Kilcullen band fundraiser for Spinal Injuries Ireland

A night of alt-rock mayhem is promised on this coming Friday, 12 September, organised by Kilcullen band I Know The Butcher, in aid of Spinal Injuries Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. The gig is at 33 South Main, Naas (formerly The Ivy Inn).

Under the banner Spinapalooza, the event is a way for the Butchers and their friends to say thank you to Spinal Injuries Ireland. "Our bass player suffered a spinal injury last year," says band member Dafydd O'Shea. "He and we wanted to give something back, so all proceeds will go to them."

In addition to the Kilcullen juggernaut of post-punk sound, other performers from Kildare's finest underground artists include Burn Down The House, the Naas-based spectacular live performers, and a solo performance by Ireland's alternative music empress, Molly Vulpyne.

Tickets €10 direct or €11.70 on Eventbrite. Doors open 8.30pm. 

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Dowling's end of summer bash this Saturday

The annual end-of-summer musical extravaganza at Dowling's pub in Ballyshannon is this Saturday, 6 September. Non-stop live bands from 2pm.

It's the 4th iteration of the event, which now makes it perennially embedded in the Ballyshannon and District calendar.

This year's lineup starts with English Al from 2pm, Colm Cahill at 3.15pm, Enda Byrne and Niall Fitzpatrick from 5pm, Sweet Talker from 7, and Evolution from 9.30.

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"Don't use sat-nav to get to EP" - Garda

The Garda have asked motorists travelling to Electric Picnic not to use sat-nav systems in the Stradbally area, writes Brian Byrne. Instead, follow the signed routes which are part of the official traffic plan.

Using sat-nav will send cars down unsuitable roads, causing unnecessary delays, disruption to residents, and putting extra pressure on Garda resources.

Following the Garda plan is the safest and quickest way to the site.

Some 85,000 people are expected to attend the sold-out concert weekend.

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Red Hot Music Club autumn schedule

The autumn lineup for the Red Hot Music Club has been announced. The concerts are held in Fallon's Bar & Cafe in Kilcullen, and tickets for each event are available on Eventbrite.

September 25th Mike Hanrahan and friends. 

October 30th Eleanor McEvoy. 

November 27th The 4 of Us. 

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Kilcullen connection to latest Riverdance lead

Caelán Power, a great-grandson of Margaret 'Peggy' Keogh from Nicholastown — the violin player in the famous Gallowglass Ceili Band — is the newest male principal dancer with Riverdance. His grandmother, Irish dance teacher Olive Keogh O’Reilly, and his grand-uncle Sean Keogh, who was also a member of the band, are natives of Kilcullen.

The 22-year-old, who lives in Newbridge, has just returned from the USA Riverdance tour where he performed his first lead show in Chicago in April. The USA tour began in Florida in January and travelled through many states and cities, including New York, where the troupe performed five shows over three days in Radio City Music Hall. He returned to Ireland on 1 July and is now doing eight shows a week in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre until 10th August. From there, he will move to the UK tour with Riverdance, which begins in Swansea on 12 August and finishes in London Hammersmith on 14 December. 

Caelán developed his love for Irish dance at a young age and has been successful at provincial and world championship levels of competition — winning a title as Leinster Champion in 2019 and going on to achieve second place at the world championships in 2023 before retiring from competition to pursue his professional performing career. 

Before Riverdance, Caelán travelled to and performed in many countries, including Germany and Disneyland Paris with his Irish dance class. He also performed in the Olympia Panto for five years from the age of seven. He set off on his first professional tour in February 2020 to the USA as a Celtic Knights dancer in the show Celtic Angels. Caelán began travelling with Riverdance in 2021, where he spent a number of weeks performing at Expo 2020 Dubai. He has travelled the world with the show since then, performing in China, many European cities, and more recently the USA tour.

His love of dance likely came from his grandmother, Olive Keogh O’Reilly, and his mum, Michelle O’Reilly Power. Olive has been teaching children to dance for many years, and his mother teaches alongside Olive now, co-running the Leinster Academy of Dance in Newbridge. Olive is a founder member of An Comhdháil na Múinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha Teoranta — The Congress of Irish Dance Teachers. 

