The Races of Castlebar Festival takes to the main stage on the Mall on the 4th and 5th of May for a great selection of music for young and old.

Fresh from last years festival, The Kilkennys are returning to headline the event wrapping up a great weekend of music on the Sunday.

We also have some more of last years artists joining us including Pete & Dean, Graham Monaghan and Tómas Langan & Friends who all played a huge part in the success of 2023’s festival.

New for this year are Blu & The Black Jacks and Julianne Hennelly who between them play a great mix of music and styles. Be sure to head down to the Mall in Castlebar this Bank Holiday weekend to see for yourself.

This is a completely Free Event and on the day there is also a Family Fun Day where there will be Amusements, Face Painting, a Petting Farm, Food Trucks and more. Also making an appearance in this years festival is Murray’s Funfair, so there will be no shortage of entertainment for the young ones!

So join in the festivities and lets make this years Festival even bigger and build on the success of last years events.

A lot of work and organisation goes into making this Festival a reality and we would to thank all the contributors, sponsors and anyone who has helped out along the way. Follow the link below to see our list of sponsors & contributors which is growing every day.

Go raibh míle maith agat le duine agus le gach duine.

This May Bank Holiday Weekend in the town of Castlebar promises to be a weekend to remember with the Races of Castlebar Festival 2024 taking place.

Following on from the success of last years festival this years action packed weekend brings many new events like the Dragon Boat Race on Lough Lannagh and a walk through the history of imprisonment, capital punishment and transportation in Castlebar from 1700 to 1919 to name a few!

There will be the return of the Family Fun Days to the Mall with plenty of entertainment including a petting farm, face painting, plenty of food, music and much more.

Over the course of the weekend there will be plenty of historical events, commemorative events and family fun to get involved in so there will be something for everyone.

The Main Stage on the Mall in Castlebar will play host to a plentiful array of local music acts plus, headliners The Kilkennys on the Sunday of the Festival. After what was a memorable gig at last years festival, this talented group return to set the stage alight once again, and we are super excited to have them back once again.

Check out the Kilkennys for a little taster of what’s coming to the 2024 Festival.

For more information on festival announcements and new events being added stay tuned to our social media or keep an eye on our website.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Link
• Mail

https://westernpeople.ie/whatson/races-of-castlebar-festival-returns_arid-12927.html

The Humbert Ball in Tolster’s Bar

Opening night of the Castlebar 1798 Festival of Music and History is sure to be an evening of great entertainment.

Friday night at 9PM in Tolster’s Bar, Spenser Street the festival is getting off to a flyer with special guest Aiden Tierney of Tierney talks providing some comedy, music from DJ Michael Burke to keep you dancing into the night, spot prizes given out for best dressed & more.

Join us for a night of Craic agus Ceol and start off the Festival with a bang.

We look forward to seeing you and feel free to share the event on Social.

Check out this video from Tierney Talks and get a taster of what’s in-store.

Playing Sunday 27th, on the Mall Castlebar

Another group of talented locals are ready for the Mall Stage on Sunday the 27th at Castlebar’s newest Festival.

We are delighted to announce that local trio Pete, Dean and Fiona Conway will play this year’s festival.

In their own words the self proclaimed “Belcarras answer to Simon & Garfunkel along with a fiddler from Turlough, make an intriguing 3 Piece that will leave you breathless and wanting more. We play do’s and functions, weddings and wakes, meats and salads, buns and cakes!

You can check this talented trio out on the Mall, Sunday the 27th August. The excitement is building for what promises to be Castlebar’s best weekend of the year!

Check out Pete & Dean on Facebook here and be sure to give them a follow!
Pete & Dean

To see our line up for the weekend click here

3 New Acts for the 1798 Festival of Music & History

Some superb new acts added to the lineup for the Gig Rig at the Mall for the 1798 Festival of Music & History. These artists bring an eclectic mix of music genres to the stage and will be sure to entertain the crowds on the main stage. Read on and find out a little bit more about the artists…….

Fresh from captivating sell-out audiences around the globe, Irish cellist Patrick Dexter now brings his awe-inspiring talent to the stage in Castlebar.

Patrick performs his unique blend of classical and Irish folk music that have made him become one of the world’s best known cellists.

During the pandemic, Patrick Dexter’s music videos became a much-needed comfort for countless numbers of people all over the world. He began playing cello by his home, a tiny old stone cottage in County Mayo surrounded by immense amounts of nature, and quickly became an online global sensation watched by millions. Patrick’s online cello performances were an iconic symbol of hope and unity through the pandemic and have now become a much celebrated live show.

Prepare to be transported to a world of pure musical enchantment. Immerse yourself in the soul-stirring melodies and evocative storytelling that have made Patrick Dexter’s live performances a global phenomenon.

The concert will include music from Patrick Dexter’s debut album ‘Solace’ which recently became one of the highest selling albums in its genre in the the US and Canadian album charts.

In addition to the popular arrangements that have made him a global sensation online, Patrick also brings new original melodies and songs that still touch something old and enduring.

Patrick’s performances are an unmissable experience that weave storytelling with classical, pop, folk and Irish traditional music, all expressed with the cello’s uniquely resonant voice.

