Victor and Gord
Cleere’s
You know those friends you grew up with? Went to school with? Laughed, cried, partied and pulled with? D’you ever wonder, sometimes, if they’d ever just f**k off?
The Smile Off Your Face
Rothe House
The Smile Off Your Face offers a totally unique experience, for one person at a time. Everything happens only in your head, and yet it doesn’t…
Where did it all go right?
The Left Bank
ponydance, Belfast’s champions of comedy dance theatre, serve up an outrageous confection of moves and movement to a soundtrack of garish music and nervous tension. You’ll laugh and cringe!
Group Therapy for One
Cleere’s
Shane Byrne invites you to help him solve the problems of being a young man in the world today.
A Western
Kyteler’s Inn
Armed only with cowboy hats and some ketchup, Action Hero celebrate the failure of generic heroes, cheap whores and the all-American idol.
Susan & Darren: an event with dancing
The Watergate Theatre
Join Susan and Darren as they prepare to throw one of their famous parties, complete with dancing, devastation, intimate conversation and a lovely buffet.
Foot Washing for the Sole
The Hole in the Wall
Live artist Adrian Howells brings to Kilkenny an intimate, one-to-one performance that offers to restore a sense of peace to our frantic lives.
Antti Siirala
St Canice’s Cathedral
One of the outstanding pianists of his generation, Antti Siirala presents a breathtaking programme climaxing with Chopin’s Ballades, some of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire.
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Always one of the most popular events at the festival, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra brings its unrivalled repertoire to St Canice’s Cathedral for a concert featuring wonderful Irish mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons.
The Cardinall’s Musick
The Black Abbey
Gramophone Award-winners The Cardinall’s Musick play Tudor masterpieces by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.
Thomas Dunford
The Parade Tower
Virtuoso lutenist Thomas Dunford plays pieces by the great French composers from the era of the Sun King.
Façade: an entertainment for reciter and six instruments
Set Theatre
Critically-acclaimed Irish actor Barry McGovern joins Ensemble Nouveau for Façade, a reading of Edith Sitwell’s quirky, witty poems accompanied by William Walton’s playful music.
Aileen Itani & Rachel Andrist
St Canice’s Cathedral
Outstanding young soprano Aileen Itani joins pianist Rachel Andrist to explore the rich world of fin de siècle French song, featuring works by Fauré and Debussy.
Mark Anthony McGrath & Christian Wilson
St Canice’s Cathedral
Guitarist Mark McGrath and organist Christian Wilson bring their unique blend of celtic and baroque-inspired music to St Canice’s for a special evening of familiar and rare songs.
To an Isle in the Water
Set Theatre
New York composer Ellen Mandel plays her own delightful settings of the poetry of ee cummings, WB Yeats, Seamus Heaney and others, sung by baritone Robert Gildon.
Maarten Koningsberger & Finghin Collins
St Canice’s Cathedral
Acclaimed Irish pianist Finghin Collins joins forces with baritone Maarten Koningsberger for a very special recital featuring Schumann’s glorious song cycle Dichterliebe.
Maria Ryan & Ciara Moroney
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Kilkenny violinist Maria Ryan and pianist Ciara Moroney bring an eclectic programme to St Canice’s, from Bach’s sonatas to Arvo Pärt’s masterpiece, Fratres.
Meta3 String Quartet
St Canice’s Cathedral
The rising stars of the international chamber music scene play pieces by Haydn and Schumann.
The Kilkenny Arts Festival Choir & Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Choral singers from far and wide gather for a rousing performance in St Canice’s, featuring celebrated tenor Christopher Lemmings, baritone Raitis Grigalis and mezzo-soprano Bridget Knowles.
Lendvai String Trio
The Parade Tower
An exciting programme of string trios, featuring one of Beethoven’s masterpieces, played by dynamic young group the Lendvai String Trio.
Festival Mass
St Mary’s Cathedral
A special Festival Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, sung by the choir of St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Ale Möller Band
Set Theatre
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller brings his cosmopolitan band to the Set Theatre for a potent mix of folk songs from all over the world, infused with drama and played with passion.
Innisfree Céilí Band
Set Theatre
With reels and jigs played with passion and flair, the Innisfree Céilí Band are guaranteed to get your feet moving.
Michael Buckley’s Dublin Standard Time
Set Theatre
Led by Ireland’s finest saxophonist, Michael Buckley, Dublin Standard Time brings a full-blooded, old-school approach to the great jazz songs of the last century.
The Kilkenny County Session
Set Theatre
The Kilkenny County Session celebrates the strength of the county’s traditional music scene with a line-up of outstanding singers, storytellers and musicians. A must for anyone with an interest in Kilkenny music.
Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal and Debashish Bhattacharya & Subhasis Bhattacharya
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two extraordinary collaborations. Brothers Debashish and Subhasis Bhattacharya merge classical Indian music with slide guitar blues, while Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal offer a hypnotic blend of cello and kora.
Evan Christopher’s Django a la Creole
Set Theatre
The great clarinetist Evan Christopher plays the hot, infectious rhythms of New Orleans with his groundbreaking quartet, Django à la Créole.
Andy Irvine
St Canice’s Cathedral
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Irvine brings a dazzling mix of traditional Irish ballads and Balkan dance tunes to St. Canices Cathedral in a live show to savour.
Konono No.1
Set Theatre
Congolese band Konono No.1 sound like nothing else in African music. Their raw, funky, exuberant sound is sure to take the Set Theatre by storm.
Tarab
St Canice’s Cathedral
Francesco Turrisi's exciting ensemble weaves together traditional music from Ireland and the Mediterranean.
Dublin City Jazz Orchestra with Honor Heffernan
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
In a show specially designed for the festival, the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra brings you an evening of wild sounds from the big band era, aided by acclaimed jazz vocalist Honor Heffernan.
Fidil
Cleere’s
This dynamic young fiddle trio promise a barnstorming night in Cleere’s.
Scullion
Set Theatre
Join folk rock band Scullion at the Set Theatre to round off the festival with a good old-fashioned party in the company of some of the acts you've seen this year
Pierce Turner with support from Jennifer Evans
The Parade Tower
Pierce Turner likes to throw everything into his performances, from table-dancing to singalongs. Now resident in Manhattan, this is a rare chance to catch one of Ireland’s great songwriters live, abetted by rising singer-songwriter Jennifer Evans. Anything could happen, and probably will.
