Get ready for a tidal wave of traditional music in Kilkenny this St Patrick’s Weekend!

Kilkenny Tradfest is back for 2025. Celebrating its 13th year, the festival promises to be bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before. Having just announced its first five headline acts, it’s already shaping up to be a stunning programme featuring the best of traditional talent from around the country and abroad.

Top of the bill is Sharon Shannon, with special guests, who will play St Canice’s Cathedral at 8pm on Friday, March 14. This is set to be an extraordinary show with the breathtaking Museum of the Moon providing the backdrop, elevating an already special venue to cosmic heights.

Accomplished
Sharon Shannon is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and well-known traditional musicians this island has ever produced. Having launched her career with The Waterboys, she has gone on to record 10 studio albums, five live albums and four greatest hits. She has penned and played on innumerable hits including Blackbird, Libertango and Galway Girl.
Don’t miss your opportunity to experience this once in a lifetime event: Sharon Shannon & Guests – Under The Moon at St Canice’s Cathedral.
Having rocked the festival stage last year, Pádraig Jack makes his return to Kilkenny Tradfest with an intimate show in Cleere’s on Saturday, March 15 (9pm).

Flying form
Another member of trad royalty, Aoife Scott and her band return to the festival in flying form after a successful tour of North America. You can catch them in the Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel at 5pm on Saturday, March 15.
Fans of Luke Kelly and The Dubliners will not be disappointed as Laois legends Abbeyfolk and Kevin Morrin bring their acclaimed Spirit of Luke show to Cleere’s Theatre on Friday, March 14 at 7pm.
Keeping it local - and lively - will be Drops of Green. This band of five fabulous musicians from counties Kilkenny, Laois and Waterford will raise the roof when they play Kyteler’s Inn on Sunday, March 16 at 9pm. Their blissful four-part harmonies and modern take on classic Irish Ballads has garnered them a faithful following at home and abroad.

Wonderful venues

Picture: Bob Pitchford

Kilkenny is blessed with so many wonderful music venues, and this year Tradfest is exceptionally lucky to have The Museum of The Moon at St Canice’s Cathedral as a backdrop to several very special events. A touring art installation by UK artist Luke Jerram, this gigantic spectacle measures seven measures in diameter, and features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface.
Over its lifetime, the Museum of the Moon will be presented in a number of different ways both indoors and outdoors, altering the experience and interpretation of the artwork.
“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Kilkenny Tradfest for another year,” said Declan Ryan of Bulmers Ireland, sponsors of Kilkenny Tradfest. “As a brand deeply rooted in Irish culture and tradition, Bulmers is proud to support an event that celebrates the very best of Irish music and heritage. We look forward to another unforgettable festival in 2025 and to sharing the spirit of Kilkenny with fans from all over the world.”

Tickets are available at www.kilkennytradfest.com