Music
04 Jul 23

The Cobblestone to host A Celebration of Traveller Music as part of Traveller Pride Week 2023

Many more events celebrating the cultural heritage of Irish Travellers are also taking place across the country from now until July 14 – including a concert hosted by Willzee in glór, Ennis.

Following its launch yesterday, Traveller Pride Week – an annual celebration of Traveller culture and identity – is set to run until July 14, with dozens of free events taking place across the country.

Among the highlights of the 2023 edition is a special gig at The Cobblestone in Dublin next Wednesday, July 12. Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group are presenting A Celebration of Traveller Music, kicking off at 7pm, with Michael Collins on MC duties.

You can expect "a night of songs, stories and poems from the Traveller & Settled Community."

There will also be a strong musical emphasis at Clare Traveller Community Development Project's showcase concert at glór in Ennis, Co. Clare, on Thursday, July 13. Hosted by rapper and spoken word artist Willzee, the night will also feature music from Thomas McCarthy, Trisha Reilly, Helen Hutchinson, Thomas O’Halloran and more.

This year's programme for Traveller Pride Week has a particular emphasis on celebrating "Traveller Change-Makers".

Having kicked off with a launch event at The Complex Arts Centre in Dublin, groups and communities across the country are holding events of their own across the coming days.

Other highlights include Limerick City Traveller Health Programme's Moments of Truth exhibition, featuring a series of large works on canvas and a quilted textile artwork completed by a group of twelve Traveller women. The exhibition is running at Limerick's City Hall from July 11-14.

Various events – celebrating numerous aspects of Traveller life, culture, and history – will also be taking place in Ballyfermot, Finglas, Ballymun, Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Trim, Athlone, Kildare, Ballina, Newbridge, Kilkenny, Portarlington, Longford, Tullamore, Wexford, Enniscorthy, Wicklow, Galway, Carrick-on-Shannon, Sligo, Cork, Midleton, Tralee, Limerick, Cashel, Charleville, Waterford, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bantry, Cavan, Donegal, and more.

The full programme is available to view and download here.