Public Seminar: The Future of Music Distribution & Promotion (chaired by Matthew Nolan)
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
An open discussion challenging conventional thinking about the business of music, and exploring new ways of creating, promoting, and distributing it.
Mick Flannery with Morton Valence & Catherine Dowling
St Canice’s Cathedral
Mick Flannery burst onto the rock scene with White Lies and now he brings his heartfelt songs and full-throated delivery to St Canice's Cathedral, accompanied by the sultry Catherine Dowling and the indefinable Morton Valence.
Erik Friedlander & FLM Ensemble
Set Theatre
Celebrated virtuoso cellist Erik Friedlander explores the cutting edge of jazz and classical music in the company of Irish trio FLM Ensemble.
Halves with The Ambience Affair, Ryan Taylor Doyle & Teffia Ki
Set Theatre
Join us at the Set for a groundbreaking mix of cutting-edge music and visuals spearheaded by Halves, one of Ireland’s most exciting breakthrough acts.
Damo Suzuki (followed by a DJ set from Donal Dineen)
Set Theatre
Damo Suzuki makes his own rules, and he's coming to the Set Theatre for an evening of improvisation in its purest form. This gig will be live, spontaneous, and unique. Be part of it.
And So I Watch You From Afar (followed by The Kilo 1977)
Set Theatre
One of Belfast’s hottest, loudest properties, And So I Watch You From Afar are a force to be reckoned with. See them up close in the Set Theatre, where their monstrous chords and iron-clad riffs are sure to blow the roof off.
Tindersticks with 3epkano
St Canice’s Cathedral
A reinvigorated Tindersticks bring their passionate explorations of romance and masculinity and their distinctive, cinematic sound to St Canice’s in what promises to be the gig of the festival.
Adrian Crowley with Valerie Francis
Set Theatre
Adrian Crowley makes a triumphant return to the festival clutching a hatful of awards for his latest album and accompanied by the beguiling Valerie Francis.
Joseph O’Connor & Philip King
The Watergate Theatre
Musician and broadcaster Philip King and author Joseph O’Connor explore balladry and fiction in a delightful evening filled with stories and song.
Gabriel Byrne On Screen
Set Theatre
From adventure fantasy Into the West to the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing and HBO’s award-winning new drama series In Treatment, Gabriel Byrne on Screen presents the finest work of one of Ireland’s greatest actors.
Paul Durcan
The Watergate Theatre
One of the most original voices in modern poetry brings his celebrated reading style to the Watergate.
The Hubert Butler Annual Lecture: Robert Fisk
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk looks back on his extraordinary career and casts a critical eye over the state of journalism today.
John Boyne & Andrew O’Hagan
The Watergate Theatre
John Boyne, best-selling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and Andrew O’Hagan, one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, take us on a fictional journey from revolutionary Russia to Marilyn Monroe’s bedroom.
“Ireland’s Athletic Assault and Battery”?: Hollywood and Hurling
Set Theatre
In this rare screening of short films from the 1930s, '40s and '50s, Dr Seán Crosson looks back on early Hollywood’s very singular take on the GAA.
Ciaran Carson & Michael Coady
The Parade Tower
Two acclaimed Irish poets showcase their latest collections in the intimate setting of the Parade Tower.
When I’m Sixty-Four: A Symposium on Pension Reform
A panel of experts including Teresa Ghilarducci offer forward-thinking solutions to the pensions crisis in Ireland and beyond.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - "WHEN I'M 64: A SYMPOSIUM ON PENSION REFORM" HAS BEEN MOVED FROM ST CANICES CATHDERAL TO THE PEMBROKE HOTEL, PATRICK ST.
John Banville & Hugo Hamilton
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two of this island’s most distinguished novelists, John Banville and Hugo Hamilton, whose latest work features everything from Greek gods to Serbian immigrants in Dublin.
Forty Years of Feminism: A discussion on where we were, where we are & where we’re going
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
A distinguished panel of speakers including Nell McCafferty and Margaret MacCurtain look back on Forty Years of Feminism in Ireland and ask what challenges lie ahead.
I Can’t … I Can’t (Wedding Night)
The Parade Tower
A unique opportunity to see this controversial film, not screened in Ireland since its premiere in 1969.
Ed O’Loughlin & David Vann
Set Theatre
A double bill of fresh fictional voices in the shape of journalist-turned-novelist Ed O’Loughlin and acclaimed Alaskan writer David Vann.
surface & reality
An exhibition of eleven contemporary artists in five locations through the city, including work by Turner Prize nominees Willie Doherty (nominated 1994/2003) and Susan Philipsz (nominated 2010).
Susan Phillipsz
Kilkenny Castle Park
Turner Prize nominee Susan Philipsz's sound installation in Kilkenny Castle Park pays tribute to Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce and a passionate (but now forgotten) dancer.
Fergus Martin
11 Patrick Street
"In my painting and sculpture, I try to find a shape that gives a feeling of ‘holding’ as much as possible. I often think of tanks filling up with water, of rivers rising to the brim."
Dennis McNulty
Ormonde St. Car Park (Top Floor)
Dennis McNulty creates ‘situations’, space-specific sound performances or site-related installations, which he characterises as points of intersection between flows of various kinds – time, site, sound, narrative and audience.
Eoghan McTigue
Kitchen Corridor - Kilkenny Castle
The photographs in Eoghan McTigue's series Aerial Plane have a strange, otherworldly feel, like dark, monochromatic paintings.
Ciarán Walsh
Rothe House
Ciarán Walsh’s recent work investigates the legacy of maligned psychotherapist and scientist Wilhelm Reich.
Stephen Loughman
11 Patrick Street
Stephen Loughman's series The Fisherman’s Widow investigates the notion of an artwork as witness to a crime.
Michael Coleman
11 Patrick Street
"Around the Park is a series of twelve watercolours based on my time as an artist-in-residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin."
Declan Clarke
Rothe House
Declan Clarke's Cologne Overnight considers the development of 20th century Western ideals through the ruins left in their wake.
Eithne Jordan
11 Patrick Street
Eithne Jordan, one of Ireland’s leading figurative painters, explores the hidden and forgotten spaces of Europe's great cities.
William McKeown
11 Patrick Street
"The paintings that I will be showing at Kilkenny have developed out of the theme of immersion that has preoccupied me for many years."
Willie Doherty
Rothe House
Twice Turner Prize nominee Willie Doherty's photography and video work draws on his native city of Derry to explore themes of individual and collective subjectivity, memory and responsibility.
