Get involved in open trad sessions at Temple Bar

Irish Musicians
Irish Musicians

There’s more to the Temple Bar Tradfest than just watching the stars perform.

You can get involved yourself with open sessions being held throughout the festival.

All you need to bring is a musical instrument of your choice and a lot of energy!

Are you looking for romance?

Alternatively if you are looking for romance, Temple Bar TradFest also has this covered.

The most infamous matchmaking family in Ireland, Willie Daly and his two daughters Gráinne and Marie, will be around on Friday in Fitzsimons to work some of their matchmaking magic using both traditional and modern matchmaking skills and games, a guaranteed night of fun!

During the festival you can also learn to master some how to make the perfect Irish Coffee or a tasty cocktail with workshops taking place in the Morgan Bar and Buskers Bar.

Family events at the Temple Bar Trad Fest

There are numerous family events, there are so many, a programme had to be made especially for it!

We have two free outdoor stages with well known and up and coming musical acts on both Saturday and Sunday on Fownes St. (Saturday & Sunday), East Essex St (Saturday) and Parliament St. (Sunday).

Acts include Paddy Casey, Sephira, The Rolling Drones, The New Free and the International Celtic Irish Dancing Festival.

The Ark will be the TradFest Family hub with several levels of family fun with family concerts and children’s drop in craft club and sean nós dance workshops and children’s open trad sessions.

Free events including IMRO masterclasses

The New Theatre will feature free events including IMRO masterclasses and showcases and a one night showing of the Tinker’s Wedding play.

The grounds of Christchurch will be transformed into a rural village complete with mini thatched cottages with Meath Beo, a collective of traditional festivals from Co. Meath.

There will be workshops giving fascinating insights into different aspects of rural life and an animal farm and colourful, mischievous and musical wren boys.

The crypt of Christ Church will also have a genealogy stand on Saturday and storytelling and a tradfest market. Around Temple Bar there will also be market stalls, trad themed film screenings, facepainters, street performers, a Buskers Stage, fire breathers and giant games!!

So to check out more information on the Temple Bar TradFest and its five days and five nights of festive fun and celebration of Irish Traditional Music and Culture, please check out the website www.templebartrad.com.

More information about 2012’s Temple Bar Tradfest

By Andrew Moore

Andrew Moore is a writer for Irish Music Daily and Ireland Calling. His favourite Irish music bands are the Dropkick Murphys and the Pogues.