The Ennis Trad Festival is a festival for those who love to hear (or play) Irish Traditional music of the highest quality in its most natural setting. The festival brings together the very best of Irish traditional musicians, singers and dancers in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011
We've made a number of amendments to session trail (which are incorrect in the printed version). We've also added more details about our masterclasses as well as Árd Ghaisce na mBuíonta.

Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Jean Michel Veillon masterclass in flute technique will take place on Saturday, November 12 at 12 noon upstairs in Steele's. Suzanne Leahy's sean-nós dance workshop will take place upstairs in Brogan's on Sunday, November 13 at 3pm.

We've also added some info about some of the musicians appearing at the festival... see our programme page. We also have some additons to the programme page - 'tis filling up!

Sunday, October 23, 2011
We're happy to confirm that there'll be a masterclass in flute technique with Jean Michel Veillon and a fiddle masterclass with Brendan Mulkere. Both will take place on Saturday, November 12 with time and venue TBC. Please email info@ennistradfestival to book your place.

Friday, October 21, 2011
We've just added one more to The Great Céilí Band Challenge - Meath band, The Atlantic Céilí Band have thrown their name into the hat so we now have 14 bands competing this year. It'll be some competition folks - remember - Saturday, November 12 at 7pm in Glór. Please come early as the audience needs to be seated by 6.55pm - before the first band takes to the stage at 7pm and judging by the numbers at last year's competition - the earlier you come, the better!

We've also added to our programme page. There'll be 10 CD launches at this year's Ennis Trad Festival - phew, we're going to be busy - happy days!

Thursday, October 13, 2011
We can confirm there will be fiddle classes with the great Brendan Mulkere for intermediate and advanced students. These will take place on Sunday, November 12 at at time and venue to be decided. There'll also be flute classes and we'll have details on those shortly.

We've also added some more to our programme and there's yet more to come... There are links on the page to hotels in Ennis but book soon as the beds are filling up!

We've just added another band to our list of competitors for the Great Céilí Band Challenge 2011. That makes 13 - lucky for some.

Headline acts
This year's trad festival is shaping up to be another truly exceptional weekend of music and fun in Ennis, County Clare.

We've got a stellar line-up folks! Here's this year's line-up:

NicGaviskey on Thursday, November 10, late;

Dervish on Friday night, late;

Peter Browne (box), Michelle O'Brien and Arty McGlynn on Saturday night, late;

Céilí Band Competition on Saturday night;

The Raw Bar Collective featuring Dave Sheridan (fiddle), Benny McCarthy, Cónal Ó Gráda, Colm Murphy and Nell Ní Chróinín on Sunday night, late;

Joe Burke, Eileen O'Brien and Arty McGlynn on Monday night as well as one or two surprises...

CD launches
The hugely popular CD launches are always an important facet of the trad festival and this year, we're delighted to announce the following:

- Andrew MacNamara on Thursday at 7pm in the Temple Gate Hotel
- Dan Brouder on Friday at 7pm in The Sanctuary
- Tara Connaghan and Derek McGinley on Sunday at 1pm in the Temple Gate Hotel
- Brian Friel (banjo) on Saturday at 5pm venue TBC
- Denis Liddy on Sunday at 7pm in the Temple Gate Hotel
and we'll be adding a few more.

Classes
Sean-nós dance classes are definitely returning with the ever-energetic Suzanne Leahy and set-dancing classes return as normal this year.

As well as all this, Ennis Trad Festival is delighted to welcome back Ennis Trad standards.

There's Shuckin' and Jivin' with Andrew MacNamara; the inimitable trad disco with Ollie Mullooly; the trad table quiz with a touch of the trad pictionary.

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