Ireland Folk Magazine and News
Fri 24 April - Return to London Town 2026 launch concert
Join the IMDL (Irish Music and Dance in London) community for an evening celebrating some of the finest traditional Irish music, song and dance that London has to offer.
Return to London Town Festival 2026
Launch Concert
Friday 24th April - Lauderdale House
Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, London N6 5HG
Doors 7.30pm, Music 8pm
Tickets: £18 / £7 U18s → Book Now
This special concert brings together acclaimed musicians, singers and dancers from across the London Irish traditional arts scene, while also launching the 28th annual Return to London Town Festival.
This concert will feature: Eimear McGeown, Rita Farrell and Tad Sargent/ Terence O´Flaherty/ Andy Martyn, Karen Ryan and Pete Quinn/ Camden Set Dancers and IMDL’s youth project, The Trad Gathering.
The launch will unveil the main line-up for the Return to London Town Festival 2026, with Early Bird tickets released on the night. The Festival will take place across different venues in London from 23–26 October 2026.
Full details about Return to London Town Festival and IMDL’s year round cultural work can be found at www.returntolondontown.org
Performers:
Eimear McGeown (flute and whistles)
Armagh musician Eimear McGeown has built a reputation as one of the most versatile exponents of both the classical and Irish flute. She tours internationally and released her debut solo album, Inis, in 2018.
Rita Farrell (uilleann pipes and flute)
From a Leitrim family, Rita, is a key figure in the session scene, a member of the Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann, and recorded on Mná na bPíob Uilleann Volume 1.
https://pipers.ie/about/board/
Tad Sargent (guitar)
Tad Sargent, whose family hail from Mayo, has recorded and performed extensively with musicians including Crossharbour, Ranagri and Cara Dillon.
Terence O’Flaherty (vocals and bouzouki)
County Clare musician, singer and songwriter Terence O’Flaherty has been part of the London Irish music scene since the 1970s. He has released three albums and wrote ´Return to Camden´, celebrating many of the great musical figures of London.
Andy Martyn (button accordion)
Andy Martyn, from an East Galway family, has performed and recorded with Le Chéile, Alias Ron Kavana, John Carty and many others. He released his solo album ´Will We Give it a Go?´ in 2022.
Karen Ryan (fiddle) and Pete Quinn (piano)
Karen Ryan, whose family roots are in Galway and Mayo, and Liverpool Irish Pete Quinn have performed and recorded extensively with The London Lasses, Artisan Row and more. The pair recorded and released Karen´s debut solo album, ´The Coast Road´, in 2012.
