Join us for the official opening event in the Whitewater Shopping Centre featuring a range of songs from the wonderful Camphill Laimh Choir, directed by Lorraine Nolan.

Come meet the team and learn about the exciting calendar of events in June Fest 2026.

Let’s get Quizzing!

Head to the Town Hall for a fun night of general knowledge and great craic hosted by the Newbridge Family Resource Centre with all funds being raised on their behalf.

Your chance to be crowned the June Fest 2026 Quiz Champions!

€40 per tables (for up to 4 people) - you can pay for your table in advance via the Family Resource Centre or pay in cash on the night.

For more information on the brilliant work of the Newbridge Family Resource Centre - https://www.newbridgefrc.ie/

Newbridge Festival of Dance is an amazing one-day dance festival celebrating all styles of dance and culture, and all abilities of dancers. Now in its third year, it has quickly become one of the highlights of June Fest with huge community engagement and involvement drawing large crowds to the Town Hall.

Generously sponsored by Life Credit Union

There will be dance demonstrations and classes taking place throughout the day in the Town Hall.

The full schedule of events will be listed here once confirmed and more details will also be provided on the Newbridge Festival of Dance Facebook page.

NEWBRIDGE FESTIVAL OF DANCE SCHEDULE 30th May 2026

11:00-12:00 Pilates For Life

Eithne Hanniffy will be giving a 1 hour free pilates session. Pilates is a great way to help with core strength which is vital for any dancer.

12:00-12:30 Le Vésinet Irish Céilí Dancers

The Le Vésinet Irish Céilí Dancers are a volunteer-run traditional Irish dance group based west of Paris. Led by Jackie O’Neill, the troupe performs at various events in the Paris region, often collaborating with the Association Irlandaise de Paris, showcasing traditional ceili dancing, and they will be making the trip over from France especially to join us for June Fest to showcase their Kildare style Irish Figure Dancing.

12:30-13:00 Noeleen Kelly

If you follow Noeleen on social media or you take her classes, you will know that this is going to be a good session. Get Jiving….

13:00-13:30 KARE

The group from KARE were a big highlight for the past couple of years and are very excited to be involved again this year. They will blow you away.

13:30-14:00 Fidelma’s Stompers

Line Dancing: Fidelma has been teaching line dancing in Newbridge for many years now. She has the longest running line dancing class in the town. If you want to try it out, she will be giving a small workshop after their performance.

14:00-14:30 Mohanna NATARAJAN

Bharatanatyam : Nritya\kala\vruksha led by Mohanna.

14:30-15:00 Bubble Lock

Tamil Dance & Hip Hop: After just turning up on our first year for the freestyle section of the festival and proving very popular, he returned last year for his own session and had everyone popping. Looking forward to seeing what moves he brings this year!

15:30-16:00 Kildare Irish Figure Dancers Droichead Nua - Irish Figure Dancing Class

Irish Figure Dancing at its best - you will see Irish Dancing performed by the little beginners from Droichead Nua IFDC right up to the senior dancers in Kildare Irish figure dancers. You will get a mix of traditional and modern Irish dancing.

16:00-16:30 Zumba

Latin Style Dancing : Andrea is simply amazing, the energy she brings to this festival is unreal. You do not want to miss this one.

16:30-17:00 Leah Moran Stage School

Hip Hop: Needing no introduction, the kids from Leah Moran stage school will be bringing their moves to the festival. Delighted to have them on board again this year.

17:00-17:30 Fit Steps

Andrea will be back to bring us all alive again and put us to our paces with this fun, energetic and amazing Fit Steps.

17:30-17:45 Attami

Bharantyam performance from Jyoti and her students.

18:00-18:15 Heart and Soul

Manonmani Srinivasan

Dance is the universal language that needs no words…..

Lets come together to dance together…..

Lets support each other and encourage each other….

Lets all be as one through Dance…...

St. Mark’s School Duck Race

The Staff of St. Mark’s School return with their annual duck race fund-raiser on the Liffey at Linear Park.

Sponsor a duck and be in with a chance to win a prize. Live music from Music Generation Kildare.

Music by Music Generation Kildare

While the St Mark’s School Duck race is being staged on the River Liffey, Music Generation Kildare will be providing free musical entertainment beside the riverbank in the Linear Park.

Music Generation Kildare provides music performance opportunities and music classes throughout the county. Music Generation is a national partnership programme whose mission is to create inspiring experiences for children and young people through music with the aim to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition.

