Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival 2025: Imelda May, Declan O’Rourke and more announced for special free event in Smithfield Square

The life and legacy of an Irish music icon is set to be celebrated through music, conversation, family fun and more this month – as the Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival returns to Dublin's Smithfield Square on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25 (12pm-6pm)

Dublin City Council's free, two-day event – which is now in its third year – has revealed its programme, made up of one-off gigs, singalong sessions, lively discussions, art and crafts activities, inclusive sports events.

Once again, you can expect performances from some the biggest names in Irish music, as well as those who knew Luke Kelly and The Dubliners best.

The 'Luke Kelly Songbook', taking place on the Main Stage, will feature performances from the legendary likes of Imelda May, Frances Black, Declan O’Rourke and Sean McKenna.

You can also look forward to special performances from musician/ actor Phelim Drew and folk singer Aoife Scott. Banjo players Kieran Hanrahan and Gerry O’Connor, meanwhile, will lead a tribute to Barney McKenna – and Dublin group Madra Salach will be serving up a selection of folk favourites.

Imelda May. Copyright Cat Gundry-Beck.

For those who'd like to learn a little more about the legend that is Luke Kelly, through discussions and workshops, look no further than The Bailey tent – where, across the two days, you'll find everything from a kids ballad singalong, to a banjo workshop for beginners.

Dublin historian Donal Fallon (presenter of the Three Castles Burning podcast) will be leading events on a variety of topics – including an interview with journalist Ronan Burtenshaw and folk singer Sandra Kerr on Luke’s mentor, the late Ewan MacColl.

Award-winning novelist Dermot Bolger is also getting involved, hosting an event that sees Dublin playwright Jimmy Murphy – and a cast featuring Neili Conroy, Sarah Morris and Meave Fitzgerald – treating the crowd to a special reading of Brendan Behan's lost play The Rent Woman.

The O’Donoghue’s Tent is also set to make its triumphant return, once again playing host to the lively Luke Kelly Sing-Song over both days.

Reflecting Luke's creative spirit, meanwhile, are the interactive arts and crafts activities, which guarantee fun for all the family – from Luke Kelly mask-making lessons, to a workshop centred around making musical instruments from everyday items.

Of course, Luke also had a passion for the beautiful game – which is being represented with a series of football-focused events at The Centre-Half.

On the Sunday, the Football for All Festival, which is in conjunction with the DDSL’s Football for All programme, is set to take place as part of the Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival, on the all-weather pitch beside the Smithfield Fruit Market (11am-1pm). The FAI’s Football for All programme is made up of players from groups and sporting bodies that cater for people with a disability who want to play football.

This year, Sheriff YC – who hail from the area where Luke Kelly was born – are also set to get involved.

Other new additions to the Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival 2025 include Crazy Golf (shining a light on Luke’s love of golf) and the Luke Kelly Legacy Stories – where fans, friends and family of the singer are invited to share their own memories and reflections on Luke through a specially commissioned and adapted retro phonebox.

For more, see dublin.ie/lukekelly

Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival