Friday 31 May, 2019, at the ‘Grand Junction’, St Mary Magdalene’s,  Rowington Close, Paddington, London W2 5TF

For the last four years, Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) has presented its ‘Irish Hooley’ to help raise the profile of our work and fund our year-round activity, including our annual October Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance, now called ‘Return to London Town’.

This year, we are delighted to be hosting our fifth annual ‘Irish Hooley’ at the launch of a brand new arts venue, ‘Grand Junction’ at the newly refurbished St Mary Magdalene’s Church, in Paddington (https://www.pdt.org.uk/mary-magdalene-project).

Our guest artists this year are the legendary Kilfenora Céilí Band, who will be performing in concert, ably supported by London’s own Trad Gathering. There will also be music in the crypt at various points during the evening with a chance to catch up for a chat and a drink during intervals and as always, we will be running our Grand Draw.

Kilfenora Céilí Band

Originally formed in 1909, the Kilfenora Céilí Band is one of the ten longest-established musical ensembles in the world. An 11-piece, it features four fiddles, two flutes, concertina, accordion, banjo, piano and drums, plus singers and step dancers.

Most of the current members of the band have been together since 1993, under the leadership of John Lynch. The band has won multiple All-Ireland competitions. In recent years, the Kilfenora has increasingly been performing at concerts, featuring additional instrumentalists, singers and dancers. They have repeatedly sold out the Irish National Concert Hall in Dublin and are regulars at major festivals around the world, including Glastonbury and Irishfest in Milwaukee. In 2014, the band led a successful creation of the largest céilí band ever, with 280 performers gathered together at the Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival, a feat recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.

Further information is available at www.kilfenoraceiliband.com.

The Trad Gathering

The Trad Gathering, which brings together 60 of the most talented young traditional Irish musicians from across the capital. Originally jointly commissioned in 2008 by the BBC Proms and Return to Camden Town Festival, the Trad Gathering has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the Lord Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival. The group is currently performing music from the legendary Sligo flute player, Roger Sherlock, who was a long-time stalwart of Irish traditional music in London.

Doors open and 7.00 pm. Tickets are £20/£5 U18s. They are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/irish-hooley-at-st-mary-magdalenes-with-the-kilfenora-ceili-band-tickets-59519494410.

For information about IMDL events, please see www.irishmusicinlondon.org.

Videos of the performers can be found at:

Kilfenora Céilí Band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T3vcz1C5YE

The Trad Gathering - https://www.facebook.com/returntocamdentown/videos/804059303281591/