Visual Art Strand 2: Guerrilla Girls
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
New works by internationally-renowned feminist arts group the Guerrilla Girls.
Visual Art Strand 2: Gerard Casey, Eamon Colman, Patrick Pye
Featuring graphic work and paintings by three of Ireland's foremost artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Maria Van Kesteren
An exhibition of new work by the artist who introduced woodturning to Ireland.
Visual Art Strand 2: KCAT Thirteen
A vibrant exhibition featuring work by thirteen local artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Tony O’Malley
Butler Gallery
The first exhibition dedicated entirely to the amazing ‘Constructions’ of the renowned Irish artist, Tony O’Malley.
Visual Art Strand 2: Endangered Studios
An exhibition of work by four Kilkenny-based artists.
Mah Rana - ‘Jewellery is Life’ and ‘Meanings and Attachments’
The National Craft Gallery
Two exhibitions exploring the idea that jewellery is intrinsic to our lives.
Embracing Technology
The National Craft Gallery
Showcasing the work of fourteen makers who are pushing the boundaries of their craft through the inventive use of materials and technology.
Strand 2 Craft: Ceramics Ireland International Festival
The National Craft Gallery
Featuring outstanding work from seven international makers.
Strand 2 Craft: Grennan Mill Craft School Exhibition
Grennan Mill Craft School presents an exciting range of work from six artists.
Strand 2 Craft: Made in Kilkenny
Twenty-six of the finest craftspeople in Kilkenny display work inspired by the county.
Baghdaddies
One of the most fun bands in this or any other universe, the Baghdaddies are sure to get your feet moving.
Donkey Feathers
A carnival of irreverent clowning and unpredictable fun!
Prince Mint and The Glam Chops
The vertically-endowed glam rock sensation!
Up Above
Tina Machina and Kenneth Fall invite you to witness a beautiful disaster in mid air.
The Magic Cube
The Watergate Theatre
Two clowns discover a strange world made only of cubes in this wonderful clowning performance featuring horses, motorbikes, trains, castles, battles, love, laughs and even some tears.
The Gingerbread Man
The Parade Tower
In this delightful rendition of the age-old tale, Miriam Lambert bakes the gingerbread, but the freshly-baked biscuit runs, eluding everyone’s hungry grasp, until he meets a very clever fox…
Puppet-Making workshop with Miriam Lambert
Abbey Business Centre
An exciting opportunity to create your own puppet with puppeteer Miriam Lambert.
Blenny, The Waterdaughter
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Mack the lighthouse-keeper watches over a small fishing town and the ocean, but doesn’t feel part of either, not until the day a Blenny Fish follows him home!
Children’s Craft Workshops
The National Craft Gallery
A chance to explore some of the materials featured in the exhibitions, including jewellery and textiles.
Construct with Nature
Butler Gallery
A chance to build your own colourful 'constructions', inspired by the Butler Gallery's Tony O'Malley exhibition.
The Big Draw
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Design a character, make your own animation flip book and create a storyboard with the help of Fabian Erlinghauser and Roxanne Burchartz from the Cartoon Saloon (Oscar-nominated for The Secret Of Kells).
The Billy Holiday Show
The Parade Tower
Billy Holiday is the world’s most famous singing goat. Now she’s trying to help her friends to stardom, but can sheep really make it big in showbiz? The audience must decide…
Parapapel
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Using just the simplest of props, two friends create a whole world. Graceful, funny and endlessly inventive, Parapapel is a mesmerising show that will keep young children enthralled.
Whispering Waves: Stories of the Sea
The Parade Tower
In this enthralling storytelling performance, Joe Brennan reveals the secrets of the waves. Stories of adventure, mystery and love. Stories of silky seals, a drowning wave and strange creatures...
On-Off
Barnstorm Theatre Company
At once a game, a dance, and an enchanting spectacle, On-Off helps young children overcome their fear of the dark and discover the language of light.
Derek Landy
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant (Irish Book of the Decade), comes to Kilkenny to talk about his life, his work, and his plans to build a private munchkin army.
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
One of Ireland’s best-loved musicians and singers, Liam Ó Maonlaí brings you sean nós singing, rhythm, piano and soul in this intimate concert for all the family, young and old.
Susan Phillipsz
Kilkenny Castle Park
Turner Prize nominee Susan Philipsz's sound installation in Kilkenny Castle Park pays tribute to Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce and a passionate (but now forgotten) dancer.
Fergus Martin
11 Patrick Street
"In my painting and sculpture, I try to find a shape that gives a feeling of ‘holding’ as much as possible. I often think of tanks filling up with water, of rivers rising to the brim."
Dennis McNulty
Ormonde St. Car Park (Top Floor)
Dennis McNulty creates ‘situations’, space-specific sound performances or site-related installations, which he characterises as points of intersection between flows of various kinds – time, site, sound, narrative and audience.
Eoghan McTigue
Kitchen Corridor - Kilkenny Castle
The photographs in Eoghan McTigue's series Aerial Plane have a strange, otherworldly feel, like dark, monochromatic paintings.
Ciarán Walsh
Rothe House
Ciarán Walsh’s recent work investigates the legacy of maligned psychotherapist and scientist Wilhelm Reich.
Stephen Loughman
11 Patrick Street
Stephen Loughman's series The Fisherman’s Widow investigates the notion of an artwork as witness to a crime.
Michael Coleman
11 Patrick Street
"Around the Park is a series of twelve watercolours based on my time as an artist-in-residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin."
Declan Clarke
Rothe House
Declan Clarke's Cologne Overnight considers the development of 20th century Western ideals through the ruins left in their wake.
Eithne Jordan
11 Patrick Street
Eithne Jordan, one of Ireland’s leading figurative painters, explores the hidden and forgotten spaces of Europe's great cities.
William McKeown
11 Patrick Street
"The paintings that I will be showing at Kilkenny have developed out of the theme of immersion that has preoccupied me for many years."
Willie Doherty
Rothe House
Twice Turner Prize nominee Willie Doherty's photography and video work draws on his native city of Derry to explore themes of individual and collective subjectivity, memory and responsibility.
Joseph O’Connor & Philip King
The Watergate Theatre
Musician and broadcaster Philip King and author Joseph O’Connor explore balladry and fiction in a delightful evening filled with stories and song.
Victor and Gord
Cleere’s
You know those friends you grew up with? Went to school with? Laughed, cried, partied and pulled with? D’you ever wonder, sometimes, if they’d ever just f**k off?