More information can be found here - https://www.musicgeneration.ie/

Music Generation Kildare is managed by Kildare Local Music Education Partnership, led by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board in partnership with Kildare County Council and with support from Maynooth University Department of Music and Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Join us (free tickets can be booked here) to enjoy the next generation of Rock, Pop and Jazz bands to come out of County Kildare.

These bands, which have come together through the Music Generation Kildare programme, meet across the year, developing their music experience.

This ‘Teen Spirit’ showcase is the final performance before they begin their summer festival performances across the country.

Join and you'll be able to say "I saw them when....." 

 Tickets will be free but need to be pre-booked through the Riverbank website.

DUST is the musical collaboration of songwriters Conor Mahony and Alan FitzGerald, who are often joined by guest musicians for recordings and live performances.

This June Fest concert will celebrate the launch of their new CD Strange Country, while also featuring a wider selection of their songs performed with invited collaborators.

Expect a distinctive take on Americana - gently “strangified” with touches of jazz and impressionist influence.

Guest musicians on the night will include Frankie Lane (The Fleadh Cowboys) and folk singer Peter Byrne.

Admission will be €10 to include a free copy of the new CD Strange Country - tickets can be bought in advance thorugh Eventbrite here or through payment by cash or card on the evening.

Art in the Park - June Fest Art Class

Whether you're a budding enthusiast or an experienced artist, this painting session might be for you. Embrace the opportunity to unleash your inner artist in the beautiful outdoors of Liffey Linear Park (please note the event will be moved to Newbridge Town Hall in the event of bad weather).

Open to artists of all levels – from seasoned painters to beginners. Never painted before? Fear not! This is your chance to dive into the colourful world of art.

Our Special Guest Tutor Siobhan Conway, from “Along the way Studios”, will provide guidance and inspiration. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and meet like-minded artists. We look forward to seeing you there.

Hurry! There are only 15 spots available (there is a charge of €10 each to partly cover costs), and they must be reserved in advance. Bookings will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Get in early, as this wonderful opportunity will fill up fast.

Call Siobhan Conway to reserve your place on 087 2765440.

Art Class for Younger Artists

Join us for a magical morning of creativity!

As well as the painting session for adults, June Fest is also inviting 10 young artists to explore imagination through sketching, painting and creating using natural materials.

Led by artist and educator Emily-Beth McCormack, this is a free event for the younger artists in our community but only limited spots (10 spaces) are available so pre-booking is essential!

Call Emily-Beth to reserve a place on 083 8270000.

Picnic in the Park - 1.30pm - 4.00pm, Liffey Linear Park

Bring a picnic with you and enjoy a magical atmosphere in the Liffey Linear Park as part of June Fest’s 2026 Park Life celebration.

Music from 2pm to 4pm by the Watering gates being provided by the Kildare North Ukelele Club and popular local band The Stranger.

Enjoy a fairy walk, fun entertainment for the family and maybe dress as a fairy yourself!

Bands on the Bank

2pm to 4pm Liffey Linear Park, Newbridge.

Why not bring along a picnic and let the joyful Kildare North Ukelele Club and young, up and coming band ‘The Stranger’ entertain you in a beautiful setting beside the River Liffey.

The Stranger

Come along to Market Square in Eyre Steet for an evening of wonderful outdoor musical entertainment at this FREE EVENT with a DJ from 5pm and live music from 6pm.

Popular local musician Roisin McAlinden will be on stage at 6.00pm, and the main supporting act at 6.40pm will be the amazing Joe Skylark and his band The Glow in the Dark Sharks who were a huge hit at last year’s event.

The feature act are the amazing Abba Tribute Band THE BJORN IDENTITY who will be playing all of Abba’s biggest hits from 8.00pm to 9.30pm. With impeccable vocal prowess and characteristically detailed studied performances, The Bjorn Identity provides a journey into the world of ABBA in its heyday, making you believe you’ve just experienced the legendary Swedish pop group in the flesh.

Don’t miss out on a great evening!

Join Ireland’s Midland Comic Convention - Celtic Con - in the Newbridge Town Hall on Bank Holiday Monday 1st June from 12pm to 5pm as part of Family Fun Day!

Enjoy a host of fun, interactive and exciting attractions - Comic Village, Artist Alley, Geek Market, Display Vehicles, Craft Stalls, Gaming Zone, Exhibitor and Artist Expo Area, Artist Showcase, Cosplay Contest, and lots more!

Celtic Con once again brings some of Ireland’s finest Comic and Children’s book talent to June Fest.

