Tyneside Irish Festival 2025

See the full line-up here

Fáilte!

Incredibly it is 39 years since we ran our first festival - a weekend event. We start this one looking back to a Tyne Tees TV show of our second festival in 1988. Watching is a nostalgic and moving experience as it reminds us of the many friends no longer here. Over this time, we have promoted some of the biggest names in Irish Culture including Daniel O’Donnell, De Danaan, Bru Boru, Tommy Makem and Sean O’Sé. Circumstances  dictate we are a more modest affair now, but I am proud to say our twelve performers direct from Ireland are all absolutely of the highest quality and authenticity.

Champion fiddler Oisín MacDiarmada brings his marvellous new band from sligo, Daoirí Farrell returns from Dublin with a new trio including the most amazing bodhrán beater you will ever see and Kevin Morrin from Co. Laois is a powerful ballad singer to rival the very best. We are also delighted to cater for the wider Irish Community in North East England with events in Teesside and Sunderland. We are pleased to also work with Comhaltas, GAA and the Irish Centre to include events for families and youngsters and with the schools hosting our storyteller Pat (the hat) Speight from Cork City. 

Thanks to our staff, Rosie and Martha, ourcommittee and volunteers and, of course, our funders and sponsors. I look forward to meeting you at the festival.

Tony Corcoran

Festival Director