The Smile Off Your Face
Rothe House
The Smile Off Your Face offers a totally unique experience, for one person at a time. Everything happens only in your head, and yet it doesn’t…
Where did it all go right?
The Left Bank
ponydance, Belfast’s champions of comedy dance theatre, serve up an outrageous confection of moves and movement to a soundtrack of garish music and nervous tension. You’ll laugh and cringe!
Ale Möller Band
Set Theatre
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller brings his cosmopolitan band to the Set Theatre for a potent mix of folk songs from all over the world, infused with drama and played with passion.
The Magic Cube
The Watergate Theatre
Two clowns discover a strange world made only of cubes in this wonderful clowning performance featuring horses, motorbikes, trains, castles, battles, love, laughs and even some tears.
Antti Siirala
St Canice’s Cathedral
One of the outstanding pianists of his generation, Antti Siirala presents a breathtaking programme climaxing with Chopin’s Ballades, some of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire.
Baghdaddies
One of the most fun bands in this or any other universe, the Baghdaddies are sure to get your feet moving.
Donkey Feathers
A carnival of irreverent clowning and unpredictable fun!
Gabriel Byrne On Screen
Set Theatre
From adventure fantasy Into the West to the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing and HBO’s award-winning new drama series In Treatment, Gabriel Byrne on Screen presents the finest work of one of Ireland’s greatest actors.
Paul Durcan
The Watergate Theatre
One of the most original voices in modern poetry brings his celebrated reading style to the Watergate.
The Hubert Butler Annual Lecture: Robert Fisk
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk looks back on his extraordinary career and casts a critical eye over the state of journalism today.
Innisfree Céilí Band
Set Theatre
With reels and jigs played with passion and flair, the Innisfree Céilí Band are guaranteed to get your feet moving.
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Always one of the most popular events at the festival, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra brings its unrivalled repertoire to St Canice’s Cathedral for a concert featuring wonderful Irish mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons.
The Cardinall’s Musick
The Black Abbey
Gramophone Award-winners The Cardinall’s Musick play Tudor masterpieces by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.
Pierce Turner with support from Jennifer Evans
The Parade Tower
Pierce Turner likes to throw everything into his performances, from table-dancing to singalongs. Now resident in Manhattan, this is a rare chance to catch one of Ireland’s great songwriters live, abetted by rising singer-songwriter Jennifer Evans. Anything could happen, and probably will.
Public Seminar: The Future of Music Distribution & Promotion (chaired by Matthew Nolan)
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
An open discussion challenging conventional thinking about the business of music, and exploring new ways of creating, promoting, and distributing it.
Prince Mint and The Glam Chops
The vertically-endowed glam rock sensation!
John Boyne & Andrew O’Hagan
The Watergate Theatre
John Boyne, best-selling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and Andrew O’Hagan, one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, take us on a fictional journey from revolutionary Russia to Marilyn Monroe’s bedroom.
Michael Buckley’s Dublin Standard Time
Set Theatre
Led by Ireland’s finest saxophonist, Michael Buckley, Dublin Standard Time brings a full-blooded, old-school approach to the great jazz songs of the last century.
The Gingerbread Man
The Parade Tower
In this delightful rendition of the age-old tale, Miriam Lambert bakes the gingerbread, but the freshly-baked biscuit runs, eluding everyone’s hungry grasp, until he meets a very clever fox…
Thomas Dunford
The Parade Tower
Virtuoso lutenist Thomas Dunford plays pieces by the great French composers from the era of the Sun King.
Façade: an entertainment for reciter and six instruments
Set Theatre
Critically-acclaimed Irish actor Barry McGovern joins Ensemble Nouveau for Façade, a reading of Edith Sitwell’s quirky, witty poems accompanied by William Walton’s playful music.
Mick Flannery with Morton Valence & Catherine Dowling
St Canice’s Cathedral
Mick Flannery burst onto the rock scene with White Lies and now he brings his heartfelt songs and full-throated delivery to St Canice's Cathedral, accompanied by the sultry Catherine Dowling and the indefinable Morton Valence.
Erik Friedlander & FLM Ensemble
Set Theatre
Celebrated virtuoso cellist Erik Friedlander explores the cutting edge of jazz and classical music in the company of Irish trio FLM Ensemble.
Puppet-Making workshop with Miriam Lambert
Abbey Business Centre
An exciting opportunity to create your own puppet with puppeteer Miriam Lambert.
“Ireland’s Athletic Assault and Battery”?: Hollywood and Hurling
Set Theatre
In this rare screening of short films from the 1930s, '40s and '50s, Dr Seán Crosson looks back on early Hollywood’s very singular take on the GAA.
The Kilkenny County Session
Set Theatre
The Kilkenny County Session celebrates the strength of the county’s traditional music scene with a line-up of outstanding singers, storytellers and musicians. A must for anyone with an interest in Kilkenny music.
Blenny, The Waterdaughter
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Mack the lighthouse-keeper watches over a small fishing town and the ocean, but doesn’t feel part of either, not until the day a Blenny Fish follows him home!
Aileen Itani & Rachel Andrist
St Canice’s Cathedral
Outstanding young soprano Aileen Itani joins pianist Rachel Andrist to explore the rich world of fin de siècle French song, featuring works by Fauré and Debussy.
Mark Anthony McGrath & Christian Wilson
St Canice’s Cathedral
Guitarist Mark McGrath and organist Christian Wilson bring their unique blend of celtic and baroque-inspired music to St Canice’s for a special evening of familiar and rare songs.
The Big Draw
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Design a character, make your own animation flip book and create a storyboard with the help of Fabian Erlinghauser and Roxanne Burchartz from the Cartoon Saloon (Oscar-nominated for The Secret Of Kells).
Ciaran Carson & Michael Coady
The Parade Tower
Two acclaimed Irish poets showcase their latest collections in the intimate setting of the Parade Tower.
Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal and Debashish Bhattacharya & Subhasis Bhattacharya
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two extraordinary collaborations. Brothers Debashish and Subhasis Bhattacharya merge classical Indian music with slide guitar blues, while Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal offer a hypnotic blend of cello and kora.
The Billy Holiday Show
The Parade Tower
Billy Holiday is the world’s most famous singing goat. Now she’s trying to help her friends to stardom, but can sheep really make it big in showbiz? The audience must decide…
To an Isle in the Water
Set Theatre
New York composer Ellen Mandel plays her own delightful settings of the poetry of ee cummings, WB Yeats, Seamus Heaney and others, sung by baritone Robert Gildon.