Showcasing Kildare’s finest local creative writers, artists and illustrators,

Cosplay and Fancy Dress welcome.

Come along and join in the fun!

The magnificent Irish National Stud & Gardens, featuring the Irish Racehorse Experience and the beautiful Japanese Gardens & St Fiachra’s Gardens, will be kindly offering a limited number of free admission tickets, only with pre-registration and only for admission on Tuesday 2nd. June.

Full details of how to acquire tickets will be published here and on our social media channels in May.

June Fest is extremely grateful to the Irish National Stud & Gardens for partnering with June Fest again this year and for opening up their beautiful facilities which will hopefully inspire some attendees to take out the exceptionally good value season tickets.

Full details of the wonderful Irish National Stud & Gardens can be found here - https://irishnationalstud.ie/

Looking for the perfect way to spend your evening this June Fest? 

Join us for Board Games and Live Music at Mini Mocha Café beside the beautiful River Liffey. 

Challenge your friends to board games, relax with delicious coffee and treats and enjoy live music from talented local musicians in a cosy riverside atmosphere. 

Whether you’re coming to compete, chill out, or simply soak up the festival spirit, Mini Mocha is the place to be this June Fest!

Free Event

Join Frankie Boland and the Newbridge Local History Group on a historical walk through the old British Cavalry married quarters area, ‘The Barracks’, in Newbridge town centre. Spanning 200 years of facts and stories up to the present day.

Frankie will reminisce and tell some of the stories gathered and retold in his book (shown below) on one of the oldest residential areas in the town - 'From the Barrack Gate to The Watering Gates'.

The housing estate known as The Barracks is situated on Newbridge Main Street, behind the Garda Station and adjacent to St. Conleth’s GAA Park. The area was originally part of the British Garrison’s Married Quarters, hence the popular title.

Meet outside the Riverbank at 7.00pm for this Free Event.

June Fest race evening returns at the Curragh racecourse with an exciting 8-race card starting featuring the Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Premier Handicap.

As well as a great evening out at the races in the wonderful new Curragh grandstand opened in 2019, there will be plenty of entertainment off the track.

The Curragh Racecourse have very kindly given June Fest a limited number of free admission tickets (normal price is €20 for adults) for the June Fest evening fixture on Wednesday 3rd June.

If you would like some of these free tickets, please email your name, email address for receipt of tickets and the number of tickets you would like to junefestsecretary@gmail.com - first come, first served!

History Walk - Ramble Through Newbridge with Paul Cook

Meet outside the Riverbank Arts Centre at 3.00pm for a gentle 90-minute walk through Newbridge with local historian and writer Paul Cook.

Learn the stories behind the buildings and discover places that form part of Newbridge’s rich history.

Free Event

OISIN FOLEY : MINDREADER

Join award winning Magician and Mindreader Oisin Foley as he uses his own unique blend of magic, hypnosis and psychology to read your minds! 

But remember, if you don’t want Oisin to know about it - DON’T THINK ABOUT IT!

Tickets €10 (plus booking fee) - Limited spaces available which must be pre-booked through Eventbrite (click to go to sales page).

All proceeds from ticket sales will go the KWWSPCA animal rescue and rehoming charity.

World Music Evening - Mohammad Syfkhan

Syrian musical maestro Mohammad Syfkan makes his Kildare debut in the beautiful and intimate environs of St Patrick's Church, Newbridge.. Tickets (€20 plus booking fee) can be purchased here.

Broken Record are delighted to be teaming up with Junefest to host what's sure to be an incredible evening of music in the intimate surrounds of St Patrick's Church in Newbridge.

Our special guest for the evening is the Syrian bouzouki magician Mohammad Syfkhan - his 2024 album 'I Am Kurdish' is an incredible piece of work and we couldn't think of a better person to showcase their talents in the incredible acoustics of the church.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful gig - purchase your ticket through this Eventbrite link.

MOHAMMAD SYFKHAN BIO

Born in North-Eastern Syria, near the Turkish Border, Mohammad Syfkhan began playing the bouzouki in 1981 while studying nursing. With the band he founded, he often played music at weddings and local festivals. In 2016, forced to flee Raqqa with his family, he found refuge in Ireland in Co. Leitrim. Music is a universal language, and Mohammad soon began playing at private parties and local concerts. His talent quickly stood out as he charmed local audiences as well as the Irish alternative folk scene. In early 2024, he released his first album ‘I Am Kurdish’ recorded in collaboration with Irish musicians. The album weaves together his many influences: folksongs and traditional music of the Middle East, the Mediterranean and North Africa. In light of the tragic events that have coloured his life, the Kurdish-Irish musician wishes to share a message of fraternity, love and peace.

