Galway Tradfest

Galway is renowned worldwide for its creative community and its leading traditional musicians, singers and dancers. Yet, unlike many other counties, it did not have a county-wide, internationally recognised traditional music festival or large masterclass series until Galway TradFest. Developed by Music Generation Galway County, Galway TradFest took place across the county from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 November 2025 uniting artists, learners and audiences.

A 7-member youth committee was formed to lead the delivery of the programme. Made up of young musicians active in Galway’s Irish traditional music scene, they helped to promote the events in ways that would appeal to all audiences. They contributed ideas for line-ups that balanced respected tradition-bearers with emerging contemporary acts, ensuring the programme felt both rooted and current. Working alongside more experienced organisers, they brought a ‘younger eye’ to the festival while still keeping a clear focus on Galway’s rich cultural traditions.