This special concert at Belfast TradFest sees longtime East Belfast resident Kyron Bourke reconnect with his roots in traditional song,reimagining classics such as Carrickfergus, Down by the Sally Gardens, and Raglan Road with his distinctive interpretive style — breathing fresh life into beloved traditional material while honouring its emotional depth and cultural weight.
Born into a celebrated Dublin theatrical family and a direct descendant of both Brendan Behan and Amhrán na bhFiann composer Peadar Kearney, Kyron Bourke carries a legacy that pulses through every note he sings and plays. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer-songwriter and performer, Kyron’s creative journey has traversed the worlds of Jazz, Rock, Pop, and theatre before ultimately bringing him to Belfast, where he has found a home among some of Ireland’s finest traditional, contemporary and Jazz musicians.
A gifted collaborator, Kyron has worked with artists across genres, including Christie Hennessy, Hothouse Flowers, Ronnie Greer, Eurovision winner Paul Harrington, and most recently Dónal O’Connor, with whom he performed at the Irish Wings Festival in Paxos, Greece in 2024. He is also Music Curator at Belfast’s renowned Bert’s Jazz Bar.
For this special TradFest performance, Kyron joins forces with two of Belfast’s finest — master flute player Gary Duffy and piper & guitarist David Armstrong, a key figure in the Eastside’s legendary Hearth Bar traditional sessions. Together, they promise an unforgettable evening where Kyron’s dynamic musicality and theatrical flair meet the deep-rooted pulse of tradition — bridging past and present with soul, style, and singular artistry.
