Events List Navigation
November 2017
Launch Night
Ennis Trad Fest 2017 launch night! Queens hotel front bar, Thursday 9th Nov, from 7:30pm. 2 Album launches are taking place after the Trad Fest Launch: Alec Brown “The stepping stone” Dáire Mulhern “Boxman”
Alec Brown “The stepping stone”
Album launch: Alec Brown “The stepping stone” Thursday 9th of November at 8pm, The Queens hotel Ennis. Free admission.
Dáire Mulhern “Boxman”
Album launch: Dáire Mulhern “Boxman” Thursday 9th of November at 9pm, The Queens hotel Ennis Free admission.
Caroline Keane & Tom Delaney “Never say goodbye, say good luck”
Album launch: Caroline Keane & Tom Delaney~ “Never say goodbye, say good luck” Friday 10th November, The Temple gate hotel Ennis, at 8pm. Free admission.
Karen Ryan, Pete Quinn & Andrew MacNamara “From Camden to Tulla”
Album launch: Karen Ryan, Pete Quinn & Andrew MacNamara~ “From Camden to Tulla” Friday 10th November, The Temple gate hotel Ennis, at 9pm. Free admission.
Trad for Teens
TRAD FOR TEENS! Hosted by some of our masterclass tutors, this year’s Trad for teens will be held on Saturday 11th at 1:30pm after the classes in Scoil Chriost Ri Cloughleigh, Ennis. Free admission.
Therese McInerney “Down the strand”
Album launch: Therese McInerney~ “Down the strand” Saturday 11th November, Lucas’ bar (back room) at 2pm Free admission.
Bernadette Nic Gabhann “Here to play”
Album launch: Bernadette Nic Gabhann~ “Here to play” Saturday 11th November, Lucas’ bar (back room) at 3pm. Free admission.
Sorcha Meehan “Ceol Sídroma”
Album & book launch: Sorcha Meehan~ “Ceol Sídroma” Saturday 11th November, The Queens hotel Ennis at 7pm. Free admission.
Artisan Row “Wild winds”
Album launch: Artisan Row~ “Wild winds” Saturday 11th Nov, The Queens hotel Ennis, at 8pm. Free admission.
Manchester meets Ennis
Hosted by Mike McGoldrick! For the first time in Ennis this unique crossover gig for youth/teen musicians from both Manchester & Ennis will be a great afternoon of Craic, showcasing some of the best young musicians in town for the Trad fest weekend! The Old Ground Hotel, Sunday 12th at 2pm. Free admission
Tiarnán O Duinnchinn “Reggish Paddy”
Album launch: Tiarnán O Duinnchinn “Reggish Paddy” Sunday 12th November, The Old ground hotel Ennis, at 3pm. Free admission.
Tony O’Connell “ ‘live and well”
Album launch: Tony O’Connell “ ‘live and well ” Sunday 12th November, The Old ground hotel Ennis, at 4pm. Free admission.
Lena Ullman & Anna Falkenau “I can hear you calling”
Album launch: Lena Ullman & Anna Falkenau “I can hear you calling” Sunday 12th November, at the Queens hotel Ennis, 5pm.
Floriane Blancke “Kaleidoscope”
Album launch: Floriane Blancke~ “Kaleidoscope” Sunday 12th November, The Queens hotel Ennis, at 6pm. Free admission.
Tommy Guihen “The torn jacket”
Album launch: Tommy Guihen~ “The torn jacket” Sunday 12th November, The Queens Hotel Ennis, at 7pm. Free admission.
November 2018
Festival launch night!
