Siamsa Tíre celebrates Irish culture through the arts and is Home to the National Folk Theatre of Ireland.
 
We bring together the people of Kerry and visitors from all over the world to enjoy the best of Irish culture – music, song and dance. Come and join us for a performance in our wonderful theatre in Tralee, in beautiful County Kerry, looking out over the Slieve Mish Mountains and the Dingle peninsula. 
 
Siamsa Tíre protects, develops and explores Irish culture and traditions, who we are, where we come from and who we are going to be. Thousands of visitors to Kerry have enjoyed our performances of Irish music, song and dance as a highlight of their trip to Ireland.  There is an energy, a wildness, a passion about these performances, using the best of traditional arts, which come together to create a memorable and emotional experience for our visitors.
 
Check out our reviews on the website of Travel experts, Trip Advisor, see some fabulous footwork from John Fitzgerald or watch the clips of the performances (below) scheduled for 2012, Oilean and Clann Lir, two of the most popular and acclaimed productions in the repertoire of the National Folk Theatre. 
 

CLANN LIR - THE STORY OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR

Clann Lir, an eternal tale of evil and salvation, is a story as old as Ireland itself. According to the legend, the four children of King Lir, Fionnuala, Conn, Aodh and Fiachra were turned into swans by their wicked stepmother, Aoife.

This production (which has been substantially reworked for 2011) portrays the journey of the Four Children of Lir who are doomed to spend nine hundred years in the guise of swans, but are allowed to keep their beautiful singing voices.

The production was devised by the Siamsa Tíre Professional Company under the direction of Artistic Director, Jonathan Kelliher. Choreography is by Mary Nunan and the Professional Company of the National Folk Theatre, Lighting Design by John Comiskey, Set Design and Costume Design by DIego Pitarch.

This is a glorious visual, musical and magical performance, delivered in the unique Siamsa style through the medium of dance, mime, music and song.

OILEÁN - A CELEBRATION OF THE BLASKET ISLANDS

This production celebrates life on the Blasket Islands in times past, exploring the way of life of the islanders and their spirit of survival. Oileán captures the essence of this island community, their traditions and customs, their wealth of song and story, their love of life and their strong kinship with one another.

Presented by the members of the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, this production celebrates and explores Blasket Island living while also challenging our own notions of identity as contemporary islanders.

Premiered in 2003, Oileán marked the 50th anniversary of the departure of the Blasket Islanders to the mainland. The Great Blasket Island, located off the coast of West Kerry still retains an almost mystical significance for many, both from Ireland and abroad. The way of life of the islanders and their spirit of survival is framed in this production, whichcaptures the essence of this island community, their traditions and customs, their wealth of song and story, their love of life and their strong kinship with one another.

Oileán is delivered in the unique Siamsa style through the medium of dance, mime, music and song.

Performances take place five nights a week throughout May and September (Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays) and six nights a week (Monday to Saturday) from June to August.