A ten-day series exploring the great Romantic’s enchanting chamber music in the intimacy of St John’s Priory
In this three-concert series, the Irish Chamber Orchestra presents astonishing masterworks from the composer's later years alongside thrilling 21st century sounds
Later Beethoven
Series Overview: Later Beethoven
The BBC Newsnight presenter investigates the future of journalism, elections and democracy in the era of fake news
THE HUBERT BUTLER ANNUAL LECTURE
Post-Truth: Evan Davis UK
Rough Magic’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is outrageous proof that Shakespeare is for life, not just for the Leaving Cert
Rough Magic & Kilkenny Arts Festival
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
The first Irish production of Monteverdi’s heart-stopping tale of true love in the face of adversity, featuring one of the world's great baroque orchestras
Opera Collective Ireland & Kilkenny Arts Festival
The Return of Ulysses by Claudio Monteverdi
An enchanting programme of Romantic works performed by the leading Irish pianist of his generation
Brahms in the Afternoon
PIANO WORKS
Finghin Collins
DIscover some of Brahms' most thrilling chamber works, almost concerto-like in scale
Brahms in the Afternoon
PIANO TRIOS & QUARTETS
Finghin Collins, Katherine Hunka, Cian Ó Dúill & Christian Elliot
Collins joins forces with the ICO’s principal cellist to perform both of Brahms’ marvellous cello sonatas
Brahms in the Afternoon
CELLO SONATAS
Christian Elliot & Finghin Collins
Two rising international stars combine in a lilting Viennese programme
Brahms in the Afternoon
PIANO DUOS
Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy Russia / UK
One of the Festival's favourite performers in Brahms' final work, full of spirit and emotion
Brahms in the Afternoon
ORGAN PRELUDES
Malcolm Proud
Two international rising stars of string and keyboard in Brahms' late masterpieces
Brahms in the Afternoon
VIOLA SONATAS
Timothy Ridout & Pavel Kolesnikov UK / Russia
The prizewinning French quartet brings the Brahms series to a close with three concerts exploring some of his greatest works for strings
Brahms in the Afternoon
STRING QUARTETS & QUINTETS
Quatuor Voce & guests France
The star of stage and screen performs Mahon's poetic epic in a new musical setting
Stephen Rea performs
New York Time by Derek Mahon
One of Beethoven's transcendent masterpieces alongside a stunning work from Cork composer Sam Perkin
Later Beethoven
Irish Chamber Orchestra, Alex Petcu-Colan & Sam Perkin Katherine Hunka / Christian Elliot, directors
Experience an unforgettable Beethoven classic and thrilling 21st century sounds by Sam Perkin
Later Beethoven
Irish Chamber Orchestra Katherine Hunka / Christian Elliot, directors
Two of Beethoven's best loved orchestral classics bring the ICO's series to a climax
Later Beethoven
Irish Chamber Orchestra, Carolin & Jörg Widmann Ireland / Germany
The celebrated baroque ensemble makes its first visit to Ireland for 25 years with a programme of glorious 17th-century music
Monteverdi’s Italy: The Rise of Instrumental Music
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin Germany
A unique chance to hear Bach’s complete Sonatas & Partitas - a musical Everest - in one epic evening
BACH: THE COMPLETE VIOLIN SONATAS & PARTITAS
Johnny Gandelsman USA/Russia
The most exciting lieder singer of his generation makes an eagerly awaited return to the Festival with a programme of favourite German songs
Songs by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms & Grieg
Benjamin Appl & Pavel Kolesnikov Germany / Russia
Following its sold-out performance at last year’s Festival, Chamber Choir Ireland returns with a sublime late-night programme spanning the centuries
Before Bach and After
Chamber Choir Ireland & Paul Hillier
An enchanting evening of music and drama exploring the relationship between Johannes Brahms and his muse, Clara Schumann
IRISH PREMIERE
Shining Armour by Burnside, Brahms & Tieck
A stunning ensemble including the legendary Valda Setterfield premiere a new show about relationships in the old Carlton Ballroom
Irish Modern Dance Theatre
Inventions
Discover Brahms: the man, his music and the untold story of his Irish connection
Brahms in the Afternoon
Gerry Murphy
Brahms and the Irish Connection
An intimate solo set from a fearless musical explorer
SOLO
Declan O’Rourke
A magical singer-songwriter double bill featuring two of Ireland's brightest talents
Ailbhe Reddy & Marc O’Reilly
Kilkenny music legend Willie Meighan is remembered by three of his favourite bands
A Celebration of Willie Meighan
There is a Light that Never Goes Out
An unmissable night in St Canice's as the master fiddle player brings his own quartet together for a thrilling blend of tradition and innovation
Marble City Sessions
Martin Hayes Quartet USA/Ireland
The extraordinary story of the Irish troops and generals who were at the heart of Wellington's campaigns from the Peninsular War to Waterloo
Two Irish Titans: O'Connell & Wellington
David Murphy & Marcus de la Poer Beresford
Wellington’s Irish Army
Leading commentator Eoghan Harris gives a personal assessment of O’Connell and Wellington, two titans who bestrode the 19th century, in the first of three talks on these two extraordinary Irishmen
Two Irish Titans: O'Connell & Wellington
Eoghan Harris
Wellington & O’Connell: The Men Behind the Myths
The Blundens of Castle Blunden give a fascinating account of a lost world growing up in a Kilkenny Big House
Caroline & Jane Blunden
A Kilkenny Big House Childhood
The London Editor of The Irish Times gives an insider view of Brexit's competing factions and the chaotic road ahead
Denis Staunton
Brexit: What Next?
