Lahinch Trad Festival
Second Festival of Traditional Irish Music
11th to 13th April 2025
Céad míle fáilte!
Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, heritage and above all, community – in one of Ireland’s most breath-taking coastal villages.
We’re delighted to welcome you to our Lahinch Trad Festival page where you’ll find our Session Trail and schedule of events, from singing sessions to swinging céilís!
Lahinch Festival is set against the stunning backdrop of the wild Atlantic ocean and celebrates local fiddler Susan O’ Sullivan.
Explore our site to find the latest updates and links to book your Masterclass, concert or accommodation.
Bígí Linn!
See you by the sea…
Festival Launch
Eugene Lambe
Friday 11th April @ 8pm
Flanagans Pub, Lahinch
whats on
saturday
‘I have been drawing and painting Irish traditional musicians for many years. In particular I have enjoyed the older musicians, the great variety of styles of play and the great stories and history that came with the music. I hope that is evident in some of the work’.
EAMON MURPHY
ARTIST
Exhibition on
upstairs in Danny Macs
Free Event
‘Christy McNamara grew up in a musical family in Crusheen Co. Clare. He plays accordion and concertina and is a specialist in black and white photography. He has been a part of the session scene over many years and his work has been exhibited extensively at home and abroad. He was a photographer in residence at ITMA 2022”.
CHRISTY MCNAMARA
PHOTOGRAPHER
Exhibition on
upstairs in Danny Macs
Free Event
10:30am
Upstairs in Danny Macs
1 hour
COLM NESTOR
under 12’s session
12:00 Noon
Upstairs in Danny Macs
Free Event
Clare FM
PAULA CARROLL INTERVIEW
with musician Joe Rynne
12:00 Noon
Flanagans Pub
2 hours
Free Event
POP-UP GAELTACHT
Songs i nGaeilge with Aran Islands singer and Fear an Tí MacDara Ó Conaola
Beidh míle fáilte romhat/You’ll be most welcome!
SEAN NÓS WORKSHOP
Louise O’Connor is a Sean-nós dancer, fiddler and Céilí dance instructor from Tubber Co. Clare. She loves sharing the steps and tunes she grew up with and has taught at various festivals in Ireland and around Europe
3:00pm
Flanagans Pub
2 hours
Free Event
TRAD FOR TEENS
This session is aimed at teenagers and led by dynamic duo,
Eoin O’ Neill and Bernadette McCarthy
3:00pm
Lahinch Leisure Centre
3 hours
Admission – 10 euro
CÉILÍ
Céilí with Sliabh Aughty
5:00pm
Lahinch Coast Hotel
BRÍD O’GORMAN
– CD LAUNCH
The much-awaited CD Launch of Bríd O’ Gorman is finally here!
Bríd’s style of flute playing could be described as strong and steady, with a warm rich tone, making for very pleasant listening.
JIGS FORGE
Rooted in the music of South Galway and Clare, with no boundaries, Jigs Forge delivers a musical feast of both original and newly arranged traditional music. Their songs and tunes draw from influences of Scottish & American Folk, Bluegrass and even a sprinkle of Reggae.
8:00pm
Danny Macs
10 euro
AINDRIAS DE STAIC
Fiddle in hand, Aindrais takes us on a few epic journeys through stories and tunes
11:00pm
Claremont Hotel
THE TRAD DISCO
with DJ Mullooley
Trad Disco on at 11pm in The Claremont Hotel in Lahinch
whats on
Saturday
EXHIBITION - EAMONN MURPHY - Danny Macs
‘I have been drawing and painting Irish traditional musicians for many years. In particular I have enjoyed the older musicians, the great variety of styles of play and the great stories and history that came with the music. I hope that is evident in some of the work’.
Free Event
EXHIBITION - CHRISTY MCNAMARA - Danny Macs
Christy McNamara grew up in a musical family in Crusheen Co. Clare. He plays accordion and concertina and is a specialist in black and white photography. He has been a part of the session scene over many years and his work has been exhibited extensively at home and abroad. He was a photographer in residence at ITMA 2022.
