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music · Saturday 11 July 2026 · 3:00pm 
Traditional Arts Collective at Music in the Forest
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
An afternoon of traditional Irish music, myth, dance and song performed in a woodland clearing - that is what the Traditional Arts Collective brings to Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary on 11 July. If you have been curious about what Irish music sounded like before recordings, before electrification, before the pub session became the default setting, this is an unusual chance to hear it played on instruments that stretch back millennia: the Irish bronze age horn, harp, flute, bodhrán and voice. The programme weaves in tales from Irish mythology and sean-nós dancing demonstrations, so it reads more like a living piece of theatre than a standard concert. It suits adults and older children (the event is recommended for ages 12 and up) and anyone who enjoys live performance outdoors.
The Traditional Arts Collective perform as part of the Music in the Forest series, which runs at Dorlindon across summer 2026 and brings early and traditional music into a setting that genuinely matches it. The sanctuary itself is a handcrafted woodland space - small lakes, log bridges, forest paths and wetland habitats spread across the site, about half an hour south of Dublin.
The July 11 show runs from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, with gates opening at 2:00pm so there is time to walk the grounds before the performance begins. The set covers traditional music rooted in Irish and pre-Christian tradition, performed on instruments that are rarely heard together: the bronze age horn in particular is not something you encounter at a typical trad session. Sean-nós dancing - unaccompanied, solo, close to the ground - is demonstrated alongside the music, giving the afternoon a sense of the full breadth of what traditional performance once looked like.
A portion of ticket proceeds goes to the Children’s Health Foundation, which supports paediatric care across Irish children’s hospitals.
Tickets are online only via Eventbrite. Wear outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear - this is a forest setting, not a concert hall.
Kilmacanogue sits just off the N11, roughly 30 kilometres south of Dublin city centre. By car, take the N11 south past Bray and follow signs for Kilmacanogue; Dorlindon is signposted locally. Parking is available on site for ticket holders, but spaces are limited and carpooling is encouraged.
By public transport, the 145 bus from Dublin city centre stops in Kilmacanogue and runs regularly. From Bray DART station you can get a local bus or taxi for the remaining few kilometres. Allow extra time if travelling on a busy summer Saturday.
The village sits at the foot of the Great Sugar Loaf, one of the most recognisable hills in Leinster, and there are well-marked walking routes starting nearby. The Avoca Handweavers outlet at Kilmacanogue is worth a stop if you are in the area before or after the event. There is more to see in Kilmacanogue and across Co. Wicklow.
Heading to Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary in Kilmacanogue? Wicklow has plenty more to see. Read the Kilmacanogue area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.