The 12th annual Clifden Traditional Music Festival takes place from this Thursday to Sunday, April 13-16,  in Clifden.  The official opening and concert will be in the Clifden Station House Theatre at 7pm this Friday and will feature artists from across Ireland as well as local talent. Events kick off this Thursday with Seisiún na nÓg in the Woodfield Hotel, while young people will also be to the fore this Friday morning, with Scoil Mhuire Marching Band performing on the town square at 11am.

There will be workshops in Fiddle, Button Accordion and Concertina on Saturday from 10am until 12.30pm in Scoil Mhuire National School with top-class tutors including: Fergus Bogue (Accordion), Rosie Ferguson (Fiddle), Maura Walsh (Concertina) and Liz Gaughan (Mixed Instruments Workshop). The popular music sessions will feature champion musicians from all over Ireland, including Anthony Kavanagh (Banjo), John Carroll (Accordion) and George McAdam (Banjo), Michael Curran (Accordion) on accordion, Paul Clesham on Piano, Liz and Yvonne Kane (Fiddle), dancer Nathan Piltazke and the Blackwater Céilí Band from Tyrone.  All are welcome to take part in the sessions.

They are on Friday at 10pm in Lowrys Bar, Foyles Hotel and Woodfield Hotel. Saturday at 1.30pm in Lowrys , 3pm in Vaughan’s Bar and 4.30pm in Griffin’s, and then at 10pm: McGrath’s Bar, Ravi’s Bar and Tom Kings Bar.  The ‘Farewell Session” will be in McGrath’s at 12.30 on Sunday after a special Music Mass at 11.30am in Clifden Church.

A highlight will be the outdoor gig on the street on Saturday at 7.30pm, with The Blackwater Céilí Band headlining.  This All-Ireland champion group, on a return visit to Clifden Trad Fest, will be joined by dancers and guest artists.

Saturday’s events also include Clifden Trad Fest 5K Run which will leave from the town centre at 2pm.  And there will be entertainment, music and song on the Gig Rig from 2.30pm with Peter Carey Jnr, with a busking competition taking place from 1.30pm around the town.

■ More information at 086 4015342, @clifdentradfest, and clifdentradfest@yahoo.ie.