The 25th Ennis Trad festival. Thursday 8th Nov. from 7.30pm. The Sanctuary, Queens hotel, Ennis. A great night of music & song with the first of our album launches! Free admission. 7.30pm Book launch “Jigs to Jacobites” by Dr Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain 8pm- Don Stiffe & Frank Kilkelly “Longing for the day” 9pm- Páraic MacDonnchadha “Not before time” Páraic Mac Donnchadha was a late convert to the banjo, only taking it up in his second year at College…
Friday Night Album Launches
The 25th Ennis Trad fest Friday night album launches! Friday 9th Nov. The Templegate hotel, Ennis, from 8pm. Free admission. 8pm Gráinne Brady “The road across the hills” Gráinne Brady is a fiddle player from Co. Cavan. Currently based in Glasgow, where she works as a professional musician, Gráinne plays in a variety of different bands including MG Alba Scots Trad Awards nominees Top Floor Taivers, string group The Routes Quartet, and Gaeilge/Gàidhlig supergroup LAS. Gráinne’s debut album is the…
Saturday afternoon album launches
Saturday afternoon, 10th Nov. Lucas’ bar, Parnell st. Ennis (back room) Free admission. 2pm- Dan Gurney “Ignorance is bliss” “Dan Gurney’s music speaks for itself. His heart governs how he plays. Dan’s music on this recording is magical, lyrical and effortless. Congratulations Dan, this is a memorable recording.” – Seamus Connolly 3pm Sylvain Barou & Ronan Pellen “The last days of fall” “I have been listening to the music of Sylvain Barou and Ronan Pellen for many years and have…
Trad for Teens
Venue: Treacys West County hotel, Saturday 10th at 2:30pm. Free admission. All U18 musicians welcome! This years “Trad for teens” will be hosted by the 2018 Siansa Gael Linn Champions ‘Spleodar’. The members hail from counties Antrim, Monaghan and Tyrone. ‘Spleodar’ were formed under the direction of Maggie Maguire from Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh. The group is made up of muilti- instrumentalists and singers with plenty of high energy! Following on from their victory they have featured on Fleadh TV, Ceili…
Saturday evening album launches
Saturday evening, 10th Nov. The Queens hotel, (Sanctuary). Free admission. 7pm Peter Casey “Out in the day” Peter Casey is a local singer who writes his own songs of humour. He has just released his first album of 12 songs including EPO, Townie Goats and The Páirc Uí Chaoimh Steward. 8pm Stevie Dunne “Live at the Crosskeys Inn” Albums will be on sale at the venues.
Sunday Afternoon Album Launches
The 25th Ennis Trad festival Sunday 11th Nov. Free admission. Albums on sale at each venue. The Old ground hotel, Ennis 3pm Cárthach MacCraith “An Tobar séimh” Cárthach Mac Craith is a sean-nós singer from An Rinn in Co. Phort Láirge and although ‘An Tobar Séimh ‘ is his first solo album Cárthach is no stranger in singing circles. He was the original singer with trad group Danú and is a member of Cór Fear na nDéise. His distinctive singing…
Sunday Evening Album Launches
The Queens hotel, Ennis (Sanctuary) 6pm Yvonne Casey “Croí” Music is Yvonne Casey’s life. Yvonne is one of Co. Clare’s distinctive fiddle players. She grew up surrounded by the richness of Clare music and plays in a unique soulful style. Sitting in sessions from a very young age she discovered the joys of Doolin as a teen, where she met and played with legendary musicians such as Kevin Griffin and Eoin O’Neill. In the 1990’s the band The Ceili Bandits…
November 2019
Ennis Trad Fest 2019 – Official launch night
Ennis trad fest 2019 official launch night! Thursday 7th Nov, The Queens Hotel, Ennis(The Sanctuary) @ 7:30pm, Free admission This years festival will be launched by the legendary Eileen O’Brien! We have a great opening night line up for you all with 3 separate album launches! Featuring: 8:30pm ~ Úrnua 9:15pm ~ Katie Theasby 10pm ~ Avalla
Album Launch – ‘Úrnua’
Thurs 7th November, The Queens Hotel Ennis, (The Sanctuary) @ 8:30pm Free admission Carl Hession is one of Ireland’s most revered piano players, prolific composers and sought after musical arrangers. His work needs little or no introduction as his reputation is golden and has spanned the decades. Francis and Eimear are two of the finest exponents of concertina and harp with a strong emphasis on the Clare tradition in which they are steeped. “Úrnua” in modern Irish means “fresh” or…
Album Launch – Katie Theasby ‘I remember you singing’
Thurs 7th November, The Queens Hotel Ennis, (The Sanctuary) @ 9:15pm Free admission “Katie Theasby” Katie was born in London in 1976 into a very musician family as her father, Paul Theasby was the fiddle player with Dingle Spike, a London based Irish band. Her mother, Gloria Pahad, was a great influence on her singing and taste in music who was involved with the African National Congress and Katie was singing in the South African Xhosa language from an early…
Album Launch – ‘Avalla’
Thurs 7th November, The Queens Hotel Ennis, (The Sanctuary) @ 10pm Free event. “AVALLA” (Padraig Rynne, Tara Breen, Elaine Hogan & Conor Crimmins) Avalla is an album by four Clare natives exploring traditional, newly and self-composed melodies in the traditional form. This quartet have known each other for many years. Elaine and Pádraig first met while in secondary school and competed against each other with their schools in Slogadh. Conor and Tara were in college in Cork at the same…
