Live Report: Dermot Kennedy commands the Aviva Stadium

It's been an undeniably strong few years for Irish music, and Dermot Kennedy has been one of its defining success stories.

Years spent busking on the streets of Dublin, Boston and beyond helped shape his sound, while steadily building the loyal audience that has followed him from city streets to sold-out stadiums.

His third album The Weight of the Woods, released earlier this year, is a tribute to the woodland behind his childhood home – a place of refuge that continues to inspire his songwriting. Although Kennedy pours his emotions into his music, he's fiercely protective of his private life, choosing to keep his wife and daughter away from the spotlight. He has often spoken about wanting a quiet existence in his woodland home near the Dublin border, making the sight of him commanding more than 50,000 fans all the more striking.

Dermot Kennedy Credit: Jason Doherty

The gentle harmonies of 'The Weight of the Woods (Reprise)' slowly swell before Kennedy emerges. His voice arrives first: raspy, powerful and bursting with conviction, instantly met by deafening screams from the crowd.

That sense of warmth carries into 'Honest', as Kennedy performs surrounded by tufts of grass and carefully arranged rocks, recreating the countryside that has shaped his life and music. The natural setting complements songs rooted in memory, home, and the landscape that continues to inspire him.

The addition of a live choir proves a masterstroke. Their rich harmonies elevate the performance, lending parts of the set an atmosphere that feels somewhere between a folk gathering and a Sunday mass.

Despite The Weight of The Woods only arriving in April, the audience sing every word with the conviction usually reserved for decades-old classics.

"I always say at gigs I'll figure out how to describe it towards the end," Kennedy tells the crowd. "But I don't think I'll ever know how to describe this one."

Dermot Kennedy Credit: Jason Doherty

Before launching into 'Wasted', he makes a typically modest request. "This feels early to ask... but would you please sing with me?" The answer comes instantly, with tens of thousands of voices taking over the chorus. The song's smooth, almost R&B-inspired groove gives it a depth that separates it from a standard acoustic ballad, adding another layer to one of his biggest hits.

Handing off his guitar, Kennedy steps to centre stage for 'Outnumbered', gripping the microphone with both hands. As the chorus approaches, he paces slowly across the stage, one hand pressed against his chest, completely immersed in the emotion of the performance.

"I just want to say it's almost ten years since I played my first show down the road from here, and almost 20 years since I played for people for the first time," he reflects.

"Three albums in, I feel more support than ever. I feel more protected than ever. I think when you're lucky enough to do this, you almost expect things will fade after a while, but you haven't let that happen. Thank you."

Dermot Kennedy Credit: Jason Doherty

The musicianship throughout is exceptional. His long-time touring violinist Hugo McCafferty is captivating during 'Sycamore', completely absorbed in every note. The soaring strings pull the song towards traditional Irish folk without abandoning Kennedy's contemporary sound.

'Lost', a tender meditation on helping someone recognise their own worth, strips everything back. The choir falls away, leaving Kennedy's voice to carry the emotional weight alone. "If only you could see yourself from my eyes."  Behind him, his bass player Kieran Jones unexpectedly breaks into an expressive, almost frantic passage that injects a restless urgency into an already emotionally charged performance.

'An Evening I Will Not Forget' introduces one of the night's most dynamic arrangements. The frantic piano line drives the song forward with a nervous energy that's even more striking live than on record. Kennedy matches it with rapid-fire vocals that blur the line between singing and crooning.

Before 'After Rain', he pauses to reflect on one of the songs that laid the foundations for his career. "I wrote this song in a place of anger and sadness...it's about a certain person. I hope you can relate to this – when life gets so dark, and there's only one person who can walk through the door and make everything better. I see this song as the foundation of everything that's built up to me being here tonight."

Dermot Kennedy Credit: Jason Doherty

Moments later, he has crossed to the smaller B-stage in the middle of the crowd for an intimate performance of 'Happiness', bringing himself closer to the audience.

The biggest surprise comes late in the set, as Noel and Mike Hogan of The Cranberries emerge to a deafening reception, for a reunion of their Hot Press 50th Anniversary performance in the 3Arena in February. Together, they deliver a powerful rendition of 'Zombie' - a moment that sends the stadium into full voice and provides one of the evening's defining highlights.

Warm, heartfelt and commanding, Kennedy once again proves why he has become one of Ireland's biggest musical exports. Even in front of more than 50,000 people, he somehow retains the intimacy of the busker who first won audiences over with little more than his guitar and his voice.