For some reason, in the most romantic and idealised views that people have of Dublin, they almost always picture people dancing to folk music on tables and swinging around large tankards of beer. If such an image has ever entered your mind, you would have unwittingly imagined the Temple Bar Blues Festival.
One of Dublin’s oldest districts, the Temple Bar area truly comes alive at around the end of January when the Festival of Irish Music and Culture hits the town. A series of festival concerts and musical talents are lined up to showcase workshops, concerts, children’s events and more – all celebrating traditional Irish music and culture.
This five-day festival is Dublin’s premier celebration of traditional Irish music and culture in the heart of the city. Many bars and pubs in Temple Bar would be bursting with traditional and folk music sessions as musicians from all over Ireland would come and share their musical talents in these venues. In just about all cases, admission is free. Celebrated Irish and Scots Gaelic traditional singers, such as Elsafty, Susan McKeown, Sinéad Cahir and Julie Fowlis as well as brilliant instrumentalists like Tommy and Siobhán Peoples, Jackie Daly, Niamh Ní Charra, John Wynne & John McEvoy, and Breda & Claire Keville have all taken part in previous editions of the festival.
This kinetic celebration of the best of Irish musical talent comes to life as free street entertainment and family events, kindling the musical hearts of everyone in January. The festival is a non-profit venture by Temple Bar Traders Group and is support funded. If you’re in town during January, you could do far worse than joining in with the jigs, tunes and revelry in this cultural event that celebrates the very best of Irish tradition like nowhere else.
