22–26 October 2026
Session Trail 2026
A record of Ireland's biggest traditional music session trail — sessions across multiple venues in Castleisland, 22–26 October 2026. All sessions have now taken place.
Download the 2026 programme booklet (PDF)Add a day to your calendar
Thursday · 22 OctoberOpening Night
- 8:00pmPiaras Ó Lorcáin in Concert — Gala Hall, River Island Hotel · €25Sold out
- 9:00pmFestival Session Trail begins — Various pubs and venues throughout Castleisland · Free
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 8:30pm | Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Bryan O'Leary |
| The Kingdom Bar | 8:30pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Brian Scannell |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 8:30pm | Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche and friends |
| Kearney's Bar | 9:00pm | Seán Butler, Dónal Cullinane and friends |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:30pm | Tom O'Connell, Mike Brosnan, Cathal Flood |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | Paudie O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan, Aoife Ní Chaoimh |
| Brownes Back Bar | 10:00pm | Open Session |
Friday · 23 October
- 10:00am–12:00pmSliabh Luachra Teenage Trad Session — St John's Hall, Castleisland
- 12:00pmRaidió na Gaeltachta Live from the Festival — Main Street, Castleisland
- 3:00pm onwardsFestival Session Trail — Various pubs and venues throughout Castleisland · Free
- 8:00pmDervish in Concert with Damien Mullane & Seán O'Meara and Flat to the Matt — Gala Hall, River Island Hotel · €30
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Kearney's Bar | 4:00pm | Caoilte Morrisson, Ryan Sheridan, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Paudie O'Connor |
| Brownes Front Bar | 5:00pm | Oran Kelly, Oisín Duffy, Nathan Gourley, Aiden Quigney |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 6:00pm | Mick Culloty, Seán Abeyta, PJ Teehan, Rhona O'Driscoll, Gerry Harrington |
| Hartnett's Bar | 6:30pm | Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin, Conor Daly, Tom Ahern and friends |
| Éabha Jones | 6:30pm | Nicky McAuliffe, Anne McAuliffe, Eibhlín de Paor, Mike Kelliher |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 9:00pm | UCC Battle of Bands Winners — Cathal Slattery, Tadhg Dalton, Cian Fitzgerald, Louis Murphy |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:00pm | Daithí Gormley, Liz Kane, Yvonne Kane, Michael O'Connor |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 9:00pm | Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley, Padraic Mac Donnacha, Graham Guerin |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 9:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill, Paddy Tutty |
| River Island La Bodega | 9:00pm | Megan McGinley, Nia Byrne, Turlough Malone, Lily O'Connor, Liam Winnett |
| Brownes Back Bar | 9:30pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Kealan O'Connor, Laura Jo Callaghan, Haley Holly |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 9:30pm | Aaron Glancy, Seán Kelliher, Rebecca McCarthy Kent, Leonard Barry |
| The Kingdom Bar | 9:30pm | Paudie O'Connor, Conal Ó Gráda, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Peter Browne, Joe Thoma |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 9:30pm | Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul de Grae |
| Kearney's Bar | 9:30pm | Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Peter McKenna, Kiernan Lynch |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon, Nathan Gourley |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 10:00pm | Danny Collins, Claire Fennell, Conor Arkins, Aoife Granville, Deirdre Granville |
Saturday · 24 OctoberDaytime Trail
- 11:00amTraditional Music Classes & Workshops — Gaelscoil Aogáin and St Patrick’s Secondary School · €20 per workshop — book in advance
- 11:30am onwardsFestival Session Trail — Various pubs and venues throughout Castleisland · Free
- 2:00pmSliabh Luachra Fiddle Recital (MC: Matt Cranitch) — Ivy Leaf Arts Centre · €10 — free for Saturday workshop participants
- 2:00pmPop-Up Gaeltacht, hosted by Éamonn Ó Braonáin — Castleisland Museum · Free
- 3:00pmTraditional Singing Concert (MC: Aileen Roantree) — Pauline Scanlon, Trevor Sexton, Tim Dennehy, Piaras Ó Lorcáin, Seamie O'Dowd — Hartnett's Bar · €10
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Hartnett's Bar | 12:00pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara, Conor Broderick |
| Brownes Front Bar | 12:00pm | Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Ryan Sheridan, Caoilte Morrisson, Naoise O'Connor, Andrea Palandri |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 12:00pm | Páraic Mac Donnacha, Oran Kelly, Oisín Duffy, Aidan Quigney |
| Kearney's Bar | 12:00pm | Danny Collins, Claire Fennell, Conor Arkins, Michael O'Connor |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 12:30pm | Conor Moriarty, Deirdre Meachair, Leonard Barry |
| Brownes Back Bar | 1:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Steve Larkin, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 1:00pm | John Carroll, Gearóid Keating, Deirdre Granville, Aoife Granville, Patsy Broderick |
