There will be plenty of Beatlemania over St Brigid’s weekend
West Cork band Pure Class, Dáire O’Donnovan (George), David Dodog (Ringo), Rory Carroll (Paul) and Tommy O’Brien (John) channelling their inner Fab Four on the streets of Kinsale.(Image: John Allen Photography)
The festival that is dedicated to one of the biggest bands ever is returning to Cork later this month, and excited fans are being told to get ready to twist and shout all weekend long.
The Kinsale Beatles Festival will take place over the St. Bridig’s bank holiday weekend from Friday, January 30, to Sunday, February 1, and each day is packed full of Beatlemania. Last year, the event drew a large number of music fans to the seaside town, crowning it Ireland’s biggest Beatles festival.
Now in association with new headline sponsor Murphy’s Irish Stout, this year’s fest will see an even bigger line-up of Beatles-inspired events all hosted by broadcaster, musician and Beatles super-fan Tom Dunne.
The band recreating the iconic cover of Abbey Road(Image: John Allen Photography)
Throughout the weekend, there will be a number of free musical events at participating venues, including Sam’s Bar, Daltons, The White House, Harry’s Bar, The Greyhound, The Bulman, Hamlets, Actons, The Trident, Kitty O Sheas, The Blue Haven and many more.
Here is what you can look forward to over the jam-packed weekend:
Friday:
The weekend kicks off with a 1966 review with UK musicologist Anna Tharia, followed by what is sure to be a fascinating evening with Ray Connolly, as he discusses his book ‘Being John Lennon’ with Tom Dunne.
Friday night also offers the first opportunity to experience the sensational Carlo Poddighe from Italy, as he brings his incredible one-man set to The Blue Haven – the first of several appearances from Carlo over the weekend.
Saturday: Highlights on Saturday include the return of the hugely popular Beatles History Walking Tour with local historian Barry Maloney and Beatles historian Steve Bradley.
Dublin-born Freda Kelly makes her debut at the festival with an interview with Tom Dunne and a screening of Good Ol’Freda – the documentary film telling the story of Freda Kelly, the Irish woman at the heart of The Beatles’ Official Fan Club in the 1960s. Meanwhile, Steven Cockcroft and Jason Carty, founders of the wildly successful podcast Nothing is Real, return to Kinsale for an evening of trivia and fun with the Nothing is Real Pub Quiz at The Lord Kingsale.
Saturday’s program concludes at The White Lady hotel, where Dublin band Let It Beatles will bring the house down with an all-new set. This double-header gig features a supporting appearance by Carlo Poddighe for those who missed him on Friday night or just want to re-live the energy of his amazing one-man set.
The weekend will be full of Beatlemania(Image: John Allen Photography)
Sunday:
Sunday morning sees two intimate events at Prim’s Bookshop on Main Street, where Dr Allison Bumstead and Dr Richard Mills will be in conversation with Susan Ryan and Steven Cockcroft, and the discussion wraps up with a panel event featuring Mark Lewisohn, Kenneth Womack, Ray Connolly and many more – all hosted by Tom Dunne.
Tickets are on sale now and selling fast. You can check them out by clicking here.