Wellness with Cecelia will offer a rejuvenating outdoor yoga session in the beautiful Liffey Linear Park. Bring your own yoga mat to this serene setting (beside the outdoor gym in the Strand section) and lose yourself in a gentle yet strong flow in time to music with Cecelia.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, this hour-long outdoor class is perfect for all levels. Connect with nature as you stretch, breathe, and find your inner peace.

While a free event, a €10 donation would be welcome as part of a fund-raiser for The Solas Centre Waterford in memory of Emer, a dear friend of Cecelia.

Please note photography may be used.

Historical 5km Walk Through Clongorey from Barrettstown Cemetery to Clongorey Community Centre 2pm - 4pm

FREE EVENT

Head to Clongorey for a historical walk and talk that uncovers an important moment in Irish history. 

Learn about the  Clongorey evictions,  a series of brutal land clearances on the O’Kelly estate in County Kildare, Ireland.

Between 1883 and 1892, stemming from disputes over rent reductions after flooding and participation in the Land League’s Plan of Campaign, over 50 families were displaced, with homes burned or demolished by the Property Defence Association. 

Listen to the story of the Clongorey Evictions, the causes and the lasting effects, as you visit the locations where thatched roofs burned as families were evicted.

Daytime Disco

Get ready to groove at June Fest’s Daytime Disco

A FREE, family-friendly party at Grand Stretch (Dubh) with good vibes and great music.

Enjoy great DJ sets throughout the afternoon!                                                 

ART NIGHT - Creative Currents

Create & Connect!

Saturday 6th June from 7pm - 9pm at Newbridge Town Hall

Drop in to ‘Creative Currents’ for a fun evening of art making at Newbridge Town Hall.

This wonderful FREE event offers a welcoming and supportive space to explore and experiment through two creative workshops provided by local artistic talent.

Whether you are dipping a toe in for the first time, testing the waters or fully immersed, come on in - the workshops are beginner friendly and no previous experience is required!

Event Format & Schedule

The evening will feature two artist-led workshops, one at 7pm and one at 8pm.

Age Guidance & Safety

• Workshops are primarily aimed at participants aged 12 and over.

• The Collage workshop involves scissors and art equipment, so younger participants must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

All facilitators will provide guidance throughout the sessions.

Workshops

1. Collage (7pm start)

Explore the world of collage through a variety of materials (magazines, art books etc.) which will be provided. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own unusual or recycled items to incorporate into their art work. This is a very beginner friendly workshop - no need to draw if you don’t want to!

2. Monoprint (8pm start)

Try out this unique print making medium which involves adding ink to a flat surface and transferring to paper. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to refresh foundational drawing skills.

Why Attend?

• Connect with local artists

• Try something new in a supportive environment

• Explore sustainable and recycled art practices

• Celebrate creativity within the Newbridge community

• Take home a piece of art you’ve created yourself

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of making, meeting, and celebrating art together.

The daytime vibes will roll on into the evening for the over 18’s at Grand Stretch (Dubh) in George’s Street, with sets from DJs playing throughout the evening, spinning everything from laid-back grooves to disco bangers.

This year the Kildare Yarn Bombers celebrate 10 years and invite you to Ireland's first Crochet Olympics!

Whether you're a Queen of the Hook or have never held yarn, there’s something for you. Enjoy a cozy Crochet Cafe, explore an inspiring exhibition of work, or pick up a new skill in our free classes. 

Competition categories that you can enter with creations prepared in advance are:

Best Bookmark

Best Granny Square

Something to Wear

Best Toy (no higher than 30cms)

Items must be clearly labelled with your phone number and brought to the town hall for 10.30am on the day for judging.

‘Olympic Crochet Games’ that you can enter on the day will include Fastest Granny Square, 100 Chain Sprint, Crochet Toy Racing, Ball Of Wool Toss and a Blindfolded Crochet challenge! 

With plenty of fun and mischief for all ages, it’s going to be great craic!

This is a first not just for Newbridge but for Ireland - follow the Kildare Yarn Bombers on Facebook for more details!

Head down to Linear Park by the River Liffey to join Hazel Cahill from Pure and Simple Magickal Store for a deeply nurturing hour of sound and gong.

This free event is designed to cleanse your energy, calm the mind, and bring you back to centre.