| The Kingdom Bar | 1:00pm | Megan McGinley, Nia Byrne, Lily O'Connor, Jane Walls |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 2:00pm | Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon, Tom Ahern |
| Castleisland Museum | 2:00pm | Pop-Up Gaeltacht |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 2:00pm | Aaron Glancy, Liam Winnett, Conor Daly, Micheál Broderick |
| Hartnett's Bar | 3:00pm | Singing Concert — Pauline Scanlon, Trevor Sexton, Tim Dennehy, Piaras Ó Lorcáin, Seamie O'Dowd (Admission €10) |
| Brownes Front Bar | 3:00pm | Danny O'Mahony, Liz Kane, Yvonne Kane, Nathan Gourley |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 3:00pm | Carthach Ó Faoláin, Niamh Dalton, Colm Broderick |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 3:30pm | Tom Morrow, Daithí Gormley, Paddy Tutty, Conal Ó Gráda |
| Castleisland Museum | 4:00pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 4:00pm | Bryan O'Leary, Colm Guilfoyle, Billy O'Gorman, Mikie O'Gorman |
| The Kingdom Bar | 4:00pm | Oran Kelly, Oisín Duffy, Aidan Quigney, Laura Jo Callaghan |
| Kearney's Bar | 4:00pm | Johnny Óg Connolly, Clíodhna Costello, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 4:30pm | Tom O'Connell, Mike Kelliher, Cathal Flood |
| Brownes Back Bar | 5:00pm | Sliabh Luachra Meets Europe — Andrea Palandri, Paudie O'Connor, Michele Bellarosa, Aoife Ní Chaoimh |
| Éabha Jones | 6:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 6:00pm | Éamonn Ó Meachair, Conor McDonagh, Andrew Caden, Ryan Sheridan |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 6:30pm | Open Session |
Saturday · 24 OctoberNight Trail
- 7:00pmThe Sliabh Luachra Concert, in association with Divanes Kerry — Gala Hall, River Island Hotel · €25
- 10:30pmFestival Club: Night 1 — Samhain Chiarraí, with the Trad Disco (over 18s, online tickets only) — NightOwls Nightclub, River Island Hotel · €20
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Brownes Front Bar | 6:00pm | Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley, Paddy Tutty, Jillian O'Malley |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 6:30pm | Joe Mannion, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Diarmuid O'Brien, Donal O'Sullivan |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:00pm | Emma O'Leary, Aidan Connolly, Carthach Ó Faoláin |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 7:00pm | Danny Collins, Claire Fennell, Lily O'Connor, Conor Arkins |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 7:00pm | Liz Kane, Yvonne Kane, Danny O'Mahony |
| The Kingdom Bar | 7:00pm | Seán Butler, Eoin Foley, Cieran Murphy, Timmy Keane, Róisín O'Connor |
| Kearney's Bar | 7:00pm | Padraic Mac Donnacha, Liam Kelly, Tom Morrow, Graham Guerin |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 9:00pm | Gearóid Keating, John Canny, Diarmuid O'Brien, Máiréad Corridan |
| O'Riada's Bar | 9:00pm | Jonathan Roche, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice and friends |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 9:30pm | Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon, Liam Winnett |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:30pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara, Conor Broderick |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Peter McKenna, Kiernan Lynch |
| Brownes Back Bar | 10:00pm | Leonard Barry, Liam Kelly, Megan McGinley, Seamie O'Dowd, Nia Byrne |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 10:00pm | UCC Battle of Bands Winners — Cathal Slattery, Tadhg Dalton, Cian Fitzgerald, Louis Murphy |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 10:00pm | Johnny Óg Connolly, Clíodhna Costello, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Éamonn O'Riordan |
| The Kingdom Bar | 10:00pm | Aoife Granville, Deirdre Granville, Marie O'Gorman, Kate O'Gorman |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 10:00pm | Tom Morrow, Daithí Gormley, Paddy Tutty, Conal Ó Gráda |
| Kearney's Bar | 10:00pm | Joe Mannion, Caoilte Morrisson, Éamonn Ó Meachair |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 10:00pm | Oran Kelly, Oisín Duffy, Aidan Quigney, Laura Jo Callaghan |
Sunday · 25 OctoberDaytime Trail
- 11:00amSliabh Luachra Workshop with Aidan Connolly — Ivy Leaf Arts Centre · Free — advance booking essential
- 11:00am–5:00pmRTÉ 100: Sliabh Luachra in the Archives (exhibition) — Castleisland Museum
- 2:00pmCéilí Mór with the Donie Nolan Céilí Band — An Ríocht Pavilion, Castleisland
- 3:00pmChildren's Traditional Music Session, led by Emma O'Leary & Niamh Dalton — Ivy Leaf Arts Centre · Free
- 4:00pmOpen Singing Session, hosted by Joe Walsh — Con's Bar (Downstairs), River Island Hotel · Free
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Castleisland Museum | 11:00am | RTÉ 100: Rolling Wave Photo Exhibition (until 5:00pm) |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 12:00pm | Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley, Naoise O'Connor, Steve Larkin |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 12:00pm | Colm Broderick, Niamh Dalton, Colm Guilfoyle, Carthach Ó Faoláin |
| Kearney's Bar | 12:00pm | Danny O'Mahony, Liz Kane, Yvonne Kane |
| Hartnett's Bar | 12:30pm | Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon |
| Brownes Front Bar | 12:30pm | Noel Hill, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Ryan Sheridan |