When I’m Sixty-Four: A Symposium on Pension Reform
A panel of experts including Teresa Ghilarducci offer forward-thinking solutions to the pensions crisis in Ireland and beyond.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - "WHEN I'M 64: A SYMPOSIUM ON PENSION REFORM" HAS BEEN MOVED FROM ST CANICES CATHDERAL TO THE PEMBROKE HOTEL, PATRICK ST.
Group Therapy for One
Cleere’s
Shane Byrne invites you to help him solve the problems of being a young man in the world today.
A Western
Kyteler’s Inn
Armed only with cowboy hats and some ketchup, Action Hero celebrate the failure of generic heroes, cheap whores and the all-American idol.
Evan Christopher’s Django a la Creole
Set Theatre
The great clarinetist Evan Christopher plays the hot, infectious rhythms of New Orleans with his groundbreaking quartet, Django à la Créole.
Parapapel
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Using just the simplest of props, two friends create a whole world. Graceful, funny and endlessly inventive, Parapapel is a mesmerising show that will keep young children enthralled.
Maarten Koningsberger & Finghin Collins
St Canice’s Cathedral
Acclaimed Irish pianist Finghin Collins joins forces with baritone Maarten Koningsberger for a very special recital featuring Schumann’s glorious song cycle Dichterliebe.
John Banville & Hugo Hamilton
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two of this island’s most distinguished novelists, John Banville and Hugo Hamilton, whose latest work features everything from Greek gods to Serbian immigrants in Dublin.
Susan & Darren: an event with dancing
The Watergate Theatre
Join Susan and Darren as they prepare to throw one of their famous parties, complete with dancing, devastation, intimate conversation and a lovely buffet.
Andy Irvine
St Canice’s Cathedral
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Irvine brings a dazzling mix of traditional Irish ballads and Balkan dance tunes to St. Canices Cathedral in a live show to savour.
Halves with The Ambience Affair, Ryan Taylor Doyle & Teffia Ki
Set Theatre
Join us at the Set for a groundbreaking mix of cutting-edge music and visuals spearheaded by Halves, one of Ireland’s most exciting breakthrough acts.
Forty Years of Feminism: A discussion on where we were, where we are & where we’re going
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
A distinguished panel of speakers including Nell McCafferty and Margaret MacCurtain look back on Forty Years of Feminism in Ireland and ask what challenges lie ahead.
I Can’t … I Can’t (Wedding Night)
The Parade Tower
A unique opportunity to see this controversial film, not screened in Ireland since its premiere in 1969.
Foot Washing for the Sole
The Hole in the Wall
Live artist Adrian Howells brings to Kilkenny an intimate, one-to-one performance that offers to restore a sense of peace to our frantic lives.
Konono No.1
Set Theatre
Congolese band Konono No.1 sound like nothing else in African music. Their raw, funky, exuberant sound is sure to take the Set Theatre by storm.
Whispering Waves: Stories of the Sea
The Parade Tower
In this enthralling storytelling performance, Joe Brennan reveals the secrets of the waves. Stories of adventure, mystery and love. Stories of silky seals, a drowning wave and strange creatures...
Maria Ryan & Ciara Moroney
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Kilkenny violinist Maria Ryan and pianist Ciara Moroney bring an eclectic programme to St Canice’s, from Bach’s sonatas to Arvo Pärt’s masterpiece, Fratres.
Meta3 String Quartet
St Canice’s Cathedral
The rising stars of the international chamber music scene play pieces by Haydn and Schumann.
Damo Suzuki (followed by a DJ set from Donal Dineen)
Set Theatre
Damo Suzuki makes his own rules, and he's coming to the Set Theatre for an evening of improvisation in its purest form. This gig will be live, spontaneous, and unique. Be part of it.
Tarab
St Canice’s Cathedral
Francesco Turrisi's exciting ensemble weaves together traditional music from Ireland and the Mediterranean.
Up Above
Tina Machina and Kenneth Fall invite you to witness a beautiful disaster in mid air.
Ed O’Loughlin & David Vann
Set Theatre
A double bill of fresh fictional voices in the shape of journalist-turned-novelist Ed O’Loughlin and acclaimed Alaskan writer David Vann.
Dublin City Jazz Orchestra with Honor Heffernan
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
In a show specially designed for the festival, the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra brings you an evening of wild sounds from the big band era, aided by acclaimed jazz vocalist Honor Heffernan.
Fidil
Cleere’s
This dynamic young fiddle trio promise a barnstorming night in Cleere’s.
On-Off
Barnstorm Theatre Company
At once a game, a dance, and an enchanting spectacle, On-Off helps young children overcome their fear of the dark and discover the language of light.
Derek Landy
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant (Irish Book of the Decade), comes to Kilkenny to talk about his life, his work, and his plans to build a private munchkin army.
The Kilkenny Arts Festival Choir & Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Choral singers from far and wide gather for a rousing performance in St Canice’s, featuring celebrated tenor Christopher Lemmings, baritone Raitis Grigalis and mezzo-soprano Bridget Knowles.
And So I Watch You From Afar (followed by The Kilo 1977)
Set Theatre
One of Belfast’s hottest, loudest properties, And So I Watch You From Afar are a force to be reckoned with. See them up close in the Set Theatre, where their monstrous chords and iron-clad riffs are sure to blow the roof off.
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
One of Ireland’s best-loved musicians and singers, Liam Ó Maonlaí brings you sean nós singing, rhythm, piano and soul in this intimate concert for all the family, young and old.
Lendvai String Trio
The Parade Tower
An exciting programme of string trios, featuring one of Beethoven’s masterpieces, played by dynamic young group the Lendvai String Trio.
Festival Mass
St Mary’s Cathedral
A special Festival Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, sung by the choir of St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Tindersticks with 3epkano
St Canice’s Cathedral
A reinvigorated Tindersticks bring their passionate explorations of romance and masculinity and their distinctive, cinematic sound to St Canice’s in what promises to be the gig of the festival.
Adrian Crowley with Valerie Francis
Set Theatre
Adrian Crowley makes a triumphant return to the festival clutching a hatful of awards for his latest album and accompanied by the beguiling Valerie Francis.
