Altan Bring 40th Anniversary Tour to Belfast & Derry This WEEKEND

By Love Belfast

October 8, 2025

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Celebrating Four Decades of Irish Music, Culture, and Connection

One of Ireland’s most iconic traditional bands, Altan, will mark their 40th anniversary with two very special concerts this October in Derry and Belfast, celebrating a musical legacy that has carried the soul of Donegal’s tradition to the world stage.

Friday, October 10th – Guildhall, Derry
Tickets – Altan 40th Anniversary Concert – Derry Tickets, Fri 10 Oct 2025 at 20:00 | Eventbrite
Saturday, October 11th – Mandela Hall, Belfast
Tickets – Altan 40th Anniversary Concert – Belfast Tickets, Sat 11 Oct 2025 at 20:00 | Eventbrite

A Journey Rooted in Donegal, Heard Around the World

Formed in 1985, Altan began with the unique musical bond between Belfast-born flutist Frankie Kennedy and Donegal fiddler and singer Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Their shared passion for the traditional music of Donegal sparked a journey that would elevate the region’s sound to international acclaim.

From humble beginnings, the band grew to include some of Ireland’s finest musicians — Ciaran Curran on bouzouki, Mark Kelly on guitar, accordionist Dermot Byrne, and fiddle virtuoso Paul O’Shaughnessy. In 2013, Martin Tourish, a Donegal-born accordionist and composer, joined the band, infusing Altan with fresh energy and deepening the connection to their roots. Most recently, the talented Clare Friel joined on fiddle and vocals, continuing the band’s legacy of evolution and excellence.

Altan’s rise was meteoric. Their 1993 album, Island Angel, was a global success, and the band went on to perform for U.S. Presidents including Bill Clinton, and accompanied Irish Presidents on official state visits — proudly representing Ireland’s cultural heritage abroad.

Though tragedy struck with the untimely passing of co-founder Frankie Kennedy in 1994, Altan’s commitment to their music and Frankie’s legacy remained steadfast.

“Frankie’s spirit is still very much a part of everything we do,” says Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

From Carnegie Hall to Glastonbury — and Back Home to Ulster

Over the past four decades, Altan has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages: Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Grand Ole Opry, Glastonbury Festival, Festival Interceltique de Lorient, TradFest Temple Bar, and many more. Their international appeal has earned them collaborations with artists such as Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, and The Chieftains, while their sound remains unmistakably rooted in Donegal.

In 1995, Altan became the first traditional Irish band signed to a major label, Virgin Records, with The Boston Globe naming them “The hottest band in the Celtic realm.” That acclaim has never faded.

More recently, the band explored the deep links between Irish and Appalachian music in The Widening Gyre (2013), and returned to the stories and spirit of their homeland with 2023’s The Gap of Dreams, connecting to the folklore of Donegal. Their newest album, Donegal (Compass Records, 2024), continues that celebration — a love letter to the people, places, and sounds that shaped their music.

Chicago Weekly: “Thought by many to be the finest traditional Irish combo working today.”
Irish Echo, New York: “Under no circumstances should they be missed in concert.”
The Boston Globe: “The hottest band in the Celtic realm.”

Altan in Concert – A Living Tradition

These special 40th anniversary concerts in Derry and Belfast will feature:

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – vocals & fiddle
Ciaran Curran – bouzouki
Mark Kelly – guitar
Martin Tourish – accordion
Clare Friel – fiddle & vocals

This is more than a concert — it’s a celebration of Altan’s past, present, and future, and a heartfelt tribute to the traditional music of Donegal. With a career that spans continents, generations, and genres, Altan remains a living, breathing embodiment of Irish culture.

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