Temple Bar festival to take the traditional route

Some of the finest traditional Irish singers and musicians in the world will come together at the end of the month for Dublin's first trad festival.

The festival, from Thursday, January 26th, to Sunday, January 29th, is expected to bring 100,000 people into the Temple Bar area.

Dermot McLaughlan, chief executive of Temple Bar Properties, said there was a long association with traditional music in the area and it was intended to "give traditional music a platform and a push".

"I'm very excited about it. It is a great programme; some of the best in the world will be appearing here."

Martin Harte, general manager of Tascq (Traders in the Area Supporting the Cultural Quarter), said it was "amazing" that Dublin did not already have a festival celebrating traditional Irish art.

He said it would not all be pub-based, pointing out that some of the events would take place in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre and the Temple Bar Music Centre. There would also be events for children in the Ark.

Among those appearing over the four days will be fiddle players Andy Morrow and Tommy Peoples, singer Rosie Stewart, folk band Cran, piper Seán McKeown and perhaps the world's best traditional Irish concertina player Noel Hill.

Tickets and information available from the festival box office at 12 East Essex Street, 01 6772255, or online from www.tickets.ie