Please note the Russell Festival Weekend 2023 will take place on 23-27 February 2023. The programme will be announced closer to the festival.
The Russell Festival Weekend features a variety of events for all ages including concerts, recitals, album launches, Website Launch, lectures, workshops, kids and teens sessions, pubs sessions and a tribute to the Russell Brothers at Doolin Graveyard following Sunday mass. See the full programme below.
Launch of new website dedicated to The Russells and their heritage. The event will feature presentation of archives, stories and performances from local musicians (Eugene Lambe, Noel O’Donoghue, Charles Monod & friends)
Followed by session in Fitz’s to share more stories, songs and tunes.
For more information please contact Charles at tunesfromdoolin@gmail.com
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free (donations at the door to support the Russell Festival Weekend)
Brand new to this year’s festival is a Sean Nós Dancing competition in honor of Gussie Mac Mahon and Brian Mc Mahon.
There will be a novice competition for Under 18 (The Gussie Mac Mahon Memorial Trophy) and a juvenile competition for Under 12 (The Brian Mc Mahon Memorial Cup).
Please note this Sean Nos dancing competition is only open to students of Céim ar Chéim Dance School.
For more information please contact Vincent Mac Mahon at vinneymc1@hotmail.com
Time: 7:30
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free (donations at the door for Irish Heart Foundation and Pieta House)
Time: from 8pm
Venue: Various venues
Admission: Free
Official opening of the festival at the Russell Centre featuring local musicians. The Russell Centre will be the Festival Hub for the weekend and will host several events.
Time: 5pm
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: Free
Accordion Recital with Josephine Marsh, accompanied by Pat Marsh (bouzouki)
Time: 6pm
Venue: McDermott’s Pub
Admission: Free
The Russell Festival’s main Friday event featuring Martin Hayes.
Support acts by James, Carol & Caoimhe Cullinan; Noel & Aine O’Donoghue; Mná
Time: 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: €25 on Eventbrite.ie
Time: from 6pm
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free
Flute & Whistle workshop with Christy Barry.
With Padraig Rynne.
All ages welcome. Musicians must be at an intermediate level as these are not beginner classes.
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue:Doolin National School
Admission:€40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops)
With James Cullinan.
All ages welcome. Musicians must be at an intermediate level as these are not beginner classes.
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue:Doolin National School
Admission: €40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops)
Early open session with Kirsten Allstaff, Alan Reid & Dave Harper
Time: 11:30
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Uilleann Pipes Recital with Blackie O’Connell
Time: 1pm
Venue: O’Connor’s Pub
Admission: Free
Open sessions for kids (1pm – 1:45pm) followed by teens (1:45pm – 2:30) led by Rachel Reid and Charles Monod. All levels and instruments welcome.
Time: 1pm
Venue: Russell Centre
Admission: Free
Concertina Recital with Padraig Rynne.
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: McGann’s Pub
Admission: Free
Sean Nós dancing taster workshop with Bríd Kivneen. Event for beginners.
Time: 3:30pm
Venue: Russell Centre
Admission: Free
Aindrias Stack is well known for his rustic & rhythmic style of fiddle playing and his musical bardic style of storytelling.
Time: 4pm
Venue: Russell’s Bar at Fiddle+Bow Hotel
Admission: Free
Mixed instruments recital with the Rouine Family.
Time: 5pm
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Launch of “A Family Tradition”, an album of Irish Traditional Music by the Kelly Family.
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free
The Russell Festival’s main Saturday event featuring Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray & Jack Maher.
Support act by Yvonne Casey, Kevin Griffin & Eoin O’Neill
Time: 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: €25 on Eventbrite.ie (Weekend Tickets Available at €40)
Time: from 11am
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free
Festival Club with MEGATRAD.
Time: Midnight till late
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free Entry
Memorial Mass followed by laying of the wreath at Russell’s Grave.
Time: 10am
Venue: Doolin Church
Admission: Free
Flute & Whistle workshop with Christy Barry.
With Padraig Rynne.
All ages welcome. Musicians must be at an intermediate level as these are not beginner classes.
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue:Doolin National School
Admission: €40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops)
With James Cullinan.
All ages welcome. Musicians must be at an intermediate level as these are not beginner classes.
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue:Doolin National School
Admission: €40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops)
Early open session with Pádraic Keane, Aidan Connolly & Pádraig Ó Duibhghaill
Time: 11:30
Venue: McGann’s Pub
Admission: Free
Intermediate Level Open Session with OAIM (The Online Academy of Irish Music), led by OAIM Tutors Kirsten Allstaff, Alan Reid & Neil Fitzgibbon
Time: 12:30am
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Talk with Criostóir Sean Mac Carthaigh – “Recording Oral Traditional in North Clare: from Ediphone to Lacquer Disc”
Time: 1pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free
An afternoon featuring a host of local, rising talent with Céim Ar Chéim Dance School and also featuring Ennistymon CCÉ Group and An Cairn Ceoil group.
Time: 1:30pm
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: Free
Teens Sessions at McDermott’s Pub. All teens welcome to join in.
Time: 2pm
Venue: McDermott’s Pub
Admission: Free
Flute recital with Adrian McMahon & David Crowe.
Time: 2:30
Venue: Russell’s Bar at Fiddle+Bow Hotel
Admission: Free
Inclusive singing circle with Eugene Lambe (Fear an Tí) and special guest Michael Geaney
Time: 4pm
Venue: Tent at Fiddle+Bow Hotel
Admission: Free
Album launch by Pádraic Keane, Aidan Connolly, Fergus McGorman & Ruairi McGorman with special guest Pádraig Ó Duibhghaill.
Time: 5pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free
Dúchas agus Dóchas, A Clare Songline. With Diarmuid de Faoite, Edel Vaughan, Nuala Kennedy, Therese McInerney, Gráinne Cotter, Emer O’Flaherty, Enda Haran & Quentin Cooper.
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: €20 on Eventbrite.ie
Time: from 11:30am
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free
Time: from 3pm
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free
