Go see Irish Traditional Music shows in May: Baltimore Fiddle Festival, Martin Hayes and Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
Top Traditional Music Concerts for May 2023
Here’s a look at a number of stand-out Irish traditional music concerts and gigs lined up for May 2023.
This series of articles is supported by Online Academy of Irish Music.
Headquartered in Doolin, Co. Clare, OAIM provides quality tuition in traditional Irish instruments to the world via a unique online platform.
Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Cork (4th-7th May)
The beautiful village of Baltimore in West Cork is where fiddles reign for the first weekend of May, as the Fiddle Fair returns. Running since 1992, the festival has grown from a handful of concerts in McCarthys Bar to a four day feast of traditional and international fiddle music. Irish trad highlights include Aoife and Deirdre Granville in Saint Matthew’s Church (6th May), the legendary Lúnasa at the Fiddle Fair Marquee (7th May) and various fiddle workshops across the four days. See the full programme over on fiddlefair.com.
Fiddle Fair runs from 4th-7th May. For tickets see fiddlefair.com.
Mayo Fleadh Cheoil, Mayo (12th May)
Fleadhanna up and down the country are now hitting the counties of Ireland, with steep competition throughout as always. The highlight will be the Mayo Fleadh Cheoil concert, set to take place at Westport Town Hall. Celebrated guests include legendary Chieftains musician Matt Molloy who will be joined by his son Peter Molloy, Cora and Breda Smyth, All-Ireland champion singers Pearse Larkin and Aistrid Ní Mhongáin, Emer Mayock (having appeared on Rhiannon Giddens’ and Francesco Turrisi’s Grammy Award-Winning Album They’re Calling Me Home), Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, Sal Heneghan and David Munnelly.
The overall Mayo Fleadh Cheoil runs from 10th-14th May. For further information, visit mayocomhaltas.com.
Tickets available at westporttheatre.com
Martin Hayes at The Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Monaghan (20th May)
Martin Hayes brings his fiddle to Monaghan for a solo visit to The Patrick Kavanagh Centre. Expect extracts from Peggy’s Dream, the newly released 2023 album recorded with Hayes with his Common Ground Ensemble.
Tickets available at patrickkavanaghcentre.com.
Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta at Carlingford Heritage Centre (21st May)
Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta bring sibling sean-nós harmonies to Carlingford with an afternoon concert in Louth. Having been beamed into Irish homes via various TG4 shows and Late Late Show appearances over the past 18 months, the duo released an eponymous debut EP at the turn of the year which showcases a blend of ancient and modern sensibilities.
Tickets available here.
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