Free Event
10:30am - COLM NESTOR under 12s Session - Danny Macs
under 12s Session
upstairs in Danny Macs
Free Event
12 NOON - Clare FM PAULA CARROLL INTERVIEW - Danny Macs
with Musician Joe Rynne.
Free Event
12 NOON - POPUP GAELTACHT - Flanagans Pub
Songs i nGaeilge with Aran Islands singer and Fear an Tí MacDara Ó Conaola
2 hours – Free Event
Beidh míle fáilte romhat/You’ll be most welcome!
12:30 - SEAN NOS DANCING - The Claremont
Louise O’Connor is a Sean-nós dancer, fiddler and Céilí dance instructor from Tubber Co. Clare. She loves sharing the steps and tunes she grew up with and has taught at various festivals in Ireland and around Europe.
ADM: €10
1 hour 30 mins
3:00pm - TRAD FOR TEENS - Flanagans Bar
This session is aimed at teenagers and led by dynamic duo, Eoin O’ Neill and Bernadette McCarthy.
2 hours
FREE EVENT
3:00pm - CÉILÍ - Lahinch Leisure Centre
SET Dancing Céilí with Sliabh Aughty
Lahinch Leisure Centre
3 hours
Admission – 10 euro
5:00pm - CD LAUNCH - BRÍD O'GORMAN - Coast Hotel
The much-awaited CD Launch of Bríd O’ Gorman is finally here!
Bríd’s style of flute playing could be described as strong and steady, with a warm rich tone, making for very pleasant listening.
8:00pm - JIGS FORGE concert - CastleDarcy Glamping
Rooted in the music of South Galway and Clare, with no boundaries, Jigs Forge delivers a musical feast of both original and newly arranged traditional music. Their songs and tunes draw from influences of Scottish & American Folk, Bluegrass and even a sprinkle of Reggae.
8:00pm - AINDRIAS DE STAIC - Danny Macs
Fiddle in hand, Aindrais takes us on a few epic journeys through stories and tunes.
Adm: €10
11:00pm - TRAD DISCO - The Claremont
with DJ Mullooley
Trad Disco on at 11pm in The Claremount Hotel in Lahinch.
whats on
Sunday
Busking Competition
1:30pm
Lahinch PromPrize Money for best busker
Singing session with Bean on Tí, Mary Noonan
3pm to 4.30pm
Danny MacsFree Event
The Trad HUSH Disco
3:00pm
Special Trad Silent Disco on the promBook in advance - 10 euro (086 817 7464)
Thanks to our sponsors
Thanks to our sponsors
Remembering
Susan O'Sullivan
Susan O’Sullivan was born in Barrtrá, just outside Lahinch in 1892, and took up the fiddle when she was eight years old.
As a young woman, it was her involvement with the Republican cause that led to the burning of her home, Flanagans on main street Lahinch, by the Black and Tans in 1920 after the Rineen Ambush. This incident shaped Susan’s life and she fled to America where she continued to play her fiddle and fundraised for the cause at home with a group called ‘The Biddy Earlys’.
Returning to Ireland in 1923, she married Thomas O’ Sullivan and they had four children. Her fiddle playing continued up to the time of her passing in 1981.
As well as being a talented player, her family home became the Sunday night meeting place for the greats of the Clare music scene; Willie Clancy, Chris Droney, Mrs. Crotty, Séamus Ennis, Junior Crehan as well as a host of others.
Susan was eager to pass on the tradition and served as President of Clare Comhaltas in 1960. Her fiddle playing continued up to the time of her passing in 1981.
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We need your help to grow and enhance our festival even further! Every donation, big or small, goes directly towards covering essential costs and making this a truly special event for everyone.
"At Lahinch the sea shines like a jewel
With joy you are ready to shout"
Percy French