Upcoming events
Festivals, fairs, and happenings in Newbridge and nearby towns.
Fri 23 Oct 2026, 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Music Network Presents Bill Laurance
Category: Music / Live PerformanceLocation: St. David’s Church, North Main Street, Naas, County Kildare, W91 D7XYDate: Friday, 23 October 2026Time: 8:00 pmPrice: €18–€20Best for: Contemporary jazz, piano music, improvisation and genre-crossing live performanceOverviewGrammy-winning pianist and composer Bill Laurance comes to St. David’s Church in Naas as part of a Music Network tour.A founding member of the five-time Grammy Award-winning group Snarky Puppy, Laurance is known for combining jazz, classical music, electronica and groove into a distinctive contemporary sound. The Naas concert promises an intimate evening of expressive piano playing, melodic composition and improvisation in the atmospheric setting of St. David’s Church.About the performanceThe concert will draw on Laurance’s solo work, including music from his latest album, Lumen. His performances move between carefully structured composition and spontaneous improvisation, creating music that can feel cinematic, rhythmic and deeply personal.Music Network describes the show as an evening of virtuosity, soulful improvisation and creativity from one of contemporary jazz’s most compelling pianists.About Bill LauranceBill Laurance is a British pianist, composer and producer best known as an original member of Snarky Puppy.Alongside his work with the group, he has developed a successful solo career and collaborated with artists including David Crosby, Salif Keita, Morcheeba, Laura Mvula and Jacob Collier. He has also composed for dance companies including English National Ballet and Alvin Ailey.VenueThe concert takes place at:St. David’s ChurchNorth Main StreetNaasCounty KildareW91 D7XYThis is an off-site Riverbank Arts Centre event, taking place in St. David’s Church rather than at the Riverbank venue in Newbridge.Booking informationTickets cost €18–€20, and advance booking is recommended.Book tickets through Riverbank Arts CentreThe performance begins at 8:00 pm on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Naas
Fri 30 Oct 2026, 8:00pm – 9:25pm
Ken O’ Sullivan – Stories From The Sea
Category: Talks / Nature & WildlifeLocation: Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, County Kildare, W12 D962Date: Friday, 30 October 2026Time: 8:00 pmDuration: 75 minutesBest for: Wildlife, marine life, documentary film, conservation and Irish coastal heritageOverviewAward-winning filmmaker and underwater cameraman Ken O’Sullivan brings his new live show, Stories from the Sea, to Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge.Through film clips, personal stories and first-hand accounts, Ken reflects on more than 20 years spent exploring the North Atlantic and the seas around Ireland. His experiences range from encounters with killer whales to swimming alongside thousands of dolphins, fin whales and blue whales.About the showThe performance combines documentary footage with stories from Ken’s career at sea.He shares the excitement, danger and beauty of working in the natural world, while exploring the emotional connection people have with the ocean. The show also pays tribute to his family’s 250-year history on Fenit Island in County Kerry and to Ireland’s wider maritime culture.Wildlife and conservationConservation and education have been central to Ken’s work since 2005. During the show, he discusses some of the major challenges facing marine animals and habitats, while also celebrating the richness of Ireland’s coastal waters.Ken has produced more than 20 natural-history documentaries for RTÉ. His series North Atlantic was later acquired by the BBC and broadcast in more than 30 countries.About Ken O’SullivanKen O’Sullivan is a multiple-award-winning filmmaker, author and underwater cameraman known for documenting marine wildlife in the North Atlantic.His work has brought audiences close to whales, dolphins, sharks and other sea life, while highlighting the environmental pressures affecting the ocean. His book Stories from the Deep has also been praised for its personal and lyrical account of life as a wildlife filmmaker.VenueThe event takes place at:Riverbank Arts CentreMain StreetNewbridgeCounty KildareW12 D962Booking informationThe performance begins at 8:00 pm on Friday, 30 October 2026 and lasts approximately 75 minutes.Advance booking is recommended. The official event page currently provides a booking link but does not display the ticket price publicly.
Newbridge
Sat 31 Oct 2026, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
The Last Witch Bridget Cleary
Category: Theatre / Events & FestivalsLocation: Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, County Kildare, W12 D962Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026Time: 8:00 pmPrice: €20 / €18 concessionDuration: 45 minutes, followed by a short Q&ABest for: Theatre, Irish history, folklore, true stories and thought-provoking performanceOverviewThe Last Witch Bridget Cleary is an intimate solo performance based on the real events surrounding the death of Bridget Cleary in County Tipperary in 1895.Often described as Ireland’s last witch burning, Bridget’s killing became one of the country’s most disturbing and widely discussed cases. Through storytelling and historical detail, the performance examines the beliefs, tensions and social conditions that led to her death.About the performanceBlending folklore, land politics and social history, the production explores how fear, superstition and community pressure can take hold.At the centre of the story is Bridget herself. Rather than treating her only as a figure from folklore, the performance seeks to restore her humanity and place her life within the social realities of late nineteenth-century Ireland.What to expectThe production is reflective and historically grounded, using a solo theatrical performance to bring the story to life.The main performance lasts approximately 45 minutes and is followed by a short question-and-answer session, giving the audience an opportunity to engage further with the history and themes behind the work.VenueThe event takes place at:Riverbank Arts CentreMain StreetNewbridgeCounty KildareW12 D962Please note that this is a reduced-capacity performance because of expected building works beside Newbridge Library. The auditorium seating plan may be adjusted to accommodate those works.Booking informationTickets cost €20, with a reduced ticket price of €18 available.Buy tickets from Riverbank Arts CentreAdvance booking is recommended because capacity is expected to be limited.
Newbridge
Fri 29 Jan 2027, 8:00pm – 10:15pm
Bernard O’Shea – Pick Up Drop Off
Category: Comedy / Events & FestivalsLocation: Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, County Kildare, W12 D962Date: Friday, 29 January 2027Time: 8:00 pmPrice: €25Best for: Stand-up comedy, live entertainment, date nights, nights out in NewbridgeOverviewIrish comedian Bernard O’Shea brings his new stand-up show, Pick Up Drop Off, to Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge.Inspired by the endless cycle of family pick-ups and drop-offs, Bernard turns everyday routines, responsibilities and midlife observations into a sharp and relatable evening of comedy. The show explores the things people collect as they move through life — and the habits, worries and baggage they might be better off leaving behind.About the showPick Up Drop Off takes familiar experiences from family life and turns them into fast-paced observational comedy. Expect stories about parenting, relationships, getting older and the small frustrations that gradually become part of everyday life.Bernard O’Shea is known for finding humour in ordinary situations and presenting them with an energetic, conversational style.VenueThe performance takes place in the auditorium at Riverbank Arts Centre, one of Newbridge’s main venues for theatre, comedy, cinema, music and visual arts.Please note that this is scheduled as a reduced-capacity performance because of expected building works beside the arts centre at Newbridge Library. The seating plan may be adjusted to accommodate the works.Booking informationTickets cost €25 and advance booking is recommended, particularly because capacity is expected to be limited.Riverbank Arts CentreMain StreetNewbridgeCounty KildareW12 D962
Newbridge