Album Launch – Elaine Hogan ‘In thr3 minds’
Friday 8th November 2019, The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, @ 7:30pm Free admission Elaine Hogan~ “In thr3 minds” Harpist Elaine Hogan hails from Ennis in Co. Clare. She has grown up with a love for all types of music, but always felt a particular pull towards the Irish traditional world. She has toured extensively with her harp as part of various musical outfits, and over the years has been to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and many parts of…
Album Launch – Deirdre Millane ‘Idir Dubh agus Bán’
Friday 8th November 2019, The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, @ 8:15pm Free admission Deirdre Millane – “Idir Dubh agus Bán” Born and raised in County Clare, Deirdre Millane has been immersed in Irish Traditional music from a young age. Deirdre started her musical journey, like most others, on the tin-whistle in her local Comhaltas branch and within a couple of years she decided that her musical endeavours were best suited to the piano. Under the tuition of teachers, Padraic O’…
Album launch – Tommaso Tornielli ‘1st’
Friday 8th November 2019, The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, @ 9pm. Free admission Tommaso Tornielli – ‘1st’ Tommaso Tornielli started his musical career as a classical flute player when he was 13 years old. The next year, during a Study trip at the Galway Cultural Institute, he discovered Irish Traditional Music and, since then, he developed a deep passion and never stopped playing the flute. In the following years he had the chance to meet and play many musicians and…
Album Launch – Shane Meehan ‘Twill do’
Saturday 9th Nov. 2019, Lucas’ bar (back room) @ 2pm. Free admission Shane Meehan~ “Twill do” I grew up in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim and was started off on my musical journey at the age of 8 by my grandfather John Meehan who came from Cootehall near Boyle, Co. Roscommon. While my grandfather was mainly a flute player he also played the fiddle. John greatly admired composers who contributed to the tradition such as Paddy Fahy, Paddy O’Brien and Charlie…
Trad for Teens
This years “Trad for teens” will be hosted by the group “Finscéal”, winners of Siansa Gael Linn 2019! Free admission, At Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis. Sat 9th Nov at 2:30pm. All welcome! Members: Laoise Fitzgibbon, Brendan Power, Anna Sheahan, James Dunworth, Micheál Fitzgibbon, Eoin Burke, Emily Condon, & Karl Rafferty.
Album Launch – Mossie Martin ‘The humours of Derrynacoosan’
Sat 9th November 2019, Lucas’ bar, a Ennis (back room) @ 2:45pm Free admission. Mossie Martin – “The humours of Derrynacoosan” Mossie Martin hails from north Roscommon, about a mile from Carolan’s grave, and plays fiddle and whistle. As a member of the All-Ireland winning Dartry Céilí band from Sligo, he has recorded two albums – ‘The Killavil Post ‘ (2010) and ‘Making Tracks’ (2014). He also features on two Leitrim Equation recordings with the bands Lúnasa and Dervish. He…
Album Launch – Yoann An Nedeleg, Erwan Mengui & Martin Chapron ‘Beo’
Sat 9th Nov. 2019, Lucas’ bar (back room) @ 3:30pm Free admission. “BEO” ~ Yoann An Nedeleg, Erwan Mengui & Martin Chapron Originally from Brittany, BEO are a trio of Yoann An Nedeleg on uilleann-pipes and low whistle, Erwan Menguy on flutes and Martin Chapron on bouzouki. They are now launching their first anticipated album. « BEO are clearly part of new vanguard of Breton musicians, evidently enthralling and technically gifted, fearlessly composing in the Irish tradition and with a…
Album Launch – Paula & Melanie Houton ‘A snapshot in time’
Sat 9th Nov 2019, The Queens Hotel (The Sanctuary) Ennis @ 7pm. Free admission. Paula & Melanie Houton – “A snapshot in time” Donegal sisters, Paula and Melanie Houton from the Inishowen Peninsula, have just released their long-awaited debut album – A Snapshot In Time – that features old and new traditional tunes including their own compositions. Bringing the traditional pairing of fiddle and flute/whistle to a contemporary audience, “they are both masters of their instruments with impeccable taste in…
Album Launch – Charlie Le Brun ‘Madness is Convention’
Sat 9th November 2019, The Queens Hotel (The Sanctuary) Ennis @ 7:45pm Free admission Charlie Le Brun, “Madness is convention” Charlie Le Brun is a flute player based in Dublin, Ireland. Born in Brittany, on the west coast of France, Charlie was immersed in the local traditional culture from a very young age, through speaking the Breton language and joining the many Fest-Noz all over the country (Breton ‘music and dance’ gatherings). Charlie initially started playing classical music before switching…
Album launch – The Blackwater Ceili band ‘Music in the Valley’
