Damien Dempsey leads Leitrim event with magical woodland performance

Night and Day organisers have said they hope to return to Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway following the success of the festival’s first satellite event in County Leitrim. Damien Dempsey headlined Night & Day x Hideaway Sessions at the woodland estate near Leitrim Village on Saturday, September 19.

Dempsey also spoke warmly about the setting during his performance. “Leitrim is a very special place to me,” he told the crowd. “This is such a special beautiful location here in these woodlands.” Crowds sang along throughout his headline set, knowing every word as the acclaimed performer delivered some of his best-known songs from a stage surrounded by woodland.

Dempsey also spoke about mental health during his performance, urging those in the audience to “mind yourself”. Night and Day co-founder Craig Hughes described Drumhierny as the perfect location for the new event and praised the atmosphere created by those who attended. “It was a real privilege to hold the first-ever Night and Day satellite event in Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway on Saturday,” he said.

“The estate is the perfect place to let people escape in nature while listening to amazing music.” Dempsey returned to the Night and Day stage after previously headlining the festival’s main event at Lough Key Forest Park in 2024.

“Damien Dempsey delivered another breathtaking performance on the Night and Day stage, having headlined our main event in 2024,” Craig said. “You could tell how much he loved playing on a stage that really is immersed in nature.” The day began in Drumhierny’s Healing Space, where Ellen Oates, Gemma from Abode and Oisín O’Dowd were among the practitioners who welcomed festival-goers.

Wellness remained a strong theme throughout the event, with packed yoga classes forming part of a programme that also included meditation, breathwork, Reiki and sauna sessions. Alison Moffatt, marketing and sales manager at Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, said the festival brought to life one of the original ambitions for the estate.

“Saturday was a very special day for all of us at Drumhierny,” Alison said.

“When we first began developing Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, one of our ambitions was always to create a place that would bring people together through nature, music, culture and shared experiences. “Seeing that come to life through Night & Day x Hideaway Sessions was very special.”

Following the opening wellness activities, music took over the estate, with artists from Leitrim, Roscommon and further afield performing across three stages. The programme included Áine Tyrrell, The Vibes, Fair Green, Emma Langford, Kit James, Sexy Tadhg, Cedar Dobson and Gabriel Gonzalez. A traditional Irish music stage led by the O’Carolan Collective also formed part of the event.

“The day began in our Healing Space, with Ellen Oates, Gemma from Abode and Oisín O’Dowd and an amazing group of practitioners creating a calm and welcoming start to the event,” Alison said. “From there, the estate came alive with incredible artists from Leitrim, Roscommon and further afield performing across three stages, before Damien Dempsey closed the night with a truly magical headline performance.”

Festival-goers spent the day moving between the stages, exploring the woodland and taking part in the wellness experiences.

“To see people enjoying the woodland, discovering new artists, taking part in the wellness experiences and simply spending the day together was exactly what we hoped this event could be,” Alison said.

Craig said the range and quality of performances helped create a warm atmosphere throughout the festival. “We were spoilt with the musical quality on display across all three stages and the warm atmosphere that was created by everyone who came through the gates,” he said.

“Hopefully, it won’t be the last time we get to work with the great team in Drumhierny to bring more great music to Leitrim.” Alison thanked everyone involved in delivering the event, including the Night and Day team, staff, volunteers, musicians, food vendors and wellness practitioners.

“On behalf of everyone at Drumhierny, we want to say a huge thank you to our partners at Night and Day, our volunteers, our staff, every artist and performer, our food vendors and wellness practitioners, and of course everyone who came through the gates and supported the event,” she said. “It was a day we will remember for a long time and a real milestone for Drumhierny.”

The festival marked the latest development in Drumhierny’s Hideaway Sessions, which have previously welcomed performers including Gemma Hayes, Lisa Hannigan and Paul Noonan. Night and Day will return to Lough Key Forest Park for its main festival from June 4 to 7, 2027. “We’re hoping that those who had their first Night and Day experience on Saturday will make the journey to Lough Key Forest Park next June for our main event, with early-bird tickets already on sale,” Craig said.