the music and wit are razor-sharp. See below for details of the band members.

Also on the bill is fiddler Simon Crehan from Laffin, Tipperary. He was winner of the inaugural ‘Young Musician Award’ at the Patrick O’Keeffe festival in Castleisland, Kerry in 2021, and won the prize to appear at Kilfenora at Garry Shannon’s Meitheal Summer School. He will be accompanied by his elder brother Patrick on guitar.

4 Men & a Dog 
Simon Crehan

 

 

 

 

 

Members of 4 Men & a Dog are:

  • Cathal Hayden – one of Ireland’s top fiddle-players, who can do lightning fast and lyrically tender with equal brilliance. He is also a top-class banjo player.
  • Stephen Hayden – rose to fame as the fiddle player in energetic trad band Upstairs in a Tent, over 20 years ago, and has more recently starred with brother Cathal in the Bow Brothers band.
  • Gino Lupari is a giant of the bodhran, in every sense of the word, and also has a great vocal style and wicked sense of humour to add to his percussive flair.
  • Kevin Doherty is a widely admired singer/songwriter and the guitarist in the band, part of a dazzling group of Donegal musicians that emerged in the ‘80s.
  • Donal Murphy is one of Ireland’s best accordionists, who plays in a trio with Steve Cooney and Gino when not touring with the Dogs.

Kilfenora Trad Festival 2022

The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2022 will be held again on the weekend of 23-24 April.

This will be the 12th festival in a series that began in 2009 with the centenary of the Kilfenora Céilí Band. The festival is noted for great concerts and céilís, CD launches and pub sessions (see list here) from Friday to Monday – with many free events.

Our main concert features the dazzling 4 Men and a Dog, supported by award-winning young fiddler Simon Crehan – get your tickets in good time!. And we will have our traditional open-air entertainment on Sunday in the Square led by the mighty Kilfenora Céilí Band. Here is the daily programme.

Friday 22 April
• Singers night in Linnanes pub (from 9pm), gathering together some of the finest and most humorous singers and storytellers, and hosted by Nóirin Lynch
• Traditional music sessions in Nagles and Vaughans bars

Saturday 23 April
• Anthony Quigney CD launch – “Breath taking” – in Linnanes pub (1.30pm)
• Riches of Clare Concert (Kilfenora Cathedral, 3.30 pm) with Nuala Hehir (accordion), Pauline Brody (banjo), Aine O’Donoghue (concertina), Aine Griffey (fiddle), Deidre Scanlan (vcls, guitar) and Carol Cullinan (piano)
• Hugh Healy CD Launch – “Ceolaire” in Nagles bar (5.00 pm)
• 4 Men & a Dog in concert (Kilfenora Hall, 8.00pm, €20) with Simon Crehan – see details here
• Star of Munster Céilí Band – céilí in Vaughan’s Barn (9.30pm, €10).
• … and trad sessions in the pubs

Sunday 24 April
• Launch of Paula O’Regan’s Music Tutor book (Vaughans Barn, 11.30 am)
• Trad 4 Teens workshop with Josephine Marsh and Paula O’Regan (Vaughans Barn, 12.00)
• The Clare Céilí Band (2.30pm, Kilfenora Square)
• The Kilfenora Céilí Band (3.00pm, Kilfenora Square)
• … and trad sessions in the pubs

Monday 25 April
• Trad session in Linnanes pub (7.00pm)
• Trad session in Nagles bar (9.30pm)

Music lovers should also visit the Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour in the Burren Centre to learn about the history of music in North Clare and of the Kilfenora Céilí Band. This is virtually the only museum in the world dedicated to living musical artists, as opened by President Michael D Higgins in 2015.

Keep up to date with Festival news on our Facebook page.

4 Men & A Dog
Kilfenora Céilí Band in the Square
Star of Munster Céilí Band

Kilfenora Trad Festival 2020-1

Regrettably, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and related Government restriction on live events, we were not able to stage the annual traditional music festival in Kilfenora in 2020 and 2021. We will do so in 2022.

The festival is normally held on the last weekend of April and features great sessions, concerts, CD launches and more besides. In particular it is famous for the open-air céili with the Kilfenora Céili Band on Sunday afternoon in Kilfenora Square.

On 15 August 2020 we were able to stage on open-air performance and CD launch by the young Clare Céili Band. (https://www.facebook.com/clareceiliband/) We were pleased to welcome Catherine Martin (Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.) and her family to this event.

Do check the Festival facebook page for news and updates.

The Clare Céili Band

“A Wake in the West” – Kilfenora Dramatic Society

The Kilfenora Dramatic Society staged Mayo playwright Michael J Ginnelly’s black comedy “A Wake in the West” from 15-17 November 2019 in Kilfenora Hall.

The production was a stunning success. Every night the hall was full over half an hour before curtain up – attendees arriving the customary few minutes before the start time were sadly disappointed! However, given that the production was so popular, the cast agreed to a fourth night’s show on the following Tuesday.

The actors – all drawn from Kilfenora or nearby – were Adrian O’Gorman, Lisa Connole, Eileen Hegarty, John Howard, Lisa Carkill, Mary Buckley, Lisa Carkill, Mickie McCormack, Willie Cahir and Paul Bowen.

Father Ned Crosby was the producer, as in recent years, ably assisted by a number of local volunteers covering staging, make-up, front-of-house etc.. A short interview with the playwright can be viewed here.

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Events

Riches of Clare concert, Kilfenora Cathedral

“The Sounds of Kilfenora” project launch

Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival 2025

National Heritage Week in Kilfenora 2024

Kilfenora Trad Festival 2024 Programme Download

Kilfenora Trad Festival 2024

Kilfenora play now on 8-10 December

Culture Night concert in Kilfenora Cathedral – 22 September

National Heritage Week 2023 in Kilfenora

Riches of Clare concert in Kilfenora

Dance and music workshops 17-23 April

Celebration of Irish Dance, Kilfenora, Friday 21 April

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"Kilfenora, city of the crosses, home of céilí music"
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"Kilfenora, city of the crosses, home of céilí music"

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