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.
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