Meath performers to entertain visitors to Temple Bar Tradfest
The Temple Bar Tradfest, the celebration of Irish passion and culture which takes place this week in Dublin, will feature a strong presence of Meath performers, singers, dancers and musicians, through Meath Beo. Now in its seventh year, Temple Bar TradFest is a popular event on the festival calendar, and this year Meath performers have been invited to take part through the Scurlogstown Olympiad organisation, which is spearheading Meath Beo, a collective of traditional festivals from across the county. Five days and five nights of world class 'trad' music is planned from today (Wednesday) to Sunday 29th January, with Meath's participation on Saturday and Sunday. Thatched cottages, animals and other items more at home in a rural farm will be seen in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral as Meath Beo will be out in force, involving and engaging visitors in their rural traditions and customs. Young and old will learn how to sharpen a scythe, milk a cow, make a sugan rope, and dance a half-set, build a cock of hay, age a horse by looking at its teeth, shear a sheep, guess the weight of a goat, cook colcannon, thresh the corn, foot turf and sing a sean-nós song. An animal farm with Nelly the donkey and Daisy the cow, alongside pigs, goats, lambs and sheep, will be on display. Meath Beo will also take to the outdoor stage on Fownes Street on Saturday 28th January from 11am until 1pm, while the TradFest matchmaker, colourful wren boys, and High Nellies with cyclists in period costume will be criss crossing the streets of Temple Bar. The festival programme will feature over 200 free events including free music performances on the two outdoor stages in Temple Bar on Saturday and Sunday. In 2011 the combined attendance at Tradfest events over five days was close to 60,000 with overseas visitors making up 20 per cent of the attendance. The 2012 festival features more than 23 venues and over 900 performers. It will include headline concerts in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, Dublin City Hall and The Button Factory. Other highlights include music trail, singers club, open sessions, two outdoor stages, the international Celtic Irish Dance Show, master classes and showcases, gigs for kids, children's club, cultural workshops, pipe bands and street performers. Headline concerts include The Dubliner's 50th Anniversary concert, Ralph McTell, Michael McGoldrick, Edel Fox, Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra, Mick O'Brien, Frankie Gavin, Tommy Sands, Lisa O'Neill, Cathy Jordan, and Inishturkbeggers. The Siamsa Cois Life stage on Fownes Street will play host to music and dance schools from all over Ireland. The headline stage will be brought to life with the Celtic Irish Dance show with Irish dancing groups from all over the world, Paddy Casey, Tupelo, Tucan, a performance by Ireland's only Mariachi Band, the Mariachi San Patricio band on Sunday 29th January at 3pm on the headline stage, Parliament Street - both stages are free. Organised by the Temple Bar Traders association with the support of local businesses in the area, full programme details at www.templebartrad.com