Temple Bar Celebrates TradFest With Special Expanded Family Programme

By: Jan. 20, 2010
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Dublin's biggest and best Irish music and culture festival is welcoming families to Temple Bar in a very special way this January. From 27th - 31st Jan there will be a host of events and performances for families to enjoy together as part of Temple Bar TradFest.

The Temple Bar TradFest, programmed by Kieran Hanrahan, marks the 5th birthday of Dublin's Irish Music and Culture Festival and all are invited to join in the celebrations. The special family programme is presented by Temple Bar TradFest in association with Dublin City Council and Curragh Carpets.

The centrepiece of the family programme will be the Anna Livia Parade with over 100 young people in fabulous costumes which will wind its way through the streets on Sunday 31st January from 12.30pm - 1.30pm. Starting at this colourful parade with costumes by Bui Bolg will travel via Dame Street, College Green, Fleet Street and Temple Bar finishing at the Civic Offices on Wood Quay. Expect to see some life sized ‘Dublin Bay Prawns', a very special train some giant rain drops and the goddess Anna Livia herself in this very colourful interpretation of a river and a city brought to life. Many young people will be taking part from the Irish speaking youth groups of County Dublin - Ogras, Feachtas, Cumann na bhFiann as well as a group from Mount Temple Comprehensive school in Marino and Bui Bolg's youth group from Wexford. (free event)

This year the Festival is delighted to present the TradFest playground in the Amphitheatre of The Civic Offices in Wood Quay. Entrance is free and there is lots to do, whether it is a dip in the ball pool, face painting, balloon modelling or a trip down the super slide! If you would prefer to dance the afternoon away thenhead to Meeting House Square where all ages are invited to kick up their heels and join in the outdoor céilí on Sunday 31st January at 1.30pm- 4.30pm with the legendary Kilfenora céilí band (free event).

On Saturday 30th Jan the Festival aims to create a day of fun beside the River Liffey- Siamsa Cois Life - when young people from all over Dublin along with a some from Cavan will showcase their extraordinary talents on a purpose built stage in Temple Bar. Musicians and dancers from a number of different organisations will keep your toes tapping and hands clapping throughout the afternoon (11am - 4.30pm free event).

There are lots of performances also not to be missed including a very special Punch and Judy show. On Wednesday 27th Jan enjoy the world premiere of ‘The Tall Tale of Mr. Punch' in The New Theatre (tickets €6.99) with puppeteer Ronan Tully. Ronan also teamed up with Malachy Bourke, one of Ireland's top fiddle players & composers to create a new take on the 300 year Irish Tradition of Punch and Judy and you can catch these special street performances on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st Jan in Temple Bar (12.15pm - 1.45pm / 1.45pm - 2.15pm / 2.45pm - 3.15pm (free event).

On Friday head along to see the dynamic group Spraoi from Sligo winners of the Siansa Gael Linn 2009 competition kick off a special concert in the Project Arts centre on Friday 29th Jan (tickets €13.99) supporting fellow Sligo act Téada with an exciting programme of tunes and songs. The next evening The Young European Strings (with performers from age 11 - 16 years) will perform a newly commissioned world premiere by Irish composer Raymond Deane. The unique international award winning string ensemble will also perform other pieces that evening including dances from Norwegian and Russian composers and a few jigs as well (Saturday 30th Jan Project Arts Centre tickets adults €12, children & concs €6.99).

Other events include the Cultural workshops (tickets €12) where you experience sean nós singing, dancing and even learn a cupla focal; Trad movies in the IFI (tickets €7.75 conc €6); Mick O Connor will exhibit for the very first time his extensive collection of photographs looking back over the past 100 years in the Temple Bar Gallery (free event); free movies on the square and colourful pipe band performances in the heart of Temple Bar each evening of the Festival (free events). The acclaimed Kilfenora Céilí band will headline a free outdoor céilí on Meeting House Square on Sunday 31st January this will be followed by a performance by the Hounds of Ulster on Fownes Street at 4:30pm.

This year's TradFest has something for all ages. Even just walking through the streets of the city's cultural quarter during the festival you may just find some Dancing cows or Celtic hurlers from Bui Bolg performing in the streets (daily between 12pm - 3pm) and you are invited to kick your heels up and join in the fun!

Full details of the Temple Bar TradFest Family programme can be found at www.templebartrad.com
Tickets can be purchased at the Festival box office 01 6772397

Temple Bar TradFest is brought to you by Temple Bar TASCQ an independent organisation, which represents traders in the Temple Bar area. Membership of TASCQ is voluntary, and we now have over 90 members, representing a broad spectrum of businesses and organisations in Temple Bar. These include restaurateurs, hoteliers, publicans, retailers, cultural centres, charities, resident groups and service providers who operate in Dublin's Cultural Quarter. These groups have come together to form TASCQ with the aim of promoting Temple Bar both at home and abroad.



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