Letterkenny hosting an unmissable week of trad, folk and world music

Trad Week returned to Letterkenny this January, presented by the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) and An Grianán Theatre.

Having started on January 24, the festival brings together leading traditional, folk and contemporary artists for concerts, talks, workshops, storytelling and family events.

The festival opened with Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, Steve Cooney and Dermot Byrne at the RCC, an evening combining traditional storytelling of Ireland’s myths and legends with performances from two of the country’s most respected musicians.

At Kinnegar Brewery, Muin na Muice, the Irish-language edition of The Pig’s Back literary journal, launched with readings from contributing writers, live traditional music and plenty of craic!

The Fureys return to An Grianán Theatre as part of their Farewell Tour, offering audiences a final opportunity to hear songs that have been central to Irish folk music for over five decades. Among the festival highlights is Celebrating Ted Ponsonby, a special tribute concert honouring the life, talent and legacy of the much-loved local musician, featuring performances from many of his long-time collaborators.

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A series of events at the RCC will highlight the contribution of Traveller musicians to the Donegal tradition. These include Rab Cherry’s talk on the Doherty family, the launch of the Traveller Tales podcast with Senator Eileen Flynn, and the Travellers’ Tunes concert featuring Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Conor Caldwell, Bianca Rohleder, Richie Fottrell, Kevin Doherty and Martin McGinley.

Further concerts include a double bill with Theresa Kavanagh, Manus Lunny and Adam Shapiro alongside Kerry ensemble CUAS; the family-friendly album launch Tracks in the Snow by The Henry Girls; and a night of contemporary and traditional music at An Grianán Theatre featuring Seamus Gibson, So-Young Yoon, Yseult Stockdale and Persian Irish quartet, Nava.

The festival closes with Wayfaring Strangers, featuring Joshua Burnside, Jack Houston, Mick Hagan and RUÁ, a showcase of new and emerging approaches to folk and traditional music.

“Letterkenny Trad Week has become a cornerstone of Donegal’s cultural calendar. It’s a great start to the year for the RCC, opening what will be a busy and wide-ranging programme of events in 2026. This year’s festival brings together established artists, new voices and a strong focus on community, and we encourage you to come along and be part of it,” said Jeremy Howard, Director, Regional Cultural Centre.

“We’re delighted to present Trad Week again, with a programme that offers something for everyone, from long-time trad fans to people discovering the music for the first time. We have a superb line-up of artists and events throughout the week, it’s set to be a wonderful experience for music fans in the north-west”, added Patricia McBride, Director, An Grianán Theatre.

Events take place at the Regional Cultural Centre, An Grianán Theatre and Kinnegar Brewery. For more information and tickets, please visit www.regionalculturalcentre.com and www.angrianan.com.