TradFest Belgium 2017 is finally here!
Traditional Irish Music Festival is in town and it is ready to shake Brussels from its roots!
The Embassy of Ireland initiated this festival in 2015, to bring Irish music and culture to the large Irish community in Belgium and also to a Belgian and wider international audience. This year the embassy presents the third edition of the festival and is promoting more than ever the Irish culture and traditions! From the 12h till the 18th of June a piece of Ireland will be very present in Brussels! The aim is to spread the Irish cultural heritage among expats, bruxellois and Belgians, not just to the original Irish community! Visitors from all around Belgium and Ireland have come together to seize this moment and share it with the international community, to underline the importance the Irish culture plays in Belgium and to reiterate its relevance in a multifaceted and multicultural environment such as Brussels. It will be a unique opportunity to get to know in a deeper sense Ireland and its history. A lot of a cultural aspects go through language and traditions and TradFest offers a good first grasp on what it means to be Irish.
“This year TradFest events will take part in Brussels, Kraainem, Liège and Loker. There is a wide variety of events, including an art exhibition, the very best of Irish music, dance and language classes and a series of lunchtime literary events. It will be a great opportunity to get to discover Ireland in Belgium!” explains Éamonn Mac Aodha, Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium.
“We are happy to support this initiative since the beginning of its existence. For us, it’s essential to establish the bridge between Brussels expats and the Bruxellois. Furthermore, it is the occasion to highlight Belgian history. That’s why this year’s festival will include a special focus on World War One and the Battle of Messines Ridge, the centenary of which will be commemorated on the 7th of June” says Salvatore Orlando, Head of Expatriates at BNP Paribas Fortis.
Ronan McGreevy and Thomas Burke will deliver expert talks on the subject as part of this year’s festival. Talented, well-known Irish musicians and singers will travel from Ireland for the festival including Mary Black, Máirtín O’Connor Trio, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Brú Ború, Na Fir Sneachta and many others, to join the large number of wonderful local and continental traditional musicians who are the inspiration for this festival. Revered Irish singer Mary Black will open the Tradfest with a concert, presenting a diverse mix of traditional tunes and ballads.
“I’m really looking forward to playing the Tradfest at this beautiful venue” says Mary Black.
In the next days exhibitions, talks, poetry meetings, concerts, dances, Irish language classes and films are going to take place. It will be a 360 degree experience, that will enable the visitors to merge deeper and deeper in the Irish heritage. Absolutely not to miss! Check out the full TradFest Programme.
