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.
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
Flute Recital with Conor Crimmins, accompanied by Marty Barry (guitar)
Time: 6:15pm
Venue: McDermott’s Pub
Admission: Free
Time: from 6:30pm
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free
The Russell Festival’s main Friday event featuring Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh & Dónal O’Connor followed by James & Carol Cullinan, Mick Conneely, Dermot Byrne & Steve Cooney
Time: 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: €25 on Eventbrite.ie
Get ready to party at the Festival Club with MEGATRAD !!
Time: 11pm
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free Entry
Flute & Whistle workshop with Christy Barry.
With Liam O’Brien.
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)
Learn tunes from Micho, Packie & Gussie Russell with Charles Monod, local musician, teacher and researcher (“Tunes From Doolin” and “The Russells of Doolin“)
Adults only, all melodic instruments welcome, intermediate level.
For more information about this workshop, please contact tunesfromdoolin@gmail.com
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue: Russell’s Bar (Fiddle+Bow Hotel)
Admission: €40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops).
Irish Traditional Singing Workshop for young people (10+ years old) with Therese McInerney.
Beginners welcome.
For more information about this workshop, please contact tunesfromdoolin@gmail.com
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: €20 (Saturday only workshop)
Talk with Garry Shannon – “Traditional Music in North Clare since 1900 with particular focus on the musicians of Doolin”
Garry Shannon is a flute player and presenter with the Kilfenora Ceili Band for over 30 years and is also known as a soloist of great skill with many commercial recordings. He has taught and arranged music widely over the past 35 years and has an MA in Trad Music Performance from University of Limerick. He is coordinator of Meitheal Summer School for young musicians of high competence. He will be honoured by Comhaltas this summer as Ard-Ollamh for his lifelong contribution to traditional music.
Time: 12:45
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: Free
Open sessions for kids (under 12) led by Rachel Reid and Charles Monod. All levels and instruments welcome.
Time: 1:30pm
Venue: Russell Centre
Admission: Free
Album Launch – “When The Wind Blows Wild” by Brian Hughes (whistles/uilleann pipes)
Time: 1:30pm
Venue: McGann’s Pub
Admission: Free
Fiddle Recital with Sorcha Costello.
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Sean Nós dancing taster workshop with Bríd Kivneen. Event for beginners.
Time: 3:30pm
Venue: Russell Centre
Admission: Free
Launch of “Sooner or Later”, an album of Irish Traditional Music on fiddle by Tara Breen
Time: 4:30
Venue: Russell’s Bar (Fiddle+Bow)
Admission: Free
The Russell Festival’s main Saturday event featuring Noel Hill & Brian McGrath and Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta.
Time: 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Venue: Russell Centre
Admission: €25 on Eventbrite.ie
Flute & Whistle workshop with Christy Barry.
With Liam O’Brien.
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)
Learn tunes from Micho, Packie & Gussie Russell with Charles Monod, local musician, teacher and researcher (“Tunes From Doolin” and “The Russells of Doolin“)
Adults only, all melodic instruments welcome, intermediate level.
For more information about this workshop, please contact tunesfromdoolin@gmail.com
Time: 10:30-12:30
Venue: Russell’s Bar (Fiddle+Bow Hotel)
Admission: €40 (covers Saturday and Sunday workshops).
Early open session with Aisling Lyons, Brian Hughes & Cillian O’Dalaigh
Time: 11am
Venue: McGann’s Pub
Admission: Free
Memorial Mass followed by laying of the wreath at Russell’s Grave.
Time: 1pm
Venue: Doolin Church
Admission: Free
Concertina Recital with Liam O’Brien.
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Intermediate Level Open Session sponsored by The Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM), led by Paddy Cummins & Charles Monod
Time: 1:30pm
Venue: Fitz’s Bar, 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: 2pm
Venue: Russell Community Centre
Admission: Free
Teens Sessions at McDermott’s Pub. All teens welcome to join in.
Time: 3pm
Venue: McDermott’s Pub
Admission: Free
Inclusive singing circle with Eugene Lambe (Fear an Tí) and special guest Connor Connolly.
Time: 3:30
Venue: Doolin Inn
Admission: Free
Launch of accordion and mandolin duet album by two of Clare’s finest, Kate & Eddie Moloney.
Time: 4pm
Venue: The Attic
Admission: Free
The Attic Sessions – Singers’ Night feat. Geraldine MacGowan, Tim Dennehy & Seán Lyons.
This special event is organised by The Attic Sessions, an intimate concert series that runs throughout the summer. To celebrate Micho Russell’s passion for songs, this 1-hour concert focuses on three wonderful singers.
For more information about this concert, please contact tunesfromdoolin@gmail.com
Time: 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Venue: The Attic at Hotel Doolin
Admission: €15 on TunesFromDoolin.com
Time: from 11am
Venue: All pubs and hotels
Admission: Free