IF traditional music is your thinh, then mark your calendars from February 18-22 as the Gleneagle Hotel prepares to host the return of the ’16th Gathering Traditional Festival.’

A host of people from home and abroad are expected to descend on Killarney for the four day festival with a jam packed itinerary scheduled to keep visitors entertained. Concerts, Céilís, Instrument Workshops, Trad Discos, Singers Concert, CD Launches and Storytelling Sessions are among the many events set to be featured.

The Festival was started in 2000 after the demise of the ‘Killarney Folk Festival’, by the initiative of  Maurice O’Donoghue, John O’Shea and John O’Donoghue and has seen its popularity soar in recent years.

It’s now regarded as one of the best traditional events in Ireland.

There will be a host of traditional musicians playing throughout the event with favourites such as Sean Keane, The Unwanted and Arcady set to return again this year. The highlights this year are set to include the ‘Singers Masterclass’ where visitors can expect to learn traditional songs in both Irish and English from a host of experts.

Music and dance workshops will be taking centre stage throughout the festival with some of the best tutors around on hand to give advice and guidance. These workshops which will include both intermediate and advanced masterclasses have been a fixture at ‘The Gathering’ festival with them helping many players ti improve their skills.

The ‘Schools Outreach Programme’ has consitently been one of the popular elements of ‘The Gathering Festival’ and it is set to return for its 16th anniversary this year.

Every year a group of musicians visit a selection of national schools in the Killarney area over four days. The students and teachers enjoy music by local musicians and dancers which provides them with a unique insight into their culture and heritage in a fun and interactive way.

With the traditional music trip to Sliabh Luachra, CD Launches with Paudie O Connor, Angelina Carbery, Brendan O Sullivan & Tim Browne and Killarney School of Music Fiddle Group along with the return of the popular Trad Disco and late night sessions until dawn, ‘The Gathering Traditional Festival’ promises music session’s morning, noon and night.

If this has piqued your interest, then all the information about ‘The Gathering’ that you will need can be found here.