Country Profile: Ireland

Irish acts are having a moment. Dermot Kennedy became the first Irish solo artist to headline Dublin's Aviva Stadium over two consecutive nights, while Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, and CMAT have broken internationally

Irish acts are having a moment. Dermot Kennedy became the first Irish solo artist to headline Dublin’s Aviva Stadium over two consecutive nights, while Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, and CMAT have broken internationally.

Their ascension is emblematic of a buoyant live scene, dominated by the country’s two heavyweight promoters, MCD Productions and Aiken Promotions. MCD – owned by LN-Gaiety Holdings and led by co-founder and Live Nation UK and Ireland chairman Denis Desmond – has had a packed 2026,…