Experience Irish Traditional Music at the 2024 Temple Bar TradFest!
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The Temple Bar Trad Fest starts off every year with a brilliant celebration of Irish traditional music. Spread across 17 venues in Dublin City and county, the TradFest also takes place in some of the many public houses and cobbled streets of the Temple Bar District.
We've taken an in depth look at the 2024 TradFest and some of the must see acts of the festival taking place. Let's discover some of the venues that the concerts will be held in. TradFest is the best place to experience real live music this winter, within walking distance of the Travelodge Plus hotel to the Temple Bar district.
Castle Hall at Dublin Castle
The central location of Castle Hall, paired with it's 800 year history in Dublin city centre, hosts four huge gigs for this years festival. Paddy Keenan starts proceedings in the historical venue on January 24th. Steo Wall, Niamh Dunne and Sharyn Ward then take over this dramatic location for a powerful evening of folk music.
While in the area of Dublin Castle, take some time to investigate the ancient scrolls of the Chester Beatty Library. Packed with millenia old artefacts, the library is free to visit and celebrates the culture of the world and a fascinating guide to accompany it.
The Pepper Canister Church
With a unique name, comes a unique venue. Saint Stephen's church was the final Georgian church built in the early 1800's. Fondly known as the Pepper Canister due to the shape of it's spire. The interior matches it's exterior for beauty of a Georgian property.
The pepper canister will see seven gigs over the course of the five day event. Arousing acoustics fill this church through each performance. The highlight being Altan on Friday night.
Button Factory
With strong roots in Temple Bar, the button factory is in a prime location for music. A jaw dropping view from the upper tier gives a unique perspective on the dance floor below, perfect for Pride Géilí. A collective of LGBTQ+ trad and folk artists will play traditional Céilí.
The Button Factory is just minutes from a lot of Temple Bar Hotels in the heart of Dublin 2. It is just 12 minutes from Travelodge Plus, a Beautiful hotel on Townsend street, and within minutes from some of the institutions of Irish culture.
Collins Barracks
What was once an army base for nearly 200 years, now stands as one of the most loved venues for cultural events. The national museum of Ireland, located in barracks, collects and preserves objects relating to the culture of Ireland. Making this venue a fabulous location to celebrate traditional music.
The TradFest officially starts here on Wednesday 24th of January, with award winning melodeon, Emma Corbett, playing at 1pm. Tara Howley, well known from her role in Riverdance, will bring her captivating show to Collins Barracks on the 26th.
The Grand Social
As you leave Temple Bar through Marble Arch, head over the Ha'penny bridge and you will meet an unsuspecting music venue. The Grand Social, while only open since 2010, has long been known as one of Dublin's best venues.
While the venue is synonymous with rising stars, 2024 will be the first year it has hosted this celebration of Irish music. The Deadlians, as mentions in our line up review, play the upstairs stage at 8.30pm on Saturday the 27th of January.
The GPO
On O'Connell Street stands a building that changed Irish Culture forever. The GPO museum should be on your list to visit anytime you're in Dublin. Just 12 minutes from our hotel. This venue is on the corner of Henry street and O'Connell, and tells the history of it's past through interactive exhibitions.
There are no concerts confirmed for the venue just yet. However, it is expected that the museum will host a number of events in this historic building. It is a convenient location for transport, If you are unsure how to get here, just ask the friendly staff at the reception.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
We often think of the Travelodge Plus as a landmark hotel, but when you think of Landmarks in Dublin City centre locations, then this cathedral would be one. It has a beautiful park adjacent to the incredible building. It's rich history is 804 years old and can be linked to Saint Patrick himself, including the well in which he baptised people on his visit to Dublin.
The Cathedral plays host to Women of Note on the opening night of TradFest. Aoife Scott's arrangement of artists from diverse backgrounds celebrates the rich talent of Irish trad performers and their international counterparts.
Women of Note at Trad Fest 2023
The National Stadium
Another venue outside the Temple Bar district, the National Stadium is the largest venue on the bill for Trad Fest. It is the only purpose built amateur boxing area in the world, but that doesn't stop this venue becoming a world class location. It's a decent size with over 2000 seats, but crowd sizes won't matter once Kila take to the stage on Friday Night.
Kila play to a packed national Stadium in 2022
The venue isn't a walkable distance to city centre, taking around 45 minutes, but there is both Luas and Bus routes offer fantastic services to the venue. We don't recommend driving, as there is no private parking nearby, and on street is very limited.
Hotel near Temple Bar Venues
Our Dublin location is in the heart of the city. We're thrilled to offer you an exclusive 10% discount on your overnight stay at Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre.
Dive into the festivities, and enjoy the perks of our prime location right in the heart of Dublin City Centre, just a stone's throw away from the iconic Temple Bar. Our hotel has all the amenities of a 4-star hotel at an affordable price.
Basque in the elegant decor of our super rooms, watching your favourite shows on our flat screen tvs while sipping a Lavazza coffee.
Wake up each morning to an awesome breakfast option in Mossco, before freshening up for another day of excellent entertainment in some iconic venues. Mossco has a brilliant dining menu packed with delicious food served all day.
Discounted parking is available at €19 per 24 hours, in the IFSC Business Center Park Rite, with an alternative parking option at City Quay.
Ask our lovely staff on some recommendations on things to do in the city during your stay at one of the finest city centre hotels.
