Foxford Traditional Weekend Events

Rambling House

Thursday 17th Oct @ 8pm, Moy Hotel

The scene is set for the Rambling House so come along and allow yourself to step back in time with music, song, stories and light refreshments...just like the good auld days.
The venue for the Rambling House is the Moy Hotel.
FREE EVENT

Session Trail

A session trail will run throughout the weekend in all local public houses. Full details available here.

FREE EVENTS

Teen Trad
Showcase of Teenage Talent

Friday 18th Oct @ 6pm
FREE EVENT

A platform for younger musicians (13+) to perform. This event will include proficient teenage musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers from all parts of Ireland and promises to be a 'mighty gathering'. The standard and quality of music from the younger generation is just inspiring and a showcase of their talent will be on show during ‘Teen Trad’ on Friday evening at 6:00pm. The performances will be followed by a teenage session. This event will feature many teenage musicians from all over Ireland and will not disappoint. This will be followed by a Teenage session.
FREE EVENT
We can feel the energy already!
Sponsorship by Irish Energy Assessors

Headline Concert
Don Stiffe & Hernon Family
Current All-Ireland Champions: Hannah Lyons, Harp and Ryan Sheridan, Accordion

Fri 18th Oct @ 8pm, Moy Hotel
Doors: 7:30pm
Tickets available shortly
Children under 18 FREE

Full details to follow...

Sponsored by MD Roofing

Master Classes & Workshops

Saturday 19th, Foxford National School

Full details including Masterclasses and Music Workshops available here - Workshops & Master Classes

Harp Recital

Lunchtime Recital the Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble under the direction of Grainne Hambly and William Jackson

Saturday 19th, 1:30pm, Venue TBC
FREE EVENT in conjunction with Cruit Éireann / Harp Ireland

This FREE lunchtime recital will be a real treat in the historic Foxford Woollen Mills, from the Mayo Music Generation Harp Ensemble.
The Harp Ensemble operates under the musical direction of Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson, acclaimed musicians and composers with many years of experience performing worldwide.
Current Senior All-Ireland Champion, Hannah Lyons will also play during the recital while harp marker Graham Wright will be on hand to offer advice on harp repairs, general upkeep and purchasing harps.

FREE Event
Organised in conjunction with Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland for National Harp Day

Lá na Cruite / National Harp Day - 'Hands on Harp' Taster Class

Video from previous 'Hands on Harp' with Laoise Kelly

Saturday 19th Oct, 3pm, Venue to be Confirmed

Click Here to Book a Free Place

Saturday 19th October is National Harp Day. Have you always wanted to try the harp? Would you like to hear, learn more about and even have a go? Now’s your chance! Join us for this 'Hands on Harp' class. #Harpday

FREE Event
Organised in conjunction with Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland for National Harp Day

Foxford Heritage Walking Tours

Saturday 19th October
Meeting at the front of the Foxford Woollen Mills 10 mins prior to each tour.
Tour Times: 1pm & 3pm

We invite you to join local historian, Oliver Murphy and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of our historic town. The one hour tours will take place on Saturday, the 19th October 2024, at 1 pm and 3 pm. The meeting point is the front of the Foxford Woollen Mills at ten minutes prior to each tour. We look forward to meeting you…

An Illustrated Talk by Laoise Kelly

Sat 19th Oct @ 6:30pm, Protestant Church
Doors: 6:00pm
FREE EVENT - Click Here to Reserve Tickets

In the beautiful intimate setting of the Protestant Church, An Illustrated Talk by Laoise Kelly, on harper Hugh Higgins (1737-1796), will be most beautiful.
Harper Laoise Kelly is from Westport and now lives on Achill Island. She learned her music at home and from great local heroes like John Hoban, Pat Friel, Liam Grealis and Jennie Kilroy. In 2020 she was awarded TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year. She has recorded three solo albums and two duo albums with fiddle player Michelle O’Brien and uilleann piper Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn. Laoise was a founding member of trad groups ‘Bumblebees’, and ‘Fiddletree’, from America, Cape Breton and Scotland who play eight instruments made from the same tree.
She collaborates regularly with Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, fiddler Tola Custy, box players Breanndán Begley and Josephine Marsh, fiddler Tara Breen and singer Nell Ní Chróinín.
Her harp has brought her all over the world performing and teaching.

“Her right hand fires out tunes with a fluidity, creativity and clarity that has revolutionised the harp as a solo instrument; her left hand is the source of a new voice in the world of accompaniment and groove, rooted in her engagement with the contemporary world of guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán and keyboard while being distinct in its own right. Laoise has made it OK for a harp to sit in the centre of the session and be the heart of the trad band headlining the festival.”
– Niall Keegan, Irish World Academy, UL.

Hugh Higgins, ‘a harper of distinction’, was born in the Barony of Tirawley in county Mayo in 1737.
His attendance at the celebrated Belfast Harp festival in 1792 ensured part of his repertoire survives.
From harper Arthur O'Neill's memoirs Higgins was an 'Irish gentleman-harper, uncommonly genteel in his manners, and as to his dress ... he spared no expense in purchasing clothes. He travelled in such a manner as does and will do credit to an Irish Harper'.
With historic references, anecdotes and tunes a picture of the persona of harper Hugh Higgins unfolds.

This will be a one hour lecture-recital.

FREE EVENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HARP IRELAND
RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE

Féile Concert
Bríd Harper, Dermot Byrne & Steve Cooney
June McCormack & Michael Rooney, Moffatt School of Dance

Sat 19th Oct @ 8pm, Moy Hotel
Doors: 7:30pm
Tickets available shortly

The concert takes place in the Moy Hotel at 8pm on Saturday 19th of October and promises to be a night you won't want to miss.
Please note the Féile Concert is usually a sell-out so please get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets available here shortly
Sponsored by MD Roofing

The Mummers

Various Venues during the Weekend

There back! Causing havoc around the place for the last couple of years, they are back again this year! Beware you could be called on to dance at anytime!

Tots Trad

Sun 20th Oct @ 11:30am, Moy Hotel
Adults €10 plus booking fee - Tots Free
CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Introduce your little ones to Irish Music, Song and Dance

This event is suitable for 0-3 years old. It will be a very relaxed and informal introduction to Irish traditional music, song and dance. We would love to see babies (and parents) singing and dancing along!

Adults €10 plus booking fee - CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Kindly sponsored by Castle Medical Centre

Collaboration of Mayo Trad Ensemble and Mayo Youth Orchestra

Foxford Leisure Centre, 2pm

Over the past couple of months both the Mayo Youth Orchestra and Foxford Trad Musicians have been working on their first collaboration.
Thanks to Creative Ireland and Mayo County Council for making this possible.
Funding from Creative Ireland Mayo for this publication is gratefully acknowledged. You can access other Creative Ireland resources here.

Junior Session

Sun 20th Oct @ 3pm, Cruiser's

A clip from a previous year's junior session best explains what goes on here! Under the guidance of Tom Doherty, younger musicians, dancers and singers are given a platform to perform individually and as a group.
FREE EVENT.

Mini Céilí

Sunday 20th October, 8:30pm
Brown Memorial Hall
€8 each - €15 for two

Join Oliver Flemming for a mini céili on Sunday evening. Sets are called out.
Refreshments served.

Previous SOLD OUT Concerts featuring, Frankie Gavin, Seán Keane, Hernon Family, Cathy Jordan, Colm O'Donnell, The Piper's Cross Céilí Band, The O'Donnell Family, Eleanor Shanley & Don Stiff