Manchester to host brand-new traditional Irish music festival and session trail

By Pune Media On Jul 31, 2025

The ‘first-ever’ TradFest will take place in Didsbury this September

A traditional Irish music festival will take place in Greater Manchester(Image: Manchester Evening News)

They are well-established in cities including Dublin, Belfast, and Birmingham but now, it’s Manchester’s turn to host its very own.

TradFest – an annual music and culture event which celebrates Irish traditional and folk music and cultural offerings – began in Dublin but this September, a first-of-its-kind event will take place in south Manchester.

The organisers of the Gateway to Manchester TradFest will be hosting an exciting musical weekend in Didsbury Village.

Manchester’s TradFest will include masterclasses, a session trail, a Céilí evening and a concert featuring The Mulcahy Family and the Carlos, Sweeney and McCartin trio.

Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here

Co-organiser Charlotte Prosol said: “The Gateway to Manchester TradFest began as a dream, an idea inspired by other memorable TradFest weekends frequented over the years.

“We wanted to bring the life and soul of a TradFest to Manchester, a city steeped in music, with a thriving Irish culture, and wonderful people.

Didsbury Village(Image: Vincent Cole – Manchester Evening News)

“We are thrilled that this dream has become a reality, and we can finally put Manchester on the TradFest map.”

A Friday evening (5 September) céilí will feature music from Onóra Irish Music, a group of fantastic local musicians.

On Saturday (6 September) evening a concert of traditional Irish music will feature Co. Limerick’s celebrated Mulcahy Family – button accordion player Mick and his multi-instrumentalist daughters as well as the trio of Dylan Carlos on fiddle, Cein Sweeney on flute and John McCartin on guitar.

A session trail, featuring accordion player Damien Mullane, guitar player Seán O’Meara and a host of other top players from Ireland and the UK will take place in pubs and bars in Didsbury across the weekend.

Didsbury Library will host some of the events(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The Mulcahys and Carlos, Sweeney and McCartin will also all be running masterclasses for a range of instruments during the day on Sunday.

Despite the city’s longstanding reputation for top-class traditional Irish music, it has been missing out, according to organisers behind the event.

Manchester has had a vibrant Irish traditional music scene since at least the 1960s, with concerts in the 70s and 80s put on by Wythenshawe Irish Society and legendary pub sessions in the likes of the Jolly Angler, the Salutation and the Peveril of the Peak.

In more recent years, the ‘Carousel Sessions’ gigs in Chorlton and the currently booming Irish nightlife scene demonstrate the popularity of Irish music and culture.

The city has produced a multitude of All Ireland Champions and nurtured world-renowned and award-winning musicians such as Michael McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly, Colin Farrell and John Joe Kelly, and the Club Cheoil archive in Manchester Central Library documents some of this success.

Ms Prosol added: “All of us involved in organising The Gateway to Manchester TradFest have been fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by the music, song and tradition, influenced by friends, family and inspirational musicians.

Join our Manc Life WhatsApp group HERE

“We can’t wait to share the magic of the trad community, welcome visitors to our incredible city and showcase the best in Irish traditional music and culture.”

The Gateway to Manchester TradFest will take place between Friday, 5 September and Sunday, 7 September in venues across Didsbury.

Tickets are available from: www.thegatewaytomanchestertradfest.com

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}

_{Aggregated From –}

_{Source link}