This May, the streets of Dundalk will come alive with the sound of music as the town pays tribute to one of its own; the unforgettable Margaret Barry.

The inaugural Margaret Barry Festival will celebrate the life, music and fearless artistry of the legendary Traveller singer whose powerful voice once stopped passers-by in their tracks when she performed on Dundalk’s streets and squares. The festival honours her boundless spirit and the enduring musical tradition she carried across Ireland and far beyond its shores.

Barry’s influence on folk music is profound. Bob Dylan once named her his favourite folk singer. Finbar Furey admired her unique voice, while Christy Moore continues to cite her as an inspiration. Van Morrison has described her as “a great soul singer.” A new generation of artists including The Mary Wallopers and Lisa O'Neill, also acknowledge Barry as a guiding influence, with members of The Mary Wallopers actively involved in helping bring this new festival to life in her honour.

Margaret Barry was no ordinary performer. With fierce charisma and an unmistakable voice, she brought the songs of the Traveller tradition to city streets and audiences across the world; from Dublin to Glasgow, from London to New York City. A pioneering woman in Irish traditional music, she sang of love and loss, freedom and defiance, transforming public spaces into powerful stages of storytelling and song.

Her remarkable journey took a historic turn in 1951 when she was discovered performing on the streets of Dundalk by the renowned American folklorist Alan Lomax. Lomax quickly recorded her at the Imperial Hotel and sent the recordings to the BBC’s David Attenborough. Soon afterwards, the celebrated Irish collector and broadcaster Séamus Ennis played the recordings on his BBC radio show introducing Margaret Barry’s extraordinary voice to the world and turning the world of Irish folk music upside down!

Now, the town she loved so well, will echo with her music once more. Street performers and buskers from across Ireland and beyond will gather in Dundalk to celebrate the art of street performance, the very platform where Maggie Barry thrived and through which she inspired generations.

For one glorious weekend, Dundalk will resound with voices old and new, sharing songs beneath open skies in a festival that honours not only Margaret Barry’s legacy, but also the living heartbeat of Irish folk culture.

Alongside the busking performances, the festival programme will include a musical cabaret show in Wellington Hall, documentary film screenings, talks by folk music researchers exploring Margaret Barry’s life and legacy, and open traditional music sessions throughout the town. Visitors will also be invited to join a commemorative bus trip to Margaret Barry’s grave, as well as a special concert featuring her living relatives, “Maggie’s Boys.”

The weekend will culminate in a busking competition and awards ceremony hosted by The Mary Wallopers alongside some very special guests from across the Irish folk music community.

The Margaret Barry Festival promises to be a vibrant cultural celebration; one that honours a legendary artist while placing Dundalk firmly on the map as a destination for authentic Irish music, heritage and street performance.

Visit Website for programme of events.