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Féile na Tána
Sunday 25th January – Monday 2nd February 2026
Renowned Irish cultural festival Féile na Tána is looking forward to its twelfth anniversary with over a week of world class events taking place in counties Louth and Armagh of Oriel and south-east Ulster in early 2026.
This year for the first time, Féile na Tána is broadening its reach beyond the Cooley peninsula and stretching northwards into rural south Armagh. Both Gullion and Cooley are steeped in Ulster myth, legend and history, their names mentioned in the early manuscript writings of Táin Bó Cúailnge, one of Europe’s oldest vernacular epics. It is no coincidence that the area is rich with history and archaeological wonder.
Picturesque rural villages are busy getting everything in place to welcome over forty eminent musicians, singers, poets and dancers and over a hundred enthusiastic music students to the area.
The festival is known for celebrating the wealth of regional and national heritage in the traditional Irish arts, and people travel from far and wide to attend the festivities. From the Ring of Gullion to Carlingford Lough and the Irish sea, the area is one of outstanding natural beauty.
The region is ideally suited for mountain walks, water activities, cycling or indeed soaking up the atmosphere and magic of a traditional Irish music session while tasting some fresh local oysters of international renown.
Kicking off in the beautiful surrounds of Carlingford Heritage Centre, the opening concert on Sunday 25th of January at 6pm will feature Hothouse Flowers frontman, Liam O Maonlaí; poet, writer & broadcaster, Vincent Woods and the Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland All-Island Ensemble, led by harper Síofra Ní Dhubhghaill, presents Anáil Ársa na Seanmhaoine, a re-imagining of music of the ancient harpers from the Bunting & Neal Collections by the acclaimed harper-composer Michael Rooney.
On Thursday 29th January at 7pm, join us for a celebration of the music and song of Oriel in Ti Chulainn, Mullaghbawn at the foot of Slieve Gullian, with Gerry O’Connor on fiddle;
Sárán, Caoimhe agus Tadhg Ó Maolagáin on concertina, fiddle & dance; renowned singer Bláithín Mhic Cana and local historian/storyteller Seamus Murphy.
A highlight of this year’s programme includes a new commission by Riverdance composer Bill Whelan for 4 Irish harps. This concert at 8pm on Friday 30th January at Carlingford Heritage Centre is presented in association with Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland and will feature harpers from the four provinces of Ireland – Aisling Lyons, Cormac de Barra, Gráinne Meyer & Séamus Ó Flatharta. Séamus will also perform with his sister Caoimhe in a duo performance, and artistic directors Zoë Conway & John McIntyre will also perform at this event.
Irish music enthuisasts of all ages will travel from far and wide to attend the workshops at Bush Post Primary School on Saturday 31st January, taking part in classes with world renowned exponents of their craft including Mary Bergin, tin-whistle; Caoimhín O Raghallaigh, fiddle; Cathal Hayden, banjo, Máirtín O Connor, accordian; Stephanie Keane, sean nos dancing and many more. Workshops are for players with 3 years experience or more on their instrument, however, even beginners will be able to join the easy tin-whistle, singing or sean-nós dancing classes. And if all that wasn’t enough, there will be plenty of sessions, singing circles, young musicians’ concerts, lectures, exhibitions, céilís and more throughout the festival!
These leading musicians, singers and dancers will come together in a unique concert at Carlingford Heritage Centre for the main festival concert on Saturday 31st January at 8pm – an annual concert that always raises the roof!
One of our most loved events is our ‘Mól an Óige!’ – Praise the Young – Musician’s Concert in memory of the late John Mc Kevitt who was a volunteer with Féile na Tána.
This concert at the Four Seasons Hotel on Sunday 1st February will feature ‘The Sweet Suite’ composed and performed by Nós Nua Youth Folk Orchestra led by Ryan Molloy & Fergal Scahill, Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, Scoil Naomh Lorcan, Bush Post Primary Trad ensembles & more. Come along to see that the future of Irish music is in safe hands!
Sincere thanks to all our sponsors and partners for helping us to make this a festival to remember!
Special thanks to The Arts Council|An Chomhairle Ealaíon, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The Arts Office at Louth County Council, Harp Ireland, Poetry Ireland, Music Generation Louth, Na Píobairí Uilleann & local sponsors; Lily Finnegans, PJ O’Hare’s, McKevitt’s Hotel, Rabelo, Carlingford Heritage Centre & The Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford
Don’t miss what has been described as “the best little Irish music festival in Ireland”. Bígí linn – Be with us!
To book tickets, or for more information see eventbrite or www.feilenatana.com
