Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) exists to promote traditional Irish arts in London, to serve and bring together the London Irish community through its high quality events, education, local outreach activities, social networking (online and face to face), to provide regular dissemination of Irish arts information and active encouragement of Irish people in London to be informed about and participate in events such that it nurtures an active, strong and caring community away from home. The organisation also aims to promote the positive identity of the Irish in multicultural London by including traditional Irish arts on mainstream platforms and by acting as a consultant to other arts organisations and aspiring promoters of Irish arts around the country.
This organisation draws on the skills and experience of the Director, IMDL’s Organising Group and the 50-plus team of volunteers who have successfully planned, promoted and delivered London’s internationally renowned annual Festival ‘Return to London Town’ (previously Return to Camden Town) and fringe events for over 20 Years.
IMDL hosts events year round: London's annual Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance was founded in 1999 and continues to be hosted successfully each October. A new regular Concert/ Event series has been launched in recent years, increasingly presenting events in accessible and high-profile venues. IMDL collates listings for and promotes regular music sessions, concerts, céilís and other Irish music and dance events in London.
IMDL founded their youth project ‘The Trad Gathering’ in 2008, bringing together large numbers of musicians between the ages of 12 and 25 from across London, to learn, rehearse and perform music from the repertoires of past masters of traditional Irish music on the London scene.
The organisation continues to initiate new outreach events, working with and advising local promoters in order to reach the Irish and showcase our culture to the wider multicultural community in new parts of London and further afield.
IMDL currently manages an extensive email newsletter containing regular information about Irish music events in London.
