Rory Gallagher Festival In Jeopardy

The future of the annual Rory Gallagher Festival has been plunged into doubt with the collapse of the event’s ticket-selling partner, Tickets.ie.

The ticket-seller ceased trading last week, leaving numerous client companies wondering where they stand in relation to unpaid revenues. The Rory Gallagher Festival is, so far, the highest profile event that has expressed concern about the future. The founder of the Rory Gallagher Festival Barry O’Neill has issued a statement, via Facebook, saying that the long-running event is owed €283,151.50 in ticket revenues unpaid.

It is, O’Neill has admitted, a loss that may make it impossible for the festival to continue.

"Sadly, the last 2 weeks have been very difficult,” O’Neil said. "The news that our main Ticketing Agent – Tickets.ie ceased trading two days after our hugely successful 2026 International Tribute Festival came as a major shock.

“It's been devastating as we were with this company for close on 10 years. The hard fact is that Oshi Software Limited T/A Tickets.ie owe the Festival to the value of €283,151.50 in ticket sales for 2026…

"Tickets.ie have ceased trading,” he added, explaining that "our voluntary committee along with other Irish Festivals have had to go to the High Court to initiate legal action."

The prognosis, according to O’Neill is bleak.

“This will no doubt go on for a long time,” he said, "and as correctly reported in both the National and Local Media, the future of our long standing Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is not alone in doubt, it's very hard to see how it will return.”

The biggest shareholder in Tickets.ie is the German company DEAG Entertainment Group, which is publicly listed. DEAG Entertainment are also the majority shareholders in Singular Artists, the company formed by Brian Hand, Fin O’Leary and Simon Merriman. Singular Artists launched in Ireland in 2020. DEAG has been involved in concert and entertainment promotions for over 40 years.

The Statement from The Rory Gallagher Festival In Full:

Hi folks, firstly I just want to thank everybody for making the 2026 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival amazing. It was a fantastic 4 days. Thanks to everybody who played any part in making the 23rd staging of the event so so Special.

Sadly, the last 2 weeks have been very difficult. The news that our main Ticketing Agent - Tickets.ie ceased trading two days after our hugely successful 2026 International Tribute Festival came as a major shock. It's been devastating as we were with this Company for close on 10 years. The hard fact is that, Oshi Software Limited T/A Tickets.ie owe the Festival to the value of €283,151.50 in ticket sales for 2026 ... These are unprecedented levels of ticket sales for the Rory Gallagher Festival. Tickets.ie have ceased trading, our voluntary committee along with other Irish Festivals have had to go to the High Court to initiate legal action.

Every hour of every day since has just been consumed by this, trying to engage in the legal world, and all the time knowing that without these funds, taken from our voluntary organisation, we as a result are in a precarious position. We have had loads of moral support and thank you for that but at the end of the day we should not be in this position. So this will no doubt go on for a long time, and as correctly reported in both the National and Local Media, the future of our long standing Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is not alone in doubt, its very hard to see how it will return.

We hope to be in a position to continue to fight through the legal channels. We want to be able to fulfill our commitments to our suppliers, as we always have done, but sadly in excess of 65% of our 2026 Revenue has been taken, and at this point all we can do is continue to fight. Again, thank you to many for their support, and to the key people out there that can fix this, it's time for action.

Best wishes to all,
Barry O'Neill (Chairperson & Founder)