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Festivals

Irish Music Festivals in the USA and in Ireland

Please use the Contact Form if you'd like your Irish music festival listed here!

BCMFest

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  January 13 - 14, 2017     Boston, MA
  Boston Celtic Music Festival (BCMF) 
- Draws folks of all ages from around Greater Boston, presenting music, song and dance from  Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton.  Showcasing more than 100 performers,  BCMFest is a family-friendly festival, jam packed with performances, classes and hands-on events.
                                                          14th year                              Facebook


Temple Bar TradFest

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  January 24 - 28, 2018      Dublin, Ireland
  While still providing a lot of value, this Festival has strayed from its original Trad roots.  People seeking the "Pure Drop" will still find quite a few acts of interest, but the organisers have also included
artists from the worlds of folk, nu-folk, and even (whisper it) rock and roll.  Still good times to be had in the centre of Dublin!
                    13th year                             Facebook


The Gathering

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 February 22 - 26, 2017   Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Gathering Traditional Festival draws trad aficionados from Kerry to the United States.  Concerts, céilí’s, workshops, masterclasses, sessions, storytelling.  Concert highlights for 2017 include performances by Dervish, John Carty Festival Band, The Boruma Trio, and Full Set.                                                          
        18th year                               Facebook

Corofin Traditional Festival

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February 27 - March 5, 2017   Corofin, Co. Clare
Concerts, Workshops and Sessions

                          16th year                                 Facebook


Durango Celtic Festival

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  March 9 - 12, 2017      Durango, Colorado
Four days of concerts, workshops & festivities for the entire family.
Headliners:  Solas, Colcannon, Goitse & Barrule.

      5th year                 Facebook


Clifden Traditional Music Festival

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April 6 - 9, 2017      Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway
The
Festival will play host to many top quality musicians, signers and dancers.  Highlights include pub music sessions, concert, outdoor gig rig on Saturday night, music and singing workshops, CD Launches, Street Entertainment, Youth sessions and a Buskers Competition.
                                                                          Facebook


Baltimore TradFest

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April 7 - 9, 2017      Baltimore, MD
Gathering some of the world's finest traditional Irish musicians to teach workshops, perform and lead sessions. Workshops on Saturday and Sunday, all-star concert on Saturday evening, and sessions all weekend long.

                       6th year                      Facebook

NEFFA

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April 21 - 23, 2017   Mansfield, MA
There is folk music everywhere! You will find jam sessions in the halls, instrument workshops, group singing, and performances of folk music throughout the Festival…turn the corner and music greets your ears. Bring your instruments.  The Festival attracts approximately 3,500 attendees from all over the country and overseas and features upwards of 1,000 performers. Vendor booths and food trucks are open throughout the day .

                                                     76th year!                             Facebook

Trad String Fling

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May 5 - 7, 2017   Olivebridge, NY
Alasdair Fraiser and Natalie Haas return to host their fourth annual Trad String Workshop at the Ashokan Center. World-class Scottish traditional musicians and teachers, their workshops are a fantastic learning experience and tremendous fun for all.
                          4th year                      Facebook             

Skerries Traditional Music Weekend

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May 19 - 21, 2017      Skerries, Co.Dublin
About 19 miles north of Dublin, the picturesque seaside town of Skerries plays host to a
weekend packed with music, song and dance where leading artists will join with locals and visitors in a celebration of Irish heritage. A great selection of top class individual players will be participating throughout the weekend on many levels including formal concerts, tutoring and pub sessions.   In addition to the more formal concerts, workshops, céili and evening pub sessions, this year will see more Music on the Street providing outdoor entertainment on Saturday afternoon and a selection of additional sessions throughout both Saturday and Sunday for both the experienced player and the less experienced one. Some of these sessions will be informal start ups, so feel free to dust down the cobwebs from that instrument and get playing again!.
                  16th year                                Facebook


