ABAIR is an annual oral traditions programme which explores the Irish traditions of storytelling, song, and oral history and traces their links around the world.

Taking place as part of the St. Patrick's Festival Ireland, the multi-format programme offers a wide array of concerts, pop-ups and storytelling sessions that examine the relationship between the sung and spoken word in Ireland and abroad (the Irish word ‘Abair’ translating roughly as both ‘to say’ and ‘to sing’).

The 2023 programme, running from the 16th to the 18th of March in National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, features a host of international collaborations such as:

‘THE DONEGAL TARANTELLA’, an exploration of Southern Italian folk music and its links with Southwest Donegal, with Francesco Turrisi Music (ITA), Ronan Galvin (IRE), Anna Cinzia Villani (ITA) and Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile (IRE)

‘YOIK AND NYAHH’, an event exploring the parallels in the history and culture of the Sámi people of Northern Europe and the Irish Travelling community, with Ande Somby (Sámiland), John Connors (IRE) and Stephen Dunne (IRE)

‘UKRAINE & ULSTER: SONGS IN CONFLICT’ a song-exploration of the recent and current unrest in Ukraine and the North of Ireland, with Olesya Zdorovetska (UKR) and Seán Mone (IRE)

Also in the programme is a range of events for children and families including storytelling duo Candlelittales and guerrilla performances from The Fingal Mummers; as well as The Megaphone Project, a new pop-up street singing series; and One Arm As Long As The Other, a new storytelling and song collaboration from Hugh Cooney and Sean Fitzgerald; and much more.

Curated by traditional singer Macdara Yeates, ABAIR, now in its fifth year, is a staple feature in the annual St. Patrick’s Festival, celebrating the rich oral culture of Ireland and examining its place in the world at large.

All events free but ticketed. Book now at stpatricksfestival.ie

Supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon