23–27 October 2025

Session Trail 2025 — Archive

A record of Ireland's biggest traditional music session trail — sessions across multiple venues in Castleisland, 23–27 October 2025. All sessions have now taken place.

Festival complete · October 2025

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Thu 23 Oct

from 8:30pm

Fri 24 Oct

from 4pm

Sat 25 Oct

from noon

Sun 26 Oct

from noon

Mon 27 Oct

from 1pm

Thursday · 23 October

Opening Night Sessions complete

Festival starts on Thursday 23rd October with Ireland's largest traditional music session trail. This runs all weekend, starting daily at noon and runs until Monday the 27th of October. Also: Piaras Ó Lorcáin in Concert · 8pm · River Island Hotel (Sold Out).

8:30pm The Crown
Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Mike Kelliher
8:30pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche and friends
9:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Brian Scannell, Pádraig Buckley
9:00pm Kearney's Bar
Sean Butler, Donal Cullinane and friends
9:30pm Brownes Front Bar
Tom O'Connell, Mike Brosnan, Cathal Flood
9:30pm Shoemaker Front Bar
Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Aidan Connolly
10:00pm Brownes Back Bar
Open Session
10:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Paudie O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan, Aoife Ní Chaoimh

Friday · 24 October

Sessions complete

Teenage Trad Session 10:30am · St John's Hall, Castleisland. Album Launch Event 1 — Bryan O'Leary & Aidan Connolly · 6pm · Gala Hall, River Island Hotel (Free Entry). Four Men and a Dog in Concert + support from Peter Street & Niamh Farrell · 8pm · Gala Hall, River Island Hotel (Admission €25).

4:00pm Kearney's Bar
Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Ruairi Cunnane, Nathan Gourley
6:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Mick Culloty, Seán Abeyta, PJ Teehan, Rhona O'Driscoll
7:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Aaron Glancy, Conor Daly, Maura O'Connor
7:00pm The Kingdom Bar
Open Session (Pool Room)
9:00pm Castleisland Museum
Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill, Paddy Tutty
9:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Damien Mullane, Seán O'Meara and friends
9:00pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Keelan McGrath, Bríd Harper, Tom Morrow, Peter Browne
9:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Mary Bergin, Libby McCrohan, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, George McAdam
9:00pm Kearney's Bar
Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Liam Lynch, Mickey Fearon
9:00pm O'Riada's Bar
Jackie Daly, Eileen O'Brien, Mary Conroy, John Brosnan
9:30pm The Crown
Bryan O'Leary, Aidan Connolly, Michael O'Connor, Connie O'Connell
9:30pm Crown Back Bar
Andrea Palandri, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Gerry Harrington
9:30pm Brownes Back Bar
Gearoid Curtin, Jessie Healy, Darragh Horan, Kealán O'Connor
9:30pm Shoemakers Back Bar
Méabh Mulligan, Andrew Hendy, Siún Ní Ghlacáin, Padraig Óg MacAodhagáin
9:30pm The Kingdom Bar
Ryan Sheridan, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Roisín O'Connor
9:30pm Tom McCarthy's Kitchen
Carthach Ó Faoláin, Maitiu Ó Casaide, Rob Fell, Frankie Mac Aoidh
10:00pm Hartnett's Bar
John McCann, Molly Walls, Seán Kelliher, Rebecca McCarthy Kent
10:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Éamonn Meachair, Caoilfhe Morrisson, Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, Paul De Grae