We have had reports of fraudulent emails being sent in the name of June Fest. If you receive anything suspicious, please contact us at junefestsecretary@gmail.com or junefesttreasurer@gmail.com - in particular please ignore any email you may receive in relation to the literary event from junefestscompetition@gmail.com (note the 's' after junefest in this address)

June Fest 2026 Literary Event

Tickets (€10) can be purchased here for this exciting June Fest Literary Event which will also feature a pop up book shop provided by Woodbine Books.

‘Meet The Writers’

Mary Linehan will be moderating a panel discussion among three of Kildare’s finest writers, John MacKenna, Ed O Loughlin and Martina Smith. You can expect to get insights into writing processes, pitfalls to avoid, the publishing world and what it means to call yourself a Kildare writer.

‘Short Story Competition Award Ceremony’

The winners of the National June Fest 2026 Short Story competition will be announced with an opportunity for the winning writer to read an extract from their story. John MacKenna is this year’s adjudicator and will announce the winner and runner-up.

Mary Linehan

Mary Linehan trained in the Focus Theatre under the late Deirdre O'Connell. She has acted and directed in a number of Focus productions and Smashing Times Theatre Company (a company she co-founded), including a production of her own one woman show ' Bloomin Women'.  In 1994 Mary became Arts Officer for Co. Kildare. Projects undertaken during her tenure included the founding of the Bealtaine Arts Festival in Newbridge and the establishment of the Riverbank Arts Centre. Over the last number of years she has written and directed plays for children and young people with Kildare Youth Theatre, the most recent being ‘The Waiting Game ' in the Moat Club in 2015. In 2012, Mary was the Chair of the first June Fest.

John MacKenna

John MacKenna is the author of 26 books, the most recent being the novel The Lock-keeper's Wife (The Lilliput Press). He teaches creative writing at Maynooth University and The Hedge School on the Moone. He is a native of Castledermot.  

Ed O Loughlin

Ed O’Loughlin was born in Canada and grew up near Kildare Town, attending the De La Salle National School and St Joseph's Academy. Having studied English in Dublin, he became a newspaper reporter and foreign correspondent, covering Africa and the Middle East for, among others, The Irish Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Age of Melbourne, and the Independent of London. He has also reported from Ireland for the Economist and the New York Times. In 2009, after returning to Ireland, he published his first novel, Not Untrue and Not Unkind, which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Other works include Toploader (2011), Minds of Winter (2016), This Eden (2021) and The Last Good Funeral of the Year (2022), a memoir.

Martina Smith

Martina Smith is the imaginative force behind the Mrs Books series; ‘Mrs Books Saves the Library’ and ‘Mrs Books Saves Booktree’. Martina is committed to making reading joyful, accessible and central to every child’s creative journey. Her rich background as a theatre and screen actor, combined with her extensive career in education from pre-school to adult learning, gives her stories a unique blend of charm, rhythm, and heart. Martina has brought joy and inspiration to countless young readers, many of whom sparked the very ideas behind her delightful series.

June Fest National Short Story Competition

The competition has now closed for entries and we received an amazing level of interest with nearly 180 short stories being submitted. The shortlist of ten finalists is listed below:

Aftermath by James Butler

A Week of Rain by Brid McGinley

Before The Tide Comes In by Conor Orr

Discharge by Tara Phelan

Doll Face by Sinead Ingoldsby

Hot Knife by Heather Olivia

The Binoculars by Eamonn Doggett

The Cubicle by Rosanna Roche

The Perfect Nest by Jeanne Barry

Strangers by Ann Neary

Award Ceremony

The ten shortlisted writers have been asked to attend the June Fest Literary event in the Riverbank, Newbridge on Sunday June 7th, 2026. The winner and runner-up will be announced at this evening event (see June Fest programme for details) and they will be invited to read an extract from the winning story.

 2026 Judge

John MacKenna - John is the author of twenty-six books—novels, short-stories, memoir, biography and poetry. He has also written a number of stage and radio plays and is a frequent contributor to RTE Radio 1. He is a winner of the Hennessy New Writing Award, the Irish Times Fiction Award and the Cecil Day Lewis Literary Award; his novel The Space Between Us was shortlisted for the Kerry Book of the Year Award. He was recently nominated for the position of Irish Fiction Laureate. His latest book, The Lock-Keeper’s Wife, published by Lilliput Press, was launched in February 2026.

Prizes

1st Prize

One week’s fully-catered week in residence at  Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig for the winning writer only (worth €490) - this does not include any travel costs.

2nd Prize

A workshop of your choice at the Kildare Writing Centre.