Tulla Traditional Music Festival

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 May 19 - 21, 2017   Tulla, East Clare
Weekend of music, song, dance, gaeilge, concerts, ceílí’s, workshops, C.D. Launches  -   under the auspices of the Cnoc na Gaoithe (Windswept Hill), the Tulla Comhaltas Cultural Centre.  Fiddle Competitions including Young Fiddler of East Clare Competition.  Featuring, of course, the Tulla Céilí Band, Liam O'Brien, Oisin MacDiarmad, the Mulcahy Family, Gate House and more.
                              2nd year                  no Facebook page

Fleadh Nua

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May 21 - 29, 2017      Ennis, Co. Clare
This is the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann's own fleadh, and features many workshops based on the Foinn Seisiún Books.   The 2017 Fleadh Nua promises to be an exciting and innovative festival, full to the brim with concerts, céilís, sessions, CD Launches, recitals, Irish Dance competitions and street entertainment.   Headliners include the Tulla Ceili Band, Boffin to Burren, and Rianta.
             47th year                                  Facebook                               


Boston Irish Festival (Irish Cultural Centre)

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June 3 - 4, 2017       Canton, MA
Music, Vendors, Irish Dance Competition.
The Wolfe Tones - The Stunning (Saturday) - Mundy (Saturday) - Louise Morrissey (Both Days) - John McDermott (Sunday)
                                                                               Facebook

North Atlantic Tionól

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June 9 - 11, 2017                   Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island, Canada
The North Atlantic Tionól is a weekend series of workshops and concerts presented by masters of the uilleann pipes, fiddle, guitar, set dancing, and bodhran from Canada, the U.S., Ireland, and the U.K.  Instructors include John Carty, Stefan Hannigan, Joey Abarta, and Torrin Ryan.
                               3rd year                                    Facebook

Doolin Folk Festival

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June 16 - 18, 2017         Doolin, Co. Clare

best. poster. ever.
Click on image to see this year's performers>>>>


                                  Facebook


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Blas  - International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance

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June 19 - 30, 2017      Limerick City, Co. Limerick
Blas has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s most prestigious summer schools, drawing students from all over the world to spend two weeks gaining access to the expertise of some of Ireland’s finest artists. In addition to expert tuition and master classes, Blas students can expect a whole range of activities including lectures on Irish Traditional music topics, field-trips, sessions, Irish Language classes, lunchtime and evening concerts, céilís, and above all, the unique opportunity to share tunes with some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians.  Undergraduate college credit available.
                                                            21st year                             Facebook


Francis o'Neill Irish Arts Week

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June 25 - 30, 2017     Chicago, IL
Named in honor of Captain Francis O’Neill, the Chief of the Chicago Police from 1901-1905, the week is dedicated to his legacy as the primary preservationist of traditional Irish music through his careful and prolific annotation of tunes.  Fiddle, tin whistle, flute, bodhrán, concertina, harp, cello, guitar, piano accordion, piano accompaniment, tenor banjo), Céilí, Set and Sean-nós Dancing, Irish Language, Irish and English Singing
                7th year                Facebook

Craiceann

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June 26 - 30, 2017      Inis Oírr,  Aran Islands, Ireland
Bodhrán summer school.  Craiceann (pronounced – “cracken”) is the Irish name for skin, and particularly appropriate title for a school of drummers whose instrument depends on the hide of a goat.
                                                                16th year                      
   Facebook



Acadia School of Traditonal Music and Arts

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   June 25 - 30, 2017          Bar Harbor, Maine
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tudents at the Acadia Trad Festival can expect an experience like no other. With nearly 20 major courses of study, 150 workshops, a dozen concerts and continual sessions, traditional music will surround you. The classes are intense, but paced for a variety of learning levels. Students will learn by ear, although in some cases music is provided.
                                    5th year                          Facebook


