"Trad" brings a fresh energy to Irish music and storytelling on the big screen
· IrishCentral"Trad" carries the kind of homegrown energy that should resonate with Irish American audiences who know the power of a good session, a family story, and a road trip all at once.
Written, directed, and produced by Lance Daly, "Trad" follows Donegal teenager Shóna McAnally, a gifted fiddle player who leaves home with her younger brother Mickey and joins a troupe of wandering musicians. The film opens nationwide on May 8.
The cast brings together rising talent and familiar Irish screen names, with Megan Nic Fhionnghaile and Cathal Coade Palmer leading the way alongside Aidan Gillen, Sarah Greene, Peter Coonan, and Ann Skelly.
Check out "Trad's" trailer here:
"Trad" explores Irish music, youth, and identity. The IFI describes it as a celebration of Irish music with a vibrant soundtrack shaped by Nic Fhionnghaile and brothers Declan and Eugene Quinn.
"Trad" first made its mark at the Galway Film Fleadh, where it won the Audience Award, a strong sign that it connected quickly with viewers. The festival’s official awards page lists Trad as the Audience Award winner, and Screen Ireland also confirmed the result after the 2025 festival.
For Daly, the heart of the film was always the music and the people making it. He said he wanted to make “a movie about young people playing Irish music” and to capture and celebrate “the session,” adding, “what a session we had!”
That idea gives "Trad" a clear identity, turning a coming-of-age story into something that feels both intimate and communal.
The film also stands out as a distinctly Irish production with roots across the country, having been filmed in Donegal, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Westmeath, and Galway. With its mix of fiddle music, regional settings, and a cast that bridges generations, "Trad" is set to offer Irish cinema fans a spirited reminder of how tradition can still feel fresh on the big screen.
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