Liverpool Irish Festival 2025 programme of events

Liverpool Irish Festival returns to city venues next week with 10 days of cultural events and activities.

The 2025 event runs from October 16-26, and this year has the theme of

Liverpool Irish Festival is the UK’s largest arts and culture-led festival and marks its 23^rd anniversary this year.

It is set to be officially launched at Liverpool Irish Centre on Thursday, October 16 where there is the opportunity to meet the team and hear more about the 2025 programme. There will also be performances and some surprises along the way.

The programme includes:

Music and Song

The music programme opens at the Unity Theatre on October 17 with Queer Arrivals, a story-based music night featuring singer-songwriter Gráinne Hunt and HUSK – a Gaeilge-English electrofolk musician blending traditional Irish music, folk and electronica, with 80s synths.

Peter Kavanagh holds two informal PK Seisiún events, on October 17 and 24, where people are invited to bring along an instrument and join in.

On October 19, The Druids return to Liverpool Irish Centre with another master show, featuring captivating new blends of traditional Irish folk music and storytelling.

Sefton Park Palm House hosts a ‘Welcome Home’ on October 23 with an engaging two-hour programme featuring more than 50 musicians and dancers from across Merseyside.

And Dallahan (above) appears at Liverpool Philharmonic’s Music Room on October 26. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their own unique brand of world-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity.

Performance, Literature and Poetry

The Victoria Gallery & Museum is the venue for the sixth annual John McGahern Book Prize event on October 19, featuring readings from the winning debut chosen by Colm Tóibín.

Then on October 20 there’s a double feature at the Liverpool Arts Bar and Hope Street Theatre. The Irish Countess (75mins) brings to life the extraordinary story of Countess Constance Markievicz, while in Call Yourself an Irishman (90mins) Declan Duffy uses humour, reflection and song to explore what it means to be Irish through the lens of second and third-generation voices.

Join Green Curtain Theatre at Liverpool Irish Centre on October 21 for Stamps and Stories, a celebration of one hundred years of the Irish Passport.

And on October 22, the action switches to the Royal Court Studio for Did I Ever Tell Ya? Join award-winning Irish playwright and actor David Gilna (pictured) for an unforgettable evening of storytelling as he delves into the laughter and heartbreak that shape our lives.

Film, Art and Animation

The Bluecoat Display Centre is celebrating Irish craft until November 1, including silver, textiles, ceramics, glass and paintings.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland-based Corinne Price is showing her ceramics in the centre’s window until October 31, and there’s a chance to meet her in person and find out about her practise from 11am-12.15pm on October 17.

And Knuck & Knuckle will be shown on the Liverpool Irish Festival website from October 16-26. The short film was born from Irish artist Frank McCarthy’s collaboration with a group of Irish Traveller boys passionate about boxing but less drawn to visual arts.

Community, Family and Sport

The John Mitchel’s Pitch in Greenbank Lane will host a GAA Gaelic 4 Mothers and Others Blitz from 11am to 1pm on October 18, welcoming past players to play visiting teams from Ireland. It promises football, fun, and catching up with friends old and new. Everyone welcome – players, supporters, families and friends.

Then in the afternoon there’s a chance for people of all ages to come and have a go at Gaelic football themselves.

The Museum of Liverpool hosts the annual festival Family Day on October 25 with events including The Armagh Rhymers, Little Globy - a carbon boffin and a global ambassador for green action, the Bolger-Cunningham Dance School and George Ferguson School for Irish Dance, and Melody Makers and Comhaltas will bring their intergenerational group to play in the space. Visitors will also be able to collect a Brave Maeve Tír Na nÓg map.

Then on October 26, the festival concludes back at the Liverpool Irish Centre with an afternoon Samhain Ceili for young people.

Comhaltas and the Armagh Rhymers take it in turns playing (spooky) games and music, to dance and play along with. Bring the kids in their best creepy dress-up (or not) and adults are welcome to join in too.   

Liverpool Irish Festival takes place from October 16-26. Full programme details and tickets HERE