Time for Trad again - this year's weekend of music in Skerries will include many of last year's visiting players who are all well-known around the country and abroad. The list includes Mick O'Brien (pipes/flute), Paul Bradley (fiddle), Sean McElwain (banjo/bouzouki), Derek Hickey (box) & Jacqui Martin (fiddle), Troy Bannon (flute, Paul Doyle (guitar), Brendan Martin (fiddle), Paudie O'Connor (box) & Aoife Ní Chaoimh (fiddle), John McEvoy (fiddle) & Jacinta McEvoy (concertina), the Waterford contingent of Caoimhín O'Fearghaíl (pipes/flute), Paddy Tutty & Pax O'Faoláin (fiddles) & Macdara O'Faoláin (bouzouki) and local musicians Alan Byrne, Paul Kelly, Larry Egan, Maurice Egan, Jim Grant & Siobhán Bhreathnach, James O'Mahony, Aidín Ní Mhaonaigh, Áine Martin, Connor Lyons and the Lawlor family as well as other local players.
The sessions will be in all of the local pubs Joe Mays, The Gladstone, Nealons, The Snug, The Bus Bar & The Coast Inn at afternoon and evening start times ranging from 2pm to 9pm. There will be 2 morning/afternoon sessions in local café's - in Cafe Jacques on Saturday at 2pm and in Molly's Cafe on Sunday at 11am. Also a harp recital 4pm Saturday in La Scarpetta.
- Friday evening: Joe Mays, Nealons, The Coast Inn, The Snug and The Gladstone Inn (singers)
- Saturday afternoon: Joe Mays, The Snug and The Bus Bar
- Saturday evening: The Bus Bar, The Gladstone Inn and Joe Mays (tunes and singers)
- Sunday afternoon: The Snug and The Bus Bar
- Sunday evening: Joe Mays (fast and slow)
There will be 2 sessions at the Sailing Club for the younger players, at 7am Friday for Teenagers (hosted by local Inis Rua players) and at 5pm Sunday there will be the Family Session to include even younger players hosted by Mairéad McEvoy.
The weekly Gladstone Friday Night Session will continue as normal and is a welcome affiliated event in the weekend programme.
The Singing session will be hosted by the year-old Skerries Folk Club at 7pm Saturday evening upstairs in Joe Mays.
The familiar Adult slow session will be upstairs in Joe Mays at 7pm on Sunday evening hosted by box player Paudie O'Connor.
The 2023 spotlight event will be a Harp Recital hosted by local harpist Siobhán Bhreathnach and featuring solo players Áine Martin, Noreen O’Donoghue, Fiona Gryson, Alannah Thornburgh, Emer Ní Scolaí and Siobhán Bhreathnach herself. The Harp Recital will take place in La Scarpetta at 4pm on Saturday, where all are welcome to listen to the six harpists and then join them for a session.
