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music · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 20:00 
Sharon Shannon - Irish Tour 2026
At Roscommon Arts Centre · Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon
At Roscommon Arts Centre · Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon
Sharon Shannon is one of the most recognisable names in Irish traditional music - a Clare-born accordionist who has spent four decades pulling the music into unexpected places and making it feel fresh every time. This Roscommon date puts her on stage at the Roscommon Arts Centre for an evening that will suit anyone who loves live trad, but also anyone who has never been quite sure about trad and wants to find out what all the fuss is about. Her sets tend to draw a broad crowd, from longtime fans who know every tune to people who simply want a good night out.
Sharon Shannon plays button accordion with a fluency that makes it look effortless, but what keeps audiences coming back is how she frames the music. Expect Irish reels and jigs as the backbone, surrounded by influences that wander into reggae, Cajun, and country - collaborations and experiments she has accumulated over a career that began when she joined The Waterboys in the late 1980s. Live, the energy is high from early on. She performs with a full band and the atmosphere in a smaller venue like the Roscommon Arts Centre - a 194-seat theatre - tends to be warm and close rather than stadium-distant. This is not background music; it is a proper concert where the room pays attention. Tickets are priced around €30, but check the venue website for the current rate and booking fees.
Roscommon town sits roughly in the centre of the county, about 120 km west of Dublin via the M4 and N61, and about 30 km south of Strokestown. The drive from Galway is around 80 km via the N63. Bus Eireann serves Roscommon town with routes connecting Dublin, Athlone, Galway, and Sligo - journey times vary, so check the Bus Eireann website for the schedule closest to the concert date. The Arts Centre is on Circular Road in the town centre and is within easy walking distance of the main square. Street parking is available in the town, and there is surface parking nearby - arrive with a little time to spare on a Friday evening when the town is busy.
Roscommon town itself is compact and easy to walk. The ruins of Roscommon Castle sit a short distance from the centre, and the Dominican Priory nearby is well worth a look before or after the concert. There is more to see in Roscommon and across Co. Roscommon.
Heading to Roscommon Arts Centre in Roscommon? Roscommon has plenty more to see. Read the Roscommon area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.