Willie Clancy Summer School

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July 1 - 9, 2017      Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is a week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance held annually. The first and biggest of such events, it commemorates the town's best-known uilleann piper, Willie Clancy, and has been running since just after his death in 1973.  Scores of impromptu sessions accompany organized activities.  Nightly set dances and céilís complement a routine of morning classes given by top players on uilleann pipes, flute, tin whistle, concertina, fiddle, button accordion, harp, banjo, harmonica and set dancing.
                                  45th year                                   Facebook


South Sligo Summer School

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July 9 - 16, 2017              Tubbercurry Co. Sligo
Broad range of classes, workshops, interactive talks and masterclasses.  Class sizes are kept small and are graded.   Programme of events  includes nightly céilís in St. Brigid's Hall and concerts featuring tutors, local musicians playing in the South Sligo Style, and visiting singers and musicians. Afternoons are equally busy with masterclasses, sean nos dancing workshops in St. Brigid's Hall and informal practice sessions led by summer school tutors.
                                    31st year                      Facebook

Mad Week

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July 16 - 21, 2017    Bethesda, MD
S
ponsored by O’Neill-Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 

  Inter generational festival near Washington, DC.  Day time classes and evening activities
.  All levels, all instruments, set dancing and
sean nós singing.

                         11th year                                     Facebook

Catskills Irish Arts Week

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July 9 - 16, 2017     East Durham, NY
Trad takes over the small village of East Durham in the heart of the scenic Catskill Mountains.  Workshops held by master teachers from Ireland, the USA and Canada.
At night, concerts by those same master tutors.  Sessions held in the local pubs and restaurants, and break out spontaneously wherever a few musicians gather.
                       23rd year                       Facebook


FiddlePal

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   July 11 - 14, 2017    Newton, MA
   Players of the violin, viola, cello, mandolin, guitar, bass and percussion learn tunes and techniques from a variety of traditions such as Bluegrass, Scottish, Jazz, Appalachian, Irish, and Blues. Students learn in groups with others of a similar experience level. Taught by ear with download-able sheet music for those who would like it. We take breaks for snacks and outdoor play or organized sports. In the evenings we host a traditional Barn Dance and awe-inspiring staff concert. The camp wraps up with a all-camp student recital Friday afternoon.  Ages 9 and up.  Tutors include fiddlers Brian Wicklund, Emerald Rae and Natalie Padilla.
                                                     5th year                           Facebook


Joe Mooney Summer School

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July 15 - 22, 2017   Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim
Classes are open to people of all ages with some previous experience, although beginners are welcome to the set dancing, tin whistle and bodhrán classes. 
Classes, workshops, recitals, céilis, lectures, and open air music events. The impromptu music sessions, the natural beauty of the Drumshanbo area and the traditional 'ceád míle fáilte' hospitality of County Leitrim provide an unforgettable week.
                     28th year                         Facebook



Swannanoa Celtic Week

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July 16 - 22. 2017             Asheville, North Carolina
Celtic Week expands this year with more classes in flute, and a lineup that features present or former members of the supergroups Lúnasa, Ossian, Solas, Dervish, The House Band, Skylark, Patrick Street and Cherish the Ladies, a new Scottish fiddler, plus the return of some old friends. The week will feature classes, potluck sessions, concerts, jams and dances.
                        26th year                      Facebook


Meitheal Residential Summer School

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July 24 -28, 2017   Limerick City, Co. Limerick
Meitheal is a residential summer school for high competency young musicians over the age of 13. 
The instrumental workshops cater for players of various abilities but they are not suitable for beginners. Players need to have at least four years of experience and be able to play reels at dance tempo with ornamentation.  Must send a recording with application. Meitheal is tough going. Don't come unless you have a trad music obsession!  Application closing date:  March 31, 2017
                                                 Facebook

Seachtain Cheoil Chois Farraige  (A Week of Music by the Sea)

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August          Spiddal, Co. Galway
Waiting to hear back about this year's dates ....
Held in the beautiful gaeltacht seaside village of Spiddal (15 minutes from Galway City), and run by Boston- born Colm Gannon through his Gannon's Traditional Irish Music Shop.  Master classes in all traditional instruments as well as Sean Nós Dancing, Sean Nós Singing and the Irish Language, taught by Ireland's premier artists. The week will also include various lectures, pub sessions, concerts and afternoon sessions for all students.
                       4th year                              Facebook