Scullion
Set Theatre
Join folk rock band Scullion at the Set Theatre to round off the festival with a good old-fashioned party in the company of some of the acts you've seen this year
surface & reality
An exhibition of eleven contemporary artists in five locations through the city, including work by Turner Prize nominees Willie Doherty (nominated 1994/2003) and Susan Philipsz (nominated 2010).
Visual Art Strand 2: Guerrilla Girls
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
New works by internationally-renowned feminist arts group the Guerrilla Girls.
Visual Art Strand 2: Gerard Casey, Eamon Colman, Patrick Pye
Featuring graphic work and paintings by three of Ireland's foremost artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Maria Van Kesteren
An exhibition of new work by the artist who introduced woodturning to Ireland.
Visual Art Strand 2: KCAT Thirteen
A vibrant exhibition featuring work by thirteen local artists.
Mah Rana - ‘Jewellery is Life’ and ‘Meanings and Attachments’
The National Craft Gallery
Two exhibitions exploring the idea that jewellery is intrinsic to our lives.
Embracing Technology
The National Craft Gallery
Showcasing the work of fourteen makers who are pushing the boundaries of their craft through the inventive use of materials and technology.
Strand 2 Craft: Ceramics Ireland International Festival
The National Craft Gallery
Featuring outstanding work from seven international makers.
Strand 2 Craft: Grennan Mill Craft School Exhibition
Grennan Mill Craft School presents an exciting range of work from six artists.
Strand 2 Craft: Made in Kilkenny
Twenty-six of the finest craftspeople in Kilkenny display work inspired by the county.
Visual Art Strand 2: Tony O’Malley
Butler Gallery
The first exhibition dedicated entirely to the amazing ‘Constructions’ of the renowned Irish artist, Tony O’Malley.
Visual Art Strand 2: Endangered Studios
An exhibition of work by four Kilkenny-based artists.
Children’s Craft Workshops
The National Craft Gallery
A chance to explore some of the materials featured in the exhibitions, including jewellery and textiles.
Construct with Nature
Butler Gallery
A chance to build your own colourful 'constructions', inspired by the Butler Gallery's Tony O'Malley exhibition.
“Ireland’s Athletic Assault and Battery”?: Hollywood and Hurling
Set Theatre
In this rare screening of short films from the 1930s, '40s and '50s, Dr Seán Crosson looks back on early Hollywood’s very singular take on the GAA.
A Western
Kyteler’s Inn
Armed only with cowboy hats and some ketchup, Action Hero celebrate the failure of generic heroes, cheap whores and the all-American idol.
Adrian Crowley with Valerie Francis
Set Theatre
Adrian Crowley makes a triumphant return to the festival clutching a hatful of awards for his latest album and accompanied by the beguiling Valerie Francis.
Aileen Itani & Rachel Andrist
St Canice’s Cathedral
Outstanding young soprano Aileen Itani joins pianist Rachel Andrist to explore the rich world of fin de siècle French song, featuring works by Fauré and Debussy.
Ale Möller Band
Set Theatre
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller brings his cosmopolitan band to the Set Theatre for a potent mix of folk songs from all over the world, infused with drama and played with passion.
And So I Watch You From Afar (followed by The Kilo 1977)
Set Theatre
One of Belfast’s hottest, loudest properties, And So I Watch You From Afar are a force to be reckoned with. See them up close in the Set Theatre, where their monstrous chords and iron-clad riffs are sure to blow the roof off.
Andy Irvine
St Canice’s Cathedral
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Irvine brings a dazzling mix of traditional Irish ballads and Balkan dance tunes to St. Canices Cathedral in a live show to savour.
Antti Siirala
St Canice’s Cathedral
One of the outstanding pianists of his generation, Antti Siirala presents a breathtaking programme climaxing with Chopin’s Ballades, some of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire.
Baghdaddies
One of the most fun bands in this or any other universe, the Baghdaddies are sure to get your feet moving.
Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal and Debashish Bhattacharya & Subhasis Bhattacharya
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two extraordinary collaborations. Brothers Debashish and Subhasis Bhattacharya merge classical Indian music with slide guitar blues, while Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal offer a hypnotic blend of cello and kora.
Blenny, The Waterdaughter
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Mack the lighthouse-keeper watches over a small fishing town and the ocean, but doesn’t feel part of either, not until the day a Blenny Fish follows him home!
Children’s Craft Workshops
The National Craft Gallery
A chance to explore some of the materials featured in the exhibitions, including jewellery and textiles.
Ciarán Walsh
Rothe House
Ciarán Walsh’s recent work investigates the legacy of maligned psychotherapist and scientist Wilhelm Reich.
Ciaran Carson & Michael Coady
The Parade Tower
Two acclaimed Irish poets showcase their latest collections in the intimate setting of the Parade Tower.
Construct with Nature
Butler Gallery
A chance to build your own colourful 'constructions', inspired by the Butler Gallery's Tony O'Malley exhibition.
Damo Suzuki (followed by a DJ set from Donal Dineen)
Set Theatre
Damo Suzuki makes his own rules, and he's coming to the Set Theatre for an evening of improvisation in its purest form. This gig will be live, spontaneous, and unique. Be part of it.
Declan Clarke
Rothe House
Declan Clarke's Cologne Overnight considers the development of 20th century Western ideals through the ruins left in their wake.
Dennis McNulty
Ormonde St. Car Park (Top Floor)
Dennis McNulty creates ‘situations’, space-specific sound performances or site-related installations, which he characterises as points of intersection between flows of various kinds – time, site, sound, narrative and audience.
Derek Landy
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant (Irish Book of the Decade), comes to Kilkenny to talk about his life, his work, and his plans to build a private munchkin army.
Donkey Feathers
A carnival of irreverent clowning and unpredictable fun!
Dublin City Jazz Orchestra with Honor Heffernan
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
In a show specially designed for the festival, the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra brings you an evening of wild sounds from the big band era, aided by acclaimed jazz vocalist Honor Heffernan.
Ed O’Loughlin & David Vann
Set Theatre
A double bill of fresh fictional voices in the shape of journalist-turned-novelist Ed O’Loughlin and acclaimed Alaskan writer David Vann.
Eithne Jordan
11 Patrick Street
Eithne Jordan, one of Ireland’s leading figurative painters, explores the hidden and forgotten spaces of Europe's great cities.
Embracing Technology
The National Craft Gallery
Showcasing the work of fourteen makers who are pushing the boundaries of their craft through the inventive use of materials and technology.