Saturday 9th November 2019, The Queens Hotel (The Sanctuary) Ennis, @ 8:30pm. The Blackwater Ceili band ~ “Music in the Valley” The Blackwater Céilí Band was formed in 2015 and consists of musicians from across Ulster. They have become an established band in the area and further afield since its inception, playing at concerts, fleadhanna and céilís up and down the country. The band competed for several years in the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and…
Album Launch – ‘Carlos, Sweeny & McCartin’
Sunday 10th November 2019, The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis @ 2pm. Free admission. “Carlos, Sweeny & McCartin” Carlos Sweeney McCartin is a no nonsense recording of Fiddle and Flute accompanied by guitar. This album of Jigs and Reels is uncompromising in its direct reflection of traditional Irish music as played in sessions in the north west of Ireland today. There are no token tracks of reflective airs or senselessly obscure exhibition pieces. Having met for a tune on a winters…
Book Launch – The Liverpool Ceili band ‘The Spirit of the Reels by Ray Rooney’
Sunday 10th November 2019, The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, @3pm Free admission. The Liverpool Ceili band – “The Spirit of the Reels by Ray Rooney” The book tells the story the Band from its origins in post war Liverpool through to the 1970s. The story encompasses the growth of Irish traditional music on Merseyside and in Ireland through this period, as well as the triumphs of the Band in competition. How the book came about: I am married to Máire…
Album Launch – Nuadán ‘Dén Díobháil’
Sunday 10th November 2019, The Queens Hotel (The Sanctuary) @5pm Free admission Nuadán ~ “Dén Díobháil” Nuadán are a vibrant band from the Déise who play a wide range of traditional tunes and sing sean-nós, macaronic and traditional songs in English. The band focuses on keeping the tradition they were brought up with alive, while also adding something new to the music. Each member of the band brings a flavour of their own to the ensemble, which brings a fresh…
Album Launch – UAINE ‘The Dimming of the Day’
Sunday 10th November 2019, The Queens Hotel (The Sanctuary) Ennis, @ 6pm. Free admission. UAINE – Bríd Harper, Tony O’Connell, Lisa Butler & Paul Meehan. This ensemble of four well known and highly respected individual performers have just released their debut album entitled “The Dimming of the Day”. Come along to the launch night and enjoy a great feast of music and song from Bríd Harper (fiddle) Tony O’Connell (concertina) Paul Meehan (guitar/banjo/mandolin) and Lisa Butler (vocals) collectively known as…
November 2021
Album launch – Eoghan Neff “Unrecalled”
Eoghan Neff’s second solo album, ‘unrecalled’, presents a series of alternative duets with fellow radical sonic explorers from Iceland, Spain and Ireland.
Album launch – Terry Clarke~Coyne & friends “Whistle walks”
His new album titled ‘Whistle Walks’ came about due to the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown during 2020/21. He produced over 150 videos of music played outdoors amongst the hills, valleys, fields, lakes and rivers surrounding his home village of Minera in the hills of North Wales.
Album launch – Good morning to your nightcap “Stirred and waked anew”
‘Stirred And Waked Anew’ follows Good Morning to Your Nightcap’s eponymous recording released in 2015. This album is a collection of music reflecting the musicians’ personal influences featuring tunes and airs from Ireland, with forays into the music of Shetland, Denmark and Austurias.
Trad for Teens
“Trad for Teens” Saturday 13th November 2021 @ 1pm. At “TREACYS WEST COUNTY HOTEL” Free event, all welcome to join in! Hosted by: Sorcha Costello, Jakob Vester and Elaine Reilly. (Artwork by: KT McCaffrey Traditional Irish Art)
Find out more
Album launch – Aaron O’Hagan & Luke Ward “From the Devils Punchbowl”
Aaron O’Hagan is a multi-instrumentalist and renowned instrument maker from Co Antrim. Playing uilleann pipes and wooden flutes, he is joined by Belfast based bouzouki player Luke Ward on their first offering together entitled~ “From the Devil’s Punchbowl”.
Album launch – Hugh Healy “Ceolaire”
Hugh Healy is a concertina player from Corofin Co. Clare. He has played in Clare with many musicians, among those his brothers Colm (accordion) and Eric (fiddle). Hugh recorded his first CD “Macalla na hOige” in 2004 with his brother Colm.
Album launch – Aisling Lyons “Aistear”
Aisling Lyons is a multi-award-winning harpist & concertina player from County Clare. Aisling comes from a family who are steeped in the tradition of Irish music & song.
Album launch – Ryan Molloy & Fergal Scahill “One day November woods”
As a composer and performer, Ryan Molloy’s work has been performed to international audiences on four continents for over fifteen years, including major concert venues such as Lucerne Hall, KKL (Switzerland), Kölner Philharmonie (Germany), National Concert Hall (Ireland), Holywell Music Room (England) and Ulster Hall (N. Ireland).
Album launch – Anthony Quigney “Breath-taking”
The long-awaited solo album by Anthony Quigney is finally here and will be released at the Ennis Trad Fest on Nov 14th. Anthony has been a member of the world-renowned Kilfenora Ceili Band for almost 3 decades and has recorded 7 studio albums with the band in that time.
