GIG GUIDE AND MUSIC TRAIL: Your ultimate guide to Tradfest Kilkenny 2025!

The countdown is over and St Patrick's weekend is almost upon us! Kilkenny Tradfest kicks off for the thirteenth time this Friday, March 14. To get you in the festive spirit and to help plan your ultimate trad weekend, the team at Kilkenny Tradfest has created a sample festival schedule to help inspire your plans.

If you are travelling to Kilkenny be sure to book your accommodation now if you haven’t already done so! Tradfest recommends The Clubhouse Hotel, The Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel, The Ormonde Hotel, The Rivercourt Hotel, The Newpark Hotel, Lyrath Estate and Hotel Kilkenny. 

If you are venturing out on Thursday evening, you can warm up for the festival with a number of excellent trail sessions including Colcannon at Sullivan’s Taproom at 6pm and Whiskers of Lichen at Ryan’s Bar at 9pm. 

On Friday morning, start by making your way to The Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel for an interactive presentation, performance and discussion on AI and The Future of Music, with AI:OK and Sarah Keane at 10am. Get there early to experience one of the best breakfasts in town at Statham’s restaurant, courtesy of renowned chef Ken Harker. 

Take sometime in the afternoon to relax and explore the sights and sounds of our medieval city. Take a tour of Rothe House, or a stroll around the Castle Park before heading to The Rivercourt Hotel for some top-notch pub grub on the terrace by the river Nore. Catch the 6pm session at The Pumphouse before making your way to St Canice’s Cathedral for one of the highlights of the festival; Sharon Shannon & Band – In concert under the moon, at 8pm. If you’re in flying form, and don’t fancy calling it a night, unwind at Ryan’s Bar with some Rock ‘n’ Folk courtesy of Green River at 10pm.

Treat yourself to an award-winning breakfast on Saturday morning at Arán Bakery and Bistro, on Barrack Street. Be sure to explore ‘The Continent’ (a local term for John’s Parish) before making your way to The Front Room or Matt the Millers to watch Ireland take on Italy (in the other continent) in their Six Nations decider. If you’re all about the music, and not too concerned with the rugby, head over John’s Bridge to The Clubhouse Hotel where Kilkenny Pipers Club will be kicking off at 3pm. You might want to grab some lunch here too ahead of a busy evening of headline gigs! 

Later, 5pm sees Aoife Scott and her band take flight in the intimate basement of The Pembroke hotel, eight-piece Dublin powerhouse The Bonny Men will take the stage at The Kilford Arms Ballroom at 7pm and the illustrious Aran Island songwriter Pádraig Jack is set to set Cleere’s Theatre alight at 9pm. Saturday night’s alright for dancing, so make your way to Matt The Millers for ‘Trad Hits’ from 10pm til late, where you can strut your stuff to the very best of irish classics courtesy of DJ Agers. 

Sunday, March 16 is set to be the apex of the festival weekend, with a bank holiday to follow. Start your day off right with a full Irish breakfast at The World’s End, one of the best in town!

Catch Laois legends Buíoch on the mainstage at 2pm in a free concert of blistering tunes before making your way to either The Tulla Céilí Band at The Rivercourt Hotel or Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta at Cleere’s, depending on your mood, at 3pm. Things will kick up a gear at 5pm as Two Time Polka bring their high-octane brand of rockin’ trad to The Left Bank. Make your way to Sullivan’s Taproom for a wood-fired pizza before catching a glimpse of local rising stars Burnchurch at 8pm. 

At 9pm, you can take your pick of Canadian folk pioneer Sarah Jane Scouten at Paris Texas or the powerful trad ballads of Drops of Green at Kyteler’s inn. Finally, if you have the energy, stroll up to Friary Street for a late-night trad session at Rafter Dempsey’s. 

On Monday morning, it’s time to give thanks to our patron saint for banishing the snakes from Ireland - whether he was successful or not remains to be seen. It’s St Patrick’s Day! Don your shamrocks and make your way to The Parade Tower for a Bodhrán Masterclass with Rónán Ó Snodaigh of Kíla at 11.30am.

From there, take the short walk to secure your spot for the St Patrick’s Day Parade at 1.30pm. Escape the madness and decompress with afternoon tea or lunch at The Ormonde Hotel, where the stentorian voice of Dublin bard MacDara Yeates will soothe your soul and leave you feeling refreshed and ready for one last hurrah. 

It's party time. Make your way back to the mainstage where legends of trad, Kíla will be ready fill the evening skies with the thundering sound of 2,000 years of Irish culture, at 5pm.

This is a free concert. Afterwards, you can enjoy a cocktail and some excellent southern US cuisine at Paris Texas, before heading to The Watergate Theatre to witness the world-renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band at 8pm. Wrap up your weekend in style by making your way across the street to Cleere’s Bar for Kilkenny’s longest running trad session – led by renowned traditional musician and songwriter, Mick Citern Walsh at 9pm.

“Kilkenny Tradfest is an all-out celebration of what it means to be Irish," said Brendan Treacy of Kilkenny City Vintners.

"It epitomises and showcases all of the best elements of our vibrant city culture here in Kilkenny - our wonderful venues, pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafés and of course our musicians! It is a meeting of minds and a coming together of creativity and commerce. The result is a festival weekend which is of the highest quality, and undoubtedly one of the best in the country.” 

Tickets are selling fast so be sure to get yours now at www.kilkennytradfest.com.

Kilkenny Tradfest is made possible by sponsors, partners, venues, artists, musicians, volunteers and staff; and supported by Kilkenny County Council. 
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