Kilkenny Tradfest (16th -19th March) returns this year for its 5th consecutive festival and is delighted to announce a wide variety of hugely talented female artists as part of its 2017 programme. The festival, which takes place over the St Patrick’s Day weekend, prides itself on bringing fans the very best of traditional and folk music, and this year it has put female artists at the centre of its packed schedule. The line-up contains some of the country’s most renowned and revered female artists, as well as some lesser known gifted female performers who are on the cusp of becoming household names.

Kilkenny Tradfest has gone from strength to strength over the past five years, and this year’s festival looks set to the biggest yet. The schedule of female artists is second to none, and includes:

Eleanor McEvoy, (Double Headliner with Usher’s Island) Friday 17th March, Watergate Theatre at 7:30pm
Vickie Keating will play with Declan Sinnott, Saturday 18th March, Cleere’s Bar & Theatre at 10pm
Pauline Scanlon & Band, Saturday 18th March, Medieval Mile Museum at 10:30pm
Heidi Talbot, Sunday 19th March, Cleere’s Bar & Theatre at 8pm
Mary McNamara and her daughter, Sorcha Costello will play alongside (their husband and Dad) Andrew McNamara on Friday 17th March, the Home Rule Club at 09:30pm
Brid Harper will collaborate with Dermot Byrne and Steve Cooney on Sunday 19th March, Paris Texas at 6pm
Niamh Dunne will play with Beoga (of which she is a member) on Thursday 16th March, Paris Texas at 10pm
Commenting, Malcolm Noonan, Kilkenny Tradfest Chairperson said, “We’re thrilled to reveal such an incredible line up of female performers for our 2017 festival. There is no denying that Ireland leads the way when it comes to female artists, and we wanted to put some of these names at the centre of our festival. We are honoured that such talented women from across many musical backgrounds will play Kilkenny Tradfest 2017, and we’ve no doubt that they will bring with them huge crowds.”

Mr Noonan continued, “We have seen the festival build such momentum since its inception, and the fact that we secure such fantastic talent year after year is a huge factor. We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for the IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year, and it proves that we’re right up there, competing with the very best in Irish music festivals.”

For the full schedule, with information on tickets please visit: www.kilkennytradfest.com