Music has always been a central part of the Strokestown experience. Anna-Louise Costello, Matt Molloy, Patsy Hanly, John Carty, John Spillane, and Maire Breathnach, have all performed at the festival over the years.

There are also hazy and magical memories of Seamus Heaney delivering a shanty in the small hours in Beirne’s Pub some years ago.

This year our musical guests will be the renowned We Banjo 3. Something of a trad supergroup, the We Banjo 3 sound transcends genre. At a recent sold-out performance in Dublin Castle, the spell-bound audience would have struggled to decide if the mighty sound they were hearing was Irish or American, historical or contemporary. Think Planxty duelling with Led Zeppelin and Mumford and Sons, all bound up with the most astute sense of musical heritage, and you’re close to the scope and originality of this band. But don’t take our word for it. They were recently given a rave review by Siobhna Long in the Irish Times, and you can read it by clicking here.