If you know of a young child, boy or girl, from the age of three years up who loves to dance, the Leinster Academy of Dance is now enrolling for beginners classes for September. They can be contacted by phone on 087 2978618.

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New song by Elle León Gallagher a tribute to Jeremy Burke

A new song by Kilcullen-born singer-songwriter Elle León Gallagher is a tribute to her friend from childhood, Jeremy Burke, who died unexpectedly in 2023, writes Brian Byrne. Music & Memories was released on Spotify and other major music platforms this week. 

The song is a timeline of close friendship and inspiration — Elle has many times related how Jeremy's singing and songwriting were what encouraged her to get into the music that now underpins her own life path.

The lyrics trace memories from a nine-year-old girl writing a Guns N' Roses rhyme on a Valentine card ("You could have laughed straight in my face, but you didn't") through a storyboard of reconnections until the last time Elle saw Jeremy as he was about to do a set at Dublin music venue Fibber Magees ("If I'd known, I'd have stayed out longer, to catch up properly"). It's solid rock storytelling, with just the right level of sentiment that only comes from an appreciation of friendship moments even in a too-short lifetime ("You live on through music and memories.")

The production by Elle herself and fellow Barcelonian Guille Harrison makes the most of a deceptively simple narrative, providing several instrumental bridges that allow for reflection. Overall, it's four minutes of very replayable music.

When news of Jeremy Burke's passing came through in January 2023, Elle wrote a Twitter post saying "I really and truly wouldn't have got into music the way I did if it wasn't for him and I wish I could have told him."

She just did.

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Music for post-midsummer at Fallons

A three-woman musical gig at Fallons on 27 June is a nice way to round off Midsummer week.

The event features Jenny Doyle, Lorraine Nolan and Glenda McCormack and friends, 'singing the story of life'.

It's an 8pm start and tickets are €15, buyable at 087 7330696 or 087 2653920.

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Gospel choir last performance before summer break

The Kilcullen Gospel Choir will be performing at their last mass before the summer break tomorrow, Saturday, in Kilcullen Parish Church.

The mass is at 6pm and all are welcome.

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June Fest's Big Weekend

This is the Big Weekend of the Newbridge June Fest in the new form of a two-day music festival, writes Brian Byrne. Saturday tunes kick off from 4.30pm in the afternoon with a daytime disco at Dubh in George's Street, which will continue for adults from 8.30pm until midnight.

For live music fans, there's a singer-songwriter session in the Town Hall from 7.4pm with Colm Cahill and Tony Kirwan. Tickets are €10 and all proceeds go to the Newbridge Family Resource Centre.

Sunday's music will be spread through Market Square, Eyre Street, George's Street, and the Town Hall, from 1pm until 9.30 in the evening. Acoustic sets from local young musicians, a Ukulele Hour, and a big lineup for the Main Stage on Market Square should keep everyone bopping. A Might Chorus Pride workshop in the Town Hall from 2pm offers everyone a chance to sing in a choir, under the direction of choir leaders Orla Gargan (Dublin Gospel Choir) and Lisa Nagle (Newbridge Gospel Choir). There's a €20 ticket cost, and it must be booked on Eventbrite.

There's also Yoga in the Liffey Linear Park on Saturday morning, for an hour from 10 am, and an outdoor photo and voice gallery in Market Square highlights what people like about Eyre Street.

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Kilcullen Gospel Choir Summer Concert

 

A reminder that the Kilcullen Gospel Choir Summer Concert, being held in the parish church TONIGHT, Friday, writes Brian Byrne. The event is in aid of the Maintain Hope charity.

The choir is rehearsing enthusiastically, and fans can expect lots of new songs through the evening. The acoustics in the church are perfect for such a performance.

Tickets at €20 each can be bought at Woodbine Books and Hair By Eilis.

Our clip above is from the choir's recent performance at their Relay for Life 2025 fundraising coffee morning.

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Music jam session in The Spout

There's an open call for all musicians to a gig in The Spout Bar on Friday night, writes Brian Byrne. The Strawberry Jam Session will run from 8 pm until late.

The event promises to bring back the old style music jamming session, getting musicians of all styles together for ceol and craic.

The evening will be hosted by The Duo.

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Music in the park in Newbridge on Sunday

If you fancy a bit of varied live music this coming Sunday, 1 June, there's a Big Busk in the Liffey Linear Park in Newbridge, writes Brian Byrne. It's part of the town's June Fest.