A packed Oliver St John Gogarty pub at Tradfest last year
Venues outside the City Centre
The Temple Bar TradFest has spread its wings, in 2024 Fingal venues will host a number of gigs, workshops and fringe events outside of Dublin City. Some of the venues are quite unique, while some are well known locations to frequent gig goers.
The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre
Séamus Ennis was a true trad musician, and is partly responsible for the revival of the Uilleann pipes in Ireland. Having a strong influence on many of those you will see play at the Temple Bar Trad Festival, the building in Naul was named in his memory. If you cannot get a ticket to this, the centre is a real destination for tourists throughout the year as they host markets.
The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre is home to three Fingal Trail events, a Family Céilí, a Film Screening and & Food and Record fair. There is no booking fee for these events.
The Millbank Theatre
This community theatre has been the source of purpose for drama societies and budding actors for over three decades. Since it's inception in 1988, the venue has welcomed over 100,000 happy guests and plans to welcome many more throughout the five days of TradFest
The Millbank has four events planned for the festival, with two events on both Saturday and Sunday. Freddie White, with a huge history within the music scene, plays on 28th of January. Most well known for his time spent touring with Eric Clapton, there is still nobody to match Freddie White when he's at his best.
The Grand Hotel
Set in this picturesque 4-star hotel, the Grand Hotel, formerly known as the Royal, has an unbeatable view as the sun sets. Malahide's coastal venue welcomes a permanent fixture of TradFest, Stockton's Wing. Having began their musical journey almost 50 years ago, the current five piece have a huge name behind them. Having played support for international star, and headlining their own world tour.
Swords Castle
One of the three castle venues announced for the 2024 TradFest, the Chapel at Swords Castle is an intimate place for a gig. With a known history dating back to the 13th century, the Chapel has undergone extensive refurbishment to create a warm environment with excellent staff who know all about the history.
The venue host six gigs, A notable appearance from Indeceltic is a duo of Anna Tanvir (singer and harpist) and Maninder Singh (singer and guitarist). This Irish Indian duo play traditional melodies showcasing mixed cultural heritage.
Síle Denvir, who performs an ancient type of Irish traditional singing, sean-nós is a nasal toned singing. Síle's style of singing and harping, is heavily influenced by an area within Ireland called the Gaeltacht. The 2023 “Amhránaí na Bliana” (singer of the year) performs on January 28th at 1pm.
St Patrick's Church
In the peninsula of Donabate, Saint Patrick's church has stood since the 1600s. The lavish decorations of the gallery sits in contrast with the varnished pughs. Curved ceilings above alter and gallery bounce back a reverb sound from reception to the audience.
The church is just a 4-minute walk from the train station, and even less to both of the pubs in the village, serving classic pub food. So make a plan around attending this spectacular arrangement of scores with narration by TradFest patron, Stephen Rea.
Skerries Mills
The setting for this cultural event as part of Temple Bar TradFest 2024 is a beautiful area with windmills, watermill, mill pond and wetlands in the coastal town of skerries.
Shane Hennessy will bring a relaxed atmosphere to the mills as he moved between styles and genres on his guitar with ease. Having played the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville earlier this year, you don't want to miss his performance at Trad Festival.
If you arrive to skerries from one of the Temple Bar hotels, and would like an excellent breakfast. The mills offer a superb breakfast menu with excellent service from amazing staff, so be sure to check out this. If you have some spare time after the event, I recommend to book tour of the mills.
Malahide Castle
Steeped in traditional style, Malahide Castle and it's adjacent buildings was a late arrival to the 12th century. Having a long history, including wars, international sports venues and even a tax debacle, the Castle is a venue that has seen rock stars like the Killers, Noel Gallagher and Hozier play.
The Trad Fest will take place in the Project Room at the Castle Visior Centre. The Walled Garden provides a beautiful backdrop to the gigs which showcase rising stars of the Irish Trad and Folk scene.
Donabate Parish Hall
Across the road from St. Patrick's Church, the Donabate Parish hall is the second last venue in our round up. The hall has had many lives throughout the years since it's inception. Hosting an anti-conscription meeting in 1918, the hall has since had dances, gigs, dog shows and boxing tournaments. In 1968, 50 years since the meeting, the village credit union was based here.
With this rich cultural history associated with the Parish Hall, it is a wise choice for real guests to experience real culture through the Trad Festival concerts.
Draíocht
Dublin 15 may be a bit far from your hotel in Temple Bar, but this Dublin set theatre is an arts centre at the heart of it's community. Since opening in 2001, the Draíocht theatre produces a high quality programme which involves over 50,000 visitors each year.
The Dubliners founder Ronnie Drew's son Phelim, will remember his father through songs and stories at the theatre on the 24th of January. Since returning to music, Phelim realises he must put on an incredible show to live up to his father.
Hotel near Fingal Venues
Our Dublin Airport location is in the heart of the city. We're thrilled to offer you an exclusive 10% discount on your overnight stay at Travelodge Dublin Airport South, an affordable 3-star hotel just outside the city. The hotel is just 10-minute walk from the Pavillions Shopping District.
Relax in the modern furnishings of our non smoking rooms, with plump pillows, plasma screen tvs and tea and coffee facilites.. Wheelchair access is available and each room is en suite with a power shower.
Dive into the festivities, all while staying clear of the busy streets in the evenings. If you need any advice on things to do during your stay at our popular hotels, just speak to our exceptional staff at the check in desk.