TradFest Tunes up for St Patricks Week Concerts

Fresh from a series of streamed concerts from historic Dublin Castle, the organisers of TradFest, one of Ireland&rsquos top music festivals, are preparing another stunning set of events to celebrate St Patrick&rsquos Week 2021.

From March 18 to 21, St Patrick&rsquos Week@Home will present an additional four nights of music featuring a selection of Ireland&rsquos leading performers, recorded in the Georgian splendour of Newbridge House and Farm, County Dublin.

The series kicks off at 8pm on March 18 with leading Irish actor Stephen Rea as he leads a very special tribute to his late friend and renowned poet Derek Mahon, described at the time of his death last October as &ldquothe greatest living writer in English&rdquo.

The tribute will draw together some of Mahon&rsquos poems and be coupled with music performed by Chieftains legend Matt Molloy, Paddy Glackin of Bothy Band fame and the Belfast composer Neil Martin. They will be joined on the night by contemporary harpist Br&iacuted&iacuten and Nigerian Irish poet Felispeaks.

At 8pm on March 19, Trad fans can join legendary fiddler Frankie Gavin, founder of the globally renowned De Dannan folk group. Joining Frankie will be accomplished Galway musicians Edel Fox and Catherine McHugh, as well as Sibeal, specialist in the centuries-old Irish style of sean-n&oacutes singing.

On March 20, settle back at 8pm again for a night of songs made famous by The Dubliners. Remember Ronnie and The Dubliners will be performed by the son of the beloved Ronnie Drew, whose vocal sound was unforgettable. Backed by his own superb band, Phelim Drew is an acclaimed musician in his own right.

The series wraps up at 3pm on Sunday with The Best of TradFest@Home from Dublin Castle, a rousing concert featuring many of the artists who performed during the TradFest January concert programme. Look out for the Hothouse Flowers, Tolu McKay, Dervish, Altan, Aoife Scott, Maighread & Tr&iacuteona Ní Dhomhnaill and many more.

One further TradFest Temple Bar event, entitled Ireland in Music, will be available to stream outside Ireland only at 8pm on the same day.

Tickets for St Patrick&rsquos Week@Home will be on sale at www.tradfest.ie, with the tribute to Derek Mahon streaming free.

As 2021 unfolds, TradFest will continue to beam out a series of events extending a festival that normally packs out Temple Bar, Dublin&rsquos lively cultural quarter, every January.