Manchester celebrate Guinness’s worldwide birthday with five day Tradfest

Arthur’s Day on Thursday 24 September is a worldwide celebration by Guinness to mark the day that Arthur Guinness signed the lease on his now famous Dublin brewery in 1759. The Levenshulme Pub company has joined forces with Guinness, the Full Irish Radio show on all FM 96.9 and www.manchesteririshfestival.com to put on a massive five day tradfest featuring two hundred and fifty hours of live Irish entertainment featuring close to two hundred and fifty performers. Most of the events are completely free and run from Arthur’s eve on Wednesday 23 September until Sunday 27 September.

The festival is launched on Arthur’s Eve on Wednesday 23 September at the Union Inn on Stockport Road in Levenshulme with a special Guinness Tradfest session featuring the award winning Grace Kelly and friends. Festival highlights include a Gala concert by the internationally famous Irish singer Eleanor McEvoy on Arthur’s Day at m19 bar. Eleanor’s single ‘Only A woman’s Heart’ is listed as one of Ireland’s biggest selling singles. She pre launches her new album at the concert which is officially released in the UK on 28 September. Supporting Eleanor will be Manchester’s traditional Irish group ‘Shake the Barley’ and the award winning harpist Louise Thompson. Tickets are just £7 in advance from the venue or from www.skiddle.com for this very intimate concert.

When asked about her appearance at the Guinness Tradfest Eleanor said “I had a great time at the M19 last February when I appeared at a sell out show for the Manchester Irish Festival. I’m looking forward to coming back in September to celebrate the release of my new album “Singled Out” with my fans and friends in Manchester.”

Lawrence Hennigan the managing director of the Levenshulme Pub company said “It looks set to be a fantastic five day festival. We are delighted to part of the worldwide celebration of Guinness’s anniversary celebrations. It is great to see them supporting traditional Irish music and going back to their roots. With Joe Casserley and the full Irish Radio show behind the festival along with our media partners www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk , the festival is bound to be a major success.”

Other Arthur’s Day highlights include free concerts by Ged Graham and Innisfree , who will be appearing at the Farmers Arms in Burnage and the Union Inn in Levenshulme respectively. James Cannon the son of Sean Cannon from the legendary Irish band ‘The Dubliners’ will also be staging a free concert on Friday 25 September. He is performing with his six piece Celtic Rock band ‘The Sinners’ at the Union. On the same night M19 bar host a special Guinness Acousticfest which features nine acoustic acts headlined by the six piece Celtic rock band ‘Reckless Elbow’ and Iceland star Simon Lynge. While on Saturday the award winning actor and musician – Kieran Cunningham fresh from his UK tour with the ‘Essence of Ireland’ show performs a special free concert with Quare Craic at the Union Inn. The festival is brought to a close on Sunday 27 September with a special free family afternoon hosted by the award winning Joe Casserley and Full Irish Radio show which is being broadcast live from the Farmers Arms and Oasis Music Lounge in Burnage. The afternoon is set to attract close to one hundred Irish musicians and dancers who will be providing live entertainment from 12 noon to 6pm. The award winning Cork singer songwriter Mick Flannery will be one of the star attractions of the afternoon along with Kate Walsh as part of a special UK tour to promote their new albums. Other acts include the Keegan Kennedy School of Irish Dancing, the Scally Brothers, Celtic Ramblers and Shake the Barley.