Some of the best musicians in the area will be performing along the park, from 1pm to 4pm. In the colour of the park's decoration by the Kildare Yarn Bombers. And it's all free.

The weather? So whatever. It's Ireland. Bring the brolly and enjoy.

The music can continue that evening in Newbridge Day Care Centre from 8pm, at Frankie Lane's House Party in aid of the centre. Along with Frankie himself and his special style, the card includes The Strangers, Cora Venus Lunny, We 2 Sisters, Róise Carroll, Paul Linehan and more. Tickets can be booked at Junefest.ie/events.

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2025 JBforever27 Music Bursary presented at CPC

The shortlisted applicants with Jeremy Burke's father Gerry and mother Louise Kelly.

"Keep sharing your love of music and be very proud of yourselves," a group of shortlisted musicians for the 2025 JBforever27 Music Bursary were told in CPC yesterday, writes Brian Byrne. The bursary, worth €1,500, was established to remember former CPC student and musician Jeremy Burke, who died unexpectedly in Canada in January 2023. 

The 2025 winner is Olivia Lambert, a solo vocalist who intends to pursue a career in music in London after her Leaving Cert. She is the second recipient of the award. Jeremy’s mother, Louise Kelly, said Olivia's dedication to her craft from such a young age is inspirational. "She is gifted and one to watch out for in the future. She captures a lot of the essence and spirit of Jeremy and his love of music."

Nine other shortlisted candidates received a voucher from Jam Music and a harmonica. The applicants' musical talents ranged across many genres, including rock, singer-songwriter, original pieces of piano and lyrical work, musical theatre, solo singers, and bands.

During the presentation ceremony in the presence of Fifth and Sixth Year students, a video from the independent adjudicator, Elle Leon Gallagher, was played. Elle is a singer-songwriter living in Barcelona, and she and Jeremy were friends from primary school in Kilcullen. As fellow students in CPC, they shared a love of music, and Elle recalled that it was seeing him sing and play, "a bright individual in my class who was so out there and authentic and driven," that encouraged her to develop her own singing "that I hadn't up to then shared much."  She congratulated those present for some 'really wonderful' applications and said she was honoured to play a part in assessing the entries. "It's great to see the love and drive in music is still going strong in CPC. I found all of your original materials, your covers, and just the scale of the entries to be really inspiring." 

She also said it had been a pleasure to meet applicants during a number of workshops which she had done with them while visiting Kilcullen during the year. "I really saw talent at such a strong level, and I can definitely see bright futures for all of you, whether that's with making music or teaching it, whatever fits with you."

Louise Kelly spoke about Jeremy and the 'insurmountable void' that his death had left in his family. "This bursary is just one way of remembering him and his talent and his love of music and sharing that love with you, wonderful students." She paid tribute to CPC's music teachers, saying the students were blessed to have such lovely people guiding them.

On behalf of the school, deputy principal Katriona Harney expressed her deep admiration for the resilience of Jeremy's family in sharing their grief through music. "I always think that the greatest talent is music, and to be able to share that with other people is wonderful. In good times and in bad times, at weddings, funerals, and celebrations, or when we just need a bit of light. And with all the different kinds of artists or songs or music that we individually like, there's something there for everyone. Our talents are there to be shared with everyone, and in giving joy to other people, you'll have great joy yourselves."

The shortlisted applicants were Alex Connolly, Carl Kenna, Grace Doyle, Josh Kelly, Olivia Lambert (bursary winner), Grace O'Donnell, Evie Sammon, Charlie Lawlor, Dermot Guiney, and James Meehan.

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Want to join the Choristers day out in Waterford?

A reminder that the Choristers of St Brigid are going to The Viking Museum, Waterford and Tramore beach TOMORROW AFTERNOON Friday 11 April, writes Niamh Traynor. And there are TWO FREE SPACES left on the trip. Leaving Kilcullen at noon, returning around 8-8.30pm if you and/or your children fancy it?  

We will be singing all the way there and all the way back on the bus.  

Want to join us? Places are limited so don’t delay, ring today — Niamh Traynor 086 1758458. Parents/Guardians and children 7+ are very welcome to join us.

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