Enjoy Irish Traditional Music shows in October: Cork Folk Festival, Martin Hayes, Tradition Now and The Friel Sisters

September 25, 2023October 10, 2023 The G-Man

Top Traditional Music Concerts for October 2023

Here’s a look at a number of stand-out Irish traditional music concerts and gigs lined up for October 2023.

This series of articles is supported by Online Academy of Irish Music.
Headquartered in Doolin, Co. Clare, OAIM provides quality tuition in traditional Irish instruments to the world via a unique online platform.

Cork Folk Festival (27th September-1st October)

As recently announced here, the 44th edition of the Cork Folk Festival welcomes a collection of folk and traditional players down south across the last weekend of September/first weekend of October. The 2023 programme also features a particular focus on a selection of instruments, with concerts highlighting fiddle, accordion, concertina, flute and song planned for An Spailpín Fánach across the long weekend. For a more detailed rundown take a look at the launch preview here.

Cork Folk Festival 2023 takes place across various Cork venues from Thursday 28th September until Sunday 1st October.

Info and Tickets available at corkfolkfestival.com

The Friel Sisters at St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre, Waterford (29th September)

Sneaking over the line for the October highlights is a late September appearance from the wonderful The Friel Sisters. Making their début bow in County Waterford, Glasgow’s Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel bring their Donegal-inspired fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes to St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre as part of the 2023 edition of Féile John Dwyer. First celebrated in 2012, Féile John Dwyer celebrates the “life of the great Cork musician who was a local hero and huge musical influence in the South East for much of his life.” As well as a number of concerts, the weekend will feature a session trail.

For more info and tickets see feilejohndwyer.com

***Mná na bPíob Uilleann* at Féile Liam O’Flynn in Kildare (5th-8th October)**

What better way to celebrate the opening of Féile Liam Ó’Flynn than with Louise Mulcahy, Máire ní Ghráda, Marian McCarthy, Mary Mitchell and Mná na bPíob Uilleann. Taking place on Friday 6th October at St. David’s Church of Ireland, the concert includes the Kildare Youth Orchestra with Ernestine Healy and Sorcha N i Scolaí. The weekend is jam-packed with events including the legendary Christy Moore at The Moat Theatre, harpist Laoise Kelly, The Kilfenora Céilí Band and more.

For further info visit the festival Facebook page.

***Tradition Now* at The National Concert Hall in Dublin (7th-8th October)**

The annual multi-room takeover of Dublin’s National Concert Hall continues in 2023 with Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Cormac Begley, Ye Vagabonds, Brìghde Chaimbeul and more. Split across the first full weekend in October, Tradition Now “celebrates invention and evolution in traditional music, while staying true to its roots.” Featuring a number of top talents that featured at the recent Sounds From a Safe Harbour festival in Cork, Tradition Now celebrates the strong standing of modern traditional music within the contemporary sphere.

For the full programme and tickets visit www.nch.ie

Tulua in Wexford Arts Centre (20th October)

Irish traditional music group Tulua have spent the past 18 months bouncing around the international traditional music scene with highlights including an appearance at Milwaukee Irish Festival in the Summer of 2022, a tour of Holland and a sold-out National Opera House show earlier this year. Having released début album No Coming No Going at the tail end of the Summer, the Wexford foursome of Cian O Grady (guitar/banjo), Kayleigh Moran (fiddle), Caoimhe Moran (harp, piano /concertina) and Diarmuid Murphy (flute) make an Autumnal appearance at Wexford Arts Centre.

Tulua play Wexford Arts Centre Friday 20th October

Tickets available at wexfordartscentre.com

Martin Hayes & The Common Ground Ensemble Live at St. Luke’s, Cork (22nd October)

Master musician Martin Hayes brings his Common Ground Ensemble to St. Luke’s near the end of the month. Comprised of Cormac McCarthy (piano, ‘Cottage Evolution’), Kate Ellis (cello, Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble), Kyle Sanna (guitar, a collaborator with Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile) and Brian Donnellan (bouzouki / harmonium / concertina). Expect extracts from Peggy’s Dream, the supergroup’s 2023 album released earlier this year.

Tickets available at liveatstlukes.com.

Jackie Daly, Kevin Burke, Altan at Patrick O’Keefe Music Festival, Kerry (26th-30th October)

Castleisland comes alive at the October Bank Holiday weekend to remember legendary fiddler and teacher, Patrick O’Keeffe (1887-1963), and to celebrate “the rich heritage of Irish music and the significant role that O’Keeffe played in its preservation”. The 31st edition of the festival welcomes Altan, Jackie Daly & Kevin Burke, Paddy Glackin, Cathy Jordan, Méabh Begley, Angelina Carberry and more across the last weekend of October.

Tickets available at patrickokeeffefestival.com.