Celebrating the contemporary and traditional music of Ireland. 

St Patrick’s Festival 2021 SOUNDS programme celebrates the contemporary and traditional music of Ireland recorded by our finest artists and musicians. ABAIR: A series of songs and stories, curated by MacDara Yeates and hosted by Donal Fallon is a programme of three events that explores the oral folk traditions of Ireland.

The Cobblestone Sessions at The Complex sees some of Ireland’s best known trad performers, including the McBride Family, Donnacha Dwyer and Michelle O’Broin, take part in a series of six sessions. Mary Coughlan is joined by axis Ballymun Director Mark O’Brien for a song and a chat as she performs some of her best hits with her band. Barróg La Féile Pádraig ó Whelan’s, Dublin will be a huge St. Patrick’s Night get together to round off Festival 2021, pre-recorded at the legendary Whelan’s venue in Dublin with acts including Lisa O’Neill, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Seamus Begley and many more.

And Bands of Ireland presents Play On For 2021 will feature some of our best-loved and up-and-coming musicians getting toes tapping with performances filmed across the country, including Kíla whose ever evolving sound is rooted in tradition but inspired by world influences, Moxie who blend Irish music of different genres performing tracks from their new album, as well as Pádraig Jack, Dylan Kennedy and many more.

Homebeat presents Transitions featuring a slew of Irish acts including New Jackson, Sorca McGrath, Simon Cullen, Polytunnel and Gareth Quinn Redmond; The Soundtrack to Ireland's Future. Emerging Artists from Ireland Music Week courtesy of First Music Contact will give us a glimpse of our beloved live music experience. Filmed in Lost Lane, Dublin the eclectic line-up features performances by 48 emerging artists from all corners of Ireland, including , Inhaler (Dublin), Beauty Sleep (Belfast) and Gemma Bradley (Derry), featuring rock, pop, hip hop, grime, alt folk, indie and more; performing from the Guinness Storehouse will be Pillow Queens, Gemma Dunleavy and Adam Mohammed.

And Jump from The Golden Gate Bridge by Jennifer Walshe and Crash Ensemble is an instructional piece which directs the players to learn to skateboard and compose an imaginary path they would like to skate.

SEODA - Celtic Connections: Scotland, Wales & Ireland featuring Gruff Rhys, The Breath, Brighde Chaimbeul is hosted by Huw Stephens and presented in partnership with the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government, and Culture Ireland.