AN EXPANDED family programme will be introduced at this year’s Temple Bar TradFest which begins on Wednesday. This is the fifth year of the Irish music and culture festival which will run for five days in Dublin’s cultural quarter.
The highlight of the family programme will be the Anna Livia Parade at 12.30pm on Sunday, when over 100 young people in costumes will wind their way through Temple Bar and finish at Wood Quay. The costumes, by Wexford group Buí Bolg, will include some life-sized Dublin Bay Prawns, giant rain drops and the goddess Anna Livia. Afterwards, Meeting House Square will host a family outdoor céilí with the Kilfenora céilí band.
A free TradFest playground will be set up in the amphitheatre of the Civic Offices at Wood Quay to entertain children.
The premiere of The Tall Tale of Mr Punch will be held on Wednesday in The New Theatre with puppeteer Ronan Tully.
On Friday, Spraoi from Sligo will kick off a concert in the Project Arts Centre while on Saturday, the Young European Strings will perform a newly-commissioned piece by composer Raymond Deane. Proceeds will be donated through the Red Cross to an orphanage in Haiti.
On Saturday, young people from Dublin and Cavan will provide the entertainment on a purpose built stage in Temple Bar.
Other events include cultural workshops, free movies on the square and pipe band performances each evening of the festival.
The festival is organised by Temple Bar TASC, which represents local traders.
For details of the Temple Bar TradFest Family programme go to www.templebartrad.com.
