We are delighted to welcome back one of the most exciting, traditional and joyful events to Dublin in 2023. Tradfest is a celebration of Irish music that takes place every January in Temple Bar. This year, the festival returns from 26th to 30th January and welcomes performers, organisers and attendees from all over the world. If you’re planning a trip to Dublin for Tradfest, book your ideal accommodation, close to the city in Ashling Hotel. We are in the perfect location for couples, groups and families attending this very special event. We offer exclusive access to our best available rates and special offers when you book on our website.
What is Tradfest?
Tradfest gives new and established traditional Irish music performers the unique chance to grace the stages of some of the most notable, pubs venues and buildings in Dublin. The festival is rooted in Temple Bar, the cultural centre of Dublin, surrounded by lots of varied performance spaces. Over 50 live concerts take place over the extended weekend in pubs throughout Temple Bar and this year in some of the most notable buildings in Dublin. The idea is to keep traditional Irish and Celtic music alive in the hearts, minds and mouths of visitors of all ages while also welcoming international musicians from the folk, nu-folk, country, and rock & roll genres.
It’s a unique event like no other and a must-do for visitors and locals with a grá for their Irish music.
Tradfest 2024
Tradfest provides a platform for the reimagination and redefinition of Irish music, experiencing annual growth as it connects with a broader audience through both in-person shows and digital platforms that reach international viewers. The program is dynamic, constantly evolving with the addition of new acts, ranging from intimate pub corners to expansive stages. Over the years, Tradfest Temple Bar has proven to be a launchpad for some of the most prominent Irish performers, and the current lineup suggests that this trend will persist.
The Smithwick’s Sessions offer an intimate concert setting, featuring free-ticketed gigs in the finest pubs of Temple Bar. Showcase Nights provide emerging talent a chance to be discovered and signed by industry professionals. TradFringe invites attendees to explore the unique events taking place on the festival’s periphery, offering a program of cultural happenings throughout Dublin city. While music resonates in pubs, the cobbled streets also hold delightful surprises, including art and craft workshops designed to ignite creativity and inspire the creation of something beautiful. For a comprehensive list of performers and artists, visit the Tradfest website.
Tradfest 2023
Tradfest is an opportunity to reimagine and redefine Irish music. It grows each year, reaching a bigger audience through face-to-face shows and reaching international audiences via digital channels. The program is fluid with new acts being added almost every week ranging from pub corners to large stages. Some of the biggest and best Irish performers have gotten their big break at Tradfest Temple Bar & judging by this year’s line-up, this is set to continue.
The Smithwick’s Sessions offers an intimate gig setting, with free ticketed gigs in the best pubs in Temple Bar. Showcase Nights give the best new talent an opportunity to be seen and signed by industry insiders. TradFringe gives attendees a chance to explore the interesting stuff that happens on the outer lines of the festival with a programme of cultural events in Dublin city. It’s not all music in pubs however, there are surprises on every corner of the cobbled streets including art & craft workshops to spark your imagination and inspire you to create something beautiful. Check the Tradfest website for the full line-up of performers & artists.
Tradfest Venues 2024
This festival is truly unique and because of that, the organisers needed to choose some extra special locations for gigs. Some of the venues this year are part of the very cultural fabric of Ireland has held many and varied historically significant events over the years. TradFest’s live experience is made magical by the experience of just visiting these special spaces and attendees will be blown away by the calibre of the acts performing. This year for the first time, venues include the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland and the GPO, famously used as a headquarters by the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. As well as pubs and bars in Temple Bar, venues for 2024 include;
• Button Factory.
• Dublin Castle- Hibernia Conference Centre
• National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks.
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
• The GPO Museum.
• The Grand Social.
• The National Stadium.
• The MillBank Theatre
• The Pepper Canister Church.
Accommodation for Tradfest Temple Bar
If you’re considering a trip to Dublin for the fantastic Tradfest in January, we could not recommend it more. Ashling Hotel offers the perfect convenient, comfortable hotel accommodation in Dublin for a trip you’ll never forget. Our hotel is a 2-minute walk from the Luas, Dublin’s light rail network, which will take you close to the heart of the action. Luas Stops Jervis & Abbey Street will leave you in the heart of a city, a stone’s throw from Temple Bar. The festival, like our hotel rooms, is perfect for families of all ages. Our in-house restaurant Chesterfield Brasserie is ideal to fuel your day at breakfast or toast a fantastic festival at night.
Book our best available rates on our website. We’re looking forward to welcoming guests to our Ashling Hotel Dublin for Tradfest 2024.