Dé Domhnaigh 27/12/2026
Beidh ceol beo leis An Chrann Óg agus go leor ceoltóirí eile, agus leanfaidh an oíche ar aghaidh le seisiún oscailte mhór.
Fáilte roimh chách!
Is í Moya Brennan, guth agus croí an grúpá mór le rá Clannad, duine de na ceoltóirí is aitheanta in Éirinn. Tá blianta fada caite aici ag roinnt a cuid ceoil le lucht éisteachta ar fud an domhain, agus le blianta fada anuas tá sí ag cur an Ghaeilge agus Dún na nGall chun cinn ar fud an domhain mhóir. Tá cosán cruthaithe aici do na ceoltóirí óga a lean í agus leanann sí de bheith ina meantóir do go leor ceoltóirí idir chríon agus óg. Is mór an onóir dúinn é go mbeidh sí ag seoladh Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair 2025.
Live music from An Crann Óg and many more, followed by a big open session to carry the night along.
All are welcome!
Moya Brennan, the voice and heart of Clannad, is one of Ireland’s most renowned artists. She has spent her life sharing her music with audiences all over the world, while for many years bringing the Irish language and Donegal onto the international stage. She is an outstanding role model and mentor to young musicians across the country. We are honoured that she will officially open Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair 2025.
Dé Luain 28/12/2026
Ócáid speisialta a théann go mór i bhfeidhm ar an lucht éisteachta gach bliain – ceiliúradh ar thraidisiúin amhránaíochta Uladh le cuid de na hamhránaithe is cumasaí sa chúige. Beidh Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh i mbun comhrá le haíonna speisialta, ag tabhairt léargas ar a gcúlra agus ar a gcuid amhrán, agus beidh blaiseadh le fáil de na hamhráin mhóra Ultacha. Beidh buaiteoir Chorn Uí Riada 2014, Nell Ní Chróinín as Cúil Aodha, linn mar aoi speisialta ar an oíche. Le: Nell Ní Chroinín, Gabriel McArdle, Diane Ní Chanáin, Brian Mullen, Gearóid Ó Deoráin & Clíona Ní Ghallachóir |
A very special annual event that always makes a deep impression on audiences – a celebration of the song traditions of Ulster with some of the province’s finest singers. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh will be in conversation with the special guests, sharing insights into their background and their songs, while we enjoy a taste of some of the great Ulster songs. 2014 Corn Uí Riada winner Nell Ní Chróinín from Cúil Aodha will be joining us as a special guest on the night.
Featuring:
Nell Ní Chroinín, Gabriel McArdle, Diane Ní Chanáin, Brian Mullen, Gearóid Ó Deoráin & Clíona Ní Ghallachóir
Dé Máirt 29/12/2026
Danú
Tá Danú ar cheann de na grúpaí ceoil thraidisiúnta is mó le rá in Éirinn, agus clú agus cáil bainte amach acu ar fud an domhain. Is as contaetha Phort Láirge, Chorcaí, Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Dhún na nGall do bhaill an ghrúpa.
Cuireadh Danú le chéile sa bhliain 1995 agus, le tríocha bliain anuas, tá camchuairteanna déanta acu ar fud na hEorpa agus Mheiriceá Thuaidh, agus iad i ndiaidh seinm in ionaid cháiliúla ar nós an Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles agus Symphony Space i Nua-Eabhrac.
Tá ceol agus léirithe de chuid Danú craolta ar RTÉ, TG4, BBC, NPR agus CBC, agus tá lucht éisteachta bainte amach acu i bhfad agus i gcéin dá bharr.
Tríocha bliain ó cuireadh Danú le chéile den chéad uair, tá an grúpa go fóill ag ceiliúradh saibhreas agus bheocht cheol traidisiúnta na hÉireann; ag coinneáil greim láidir ar an traidisiún as ar fáisceadh iad agus ag tabhairt an cheoil sin chuig lucht éisteachta ar fud an domhain.
Danú
Danú is one of Ireland’s leading traditional music ensembles, renowned worldwide for its exceptional musicianship, powerful vocals and energetic live performances. Its members hail from counties Waterford, Cork, Dublin and Donegal.
Formed in 1995, Danú has spent three decades touring extensively throughout Europe and North America, performing at prestigious venues including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Symphony Space in New York City.
Danú’s performances have been featured on RTÉ, TG4, BBC, NPR and CBC, bringing the band’s music to audiences far beyond the concert stage.
Thirty years on from its formation, Danú continues to celebrate the depth and vitality of Irish traditional music-honouring the tradition from which it comes while carrying it confidently to audiences around the world.
Piaras Ó Lorcáin
Is amhránaí sean-nóis agus ceoltóir cumasach é Piaras Ó Lorcáin as Crois Mhic Lionnáin i gContae Ard Mhacha.