Saturday · 25 October

Daytime Trail Sessions complete
12:00pm Hartnett's Bar
John Paul Reynolds, Aaron Glancy, Simon Crehan, Fionn O'Hanlon
12:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Ryan Sheridan
12:00pm Kearney's Bar
Gary Curley, Stephen McKee, Mickey Fearon
1:00pm Castleisland Museum
Michael Healy, Brian Scannell, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice
1:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
John McCann, Molly Walls, Conor Crimmins, Jillian O'Malley
1:00pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Conor Moriarty, Deirdre Meachair, Órlaith McAuliffe, Seán Kelliher
1:30pm The Kingdom Bar
Séamas Noonan, Nia Byrne, Lily O'Connor, Joe DeGeorge
2:00pm The Crown
George McAdam, Dan Gurney, Nathan Gourley, Alan Murray
2:00pm Browne's Bar Back
Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Steve Larkin, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill
3:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Breanadán Ó Beaglaoich, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman
3:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Carthach Ó Faoláin, Niamh Dalton, Rob Fell, Colm Broderick
3:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Bryan O'Leary, Michael O'Connor, Billy Clifford, Marie O'Gorman, Kate O'Gorman
3:30pm Hartnett's Bar
Singing Concert — Niamh Farrell, Elanor Shanley, Tim Dennehy (Admission €10)
3:30pm Kearney's Bar
Keelan McGrath, Paddy Tutty, Caoilfhe Morrisson
4:00pm The Crown
Dermot Byrne, Libby McCrohan, Bríd Harper, Mary Bergin
4:00pm Castleisland Museum
Seán Garvy, Pádraig Óg Macaodhagáin, Caoilfhe Morrisson
4:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Mickey Fearon, Liam Lynch
4:00pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara
4:00pm The Kingdom Bar
John Brosnan, Mary Conroy and friends
5:00pm Crown Back Bar
UCC Traidfest Battle of Band Winners — Edel Conway, Oisín Durcan, Sorcha Hennessy, Darragh Egan
6:00pm Tom McCarthy's Kitchen
Conor Connolly, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Éamonn O'Riordan, Diarmuid Ó Brien, Donal O'Sullivan
6:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Greta Curtin, Stephen Kennedy, Stevie Dunne, Jessie Healy, Deirdre Millane
6:30pm Browne's Bar Back
Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich

Saturday · 25 October

Night Trail Sessions complete
1:00pm Crown Back Bar
Tom O'Connell, Mike Brosnan, Donal Cullinane
6:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Liam O'Brien, Frankie Mac Aoidh, Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, Maitiu Ó Casaide
7:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Keelan O'Connor, Gearoid Curtin, Darragh Horan, Rachel Masterson
7:00pm The Crown
Éamonn Ó Meachair, Séamas Noonan, Lily O'Connor, Ryan Sheridan
7:00pm Castleisland Museum
Liam Lonnergan, Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill, Caoimhe Mulligan
7:00pm The Kingdom Bar
Seán Butler, Donal Cullinane, Maeve McSweeney
7:00pm Kearney's Bar
John McEvoy, Jacinta McEvoy, John Wynne, Tom Morrow
9:00pm O'Riada's Bar
Donie Nolan, Gearoid Keating and friends
9:30pm Browne's Bar Back
Maura O'Connor, Michael Broderick, Ian Sheehy, Thomas Barrett, James O'Connor
9:30pm Shoemakers Back Bar
James Lambert, Fionn Connolly, Seán Kelliher, Rebecca McCarthy Kent
10:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Gary Curley, Mickey Fearon
10:00pm The Crown
Keelan McGrath, Simon Crehan, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon
10:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Stevie Dunne, Darragh Horan, Kealán O'Connor
10:00pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Conor Connolly, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Tom Morrow
10:00pm The Kingdom Bar
Jonathan Roche, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice
10:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara
10:00pm Tom McCarthy's Kitchen
Andrew Hendy, Méabh Mulligan, Ruth McCrohan, Siún Ní Ghlacáin
10:00pm Kearney's Bar
Joe Mannion, Conor McDonagh, Éamonn Ó Meachair, Ruairi Cunnane
10:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Méabh Smyth, Nia Byrne, Lily O'Connor

