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 2025Thursday · 23 October Opening Night
Sessions completeFestival 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).
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| The Crown | 8:30pm | Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Mike Kelliher |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 8:30pm | Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche and friends |
| Hartnett's Bar | 9:00pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Brian Scannell, Pádraig Buckley |
| Kearney's Bar | 9:00pm | Sean Butler, Donal Cullinane and friends |
| Brownes Front Bar | 9:30pm | Tom O'Connell, Mike Brosnan, Cathal Flood |
| Shoemaker Front Bar | 9:30pm | Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Aidan Connolly |
| Brownes Back Bar | 10:00pm | Open Session |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 10:00pm | Paudie O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan, Aoife Ní Chaoimh |
Friday · 24 October
Sessions completeTeenage 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).
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Kearney's Bar | 4:00pm | Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Ruairi Cunnane, Nathan Gourley |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 6:00pm | Mick Culloty, Seán Abeyta, PJ Teehan, Rhona O'Driscoll |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:00pm | Aaron Glancy, Conor Daly, Maura O'Connor |
| The Kingdom Bar | 7:00pm | Open Session (Pool Room) |
| Castleisland Museum | 9:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill, Paddy Tutty |
| Browne's Bar Front | 9:00pm | Damien Mullane, Seán O'Meara and friends |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 9:00pm | Keelan McGrath, Bríd Harper, Tom Morrow, Peter Browne |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 9:00pm | Mary Bergin, Libby McCrohan, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, George McAdam |
| Kearney's Bar | 9:00pm | Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Liam Lynch, Mickey Fearon |
| O'Riada's Bar | 9:00pm | Jackie Daly, Eileen O'Brien, Mary Conroy, John Brosnan |
| The Crown | 9:30pm | Bryan O'Leary, Aidan Connolly, Michael O'Connor, Connie O'Connell |
| Crown Back Bar | 9:30pm | Andrea Palandri, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Gerry Harrington |
| Brownes Back Bar | 9:30pm | Gearoid Curtin, Jessie Healy, Darragh Horan, Kealán O'Connor |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 9:30pm | Méabh Mulligan, Andrew Hendy, Siún Ní Ghlacáin, Padraig Óg MacAodhagáin |
| The Kingdom Bar | 9:30pm | Ryan Sheridan, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Roisín O'Connor |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 9:30pm | Carthach Ó Faoláin, Maitiu Ó Casaide, Rob Fell, Frankie Mac Aoidh |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | John McCann, Molly Walls, Seán Kelliher, Rebecca McCarthy Kent |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 10:00pm | Éamonn Meachair, Caoilfhe Morrisson, Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, Paul De Grae |
Saturday · 25 October Daytime Trail
Sessions complete| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Hartnett's Bar | 12:00pm | John Paul Reynolds, Aaron Glancy, Simon Crehan, Fionn O'Hanlon |
| Browne's Bar Front | 12:00pm | Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Ryan Sheridan |
| Kearney's Bar | 12:00pm | Gary Curley, Stephen McKee, Mickey Fearon |
| Castleisland Museum | 1:00pm | Michael Healy, Brian Scannell, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 1:00pm | John McCann, Molly Walls, Conor Crimmins, Jillian O'Malley |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 1:00pm | Conor Moriarty, Deirdre Meachair, Órlaith McAuliffe, Seán Kelliher |
| The Kingdom Bar | 1:30pm | Séamas Noonan, Nia Byrne, Lily O'Connor, Joe DeGeorge |
| The Crown | 2:00pm | George McAdam, Dan Gurney, Nathan Gourley, Alan Murray |
| Browne's Bar Back | 2:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Steve Larkin, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill |
| Browne's Bar Front | 3:00pm | Breanadán Ó Beaglaoich, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 3:00pm | Carthach Ó Faoláin, Niamh Dalton, Rob Fell, Colm Broderick |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 3:00pm | Bryan O'Leary, Michael O'Connor, Billy Clifford, Marie O'Gorman, Kate O'Gorman |
