New traditional music festival ‘Coirm’ to debut in Mayo this June
Three-day celebration of Irish music, song and dance to bring top performers and tutors to Mayo town
West Mayo is set to welcome an exciting new addition to Ireland’s traditional music calendar this month with the launch of Coirm, a brand-new festival celebrating the rich traditions of Irish music, song and dance.
The inaugural festival will take place across Westport from June 19 to 21, 2026, offering a packed programme of concerts, masterclasses, session trails and cultural events designed to showcase both established talent and the thriving traditional music community in town.
Organised by the Coirm Festival Committee, the event aims to bring together some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers and dancers while providing opportunities for visitors and locals to learn from renowned performers.
The festival programme will feature masterclasses across a wide range of traditional disciplines, including accordion, fiddle, uilleann pipes, concertina, piano accompaniment, bodhrán, tin whistle, flute, singing and sean-nós dancing.
Festival Chairperson Peadar Ó Tuathail said the new festival will celebrate both national talent and the strong traditional music culture already present in Westport.
“We are delighted to launch Coirm Chathair na Mart and bring some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers and dancers to our town,” he said. “We also want to showcase the vibrant traditional music community we have here. The name of the festival means feast and this is what people can expect over the weekend.”
The festival will officially get underway on Friday, June 19, with a launch event from 7pm in Cobblers Bar.
A full day of activity is planned for Saturday, June 20, including masterclasses, a special Tutors’ Concert and a lively Session Trail that will bring traditional music to pubs and venues throughout the town.
Celebrations will continue on Sunday, June 21, beginning with a Festival Mass in St Mary’s Church, followed by session trails in local cafés and venues before concluding with a Festival Céilí.
Further information and booking details are available through the festival’s social media channels.