A Friday night to remember with the unique songstress and her crack band of musicians, close up and personal in the Set
Marble City Sessions
Camille O’Sullivan
The Syrian virtuoso of the qanun, the 78-string zither comes to the Set with her trio for a magical late night of Middle Eastern sounds
Marble City Sessions
Maya Youssef Syria
The Kentucky wizard of the hardanger fiddle gives a late-night intimate set in the stunning renaissance surrounds of Rothe House
Marble City Sessions
Liz Knowles USA
An unmissable night lies in store as one of the greatest Irish singer-songwriters and his band come to the Set for a one-off intimate gig
Marble City Sessions
Glen Hansard
Two musical adventurers join forces to explore and exchange tunes from Renaissance airs to old time Appalachian folk
Marble City Sessions
Liam Byrne & Cleek Schrey Ireland/USA
Eleven days and nights of Festival magic draw to a close in St Canice’s with an unmissable feast of unique collaborations in music, poetry, song and dance
Marble City Sessions
Festival Finale
In tandem with the Homeric focus of our opera, The Return of Ulysses, the Culture Minster of Greece comes to Kilkenny to discuss Greek culture from Homer to its impact on Greek life today
Homer Today: Greek Culture Through the Ages Lydia Koniordou, Culture Minister of Greece
The celebrated Kilkenny-born playwright reflects on his life and work in conversation with Olivia O'Leary
In conversation with Olivia O’Leary
Thomas Kilroy
Join Thomas Kilroy and Stephen Rea in the legendary Fennelly's of Callan for the first in a series of live podcast readings of Kilroy's The Big Chapel
One County One Book
How Daniel O’Connell inspired generations of civil rights leaders around the world, from Gandhi to Martin Luther King
Two Irish Titans: O'Connell & Wellington
Patrick Geoghegan & Fintan O’Toole
The Liberators: Daniel O’Connell to Martin Luther King Jr
The former Taoiseach draws on his unique experience of international negotiation to assess the prospects for Brexit, the border and our European future
Bertie Ahern in conversation with David Davin-Power
Negotiating the Future
The doyenne of Irish foreign policy asks if diplomacy has a future, and how Ireland can shape a turbulent world
Anne Anderson
Diplomacy in the Age of Trump
Fascinating personalities and untold stories from the eve of revolution through times of war and civil strife
Eoin Swithin Walsh
Revolutionary Kilkenny
Peter Fallon, Maureen Kennelly and Stephen Rea discuss one of Ireland’s, and the world’s, most admired living poets
Celebrating Derek Mahon
The renowned poet is in residence at this year's Festival
Poet in Residence
Eavan Boland
A brand new, free show for all ages in Castle Park, featuring aerial acrobatics, madcap comedy and breathtaking stunts
Loosysmokes
The Lightkeepers’ Last Stand
Eight young architects re-imagine medieval Kilkenny as a creative hub for the 21st century
Kilkenny Arts Festival & UCD School of Architecture
Kilkenny Visions
Eight young architects discuss their visions for Kilkenny's cultural future with Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey
KILKENNY VISIONS
Creative Visions for Kilkenny
In this new show by acclaimed American artists, dilemmas of mortality, sex, and delusion trap their characters between tragic and comic meanings
Butler Gallery
I Smelled A Raw Recruit: The World War Films of Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley
An exhibition that explores the intersection of digital and analogue, and the role of technology in object-making
National Design & Craft Gallery
.OBJ: Digital Handmade
An intimate club set in the original Sofa Sessions venue featuring music by Bleckmann, Guilfolye and Kate Bush...
The Sofa Sessions
Club Set
Theo Bleckmann Germany/USA
An intimate 'club set' in the original Sofa Sessions venue, featuring music by O'Gallagher, Guilfoyle and others...
The Sofa Sessions
CLUB SET
John O’Gallagher USA
An intimate 'club set' in the original Sofa Sessions room featuring music by Wogram, Guilfoyle and others
The Sofa Sessions
Club Set
Nils Wogram Germany
Intimate club set in the original Sofa Sessions room featuring Hammond organist Scott Flanigan...
The Sofa Sessions
CLUB SET
Chris Guilfoyle Organ Trio
The Sofa Sessions
Club Set
Oxygen Thief
A storming club set from three of the most exciting young musicians on the Dublin jazz scene
The Sofa Sessions
Club Set
Guilfoyle/Engel/Jacobson Ireland/RSA
Step into an enchanted garden and encounter amazing Festival artists in free 15 minute pop-up performances...
Free Events
Secret Garden Music
Watch out! You never know when the Festival is going to spill out onto the street...
Free Events
Festival Fun on High Street
Interactive talks and workshops for all ages, exploring the evolution of new forms of craft
Talks & Workshops
National Design & Craft Gallery
Poet in residence Eavan Boland hosts a half-day workshop for poets (by application)
Eavan Boland
Poetry Workshop
Eavan Boland launches this year's Poetry Broadsheet, edited by poet Peter Sirr
Kilkenny Arts Office
Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet
The famous Sofa Sessions puts Ireland's new jazz generation alongside big names of the international scene