Smithwick's Session Temple Bar
the Smithwick's session
TradFest’s allegiance to its roots is unwavering, with The Smithwick’s Sessions, a series of trad and folk concerts, hosted in the pubs and hotels of Temple Bar.
Sponsored by Diageo Ireland since 2012, and with the support of businesses in Dublin’s Cultural Quarter, the series features the best-established folk and trad artists from across the island of Ireland.
The Smithwick’s Sessions offer an intimate alternative to TradFest’s headline concerts around the county, with Temple Bar being the beating heart of Dublin’s arts, culture and music scene for decades.
Each concert is free and untickets, so they tend to fill up fast, so our advice is to get there early, pull up a stool, and support the artists and businesses who bring live music to the fore.
“Míle Buíochas! And congratulations to all the team in TradFest for organising such a fantastic celebration of our glorious music and culture. Ber Bua! ”
“Just want to thank you all for such an incredible weekend with some amazing musicians and artists as it just gets bigger and better each year.”
“Love how you can move in and out of bars and the music everywhere—the variety of the music/ the variety of the events.”
“I love how it is a free concert & how you can hop from bar to bar to see traditional Irish music. It is a compact space in Temple Bar, and the atmosphere is great. It is a great way to see different types of traditional music.”
“Marvellous and great venues, very accessible and not over-crowded. It’s relaxing.”
“I love traditional music, and I love the buzz of Temple Bar in the Winter – Just a fun thing to have on in January.”
“Fantastic celebration of amazing musicians!! It was an honour and privilege to witness and experience their gift of music!”
“Another awesome night. What a treat to see this young talent alongside Peggy Seeger. Can’t wait to see the lineup Aiofe Scott puts together next year!”
“We are so glad to have found TradFest. The Transatlantic Women concert this year, honoring Maura O’Connell, was fabulous. Can’t wait for 2026!”
“Thank you – it was a wonderful experience in this beautiful church. A magical evening.”
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