THE CAPITAL of Connemara will come alive with music at the fifth annual Clifden Traditional Music Festival from Thursday April 10 to Sunday 13.
The festival will be officially opened by Raidio na Gaeltachta’s head of music, Neansai Ní Choistealdbha in the Clifden Station House Hotel at 7pm on April 10, followed by a concert.
Festival performers include fiddlers Laura Beagon and James Duggan; accordion players Graham Guerin, Michael Curran, and Daithi Gormley; concertina player Maura Walsh; husband and wife duo Lorna and Brian Fitzgerald; Theresa and Declan Payne from the Border Collies Group; The Broderick Family; All-Ireland champion singer Cian Kearins; sean nós dancer Gearoid Devane; and Canadian clog dancer Nathan Pilatzke.
Sessions will take place across Clifden from Friday to Sunday afternoon. Music workshops will take place in Clifden Community School from 10am to 12.30pm on the Saturday.
A highlight of the festival will be the Return of the Dartry concert with The Dartry Ceili Band performing an outdoor gig on the Saturday night, accomplished dancers and guest artists.
There will also be a vintage car run, stilt walkers, face painters, jugglers, and a street market on the Saturday. Fiachra O’ Regan will launch his new album (Thursday 10 ) as will the duo of All-Ireland senior concertina champion Roisin Broderick, and mouth organ champion, Noel Battle (Sunday 13 ).
For more information see www.clifdentradfest.com
