The disarming and haunting Lisa Hannigan will this year be the latest to beat a path into the West for one of Ireland’s leading boutique festivals when she joins an all-star cast for the fifth annual Doolin Folk Festival from 16th to 18th June.
The Stunning, Sharon Shannon, Altan, Mundy, Malian vocalist/guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, Duke Special & Ulaid, John Spillane and many more will gather for the biggest festival in the West Clare area since the halcyon gatherings at nearby Lisdoonvarna of the late 1970s and early ‘80s.
The festival is a modern incarnation of those great events and the organisers have worked hard to build its reputation to a level where it now attracts folk fans from across the country and some from abroad.
Festival organiser and Hotel Doolin manager Dónal Minihane said: “The festival is now five years on the scene but feels like it has been going on a lot longer as it has gathered that much of a following. Doolin is synonymous with folk music in Ireland and so many musicians and music lovers have a connection with the area, the festival just feels so natural. The weekend is a celebration of Doolin and the music that has drawn and continues to draw people here from all corners of the world.”
The size of the festival means that tickets are limited with the last three editions selling out.
“We’re not interested in being a big festival. That’s the beauty about The Doolin Folk Festival, our size allows us to create a unique atmosphere, presenting powerful music in an intimate setting and ensuring that audiences and musicians can feel at one and just enjoy the communal spirit of such festivals,” Dónal added.
The Doolin Folk Festival continues its musical diversity, with a broad mixed programme of acclaimed artists to cater for anyone’s taste. The combination of this, and Doolin’s incredible hospitality, makes it one of the most unique and intimate festivals in Ireland.
Festival Programmer Conor Byrne says: “Our audience at The Doolin Folk festival know their music, it is truly a music lover’s festival, so there is great pressure to deliver each year and we certainly hope we have delivered with this 2017 line-up.
Full line-up: Lisa Hannigan; The Stunning; Sharon Shannon; Vieux Farka Touré; Altan; Duke Special & Ulaid; Mundy; Beoga; Le Vent Du Nord; Dubh-linn; John Spillane; Flook; Hedge Schools; Dermot Barrett; The Heathers;The Kane Sisters with John Blake; Edel Vaughan; The Horsenecks; Dermot McLaughlin & Robbie Hannon; Sheila Garry & Elaine Hogan.
The festival is also in association with RTE Radio 1. “RTÉ Radio 1 has over fifty hours of quality music shows a week and across a year covers over twenty Irish music festivals. Irish music is central to our programming so we’re delighted to be part of this festival with its brilliant line up of music acts in beautiful Doolin, Co. Clare.” – RTÉ Radio 1
More announcements will follow for the White Horse Sessions Stage.
Day and Weekend Tickets for the Doolin Folk Festival are now on sale from www.doolinfestivals.ie and www.tickets.ie , more information on
More announcements will follow for the White Horse Sessions Stage.