The 5th Annual Clifden Traditional Music Festival will take place this year from the 10th Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway and will be officially opened this year by head of music at Raidio na Gaeltachta, Neansai Ni Choistealdbha.
With music sessions, workshops, craic and (of course) lots of ceol, this year's Festival promises to be a must-do for all lovers of traditional Irish music. A host of champion musicians from all over Ireland will attend, including: Laura Beagon (Fiddle) from Monaghan, James Duggan (Fiddle), Maura Walsh (Concertina) and Graham Guerin (Accordion) from Kerry, Michael Curran (Tyrone) and Daithi Gormley (Sligo) both on accordion, husband and wife duo Lorna and Brian Fitzgerald from Limerick, members of the Border Collies Group Theresa and Declan Payne, The Broderick Family from Corofin and many more musicians.
Great dancers and singers will also be seen in the sessions over the weekend including All Ireland Champion singer Cian Kearins from Sligo and dancers including Gearoid Devane (Sean Nós Dancer) and Candian Clog Dancer Nathan Pilatzke.
A big highlight of the festival this year will be the 'Return of the Dartry.' Following on from their great performance in 2012, The Dartry Ceili Band returns to Clifden Trad Fest to perform an outdoor gig on the Saturday night of the festival. They will be joined by a stream of accomplished dancers and guest artists.
Some special events have been added to the Trad Fest this year such as a Vintage Car Run that will take place on the Saturday of the festival and a CD Launch on the Sunday evening with a new CD from this year's All Ireland Senior Concertina Champion Roisin Broderick and Noel Battle - 7 time Mouth Organ Champion. There will be street entertainment around the town with stilt walkers, face painters, jugglers etc and a traditional street market will return this year featuring stalls on The Square.
As always at the Trad Fest, public events are free and everyone is encouraged to come along and experience what should be a great weekend of music, song and dance.
