Whether you have Irish ancestry or are interested in learning more about the culture, its music, and its celebrations, here are just a few upcoming Irish music festivals and performances in the UK.
Cultural Extravaganza in Birmingham
Over the years, Irish culture has inspired a wide range of media – from hit songs to TV shows, films, and even online casino games. For example, if you try online slots, you’ll find a wide range of Irish-themed games, such as Wild Wild Riches: Luck of the Irish, Irish Luck, Irish Frenzy, and Irish Clover. These games riff off the themes associated with Irish mythology and incorporate the melodic and jaunty traditional Celtic music that originates in Ireland. It is no surprise, then, that the rising popularity of such thematics and sounds has spawned numerous events that celebrate Irish music held in various towns and cities throughout the UK.
The largest Irish music festival in the UK is Páirc Festival, which is held over the August bank holiday weekend in the New Irish Centre, Birmingham, previously hosting guests like Van Morrison, The Waterboys, Imelda May, Finbar Furey, and more. If you missed this year’s event, you’ll be happy to know that the Páirc Festival returns in 2024 on the 24th and 25th of August. Tickets for 2024 are already on sale now. In the meantime, another Irish music festival in Birmingham is Tradfest, which returned last year after a three-year break, boasting numerous artists and performances between the 23rd and 26th of November. This year’s performers include Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray, Mick O’Brien, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and many more.
Traditional Jamboree in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has one of the largest Irish populations in the UK, after an influx of migration at the height of the shipbuilding industry, of which Tyneside and the North East was one of the key players. Due to this, the Tyneside Irish Centre was established in 1871, which still serves the Irish community in the city to this day. The centre is also home to the Tyneside Irish Cultural Society, which hosts traditional Irish music, dance, and language lessons.
Every year since 1987, the Tyneside Irish Cultural Society hosts the Tyneside Irish Festival, held this year between the 13th and 29th of October. Community events are held throughout the Northeast as part of the festival, along with Celtic music performances from the Brigid O’Neill Duo, The Wakes and Paddy Nash, Down By The Liffeyside, and Sally Glennon.
Homegrown Talent In Redditch
And last, but by no means least, we can’t not mention the local Irish music performances – particularly A Taste of Ireland. This troupe of musicians and dancers have no end of Irish classics on their setlist, from Danny Boy to Tell Me Ma, and melodic folk music mash-up, putting a modern twist onto Celtic culture that will transport you to the Emerald Isle. As part of their UK-wide tour in 2023, A Taste of Ireland hit the Palace Theatre on the 4th of November and Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre between the 16th and 18th of November.
And there you have it – just a few events throughout the UK that celebrate Irish music. Through these performances, you can take in the roots of Celtic music, and the unity that the experience provides, making for a wonderful celebration of all things Irish.