Tá fréamhacha láidre ag a chuid amhránaíochta i dtraidisiún saibhir Oirialla, agus tá cáil air as a ghuth cumhachtach, a stíl agus an dóigh a chuireann sé scéal agus mothúchán an amhráin in iúl don lucht éisteachta.
Is ceoltóir cumasach é fosta, agus tá an tuiscint dhomhain atá aige ar an cheol traidisiúnta le cluinstin go soiléir ina chuid amhránaíochta, chomh maith lena chuid tionlacain ar an ghiotár agus ar an bhouzouki.
Tá Piaras le feiceáil agus le cluinstin i réimse leathan tionscadal ceoil, ina measc The Railway Boys agus Bláth na hÓige, agus é ag tabhairt ceol agus amhránaíocht Oirialla chuig lucht éisteachta sa bhaile agus níos faide i gcéin.
Piaras Ó Lorcáin
Piaras Ó Lorcáin is a sean-nós singer and multi-instrumentalist from Crossmaglen, County Armagh. Rooted in the rich singing tradition of Oriel, he is known for his strong, expressive voice and distinctive style, bringing a deep sense of storytelling and emotion to his performances.
Equally at home singing unaccompanied or performing alongside other musicians, Piaras is also an accomplished instrumentalist, accompanying on guitar and bouzouki. His deep understanding of traditional music is reflected throughout his singing and playing, giving him a confident and engaging presence on stage.
Piaras is involved in a range of musical projects, including The Railway Boys and Bláth na hÓige, bringing the music and song tradition of Oriel to audiences at home and further afield.
Dé Céadaoin 30/12/2026
Cuireann Belfast TradFest Seán Maguire – Ómós i láthair, i gcomhar le Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair agus muid ag ceiliúradh saol agus ceol duine de mhórmháistrí na fidle. Bhain Seán clú agus cáil amach as a éirim agus a scil eisceachtúil ar an fhidil, chomh maith leis an tsamhlaíocht agus an chruthaitheacht a bhí le cluinstin ina chuid ceoil – tréithe a chuir gliondar ar a lucht éisteachta.
Tá cáil ar thraidisiún fidléireachta Dhún na nGall as an stíl láidir, aonair agus phearsanta a bhaineann leis, mar aon le Seán Maguire é féin. Tabharfaidh an cheolchoirm speisialta seo cuid de na fidléirí is fearr as Dún na nGall agus as Cúige Uladh le chéile, agus tabharfar blaiseadh don lucht éisteachta de na stíleanna agus de na traidisiúin shaibhre fidléireachta atá le fáil ar fud an tuaiscirt.
Le: Óisín McAuley, Molly Walls, Clare Friel, Conor Caldwell, Sorcha Stockman, Dónal O’Connor agus go leor eile.
Belfast TradFest presents Seán Maguire – Ómós, in association with Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair, celebrating the life and music of a fiddle master whose dazzling virtuosity and restless musical imagination captivated audiences and, on occasion, challenged the traditionalists. Much like Seán Maguire himself, the Donegal fiddle tradition is renowned for its strong, individualistic approach to solo playing. This special concert brings together some of the finest fiddlers from Donegal and across Ulster, celebrating the distinctive styles, personalities and rich fiddle traditions of the north of Ireland. Le: Óisín McAuley, Molly Walls, Clare Friel, Conor Caldwell, Sorcha Stockman, Dónal O’Connor agus go leor eile. |
Dé Céadaoin 30/12/2026
Bríd Harper & Ryan Molloy – Foinse
Tagann beirt de na ceoltóirí is iomráití in Éirinn, Bríd Harper agus Ryan Molloy, le chéile d’oíche speisialta fidle, vióla agus pianó, ag ceiliúradh a gcaidrimh ceoil a théann siar breis agus tríocha bliain.
Insíonn a n-albam, Foinse, scéal ar leith faoin cheangal idir múinteoir agus dalta. Bhí Ryan ina dhalta ag Bríd ar feadh deich mbliana sna 1990idí, agus chuaigh na foinn agus an cur chuige ceoil a d’fhoghlaim sé uaithi go mór i bhfeidhm air mar cheoltóir agus mar chumadóir.
Tá Bríd ar dhuine de na fidléirí traidisiúnta is iomráití dá glúin, agus is pianódóir agus cumadóir é Ryan a bhfuil iliomad duaiseanna bainte amach aige, Gradam Ceoil TG4 do Chumadóir na Bliana ina measc.
Le chéile, filleann siad ar fhoinse a dturais cheoil, agus iad ag tabhairt blianta fada de chairdeas, de thaithí agus de thuiscint cheoil leo chun an stáitse.
