TradFest 2017 brings Ireland to Belgium

1704
TRADFEST 2017

The Embassy of Ireland is delighted to present TradFest Belgium 2017 (12-18 June).

Following two hugely successful TradFest festivals in 2015 and 2016 The Embassy of Ireland Is delighted to present the programme for TradFest 2017.

The Embassy of Ireland initiated this festival in 2015 to bring Irish music and culture to the large Irish community in Belgium and also to a Belgian and wider international audience. Visitor numbers from Belgium to Ireland have risen significantly in recent years and we hope that TradFest 2017 will attract even more people to discover all that Ireland has to offer.

This year TradFest events will take partin Brussels, Kraainem, Liège and Loker. Events will include an art exhibition, Irish music, dance and language classes and a series of lunchtime literary events.

The festival will also include a special focus on World War One and the Battle of Messines Ridge, the centenary of which will be commemorated on 7 June. Ronan McGreevy and Thomas Burke will deliver expert talks on the subject as part of this year’s festival.

And of course, as before, music will be at the heart of the festival. Talented, well-known Irish musicians and singers will travel from Ireland for the festival including Mary Black, Máirtín O’Connor

Trio, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Brú Ború, Na Fir Sneachta and many others, to join the large number of wonderful local and continental traditional musicians who are the inspiration for this festival.

Members of Na Píobairí Uilleann will join to give a master class introduction to the wonderful uilleann pipes.

On June 12th, revered Irish singer Mary Black returns to Belgium for the first time in three years to headline the Tradfest 2017 at Flagey. “I’m really looking forward to playing the Tradfest at this beautiful venue,” says Mary.

Tradfest 2017 full programme.