Check him out at his website https://patrickdexter.com/

A short bio excerpt from https://ultanconlon.com/about/

For many songwriters there is one occurrence which has such significance in their lives that they will always point to it as the time of transformation or moment of epiphany. For the Galway born singer-songwriter, that shift happened at age 13 when Ultan Conlon’s father passed away. Ultan’s earliest memories are that of his dad singing along to old standards as they crackled through the car radio. While always drawn to music, until this time Ultan had never felt the need to create his own. A proficient guitarist who’d been taught traditional folk tunes, he had suddenly tapped into his creative well and took to the process with voracity. Says Ultan, “I write as a form of comfort. I know when I start to feel a bit off there is potentially a creative period ahead.”

His songwriting foray resulted in four acclaimed albums recorded in a span of ten years. While still based in Galway, Ultan recently found a haven for his unique sound and sensibility in Los Angeles, CA with Nickel Creek’s Grammy Award-winning Sean Watkins producing his latest record, There’s A Waltz (2020).

For more information check out Ultan’s website or Social Media

Having earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest singers and songwriters McCabe has performed extensively with his Folk-Soul group The Niall McCabe Band over the past decade. Born on Clare Island, Co.Mayo, McCabe grew up in the family run pub awash with strong musical influences from traditional Irish and folk to rock and soul. It is here that Niall discovered his musical appetite and developed a style and voice that are unquestionably his own.

As well as becoming an accomplished finger-stlye guitar player, more recently Niall has been lending his unique voice to Irish trad-fusion band Beoga touring Ireland, Europe and the USA while also playing support for Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny Swim.

McCabe’s eagerly anticipated ‘Rituals’ album was release in February 2023 to critical acclaim and featured as RTE Album of the Week, while the song Rituals topped the RTE Radio airplay charts for five consecutive weeks.  

Some press quotes from Niall’s most recent album RITUALS

‘…the weight of personal experience and reflection makes it a masterpiece, in the true sense of the word’ IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

‘A Sentimental Soulful Debut’ – 7/10 HOTPRESS Magazine

‘On my third listen of Niall McCabe’s brand new album ‘Rituals’ I continue to find new things that I like about the album. Like that movie that deserves at least two viewings before you can appreciate it for what it is.*’ – FINBAR HOBAN PRESENTS

STONEMASON

: ‘…the strength of this song is already so clear within a few measures’ – Eliot Lipp (Alchemical Records)

‘…an incredibly talented singer-songwriter and his song ‘Stonemason’ is one of the best I’ve ever heard’ – Miriam O’Callaghan (RTE Radio 1)

Check Niall’s website out here https://www.niallmccabe.com/

Plus check them out on their Youtube Channels and hit the subscribe buttons to help out Irish Artists!

Stay tuned for more artists coming to the 1798 Festival of Music & History in Castlebar or to support our Festival hit the button

Paddy Cullivan bringing his hit show to Castlebar 1798 Festival

Paddy Cullivan is a satirist, comedian, writer, speaker, MC and multi-instrumental musician and singer. Paddy is well known as the front man Clint Velour of TThe Camambert Quartet from RTÉ’s ‘The Late Late Show’.

We are delighted to announce that Paddy Cullivan will be performing his hit show the Year of the French and the murder of John Moore live on stage at the Mall in Castlebar on Saturday the 26th of August.
This is a history show like no other!

Be sure to check out www.paddycullivan.com for more information.

John Hoban and Friends to play Castlebar 1798 Festival

John Hoban is a composer, singer, musician and author from Castlebar. John has played and taught music all his life in the Troubadour tradition.

He chose to learn his music with care over many years from some of Irelands most respected master musicians. John combines the best of the tradition with an intimate, warm and raw sensibility that is his own. He is an accomplished player of the fiddle, banjo, whistles, mandocello and other instruments, in addition to being a singer and composer of songs and music.

He is highly regarded nationally and internationally for the unique and deeply personal nature of his music. He has recorded solo songs and instrumental CD’s as well as performing on many collaborative recordings. John brings music to many diverse communities.

We are delighted to announce that John Hoban and some guests will perform at this years Castlebar 1798 Festival of Music and History.

Want to read up a little more about the life and times of John? Check out this article from the Connaught Telegraph here

Castlebar 1798 New Act…Graham Monaghan

Graham Monaghan, the biggest little one man show, has been confirmed to play the Castlebar 1798 Music and History Festival.
Based in Sligo, and celebrating 30 years in the music industry this year, Graham Monaghan’s music career has taken him all over Ireland, the UK, Denmark and Spain.

His set will be filled with songs which will have everyone dancing and singing along the Mall.

Graham is also no stranger to performing at festivals, having recently performed at the Forever Young Festival. We are delighted to announce that Graham Monaghan will play on Sunday August 27th as part of the 1798 Festival.

Check out our full Event Schedule here

The Kilkennys confirmed to play Castlebar 1798 Festival

The Kilkennys confirmed to play Castlebar 1798 Music and History Festival.
A traditional Irish Folk and Ballad Band, the Kilkennys are a live music band noted for their dynamic arrangements, energetic performances and charismatic rapport with audiences across the globe.

The Castlebar 1798 Music and History Festival are delighted to announce that the Kilkennys will perform live on the Mall, on Sunday August 27th as part of the festival.

For more information check out: https://www.thekilkennys.com

More acts and events to follow