| Hartnett's Bar | 3:30pm | Singing Concert — Niamh Farrell, Elanor Shanley, Tim Dennehy (Admission €10) |
| Kearney's Bar | 3:30pm | Keelan McGrath, Paddy Tutty, Caoilfhe Morrisson |
| The Crown | 4:00pm | Dermot Byrne, Libby McCrohan, Bríd Harper, Mary Bergin |
| Castleisland Museum | 4:00pm | Seán Garvy, Pádraig Óg Macaodhagáin, Caoilfhe Morrisson |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 4:00pm | Madden's Belfast On Tour — Oisín Murphy, Erin Rose Ní Mhaoláin, Piaras Mac Maoláin, Mickey Fearon, Liam Lynch |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 4:00pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara |
| The Kingdom Bar | 4:00pm | John Brosnan, Mary Conroy and friends |
| Crown Back Bar | 5:00pm | UCC Traidfest Battle of Band Winners — Edel Conway, Oisín Durcan, Sorcha Hennessy, Darragh Egan |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 6:00pm | Conor Connolly, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Éamonn O'Riordan, Diarmuid Ó Brien, Donal O'Sullivan |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 6:00pm | Greta Curtin, Stephen Kennedy, Stevie Dunne, Jessie Healy, Deirdre Millane |
| Browne's Bar Back | 6:30pm | Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich |
Saturday · 25 October Night Trail
Sessions complete| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Back Bar | 1:00pm | Tom O'Connell, Mike Brosnan, Donal Cullinane |
| Browne's Bar Front | 6:00pm | Liam O'Brien, Frankie Mac Aoidh, Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, Maitiu Ó Casaide |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:00pm | Keelan O'Connor, Gearoid Curtin, Darragh Horan, Rachel Masterson |
| The Crown | 7:00pm | Éamonn Ó Meachair, Séamas Noonan, Lily O'Connor, Ryan Sheridan |
| Castleisland Museum | 7:00pm | Liam Lonnergan, Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill, Caoimhe Mulligan |
| The Kingdom Bar | 7:00pm | Seán Butler, Donal Cullinane, Maeve McSweeney |
| Kearney's Bar | 7:00pm | John McEvoy, Jacinta McEvoy, John Wynne, Tom Morrow |
| O'Riada's Bar | 9:00pm | Donie Nolan, Gearoid Keating and friends |
| Browne's Bar Back | 9:30pm | Maura O'Connor, Michael Broderick, Ian Sheehy, Thomas Barrett, James O'Connor |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 9:30pm | James Lambert, Fionn Connolly, Seán Kelliher, Rebecca McCarthy Kent |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | Órlaith McAuliffe, Stephen McKee, Gary Curley, Mickey Fearon |
| The Crown | 10:00pm | Keelan McGrath, Simon Crehan, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon |
| Browne's Bar Front | 10:00pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Stevie Dunne, Darragh Horan, Kealán O'Connor |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 10:00pm | Conor Connolly, Padraig Keane, Ruairi McGorman, Tom Morrow |
| The Kingdom Bar | 10:00pm | Jonathan Roche, Eilis Murphy, Mike Rice |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 10:00pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 10:00pm | Andrew Hendy, Méabh Mulligan, Ruth McCrohan, Siún Ní Ghlacáin |
| Kearney's Bar | 10:00pm | Joe Mannion, Conor McDonagh, Éamonn Ó Meachair, Ruairi Cunnane |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 10:00pm | Méabh Smyth, Nia Byrne, Lily O'Connor |
Sunday · 26 October Daytime Trail
Sessions complete| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| The Crown | 12:00pm | Derek Hickey, Jacqui Martin, Liam Flanagan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaill |
| Kearney's Bar | 12:00pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 12:30pm | Dermot Byrne, Bríd Harper, Peter Browne, Steve Larkin |
| Hartnett's Bar | 1:00pm | Keelan McGrath, John Paul Reynolds, Simon Crehan, Fionn O'Hanlon |
| Castleisland Museum | 1:00pm | Ciarán Mac Mathúna in Sliabh Luachra — presented by Peter Browne |
| Browne's Bar Front | 1:00pm | Méabh Mulligan, Andrew Hendy, Ruth McCrohan, Siún Ní Ghlacáin |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 1:00pm | Mary Bergen, Tony Linnane, Eamonn Riordan, Nathan Gourley |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 1:00pm | Breanadán Ó Beaglaoich, Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Padraig Ó Dubhghaill |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 1:00pm | Frankie Mac Aoidh, Maitiu Ó Casaide, Liam Lonnergan, Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill |
