Traditional Arts

We preserve and promote Ireland’s traditional arts through targeted development supports, helping to ensure that our rich heritage of traditional music, song, dance, and storytelling is sustained.

Louise Mulcahy performing at the Meath Beo Series in Hamwood House, Dunboyne. Photo: Aubrey Martin, Perfect Stills.

How we develop traditional arts

Through the actions of our traditional arts policy, we strive to enhance the sustainability and reach of traditional arts practices through developing infrastructure and capacity and by deepening public engagement across Ireland.

Learn more about how we develop traditional arts

Outdoor performance of guitars and fiddles at Baltimore Fiddle Fair

Baltimore Fiddle Fair. Photo: Con Kelleher.

Partnerships and schemes

Traditional Artist in Residence at UCC

This residency gives a traditional musician, singer, dancer, story-teller or oral arts practitioner a unique opportunity to develop their practice in a third-level environment, while offering students of music the benefit of engaging with a practising artist.

Tradition Now

Tradition Now celebrates Ireland’s leading voices in contemporary traditional music-making. This exciting partnership with the National Concert Hall has become a vital exploration of all that is new and innovative in traditional music and song. It enables a new generation of traditional musicians to reach fresh audiences at home and abroad.

Publications

View the latest research and reports.

Latest funding opportunities for traditional arts

More funding opportunities

Individual

Applications open Closing: 24 Apr

Agility Award

The Agility Award supports individual professional artists and arts practitioners who have not been previously funded as an individual by the Arts Council. It focuses on enabling artists to develop their practice, develop their work and develop their skills.

Individual & Organisation

Applications open Closing: 8 May

Touring of Work Scheme 2026 – Round 1

The Touring of Work Scheme supports the touring of work across Ireland by individual artists and organisations. It focuses on making great art from different artforms available to more people throughout the country.

Organisation

Opening soon Opening: 29 Apr

Festivals Investment Scheme – Round 1

The Festivals Investment Scheme supports small-to-mid-scale festivals to deliver high-quality arts experiences for audiences. It focuses on programmes engaged with, and relevant to, local communities or communities of interest.

Individual

Opening soon Opening: 20 May

Traditional Arts Bursary Award – Round 2

The Bursary Award supports individual artists to develop their artistic practice. It focuses on providing artists with the time and resources they need to think, research, reflect, and deeply engage with their artistic practice.

Our Traditional Arts team

Paul Flynn

Head of Traditional arts

Emer Mayock

Traditional Arts Adviser

Catherine Boothman

Traditional Arts Officer

Katriona Furey

Traditional Arts Assistant

Get in touch

Contact our team with your questions about traditional arts.