Tennessee to Temple Bar

THE Temple Bar TradFest begins in Dublin this week. Promoted by the Temple Bar Company (an association of traders in the city centre), the acclaimed festival of traditional and folk music will begin on Tuesday and run until Sunday next.

Now in its eighth year, TradFest has been extended to six days and six nights, and includes three iconic heritage buildings as new festival venues (The Irish Stock Exchange, St Werburgh’s Church and St Patrick’s Cathedral). Other venues include Christ Church Cathedral, and City Hall.

The 2013 festival programme will include headline concerts, more than 200 free events, a recital entitled ‘remembering Barney McKenna’, to celebrate the contribution made by the late Barney McKenna to Irish traditional music, a music trail, singers’ club, open sessions, two outdoor stages, master-classes and showcases, gigs for kids, a children’s club, cultural workshops, pipe bands and street performers.