Come celebrate the Irish and Celtic Music Festival in the heart of Yass! Set in a picturesque rural valley with rich Irish and Celtic heritage, the festival brings the town to life with live music, dance, poetry, and plenty of good craic.
The Irish and Celtic Music Festival began in 2018, inspired by Yass’s deep Irish and Celtic heritage. Festival Director Janno Scanes notes that the town has long-standing ties to Ireland, with early settlement by Irish free settlers. During the Irish potato famine (1848–1850), many orphan girls came to Yass and went on to become the matriarchs of families whose descendants still live here today. The arrival of the Carmelite Nuns and the many modern Irish families who now call Yass home further enrich this history.
The town’s heritage is woven into the festival itself. Historic venues such as the 180-year-old Lovat Chapel and the Yass Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, built after WWI, host performances, poetry, spoken word, and lively ceilis.
Outdoors, Banjo Paterson Park comes alive with Celtic markets across the weekend, while workshops offer the chance to learn traditional instruments like the whistle, flute, accordion, or harmonica.
Younger visitors are celebrated too, with a junior fleadh held on Saturday and Sunday mornings, making the festival a true community celebration for all ages.
Musicians, Big Fiddle Little Fiddle, just one of over 50 fabulous performances in the program.