TradFest 2021 is looking a little different this year, and as a result of Covid-19, the festival will be held virtually from the end of this month to next summer. The proceedings will begin with a show called Ireland in Music, from RTÉ on December 29th.

That said, organisers are hoping to see the return of genuine live music in a 'Covid safe environment' as early as April, thanks to new technology that comes in the form of an air-filtration system.

Today, The Independent's Melanie Finn reported on the technology, developed by Irish company Novaerus. According to The Independent, the company uses plasma technology, and says that the units can "kill and deactivate not only the Covid-19 virus", but other airborne viruses as well.

The TradFest festival CEO Martin Harte said the air-filtration units have been approved by Professor Jack Lambert, who works as a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Mater Hospital, and that the new technology will provide disinfected air, which will offer audiences the "safest space".

However, the planned live events will only occur as long as Ireland is at Level Two restrictions in the Government's Living With Covid plan, and attendees will still be required to wear face masks. The events will also be alcohol-free.

If it goes ahead, fifty concerts have been planned for 50 audience members. The concerts will last 50 minutes, and run over the course of five days at some of Dublin's most iconic venues.

"We want to get music back," said Harte. "We realise it’s not going to be in the same mass numbers as it once was. And then we want to get the pubs open and we want to do that safely. It will probably be summer of 2021 when we start to deliver safe sessions back in the pubs in Temple Bar with quality artists. We want to get people back in, but in a safe and controlled manner, so you’re looking at about six months’ time.”

TradFest was launched by Minister Catherine Martin this morning, who said she would do her best to ensure that Ireland saw the return of live music in 2021, after what has been a distinctly quiet and difficult year for musicians and music industry professionals alike.

"As we go into 2021, the vaccine has given us hope, that it will help with the return of live music and it’s all about the managing of it," she said in a statement. "I'm determined that live music will come back; it’s my goal to make sure that we get to hear live music again and musicians earn a living again.”