| Browne's Bar Back | 2:00pm | Liam O'Brien, Deirdre Hurley, Andrew Caden, Deirdre O'Brien |
| The Kingdom Bar | 2:00pm | Eileen de Paor, Connie O'Connell, Gerry Harrington, Ciaran Kelly, Peter Browne (pipes) |
| The Crown | 3:00pm | Bryan O'Leary, Mikie O'Gorman, Michael O'Connor, Billy O'Gorman |
| Kearney's Bar | 3:00pm | Gary Curley, Gearoid Curtin, Rachel Masterson, Conor Crimmins, Jillian O'Malley |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 3:30pm | Caoilfhe Morrisson, Joe DeGeorge, Éamonn Ó Meachair |
| Hartnett's Bar | 4:00pm | Conor Connolly, Paddy Tutty, Peter Browne |
| Crown Back Bar | 4:00pm | Mary Crowley, Johnny Connolly, Anne McAuliffe, Nicky McAuliffe |
| Browne's Bar Front | 4:00pm | Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul De Grae, Eileen O'Brien |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 4:00pm | Donal Murphy, Tom Morrow, Alan Murray, Greta Curtin |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 4:00pm | Open Singing Session — All Singers Welcome, hosted by Joe Walsh |
| Tom McCarthy's Kitchen | 4:30pm | Michael Healy, Brian Scannell, Roisín O'Connor, Kirill Healy |
| Castleisland Museum | 5:00pm | 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 |
| Browne's Bar Back | 6:00pm | Joe Mannion, Éamonn Ó Meachair, Nia Byrne, Méabh Smyth |
Sunday · 26 October Night Trail
Sessions complete| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| The Crown | 6:00pm | Carthach Ó Faoláin, Niamh Dalton, Rob Fell, Colm Broderick |
| The Kingdom Bar | 6:30pm | John Carroll, Emma O'Leary, Cathal Flood |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:00pm | Molly Walls, Stevie Dunne, Stephen Kennedy, Maura O'Connor |
| Kearney's Bar | 7:00pm | Gerald Culhane, Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Brian Mooney |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 7:00pm | George McAdam, Liam O'Brien, Maitiu Ó Casaide |
| Crown Back Bar | 7:30pm | Conor Daly, Marie O'Gorman, Kate O'Gorman |
| Castleisland Museum | 7:30pm | Open Session |
| O'Riada's Bar | 9:00pm | Peter Browne (pipes), Jonathan Roche, Paul De Grae, Eilis Murphy, Niamh Dalton |
| Browne's Bar Front | 9:30pm | Mikie O'Gorman, Bryan O'Leary, Michael O'Connor, Connie O'Connell |
| Browne's Bar Back | 9:30pm | Aaron Glancy, Simon Crehan, Maura O'Connor, Micheál Broderick, Ian Sheehy |
| The Kingdom Bar | 9:30pm | James Lambert, Fionn Connolly, Caoilfhe Morrisson |
| Hartnett's Bar | 10:00pm | Damien Mullane, Jeremy Spencer, Seán O'Meara |
| The Crown | 10:00pm | Seán Ní Ghlacáin, Padraig Óg MacAodhagáin, Ruth McCrohan, Liam Lonnergan |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 10:00pm | UCC Traidfest Battle of Band Winners — Edel Conway, Oisín Durcan, Sorcha Hennessy, Darragh Egan |
| Shoemakers Front Bar | 10:00pm | Derek Hickey, Liam Flanagan, Jaqui Martin, Padraig Ó Dubhghaill |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 10:00pm | John McEvoy, Jacinta McEvoy, John Wynne, Tom Morrow |
| Kearney's Bar | 10:00pm | Amhlaobh Ó Síocháin, John Paul Reynolds, Fionn O'Hanlon, Maeve McSweeney |
Monday · 27 October
Sessions completeSession Trail resumes and runs until late.
| Location | Time | Musicians |
|---|---|---|
| Kearney's Bar | 1:00pm | Con Moynihan, Denis O'Connor, Joe O'Sullivan |
| River Island Con's Bar Downstairs | 1:00pm | Open Session |
| Hartnett's Bar | 2:00pm | Eilis Murphy, Jonathan Roche, Cathal Flood |
| The Crown | 3:00pm | Gearoid Keating, Connie O'Connell, Eibhlin de Paor, Donie Nolan |
| Browne's Bar Front | 3:00pm | John Brosnan, Mary Conroy, Tim Kerins |
| Shoemakers Back Bar | 3:00pm | Greta Curtin, Gearoid Curtin, Jessie Healy, Jeremy Spencer |
| O'Riada's Bar | 3:00pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Roisín O'Connor, Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh |
| The Kingdom Bar | 4:30pm | Anne McAuliffe, Nicky McAuliffe, Emma O'Leary, John Carroll |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 4:30pm | Mick Culloty, PJ Teehan, Seán Abeyta, Rhona O'Driscoll |
| Hartnett's Bar | 7:30pm | Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Seán Leahy |
| Browne's Bar Front | 9:00pm | Michael Healy, Kirill Healy, Sean Butler, Donal Cullinane |
| Tom McCarthy's Front Bar | 9:00pm | Paudie O'Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Eileen de Paor, Paul De Grae |