Wrafter family members to perform at local weekend festival

Three members of one of the country's most talented family groups will help light up the June Bank Holiday weekend at a local music festival.

Peter, Conor and Thomas Wrafter of The Wrafter Family Band will take to the Hazel FEST stage minus Noreen and Aimee, to perform as The Wrafters at the popular Rahugh venue.

But fans shouldn't worry, as according to Peter, The Wrafters is simply a side-project and far from the end of The Wrafter Family Band quintet.

"This line-up, myself and the two lads, is another way for us to do what we love, and that's performing. Our main focus will always be playing together as a whole family, but there'll also be a few occasions, like this coming weekend at Hazel FEST, when it will just be the lads on stage. Now, we mightn't sound as good as we do when we have Noreen and Aimee up there with us, keeping us in check, but we'll do our best," said Peter.

Music fans won't have long to wait to see the full Wrafter Family line-up in the spotlight again as the Kilbeggan family are scheduled to make a special guest appearance as part of Billy Morrissey's Stars of Irish Country Concert at the Tullamore Court Hotel on Tuesday, July 25.

"We were delighted to accept an offer from Billy to perform at his concert in July, and we're all looking forward to it. As with all of Billy's shows, this is a bill that won't disappoint when it comes to entertainment. We're all excited at the prospect of sharing the evening with artists like the lovely Trudi Lalor, the legendary TR Dallas, the great Mick Foster and the very talented Moyra Fraser, not to mention country stars Mick Flavin, Gerry Guthrie, and Olivia Douglas."

Hazel FEST 2023 is a music jamboree to celebrate the first year of Emma Fox's stewardship of The Hazel in Rahugh, and Peter is full of praise for the organiser.

"Emma has worked wonders over the past year, and has put her heart and soul into making The Hazel a place where so many feel at home. Her welcome for musicians is second to none. So myself and Conor and Thomas are only too delighted to be part of Hazel FEST 2023, and to help Emma mark a very special occasion. I think, and I hope, she'll have many more happy years at The Hazel to come, and I'm sure there'll be more great weekends like Hazel FEST along the way too."

Hazel FEST will also see performances from John Molloy, Rahugh Buskers, Mulligan, and Neil Moran. The event will feature an outdoor-bar, a BBQ, and ice-cream van.