Welcome to the Third Irish Old Time Gathering convening on 21st-23rd February 2020, with the intention of bringing together Appalachian music enthusiasts from across Ireland, and also welcoming all old-time musicians from the UK, Europe and The States regardless of skill or experience. The main venue will be the Roadside Tavern, located just off the main street in Lisdoonvarna. This is a historic and prize-winning Co Clare hostelry, with a fine music tradition and reputation for its food. It is also one of a handful of micro-brewery pubs in Ireland, stocking its own famed Gold, Red and Stout beers. Depending on numbers, additional sessions/jams will take place at other pubs and the Burren Hostel, all within a couple of minutes’ walk away. Just as in the Appalachian music tradition in the US, this will be a gathering of musicians rather than a more formal festival with paid performers. The core activity will be jam sessions, with aspiring and experienced musicians able to meet up to learn, play and swop tunes In addition, we expect to have a number of visiting musicians from the US and UK, veterans of the Old Time scene, able to share their experience. One of our organizers, Bob Denton, grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains playing traditional musc, won first place in the banjo competition at the National Old Time Fiddle Contest and Festival in Weiser, Idaho in 2016. His band also won First Place at the Galax Fiddler’s Convention and ribbons at The Union Grove Fiddlers convention. This year Bob attended old time festivals at Clifftop (West Virginia) , Centralia (Central Washington State) , Rockbridge (Virginia) and Hoppin Johns (North Carolina) this past summer as well as recent gigs in Ashville, NC and Nashville, TN. On Saturday night, February 22nd, we plan to include a concert featuring some of the best old time talent in Ireland followed by a contra dance. The cost for the weekend is just €10.00 EUR per participant if paid by 31 Jan 2020, and €15.00 if paid from 1 Feb onwards or on arrival. Please go to the registration and payment pages on this site. Keep an eye out for information updates on our Irish Old Time Facebook page See you in Lisdoonvarna!