Event Information

Howth Maritime By Night: The Wran

Irish Trad/Folk Band The Wran are coming to The Abbey Tavern as part of the Howth Maritime By Night festival on Friday the 22nd of May.

Lá an Dreoilín, or Wren Day—also known as The Wran—is a traditional Irish celebration held on St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th. Rooted in ancient Celtic and possibly pre-Christian customs, the day honours the wren, a bird once seen as both sacred and treacherous in folklore. Historically, groups of "Wren Boys" would dress in colourful costumes and straw suits, parade through towns playing music, singing, and carrying a holly bush with a symbolic wren on top. While the actual hunting of the bird is no longer practised, the tradition lives on as a vibrant expression of Irish identity, music, and community spirit. Preserving Lá an Dreoilín helps us keep this unique piece of our heritage alive for future generations.

As the Howth Maritime & Seafood Festival moves to May, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new evening festival to complement the daytime celebrations — kicking off in full on the Friday night with a full programme of gigs plus a Viking event. If you’re planning a visit to the Maritime Festival, why not stay on and experience this intimate boutique music festival set across nine unique venues throughout the village and the breathtaking surroundings of Howth Hill?

From cosy pubs to iconic cultural spaces, the festival invites you to wander from gig to gig, soaking up the charm and energy of Howth — think the spirit of Electric Picnic, but with most events free to enjoy.

At the heart of the programme are four special headline shows. The historic Abbey Tavern hosts three nights of standout performances, while the beautiful St. Mary’s Church provides a stunning setting for a truly memorable concert.

Festival highlights include: Legendary Irish folk singer-songwriter Luka Bloom performing at St. Mary’s Church on Sunday, May 24th at 6pm.

At the Abbey Tavern:

Friday, May 22nd at 8pm – dynamic trad-fusion from The Wran

Saturday, May 23rd at 8pm – Havana-inspired grooves with Havanah Roots

Sunday, May 24th at 8pm – the electrifying Celtic rhythms of Kíla

Tickets for all 4 headline shows from tickets.ie

Elsewhere, The Summit Inn will host a nostalgic K2 80s & 90s Club Night. In addition to the headline shows, a vibrant programme of free live music will take place across the town, featuring performances from 353 Samba Club at McNeills, Allied Irish Bandits at O’Connell’s, The Guilty Party at Crabby Joe’s, Ultras and Taylor D at The Bloody Stream, Dublin City Rounders at The Harbour Bar and The Mafia Cats at Wrights-Findlater.

A special highlight of the weekend is ‘Songs From Howth’, a unique songwriters’ showcase celebrating local talent, with performances from Paul Byrne, Luke Howard, Colm Skwirbat, Lee Page & Dave Chesney, Celine Daly, Martello and Rob Keogh. For those travelling in, camper van parking will be available at Suttonians Rugby Club, making it even easier to turn your visit into a full weekend escape.

Join us for a weekend of great music, Seafood, fresh sea air and unforgettable atmosphere in one of Ireland’s most scenic coastal villages. And yes we did mention Vikings - at 7pm on the Friday there’ll be a Viking parade and battle reenactment starting from Tesco and going to the green area opposite King Sitric.

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Ticket Information:

General Admission: €22.50 (Incl. Booking Fee)