Dervish - Patrick O'Keeffe Festival 2026

Dervish in Concert
Friday 23 October
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: River Island Hotel, Castleisland, Co. Kerry

With support from Damien Mullane and Seán O’Meara

Plus Flat to the Matt
Dervish, one of the most celebrated names in Irish traditional music, come to the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival for what promises to be a very special concert.
At the end of 2019, Dervish received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the BBC, a fitting tribute to a band with over 30 years of recording and performing across the world. Described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”, they have brought Irish music to audiences everywhere from Rio to Glastonbury.
Renowned for live performances that combine dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs, Dervish have built one of the outstanding catalogues in Irish music, with 13 studio and live albums to date. The Guardian summed them up perfectly: “Dervish are simply brilliant… they carry Irish history with them.”
The band have performed sell-out shows across the United States and toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia and South America. They were the first Irish band to play Rock in Rio, the world’s biggest music festival, performing to an estimated audience of 250,000 people. Over the years, they have shared bills with artists including James Brown, Neil Young, Sting and Iron Maiden.
Rooted deeply in the musical traditions of Sligo and Leitrim, Dervish are fronted by one of Ireland’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan, alongside a line-up of some of the finest traditional musicians in the country. Their music blends technical brilliance with soul, energy and a deep understanding of tradition.
This is a rare chance to catch one of Ireland’s great traditional bands live at the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival, with support on the night from the phenomenal duo Damien Mullane and Seán O’Meara.