TradFest will highlight the rich musical tradition of Irish Travellers in its upcoming 2024 event. The festival, taking place at the Hibernia Conference Centre, Dublin Castle, will commence at 6:30 pm on January 24, 2024, with the performances starting at 7:00 pm.

This year’s event will be headlined by the acclaimed uilleann piper, Paddy Keenan, a prominent figure in modern Irish music. Keenan, born in a musical Traveller family, began his journey with the uilleann pipes at age 10 and debuted at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre at 14. His career milestones include forming “Seachtar,” which later evolved into The Bothy Band, and a solo career that took him to international festivals and unique projects like “Dambé: The Mali Project.” His contributions have been recognized with awards such as the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year (2002) and the Irish Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2011).

The concert will pay tribute to John Rooney, a revered figure in the Traveller uilleann piping tradition, who passed away as the pandemic emerged. Friends, family, and followers will gather to honor his legacy at this special event.