Final Furlong Sessions, Kildare Derby Festival, Sat 27th June

Category: Music / Events & Festivals
Location: Pubs and venues throughout Kildare Town, County Kildare
Date: Saturday, 27 June 2026
Time: From 5:30 pm, with the main pub sessions continuing into the evening
Price: Free
Best for: Live Irish music, pub sessions, festival atmosphere and evenings out

Overview

Kildare Town comes alive on Derby Saturday with the Final Furlong Sessions, a free programme of live music staged across pubs, venues and an outdoor performance area throughout the town.

Part of the Kildare Derby Festival, the sessions feature established Irish performers alongside emerging acts, with overlapping performances allowing visitors to move between venues and create their own evening of live music.

What to expect

The Final Furlong Sessions transform Kildare Town into a multi-venue music festival for one evening.

The programme spans folk, rock, traditional Irish music, contemporary songwriting and lively pub performances. Admission is free, although individual venues may reach capacity during the most popular acts.

Silken Thomas – Upstairs

7:30 pm: Dear Willow
9:00 pm: Mik Pyro
10:30 pm: Ham Sandwich

Silken Thomas – Squires

7:00 pm: Murphy Sisters
8:30 pm: Frankie Gavin

Cunningham’s Upstairs

7:00 pm: Fin Furey
8:15 pm: Dave Geraghty
9:30 pm: Paddy Casey

The Harp

8:00 pm: Brian Kennedy

The Five Jockeys

9:30 pm: Pa Sheehy

Top Nolan’s

8:00 pm: Matt McGinn
9:30 pm: Dublin City Ramblers

Outdoor Stage

5:30 pm: Thanks Mom
6:30 pm: The Psychs
7:30 pm: Epilogue

Visiting information

The performances take place across several venues in Kildare Town, so visitors should allow time to walk between locations. Arriving early is recommended for headline acts, as entry is subject to venue capacity.

The festival also plans free transport between Kildare Town and The Curragh during Derby weekend. Check the official festival website and social channels before travelling, as performance times and lineups may change.