WexTrad Festival

Agus Lá Fhéile Bhríde ag teacht, lovers of an chultúr traidisiúnta will be flocking to Wexford / Loch Garman for the first WEXTRAD Festival. The St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend (Jan 29 – Feb 2) presents the first real opportunity for the town to relive the glory days of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which it hosted in 2024 and 2025. What to expect? A weekend of trad music, singing, céilí dancing, mumming and workshops. The  Smithwicks Session Trail in the town’s hostelries is sure to be a big hit.

 

Headline concerts include The Misneach Orchestra with Fergal Scahill and Ryan Molloy (Opera house); The Tumbling Paddies (Opera House); 3 On The Bund (Talbot Hotel); Electrad (Crown Quarter); The Tin Sandwich Band (Talbot Hotel); Celebration of Wexford Piping (Wexford Arts Centre); George Murphy (Crown Quarter); The Lane to the Glen featuring Sligo’s Oisín Mac Diarmada (fiddle), Daithí Gormley (accordion) and Samantha Harvey (piano), and Elaine Reilly on banjo; Wexford trad supergroup Tulua (Talbot Hotel). 

 

The WexTrad Céilí will have music by the Legacy Céilí Band along with experienced ‘callers’. Lisdoon-Nirvana is a dramatic and often hilarious monologue with live music, written and performed by Frankie McCafferty (Wexford Arts Centre). 

 

The Crown Quarter is pushing the boar out with a full weekend of live music. Ardán na Sláine at the Talbot Hotel on Saturday, Jan 31 is a reprise of the stage of the same name at The Fleadh. It has an all-day line-up of great acts, all free.   

 

Venture down to Duncormick on Saturday evening and you will get to see Tulua on home turf with the talented Ó Faoláin Family in support.

 

Full festival details at www.wextrad.ie. Follow the festival on social media for latest updates and pop-ups.