Kilkenny Tradfest 2023 featured over 100 gigs, including over 90 free sessions on the Bulmers' Music Trail!
We are gearing up for another epic Kilkenny Tradfest!
Our 11th festival promises to be the best yet, with a line-up packed full of both trad legends and young blood. The Festival takes place between the 15th and 18th March, coinciding with St.Patrick’s weekend, and capitalises on the unique strength of Kilkenny’s hospitality and creative arts-culture to deliver an event which is truly unique and steeped in heritage.
2023 saw another bumper year for the festival with our renowned Bulmers Music Trail hosting over 100 sessions and gigs in packed pubs throughout the city. The Bonnymen rocked Billy Byrne’s, Emma Langford and Eva Coyle warmed our hearts in the beautifully intimate Cleere’s Theatre and Lisa Lambe gave a haunting performance at St.John’s Priory while Stockton’s Wing made a return to the marble city and had Hotel Kilkenny jumping!
Kilkenny is blessed with so many wonderful venues, too numerous to mention, so our best advice would be to book a ticket for an evening gig and hit the Trad Trail early in the day.
If you get lost, just follow the sound of the Music!
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona daíobh go léir,
The Tradfest Team.
Kilkenny Tradfest was established in 2013. It is organised by Kilkenny City Vitners, sponsored by Bulmers, and supported by Kilkenny County Council. Kilkenny Tradfest has attracted numerous accolades and in 2016 was awarded ‘Small Festival of the Year’ by the prestigious IMRO music body ‘in recognition of Ireland’s live music venues that provide the public with exceptional live music experiences, week in week out’. It was nominated again in 2019. Bígí Linn!