Eoghan McTigue
Kitchen Corridor - Kilkenny Castle
The photographs in Eoghan McTigue's series Aerial Plane have a strange, otherworldly feel, like dark, monochromatic paintings.
Erik Friedlander & FLM Ensemble
Set Theatre
Celebrated virtuoso cellist Erik Friedlander explores the cutting edge of jazz and classical music in the company of Irish trio FLM Ensemble.
Evan Christopher’s Django a la Creole
Set Theatre
The great clarinetist Evan Christopher plays the hot, infectious rhythms of New Orleans with his groundbreaking quartet, Django à la Créole.
Façade: an entertainment for reciter and six instruments
Set Theatre
Critically-acclaimed Irish actor Barry McGovern joins Ensemble Nouveau for Façade, a reading of Edith Sitwell’s quirky, witty poems accompanied by William Walton’s playful music.
Fergus Martin
11 Patrick Street
"In my painting and sculpture, I try to find a shape that gives a feeling of ‘holding’ as much as possible. I often think of tanks filling up with water, of rivers rising to the brim."
Festival Mass
St Mary’s Cathedral
A special Festival Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, sung by the choir of St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Fidil
Cleere’s
This dynamic young fiddle trio promise a barnstorming night in Cleere’s.
Foot Washing for the Sole
The Hole in the Wall
Live artist Adrian Howells brings to Kilkenny an intimate, one-to-one performance that offers to restore a sense of peace to our frantic lives.
Forty Years of Feminism: A discussion on where we were, where we are & where we’re going
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
A distinguished panel of speakers including Nell McCafferty and Margaret MacCurtain look back on Forty Years of Feminism in Ireland and ask what challenges lie ahead.
Gabriel Byrne On Screen
Set Theatre
From adventure fantasy Into the West to the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing and HBO’s award-winning new drama series In Treatment, Gabriel Byrne on Screen presents the finest work of one of Ireland’s greatest actors.
Group Therapy for One
Cleere’s
Shane Byrne invites you to help him solve the problems of being a young man in the world today.
Halves with The Ambience Affair, Ryan Taylor Doyle & Teffia Ki
Set Theatre
Join us at the Set for a groundbreaking mix of cutting-edge music and visuals spearheaded by Halves, one of Ireland’s most exciting breakthrough acts.
I Can’t … I Can’t (Wedding Night)
The Parade Tower
A unique opportunity to see this controversial film, not screened in Ireland since its premiere in 1969.
Innisfree Céilí Band
Set Theatre
With reels and jigs played with passion and flair, the Innisfree Céilí Band are guaranteed to get your feet moving.
John Banville & Hugo Hamilton
St Canice’s Cathedral
A double bill featuring two of this island’s most distinguished novelists, John Banville and Hugo Hamilton, whose latest work features everything from Greek gods to Serbian immigrants in Dublin.
John Boyne & Andrew O’Hagan
The Watergate Theatre
John Boyne, best-selling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and Andrew O’Hagan, one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, take us on a fictional journey from revolutionary Russia to Marilyn Monroe’s bedroom.
Joseph O’Connor & Philip King
The Watergate Theatre
Musician and broadcaster Philip King and author Joseph O’Connor explore balladry and fiction in a delightful evening filled with stories and song.
Konono No.1
Set Theatre
Congolese band Konono No.1 sound like nothing else in African music. Their raw, funky, exuberant sound is sure to take the Set Theatre by storm.
Lendvai String Trio
The Parade Tower
An exciting programme of string trios, featuring one of Beethoven’s masterpieces, played by dynamic young group the Lendvai String Trio.
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Hotel Kilkenny - Skyline Suite
One of Ireland’s best-loved musicians and singers, Liam Ó Maonlaí brings you sean nós singing, rhythm, piano and soul in this intimate concert for all the family, young and old.
Maarten Koningsberger & Finghin Collins
St Canice’s Cathedral
Acclaimed Irish pianist Finghin Collins joins forces with baritone Maarten Koningsberger for a very special recital featuring Schumann’s glorious song cycle Dichterliebe.
Mah Rana - ‘Jewellery is Life’ and ‘Meanings and Attachments’
The National Craft Gallery
Two exhibitions exploring the idea that jewellery is intrinsic to our lives.
Maria Ryan & Ciara Moroney
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Kilkenny violinist Maria Ryan and pianist Ciara Moroney bring an eclectic programme to St Canice’s, from Bach’s sonatas to Arvo Pärt’s masterpiece, Fratres.
Mark Anthony McGrath & Christian Wilson
St Canice’s Cathedral
Guitarist Mark McGrath and organist Christian Wilson bring their unique blend of celtic and baroque-inspired music to St Canice’s for a special evening of familiar and rare songs.
Meta3 String Quartet
St Canice’s Cathedral
The rising stars of the international chamber music scene play pieces by Haydn and Schumann.
Michael Buckley’s Dublin Standard Time
Set Theatre
Led by Ireland’s finest saxophonist, Michael Buckley, Dublin Standard Time brings a full-blooded, old-school approach to the great jazz songs of the last century.
Michael Coleman
11 Patrick Street
"Around the Park is a series of twelve watercolours based on my time as an artist-in-residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin."
Mick Flannery with Morton Valence & Catherine Dowling
St Canice’s Cathedral
Mick Flannery burst onto the rock scene with White Lies and now he brings his heartfelt songs and full-throated delivery to St Canice's Cathedral, accompanied by the sultry Catherine Dowling and the indefinable Morton Valence.
On-Off
Barnstorm Theatre Company
At once a game, a dance, and an enchanting spectacle, On-Off helps young children overcome their fear of the dark and discover the language of light.
Parapapel
Barnstorm Theatre Company
Using just the simplest of props, two friends create a whole world. Graceful, funny and endlessly inventive, Parapapel is a mesmerising show that will keep young children enthralled.
Paul Durcan
The Watergate Theatre
One of the most original voices in modern poetry brings his celebrated reading style to the Watergate.
Pierce Turner with support from Jennifer Evans
The Parade Tower
Pierce Turner likes to throw everything into his performances, from table-dancing to singalongs. Now resident in Manhattan, this is a rare chance to catch one of Ireland’s great songwriters live, abetted by rising singer-songwriter Jennifer Evans. Anything could happen, and probably will.
Prince Mint and The Glam Chops
The vertically-endowed glam rock sensation!
Public Seminar: The Future of Music Distribution & Promotion (chaired by Matthew Nolan)
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
An open discussion challenging conventional thinking about the business of music, and exploring new ways of creating, promoting, and distributing it.
