Temple Bar TradFest is going to France

Temple Bar TradFest is heading to the world's largest gathering of Celtic music and culture, the Interceltique Festival in the city of Lorient. Irish musicians will join traditional artists from Brittany, Scotland and Wales at the week long event which runs from July 31 until August 9.

Former Bothy Band piper Paddy Keenan and singer Tommy O'Sullivan have been confirmed to play the Interceltique Festival, after playing at TradFest back in January. The line-up for the Irish pavilion at the Interceltique Festival is to be announced soon.

Around 650,000 people descend on Lorient each year for the festival, which is in its 40th year. As well as trad and folk music there's classical, jazz and rock, along with dancers, painters, sculptors, writers and other artists.

The most spectacular event of the festival is the Grand Parade of Celtic Nations – a parade of 3,000 musicians, singers, pipe bands and dancers.

Temple Bar TradFest takes place annually in the slightly less attractive climate of January in Dublin - so a trip to France in July should make a nice change for the organisers, TASCQ, the association representing Temple Bar traders.