| The Kingdom Bar | 12:30pm | Joe Mannion, Conor Arkins, Megan McGinley, Turlough Malone |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 1:00pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Kealan O'Connor, Darragh Horan |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 1:30pm | Bryan O'Leary, Mikie O'Gorman, Michael O'Connor, Billy O'Gorman |
| Brownes Back Bar | 2:00pm | Annalise Whyte, Mikaela Ní Mhurchú, Róisín O'Connor, Tom Ahern |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 3:00pm | Johnny Óg Connolly, Clíodhna Costello, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 3:00pm | Aidan Connolly, Éamonn O'Riordan, Conor Daly, Nathan Gourley |
| Kearney's Bar | 3:00pm | Eileen de Paor, Ciaran Kelly, Gerry Harrington, Peter Browne (pipes), Billy Clifford |
| Hartnett's Bar | 3:30pm | Liam Winnett, Megan McGinley, Caoilte Morrisson, Turlough Malone |
| The Kingdom Bar | 3:30pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara, Conor Broderick |
| Brownes Front Bar | 4:00pm | Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul de Grae |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 4:00pm | Danny Collins, Conor Arkins, Claire Fennell, Jillian O'Malley |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 4:00pm | Open Singing Session — All Singers Welcome, hosted by Joe Walsh |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 4:30pm | Michael Healy, Brian Scannell, Róisín O'Connor, Kirill Healy |
| Éabha Jones | 6:00pm | Páraic Mac Donnchadha, Éamonn O'Riordan, Graham Guerin |
| Brownes Back Bar | 6:00pm | Joe Mannion, Éamonn Ó Meachair, Nia Byrne, Naoise O'Connor |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 6:00pm | UCC Tradfest Battle of Band Winners — Cathal Slattery, Tadhg Dalton, Cian Fitzgerald, Louis Murphy |
Sunday · 25 OctoberNight Trail
- 7:00pmTrad All-Stars Concert, in association with Right Group — Gala Hall, River Island Hotel · €30
- 10:30pmFestival Club: Night 2 — Pólca 4, with the Trad Disco (over 18s) — NightOwls Nightclub, River Island Hotel · €20
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 6:00pm | Annalise Whyte, Caoilte Morrisson, Jane Walls, Eoin Murphy, Emma Kelly |
| Hartnett's Bar | 6:30pm | Rebecca McCarthy Kent, Seán Kelliher, Aaron Glancy, Conor Daly |
| The Kingdom Bar | 6:30pm | John Carroll, Emma O'Leary, Cathal Flood |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 7:00pm | Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin, Cian O'Grady, Laura Jo Callaghan |
| Kearney's Bar | 7:00pm | Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Peter McKenna |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 7:00pm | Liam Kelly, Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 9:00pm | Tom Morrow, Paddy Tutty, Conal Ó Gráda, Keelan McGrath |
| O'Riada's Bar | 9:00pm | Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul de Grae, Peter Browne (pipes) |
| Hartnett's Bar | 9:30pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Kealan O'Connor, Darragh Horan |
| Castleisland Rugby Club | 9:30pm | UCC Tradfest Battle of Band Winners — Cathal Slattery, Tadhg Dalton, Cian Fitzgerald, Louis Murphy |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:30pm | Mikie O'Gorman, Eoin O'Driscoll, Michael O'Connor, Billy O'Gorman, Colm Guilfoyle |
| Brownes Back Bar | 9:30pm | Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche, Dónal Cullinane, Cathal Flood |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 10:00pm | Aaron Glancy, Rebecca McCarthy Kent, Seán Kelliher, Conor Daly |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 10:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill |
| The Kingdom Bar | 10:00pm | Damien Mullane, Seán O'Meara, Conor Broderick |
| Kearney's Bar | 10:00pm | Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon |
Monday · 26 OctoberClosing Day
The festival concludes with another day of traditional music, with sessions continuing throughout the afternoon and evening. Admission free.
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Kearney's Bar | 1:00pm | Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan, Gerald Culhane |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 1:00pm | Open Session |
| Hartnett's Bar | 2:00pm | Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche, Cathal Flood, Eddie Hennesy |
| O'Riada's Bar | 2:00pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Róisín O'Connor, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh |
| Brownes Front Bar | 3:00pm | John Brosnan, Tim Kerins and friends |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 3:00pm | Greta Curtin, Kevin Murphy, Jessie Healy, Kealan O'Connor, Eoin Murphy |
| The Kingdom Bar | 4:00pm | Gearóid Keating, Eibhlín de Paor, Donie Nolan |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 4:30pm | Mick Culloty, PJ Teehan, Seán Abeyta, Rhona O'Driscoll |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:30pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Eoin Murphy |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:00pm | Seán Butler, Eoin Foley, Cieran Murphy, Timmy Keane |
The 2026 festival programme
The full 34th Patrick O’Keeffe Festival guide — welcome message, concerts, workshops, the Session Trail, and features on our 2026 award winners.
Download the programme (PDF, 21 MB)