All roads are set to lead to Mayo for the much anticipated 2017 Mayo Manchester Tradfest which runs from Thursday 3 August to Wednesday 9 August. Billed by the media as one of Ireland’s biggest celebrations of Irish Music, Sing and Dance with over 100 events and 500 performers taking part in the week long festival there is something for everyone.

With performers flying in from Manchester and as far away as New Mexico and LA in the USA, it promises to be a very special six days and nights, here are the top ten official main Festival Highlights:

 

1. Thursday 3 August, 6pm-8pm, Attymass

The Festival will stage a free launch party and a live two hour radio broadcast by the award winning Midwest Radio at the Fr Peyton Centre in Attymass, North Mayo. The event features a host of special guests and performers with live music, song, dance in abundance.  This event has been kindly sponsored by Excel Excavations, Manchester.

 

 

2. Friday 4 August, 8pm-10pm, Ballina

The groups Irish Pipers, Musicians and Dancers will be staging a Tradfest trail in Ballina from 8pm-10pm which will be calling into key locations in the town for a series of Flashmob performances. Venues already confirmed include the Sonas Moy Ridge Nursing Home, The Broken Jug, Hogans Bar, Bar Square, The Auld Sheeben and Katie’s Corner.

 

 

 

3. Saturday 5 August, 12 noon, Castlebar

The Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band will be kick starting the MMTradfest celebrations at 12 noon outside the Irish House Bar on the main street in Castlebar and popping into Collins Music Store and a few of the 22 bars in the town along its Gin Trail.

 

 

4. Saturday 5 August, 7.30pm, Ballina

The Voice of Old Trafford, Mr Alan Keegan from Manchester United Football club is flying over from premiership clubs tour of the USA to host a special Charity Gala Concert in aid of the Manchester Emergency Fund at the Ballina Arts Centre at 7.30pm. All the profits from the show are being donated to the fund which is helping victims of the recent Terrorist bomb in Manchester. Performers on the night include: Patrick Lacken from the Heroes for Hospice group, Centre Stage Vocal Academy, The Ganley Sisters, Sean Nos Dancer Tommy Stenson, Dennis McCalmount, Joe Keegan from the BBC TV Show The Voice, The Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band and The Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing, Jiving Juniors and Marian Waldron. Tickets for the historic show are priced at just €15 contact the Arts Centre on +353 96 73593 or visit the website at www.ballinaartscentre.com . This event has been kindly sponsored by Rosgal Civil Engineering, Manchester.

 

 

5. Sunday 6 August, 2pm, Foxford

The festival visit the MayFly Hotel Foxford for a free afternoon session and refreshments.

 

6. Sunday 6 August, 8pm, Attymass

MMTradfest will be joining forces with the Attymass Youth Choir and musicians to stage a special concert in Attymass to mark the closing night of the Attymass Gathering. The event takes place in the community centre in Attymass and there is a limited capacity at the venue so visitors are advised to arrive when the doors open at 7.30pm. This event has been kindly sponsored by Rosgal Civil Engineering, Manchester.

 

 

7. Monday 7 August, 12 noon, Bonniconlon

The Tradfest will be making a brief appearance at  the Bonniconlon Show to officially launch the event and visit the Mayo.ie Wild Atlantic Way Healthy Food Tent hosted by the award winning Ronan Fox and eight Chefs from Mayo doing free tasting sessions and demonstrations.

 

 

8. Monday 7 August, 7pm, Westport

The Tradfest will stage a special Gala Concert at Westport Town Hall Theatre to celebrate Westport’s 250th anniversary. Headlining the event is Mayo’s multi award winning Trad band ‘Flatout’. The band will be screening a special preview of their new song ‘Turn out the Lights’ which was recently used by a campaign by Pieta House, the song is released on 18th August. The band will be joined by Joe Keegan from the BBC TV show The Voice, plus The Keegan Academy of Irish Dancing who are trained by the new Lord of the Dance – James Keegan and his sister Louise along with The Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band, Dennis McCalmount and special guests. This event is hosted by Alan Keegan from Manchester United Football club and has been kindly sponsored by Rosgal Civil Engineering, Manchester.

Tickets for the historic show are priced at just €15 Tel +353 98 28459 or visit the Theatre website www.westporttheatre.com

 

9. Tuesday 8 August, 9pm, Attymass

The tradfest will stage a special session in the An Sionnach Rua Pub in Bonnifinglas, Attymass to thank Gerry Lavelle the owner of the pub for kindly sponsoring the accommodation for the Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band.

 

10. Wednesday 9 August, 9pm, Westport

The Festival is brought to a close in Westport’s at the legendary Matt Molloys Music venue with a special Trad session on Wednesday 9 August.

 

For full festival listings of the main events and over 100 Fringe events visit www.mayomanchester.com/events