Dublin singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy has announced the launch of a brand new global Irish music festival, Misneach.

The 32-year-old is planning the annual celebration of Ireland’s musical heritage to coincide with the St Patrick’s Day, with the first edition set for March 2025.

Misneach, which means ‘Courage’ in Gaelic, will be held next March across two cities with strong Irish links: Sydney, Australia on 16 March and Boston, US on 18-19 March. The twin festivals promise to focus on Irish music through lineups curated by Kennedy in partnership with Ireland Music Week.

“For so many years now I have watched the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in so many different cities with a massive sense of pride,” says CAA-represented Kennedy. “I’ve always been so moved by the way Irish history and culture is celebrated all over the world. But I’ve also had the feeling that, for a country so rich in culture, I didn’t see it being represented fully in these events worldwide and I wondered, could we change that?

“With this inaugural year we hope to begin an annual tradition that will enrich the St Patrick’s day celebrations around the world with music and the arts, by showcasing some of the best new and established Irish musical talent, as well as musical talent of the Irish diaspora.

“I’ve been lucky enough to feel the love that the world has for Ireland and its music, and I’m so excited to be starting something very special”

“We will also be giving back to the communities in Ireland and the host cities. I’ve been lucky enough to feel the love that the world has for Ireland and its music, and I’m so excited to be starting something very special.”

Kennedy revealed the plans for the festival during an appearance yesterday (2 October) at Ireland Music Week in Dublin.

Featuring contemporary and traditional Irish artists, as well as participants from all over the world representing the Irish diaspora, the first edition of Misneach will see Kennedy and other major artists playing headline shows, as well as higlighting emerging local artists.

Kennedy has chosen the rising talent to be sponsored by Culture Ireland, in partnership with Ireland Music Week, with Big Love, Cliffords and Fynch selected to take part.

In Boston, a Misneach showcase at Brighton Music Hall will be held on 18 March before Kennedy headlines a multi-artist bill at the city’s TD Garden the following day. The Sydney edition will be a full outdoor festival on 16 March following the city’s official St Patrick’s Day parade. The full festival lineup will be announced shortly.

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Australia’s live entertainment sector could be boosted by a trio of new outdoor concert venues in Sydney under plans unveiled by events and tourism organisation Cedar Mill Group (CMG).

The Greater Entertainment for Greater Sydney report reveals proposals for three permanent “performance shells” in parklands in Greater Sydney’s three city centres: The Domain, Parramatta Park, and Thompsons Creek Regional Parkland in Western Sydney.

The “ground-breaking cultural infrastructure project” bringing together CMG with Greater Sydney’s two business chambers: Sydney Business and Western Sydney Business, with each shell set to “respond to the distinctive character of its city and parkland setting”.

“Greater Sydney’s live performance sector has been struggling, with performance venues closing at an unprecedented rate, deterring international acts and limiting home-grown talent,” reads the document. “Greater Sydney’s growing appetite for outdoor entertainment and cultural events cannot be met with temporary venues that are costly, disrupt public access and are unable to endure extreme weather events.

“Permanent performance shells in Sydney’s parklands are an opportunity to revitalise live entertainment and deliver wider cultural, social and economic benefits across Greater Sydney, Despite a growing outdoor event and festivals sector making use of public parklands, Greater Sydney still lacks a permanent home for such events, in stark contrast to many cities throughout the world.”

“This is an opportunity to revitalise Sydney’s live music sector”

The plans outline a target date of the mid 2020s for the scheme, adding: “This is an opportunity to revitalise Sydney’s live music sector, diversify our night-time economy, activate our open spaces, and generate substantial wider social and economic benefits across Greater Sydney.

“Permanent outdoor venues of this kind have become a beloved part of the cultural landscape in cities around the world, clearly demonstrating the potential benefits for Greater Sydney. We look forward to a positive conversation with government around how to move this project forward.”

Last month, Live Nation applauded the announcement of A$7 billion (€4.5bn) funding deal for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which will include a new state-of-the-art arena in Queensland’s capital.

The plan, unveiled by Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, will see the federal government provide $2.5bn (€1.6bn) for the development of the 17,000-cap venue.

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