Puppet-Making workshop with Miriam Lambert
Abbey Business Centre
An exciting opportunity to create your own puppet with puppeteer Miriam Lambert.
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Always one of the most popular events at the festival, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra brings its unrivalled repertoire to St Canice’s Cathedral for a concert featuring wonderful Irish mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons.
Scullion
Set Theatre
Join folk rock band Scullion at the Set Theatre to round off the festival with a good old-fashioned party in the company of some of the acts you've seen this year
Stephen Loughman
11 Patrick Street
Stephen Loughman's series The Fisherman’s Widow investigates the notion of an artwork as witness to a crime.
Strand 2 Craft: Ceramics Ireland International Festival
The National Craft Gallery
Featuring outstanding work from seven international makers.
Strand 2 Craft: Grennan Mill Craft School Exhibition
Grennan Mill Craft School presents an exciting range of work from six artists.
Strand 2 Craft: Made in Kilkenny
Twenty-six of the finest craftspeople in Kilkenny display work inspired by the county.
surface & reality
An exhibition of eleven contemporary artists in five locations through the city, including work by Turner Prize nominees Willie Doherty (nominated 1994/2003) and Susan Philipsz (nominated 2010).
Susan & Darren: an event with dancing
The Watergate Theatre
Join Susan and Darren as they prepare to throw one of their famous parties, complete with dancing, devastation, intimate conversation and a lovely buffet.
Susan Phillipsz
Kilkenny Castle Park
Turner Prize nominee Susan Philipsz's sound installation in Kilkenny Castle Park pays tribute to Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce and a passionate (but now forgotten) dancer.
Tarab
St Canice’s Cathedral
Francesco Turrisi's exciting ensemble weaves together traditional music from Ireland and the Mediterranean.
The Big Draw
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Design a character, make your own animation flip book and create a storyboard with the help of Fabian Erlinghauser and Roxanne Burchartz from the Cartoon Saloon (Oscar-nominated for The Secret Of Kells).
The Billy Holiday Show
The Parade Tower
Billy Holiday is the world’s most famous singing goat. Now she’s trying to help her friends to stardom, but can sheep really make it big in showbiz? The audience must decide…
The Cardinall’s Musick
The Black Abbey
Gramophone Award-winners The Cardinall’s Musick play Tudor masterpieces by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.
The Gingerbread Man
The Parade Tower
In this delightful rendition of the age-old tale, Miriam Lambert bakes the gingerbread, but the freshly-baked biscuit runs, eluding everyone’s hungry grasp, until he meets a very clever fox…
The Hubert Butler Annual Lecture: Robert Fisk
St Canice’s Cathedral
Award-winning Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk looks back on his extraordinary career and casts a critical eye over the state of journalism today.
The Kilkenny Arts Festival Choir & Orchestra
St Canice’s Cathedral
Choral singers from far and wide gather for a rousing performance in St Canice’s, featuring celebrated tenor Christopher Lemmings, baritone Raitis Grigalis and mezzo-soprano Bridget Knowles.
The Kilkenny County Session
Set Theatre
The Kilkenny County Session celebrates the strength of the county’s traditional music scene with a line-up of outstanding singers, storytellers and musicians. A must for anyone with an interest in Kilkenny music.
The Magic Cube
The Watergate Theatre
Two clowns discover a strange world made only of cubes in this wonderful clowning performance featuring horses, motorbikes, trains, castles, battles, love, laughs and even some tears.
The Smile Off Your Face
Rothe House
The Smile Off Your Face offers a totally unique experience, for one person at a time. Everything happens only in your head, and yet it doesn’t…
Thomas Dunford
The Parade Tower
Virtuoso lutenist Thomas Dunford plays pieces by the great French composers from the era of the Sun King.
Tindersticks with 3epkano
St Canice’s Cathedral
A reinvigorated Tindersticks bring their passionate explorations of romance and masculinity and their distinctive, cinematic sound to St Canice’s in what promises to be the gig of the festival.
To an Isle in the Water
Set Theatre
New York composer Ellen Mandel plays her own delightful settings of the poetry of ee cummings, WB Yeats, Seamus Heaney and others, sung by baritone Robert Gildon.
Up Above
Tina Machina and Kenneth Fall invite you to witness a beautiful disaster in mid air.
Victor and Gord
Cleere’s
You know those friends you grew up with? Went to school with? Laughed, cried, partied and pulled with? D’you ever wonder, sometimes, if they’d ever just f**k off?
Visual Art Strand 2: Endangered Studios
An exhibition of work by four Kilkenny-based artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Gerard Casey, Eamon Colman, Patrick Pye
Featuring graphic work and paintings by three of Ireland's foremost artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Guerrilla Girls
Kilkenny County Council Arts Office
New works by internationally-renowned feminist arts group the Guerrilla Girls.
Visual Art Strand 2: KCAT Thirteen
A vibrant exhibition featuring work by thirteen local artists.
Visual Art Strand 2: Maria Van Kesteren
An exhibition of new work by the artist who introduced woodturning to Ireland.
Visual Art Strand 2: Tony O’Malley
Butler Gallery
The first exhibition dedicated entirely to the amazing ‘Constructions’ of the renowned Irish artist, Tony O’Malley.
When I’m Sixty-Four: A Symposium on Pension Reform
A panel of experts including Teresa Ghilarducci offer forward-thinking solutions to the pensions crisis in Ireland and beyond.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - "WHEN I'M 64: A SYMPOSIUM ON PENSION REFORM" HAS BEEN MOVED FROM ST CANICES CATHDERAL TO THE PEMBROKE HOTEL, PATRICK ST.
Where did it all go right?
The Left Bank
ponydance, Belfast’s champions of comedy dance theatre, serve up an outrageous confection of moves and movement to a soundtrack of garish music and nervous tension. You’ll laugh and cringe!
Whispering Waves: Stories of the Sea
The Parade Tower
In this enthralling storytelling performance, Joe Brennan reveals the secrets of the waves. Stories of adventure, mystery and love. Stories of silky seals, a drowning wave and strange creatures...
William McKeown
11 Patrick Street
"The paintings that I will be showing at Kilkenny have developed out of the theme of immersion that has preoccupied me for many years."
Willie Doherty
Rothe House
Twice Turner Prize nominee Willie Doherty's photography and video work draws on his native city of Derry to explore themes of individual and collective subjectivity, memory and responsibility.
August 2010
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