Bríd Harper & Ryan Molloy – Foinse
Two of Ireland’s finest musicians, Bríd Harper and Ryan Molloy, come together for a captivating evening of fiddle, viola and piano, celebrating a musical relationship spanning more than three decades.
Their debut duo album Foinse – Irish for “Source” – traces a remarkable journey from teacher to pupil and back again. Bríd taught Ryan for ten years during the 1990s, passing on tunes and a musical approach that would profoundly shape his own development as a performer and composer.
Bríd is one of Ireland’s leading traditional fiddle players, while Ryan is an award-winning pianist and composer and TG4 Gradam Ceoil Composer of the Year.
Together, they revisit the music at the source of their shared story, bringing decades of friendship and musical understanding to a spellbinding performance rooted in the living tradition.
McKenna Family – The Boys of Carrickroe
Tá Muintir Mhic Cionnaith as Achadh an Iúir, Co. Thír Eoghain – Eugene, Daniel, James, Sinéad, Peter, Ciarán agus Caitríona – ar an cheathrú glúin de theaghlach atá báite sa cheol traidisiúnta Gaelach. Agus fréamhacha láidre teaghlaigh agus ceoil acu i dtuaisceart Mhuineacháin, tá ceangal agus tuiscint ar leith le brath ina gcuid ceoil agus iad ag seinm le chéile.
Tá cáil bainte amach ag an seachtar acu mar cheoltóirí aonair agus mar theaghlach, agus iad i ndiaidh seinm ar fud na hÉireann, na hEorpa, na Breataine, na Stát Aontaithe agus na Seapáine.
In 2026, d’eisigh siad a gcéad albam, The Boys of Carrickroe, in ómós dá seanuncailí, na fidléirí Pete agus Pat McKenna as Carraig Rua, Co. Mhuineacháin. Tá a bhfuaim fréamhaithe go domhain sa teaghlach agus sa dúiche – fidleacha bríomhara fite fuaite le píobaí, cláirseach, bosca ceoil agus consairtín, agus oidhreacht shaibhir cheoil á tabhairt ar aghaidh chuig glúin úr.
McKenna Family – The Boys of Carrickroe
The McKenna Family from Augher, Co. Tyrone – siblings Eugene, Daniel, James, Sinéad, Peter, Ciarán and Catríona – are the fourth generation of a family steeped in Irish traditional music. With deep family and musical roots in north Monaghan, their playing carries the instinctive connection that comes from a lifetime of making music together.
Acclaimed both individually and as a family, the seven siblings have performed across Ireland, Europe, the UK, USA and Japan, and have appeared on RTÉ, TG4 and BBC.
In 2026, they released their debut album, The Boys of Carrickroe, in tribute to their granduncles, fiddlers Pete and Pat McKenna of Carrickroe, Co. Monaghan. Rooted in family and place, their distinctive sound brings fiery fiddles together with pipes, harp, box and concertina, carrying a rich musical inheritance into a new generation.
Déardaoin 31/12/2026
The Len Collective
Is grúpa ceoltóirí traidisiúnta as Baile Átha Cliath iad The Len Collective. Cé nár bunaíodh an grúpa go hoifigiúil go dtí 2022, tá an dream cairde seo ag ceol agus ag freastal ar fhéilte le chéile ó bhí siad ina bpáistí – Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair ina measc! Má théann tú isteach sa Cobblestone ag am ar bith de lá nó d’oíche, tá seans maith ann go mbeidh duine acu ar a laghad istigh romhat!
Ó bunaíodh The Len Collective in 2022, tá siad ag dul ó neart go neart ag seinm ag féilte agus ócáidí ar fud na tíre, ina measc Otherside, All Together Now, Féile na Gealaí, Féile Nasc, Lá Mór na Gaeilge, Smithfield Fleadh, Me Auld Flower, Electric Picnic, Jim of the Mills, Keep Her Lit, Féile Lá Fhéile Pádraig i mBaile Átha Cliath, Music in the Courtyard @ IMMA agus an tsraith Tradition Now sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta.
Tá ceol na hÉireann tugtha acu thar lear fosta, ag Féile Tonn Nua i mBeirlín, ag ócáid de chuid Ambasáid na hÉireann i Vársá do Lá Fhéile Bríde, ag Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering in Oileán Mhanann, agus mar chuid de chónaitheacht i bPailliún na hÉireann ag Expo 2025 in Osaka na Seapáine.
Tá lúcháir orthu a bheith ag pilleadh ar Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair i mbliana – agus an uair seo beidh siad linn le ceol agus le craic a chur ar fáil d’Oíche Chinn Bliana!
The Len Collective
The Len Collective are a group of traditional Irish musicians from Dublin. Though only officially forming the Collective in 2022, these group of friends have been playing and attending festivals together (including Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair) since they were children. Go into the Cobblestone at any hour of the day or night and there’s a good chance you’ll find at least one of them hanging about.