Feakle Traditional Music Festival

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August 9 - 14, 2017     Feakle, Co. Clare
Feakle nestles near the Sliabh Aughty mountains and consists of a community of approx. 800 people. Typical of a community of its size it boasts the usual local school, church and a few shops, four pubs, two restaurants and the local Post Office.  It is the hometown of Martin Hayes, who is typically one of the instructors.
The famous Tulla Céilí Band still plays regularly for céilís, including the closing céilí in Feakle on the Sunday night of the Festival calendar.
A degree of competency is required for all instrumental workshops.
                                                30th year                         Facebook


Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

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 August 13 - 21, 2017           Ennis, Co. Clare
If you are on this site, you probably already know that the
Fleadh Cheoil is THE Irish music competition run yearly by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.  If you don't know, you can find out  HERE.    'Nuff said.
                  66th year              Facebook


Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School

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  August 13 - 19, 2017      Boston, MA
  Held on beautiful Thompson Island in Boston Harbor, and a short ferry ride from downtown Boston, Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School is a residential camp for all ages, and all levels, with emphasis on traditional Scottish tunes for fiddle. 
In addition to fiddle classes (6 levels from absolute Beginner to Advanced), piano, and at least one other instrument, electives, parties (
a New England clambake,!), jam sessions, and dancing for all.
                        14th year                           Facebook             


Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School

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   August 14 - 18, 2017    Milwaukee, WI
   Learn to play the Irish fiddle, flute, tin whistle, guitar, harp, Celtic music styles, and more from master musicians. Or take a discussion class and learn about Irish history, Irish language, and culture! Hands-on learning for everyone.  Held every year the week before the Milwaukee Irish Fest.
                               37th year                             Facebook


Milwaukee Irish Fest

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August 17 - 20, 2017    Milwaukee, WI
100 Acts on 17 Stages - this year's line-up not announced a this time - check their website for updates.  Milwaukee Irish Fest's rich history of highlighting traditional music began in 1981, with a strong lineup of traditional musicians including De Dannan, Green Fields of America, Kevin Burke & Michael O Domhnaill, and Chicago greats Noel Rice, John McGreevy and Joe Shannon.
                      37th year                              Facebook


Celtic Colours International Festival

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   October 6 - 14, 2017     Cape Breton, P.E.I.  Canada
   With Celtic Colours’ ambitious schedule (as many as six concerts a day), it is simply impossible to see and hear everything.  Whether it’s Gaelic singing, Cape Breton fiddling, local dance traditions, or an afternoon of world-class piping, Celtic Colours festival-goers can tailor their musical experience to suit their tastes. And if listening to the music inspires a desire to go deeper, to learn more about the music and the culture it comes from, Cultural Experience Workshops and Community Events are offered in communities all around the island.
                                               20th year                          Facebook


O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

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  October 20 - 22, 2017    Midlothian, Texas
  Teaches traditional Irish music on fiddle, flute, harp, uilleann pipes, tenor banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran, guitar, piano, accordion and concertina.  Singing in English and Gaelic are taught along with enrichment classes pertaining to music history, session etiquette, music arrangements, learning resources, and more.  A number of the instructors are internationally-acclaimed performers and teachers many of whom are brought over from Ireland.   Mainly centered on adult learners.
                                                  14th year                       Facebook

Ennis Trad Festival

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 November 9 - 13, 2017    Ennis, Co. Clare
Concerts, sessions, masterclasses  - Website not yet updated for 2017

                 23rd year                   Facebook


Quick Links:
The Session.org
Boston CCÉ (Music School)
Burren Backroom Series
"Bowing is easy: either the bow goes up, or it goes down".   - Kevin Burke
"He was a fiddler, and consequently a rogue."  - Jonathan Swift       


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