Sunday · 26 October

Daytime Trail Sessions complete
12:00pm The Crown
Derek Hickey, Jacqui Martin, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill
12:00pm Kearney's Bar
Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara
12:30pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Dermot Byrne, Bríd Harper, Peter Browne, Steve Larkin
1:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Simon Crehan, Fionn O'Hanlon
1:00pm Castleisland Museum
Ciarán Mac Mathúna in Sliabh Luachra — presented by Peter Browne
1:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Méabh Mulligan, Andrew Hendy, Ruth McCrohan, Siún Ní Ghlacáin
1:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
Mary Bergen, Tony Linnane, Eamonn Riordan, Nathan Gourley
1:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Breanadán Ó Beaglaoich, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Padraig Ó Dubhghaill
1:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Frankie Mac Aoidh, Maitiu Ó Casaide, Liam Lonnergan, Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill
2:00pm Browne's Bar Back
Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley, Andrew Caden, Deirdre O'Brien
2:00pm The Kingdom Bar
Eileen de Paor, Connie O'Connell, Gerry Harrington, Ciaran Kelly, Peter Browne (pipes)
3:00pm The Crown
Bryan O'Leary, Mikie O'Gorman, Michael O'Connor, Billy O'Gorman
3:00pm Kearney's Bar
Gary Curley, Gearoid Curtin, Rachel Masterson, Conor Crimmins, Jillian O'Malley
3:30pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Caoilfhe Morrisson, Joe DeGeorge, Éamonn Ó Meachair
4:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Conor Connolly, Paddy Tutty, Peter Browne
4:00pm Crown Back Bar
Mary Crowley, Johnny Connolly, Anne McAuliffe, Nicky McAuliffe
4:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul De Grae, Eileen O'Brien
4:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
Donal Murphy, Tom Morrow, Alan Murray, Greta Curtin
4:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Open Singing Session — All Singers Welcome, hosted by Joe Walsh
4:30pm Tom McCarthy's Kitchen
Michael Healy, Brian Scannell, Roisín O'Connor, Kirill Healy
5:00pm Castleisland Museum
Album Launches 2 · Tunebook Launch — Gerald Culhane, Andrew Hendy, Conor McDonagh & Ryan Sheridan, Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill & Liam Lonnergan, John McEvoy & Catherine McEvoy, Mary Donnegan, Pádraig Mac Cárthaigh
6:00pm Browne's Bar Back
Joe Mannion, Éamonn Ó Meachair, Nia Byrne, Méabh Smyth

Sunday · 26 October

Night Trail Sessions complete
6:00pm The Crown
Carthach Ó Faoláin, Niamh Dalton, Rob Fell, Colm Broderick
6:30pm The Kingdom Bar
John Carroll, Emma O'Leary, Cathal Flood
7:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Molly Walls, Stevie Dunne, Stephen Kennedy, Maura O'Connor
7:00pm Kearney's Bar
Gerald Culhane, Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Brian Mooney
7:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
George McAdam, Liam O'Brien, Maitiu Ó Casaide
7:30pm Crown Back Bar
Conor Daly, Marie O'Gorman, Kate O'Gorman
7:30pm Castleisland Museum
Open Session
9:00pm O'Riada's Bar
Peter Browne (pipes), Jonathan Roche, Paul De Grae, Eilis Murphy, Niamh Dalton
9:30pm Browne's Bar Front
Mikie O'Gorman, Bryan O'Leary, Michael O'Connor, Connie O'Connell
9:30pm Browne's Bar Back
Aaron Glancy, Simon Crehan, Maura O'Connor, Micheál Broderick, Ian Sheehy
9:30pm The Kingdom Bar
James Lambert, Fionn Connolly, Caoilfhe Morrisson
10:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara
10:00pm The Crown
Seán Ní Ghlacáin, Padraig Óg MacAodhagáin, Ruth McCrohan, Liam Lonnergan
10:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
UCC Traidfest Battle of Band Winners — Edel Conway, Oisín Durcan, Sorcha Hennessy, Darragh Egan
10:00pm Shoemakers Front Bar
Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Jaqui Martin, Padraig Ó Dubhghaill
10:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
John McEvoy, Jacinta McEvoy, John Wynne, Tom Morrow
10:00pm Kearney's Bar
Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon, Maeve McSweeney

Monday · 27 October

Sessions complete

Session Trail resumes and runs until late.

1:00pm Kearney's Bar
Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan
1:00pm River Island Con's Bar Downstairs
Open Session
2:00pm Hartnett's Bar
Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche, Cathal Flood
3:00pm The Crown
Gearoid Keating, Connie O'Connell, Eibhlin de Paor, Donie Nolan
3:00pm Browne's Bar Front
John Brosnan, Mary Conroy, Tim Kerins
3:00pm Shoemakers Back Bar
Greta Curtin, Gearoid Curtin, Jessie Healy, Jeremy Spencer
3:00pm O'Riada's Bar
Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Roisín O'Connor, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh
4:30pm The Kingdom Bar
Anne McAuliffe, Nicky McAuliffe, Emma O'Leary, John Carroll
4:30pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Mick Culloty, PJ Teehan, Seán Abeyta, Rhona O'Driscoll
7:30pm Hartnett's Bar
Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Seán Leahy
9:00pm Browne's Bar Front
Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Sean Butler, Donal Cullinane
9:00pm Tom McCarthy's Front Bar
Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Eileen de Paor, Paul De Grae