Since forming in 2022, the Len Collective have performed at multiple festivals including the Otherside, All Together Now, Féile na Gealaí, Féile Nasc, Lá Mór na Gaeilge, Smithfield Fleadh, Me Auld Flower, Electric Picnic, Jim of the Mills, Keep her Lit, St Patrick’s day festival Dublin, Music in the Courtyard @ IMMA, the Tradition Now series at the National Concert Hall. The Len collective have represented Ireland abroad at the Tonn Nua festival in Berlin, Embassy of Ireland Warsaw visit for St Brigid’s Day, Yn Chuinnaght Celtic Gathering at the Isle of Man and the residency at the Irish Pavilion Expo in Osaka, Japan.
They’re very excited to be returning to Scoil Gheimhridh to play for New Years Eve!
The Railway Boys
Is banna ceoil as Cúige Uladh iad The Railway Boys, a thugann ceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann, ceol tíre Mheiriceá agus Cheanada, agus tionchair eile ó dhá thaobh an Atlantaigh le chéile ina ndóigh bhríomhar féin.
Tháinig an grúpa le chéile den chéad uair sa Railway Bar san Iúr, Contae Ard Mhacha, agus is as sin a fuair siad ainm an bhanna. Tá beirt amhránaithe óga den scoth as Ard Mhacha chun tosaigh sa ghrúpa, Piaras Ó Lorcáin agus Micky Ó Fearáin, agus iad ag casadh idir amhráin Ghaeilge agus amhráin a tháinig chugainn thar an fharraige ó Mheiriceá agus ó Cheanada. Ina dteannta tá Oisín Ó Murchú as Contae Mhuineacháin ar an bhainseó, Brian Ó Gallachóir as Tír Chonaill ar an fheadóg, agus Seán Ó Braoin as Port an Dúnáin ar an bhodhrán.
I samhradh 2026, d’eisigh The Railway Boys a gcéad EP, Four Track Train Wreck, bailiúchán ceithre rian a léiríonn go breá an meascán ceoil atá i gcroílár an bhanna. Tá Amhrán na Scadán, amhrán as Toraigh a bhfuil traidisiún láidir aige i measc Ghaeil Uladh, le cluinstin taobh le Farewell to Nova Scotia as Ceanada, Pamela Brown le Tom T. Hall agus El Dorado leis an cheoltóir agus cumadóir Éamon Friel.
Ag tarraingt ar thraidisiúin cheoil Uladh agus ar na hamhráin agus na fuaimeanna a thaistil anonn agus anall trasna an Atlantaigh leis na glúnta, tá The Railway Boys ag cur a lorg úr fuinniúil féin ar an cheol agus ar an amhránaíocht thraidisiúnta.
The Railway Boys
The Railway Boys are an Ulster-based band bringing together the traditional music of Ireland with folk songs and musical influences from America, Canada and beyond. Their sound draws on the strong musical traditions of both sides of the Atlantic, combining Irish song and instrumental music with songs that have travelled across the ocean for generations.
The group first came together in the Railway Bar in Newry, County Armagh, from which they took their name. At the heart of the band are two of the north’s finest young singers, Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Micky Ó Fearáin, performing a mixture of Irish-language songs alongside material from the folk traditions of America and Canada. They are joined by Oisín Ó Murchú from County Monaghan on banjo, Brian Ó Gallachóir from Donegal on whistle, and Seán Ó Braoin from Portadown on bodhrán.
In summer 2026, The Railway Boys released their debut EP, Four Track Train Wreck, a four-track collection that captures the range of influences at the heart of the band. The recording brings together Amhrán na Scadán, a song associated with Tory Island, with the Canadian folk song Farewell to Nova Scotia, Tom T. Hall’s Pamela Brown and El Dorado by Irish songwriter Éamon Friel.
Rooted firmly in the music and song traditions of Ulster while drawing inspiration from across the Atlantic, The Railway Boys bring a fresh, energetic and distinctive approach to traditional and folk music.
Dé hAOINE 01/01/2026
Goitse agus lig do scíth ag an seisiún amhránaíochta bliantúil a bhíonn againn chun críoch oifigiúil a chur le Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair 2026. Seisiún amhránaíochta a chuireann dlaoi mhullaigh ar an fhéile. Bailíonn pobal na háite agus cuairteoirí araon le chéile chun fáilte a chur roimh an mbliain úr i dtimpeallacht atá lán le cairdeas agus le ceol.
Come along and relax at the annual singing session that marks the official conclusion of Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair. A Singing Session that brings an end to the festival on a high note. Local people and visitors alike gather to welcome the New Year in an atmosphere filled with friendship and song.