Culture Night Late comes to Longford Town

Kíla set to headline at a special concert in Connolly Barracks this September 

Press Release: Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Longford County Council is delighted to mark the return of Longford Culture Night, which is set to take place on Friday, 19 September. 

The award-winning band, Kila are set to headline at a special late-night concert in Longford Town for Culture Night celebrations this year as part of 'The Blind Fiddle Master's Concert' - which is a homage to Longford's premier trad musician - Thomas Kernan from Drumlish. 

Funded through the Art's Council of Ireland's Culture Night Late Award - The Blind Fiddle Master's Concert will be a regional highlight of the culture night celebrations. The event will involve musicians and artists from diverse musical, visual art and cultural backgrounds including the Yershova Sisters - a classically trained quintet from Ukraine via Kerry and Longford's premier Ceili band - Banna Céilí Béal Átha na Muc. 

Headlining the concert are the internationally renowned Irish folk group - Kíla. Along with playing their own music, the performing musicians will honour the Blind Fiddler Kernan's legacy by performing his tunes - many of which have not been performed in many decades. 

The event is also being supported by Creative Ireland and Longford Night Time Economy and Longford Tourism. 

Experts in the Fiddler Kernan tradition, Darren Culliney and Dr Conor Ward have been supporting Kíla and the Yershova Sisters to learn and interpret the Master Kernan's tunes. 

Dr Conor Ward said, "Thomas Kernan from Drumlish was a celebrated fiddler player and teacher in the 19th century. He recorded several hundred tunes to paper that he composed or picked up from a life in music. He influenced a style of playing in the Longford-South Leitrim region that still exists today."

Kernan scholar Darren Culliney said, "This concert represents a significant milestone in honouring the fiddler Kernan legacy. We hope that this concert on culture night becomes the inaugural concert for a larger Thomas Kernan Trad Festival to take place in Ballinamuck in 2026."

In tandem with the live music concert, three visual artists have also been commissioned to create a digital projection mapping an art piece for the concert site. The projection piece created by Mary Fleming and Sergii Khazdava will project in tandem with the live music performances. 

The Blind Fiddle Master's Concert will provide the finale for a series of broader Culture Night events that will occur in Longford Town and the surrounding county including several art exhibitions, children's art workshops, and performances. 

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Garry Murtagh said, "Culture Night is one night for us all to come together for a shared experience celebrating the richness and diversity of culture, creativity and the arts. We are thrilled to welcome Kíla to County Longford as our headline act for this very special concert honouring the legacy of the blind fiddle Master Kernan. His music and story are part of County Longford's cultural heartbeat, and this event will be a vibrant tribute that bridges the past and present in the most entertaining way possible. Be prepared for a fantastic night's entertainment in the Connolly Barracks this Culture Night."

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, "Culture Night is a powerful reminder of the creativity, diversity and community spirit that thrives across our county. It is a night when we celebrate the talents of our artists, performers and cultural groups and invite everyone to come together in shared appreciation of the rich cultural heritage that defines us."

Free tickets for The Blind Fiddle Master's concert can be accessed through www.tickettailor.com. 

All events and activities are free and celebrate culture, creativity, and the arts. Over 16 events are set to take place across County Longford. 

Full details of all events happening across the county will be featured in next week's Longford Leader. 

Culture Night in County Longford is funded by the Arts Council in partnership with Longford County Council Arts Office. 

For further information on Longford Culture Night, check out CultureNight.ie or follow Culture Night on social media.