7 702 years ago, Dame Alice Kyteler became the first woman in Ireland to be tried for heresy. She fled Kilkenny and her servant Petronella was tortured, tried and convicted in her stead, then publicly burned alive on the main street of Kilkenny. Publicly. Burned. Alive. Following last years sneak preview, acclaimed theatre company Asylum Productions (The Big Chapel X, The Local) returns to the Festival for this epic reimagining of the Kilkenny Witch Trials. The story unfolds over five episodes, taking place across the city throughout the Festival. They can be experienced in any order, and if you miss an episode you can catch up via the newspaper The Daily Words (available at the box office or at thealiceclub.com). Whatever you do, dont miss Episode 5: The Burning, a spectacular finale celebrating the life, and commemorating the unjust death, of Petronella de Meath, complete with courtroom drama, a community choir and real flames. SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT See kilkennyarts.ie This is a once-in-700-year chance to experience Alice as youve never seen her before. EPISODE 3: The Words of Alice by Medb Lambert directed by Dónal Gallagher Bishop Dickie has been spreading lies about Alice, and shes gone into hiding. Come meet the Dark Dame herself and hear her side of the story, if you dare, in this clandestine one-to-one encounter in a graveyard. EPISODE 4: EPISODE 5: by Fern Kealy directed by Janice de Bróithe by Clare Monnelly directed by Dónal Gallagher & Janice de Bróithe The Words of The Accused Ten allies of Dame Alice were also accused of heresy. There is no record of what happened to them after they were tortured and forced to confess, but this episode, produced in collaboration with Barnstorms brilliant youth theatre, explores the forgotten stories of Alices co-accused. Outdoor standing event Medieval Mile Museum Dates Sat 8 - Sun 9 August & Tue 11 - Sat 15 August Show times Every 10 minutes, 1pm - 3.40pm Admission €10/€5 Duration 10 mins approx. Home Rule Club Dates Sat 8, Sun 9, Fri 14 & Sat 15 August at 12pm & 2pm, Tue 11, Wed 12 & Thu 13 August at 12pm Admission €15/€10 Duration 30 mins approx. The Burning (The Words of Petronella) Alice may have escaped, but someone must pay for her sins, and her servant Petronella de Meath will be duly executed (after a fair trial, of course). Featuring the cast from all the other episodes, a community choir and plenty of pyrotechnics, The Burning brings The Alice Project to a powerful and spectacular close. Dont miss the trial of the (14th) century! Outdoor standing event with limited seating available St Kierans College Dates Sat 15 August Show times 10pm Admission €15/€10 Duration 30 mins approx. This project is funded by Kilkenny County Councils Public Art Programme 2024-2027. Funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 0616 August 2026 kilkennyarts.ie Special Ticket Deals and Bundles This year we have ticket bundles and special ticket deals galore to help you make the most of your Festival experience! We have bundles for afternoon concerts, mixtape bundles, and a limited number of special Under 25 tickets see any show in the Festival for just €1 Introduction Welcome to Kilkenny Arts Festival! Were delighted to invite you to join us in the Marble City this summer as, for the 53rd time, Kilkenny is taken over by creators, performers and participants who thrill, excite and provoke. This year we present major new projects, including the world p 2 For 53 years our funders and partners have played an invaluable role in helping Kilkenny Arts Festival to flourish. We greatly appreciate their continuing support! PRINCIPAL FUNDER PUBLIC FUNDERS Kilkenny County Council Comhairle Chontae Chill Chainnigh HEADLINE EVENT PARTNERS Kilkenny County 3 Check Out Our Friends! Help make Kilkenny Arts Festival one of Europes finest artistic celebrations. As an individual or business, youll find a range of Friends options and benefits available, from complimentary tickets and discounts to Festival Club membership and special events. Friends members 4 OPERA WORLD PREMIERE STRAYMAKER IN ASSOCIATION WITH KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL, MIROIRS ÉTENDUS, SHAWN FITZGERALD AHERN & ONCE OFF PRODUCTIONS The Curing Line Michael Gallen 5 Michael Gallens new opera The Curing Line has been one of the most eagerly anticipated shows in this years Festival, winning the FEDORA International Opera Prize (the worlds largest award for new opera) last year. Set in a border town in the 1990s, The Curing Line tells the story of Cora, a young 6 THEATRE ASYLUM PRODUCTIONS & KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH ONCE OFF PRODUCTIONS, BARNSTORM THEATRE COMPANY & THE WATERGATE THEATRE PRESENT A KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AS PART OF THEIR 2024-2027 PROGRAMME The Alice Project Created by Medb Lambert, Dónal Gallagher, 7 702 years ago, Dame Alice Kyteler became the first woman in Ireland to be tried for heresy. She fled Kilkenny and her servant Petronella was tortured, tried and convicted in her stead, then publicly burned alive on the main street of Kilkenny. Publicly. Burned. Alive. Following last years sneak p 8 OPERA 9 PREMIERE GARE ST LAZARE IRELAND MARCEL MIHALOVICI The Last Tape Rearranged by Andrew Synnott Text/libretto by Samuel Beckett The Last Tape is Marcel Mihalovicis operatic collaboration with Samuel Beckett. Internationally acclaimed Irish theatre company Gare St Lazare Ireland continues its ongoi 10 INSTALLATION KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OPW Light Up the Castle: Rift The world is in a weird place right now (and not in a good way), so lets pit good-weird against bad. This years show, Rift, is a stunning new projection that seeks out the warmth, the fun and the good-we Writer/performer Brendan Mac Evilly Director & media designer David McGovern Music & sound designer Kevin Cleary Recorded readings Aisling Flynn PHOTO EMILIJA JEFREMOVA MULTI-DISCIPLINARY/LITERATURE 11 BRENDAN MAC EVILLY A Personal History of Pyromania In this intimate, darkly comic essay-perfo 12 PERFORMANCE/SPECTACLE Created by Elaine McCague, co-Creative Director of Loosysmokes (whose shows have thrilled Festival audiences in recent years), Anchorpoint is an ambitious, genre-defying performance that takes the language of the circus into poetic new terrain. PREMIERE ELAINE McCAGUE IN CLASSICAL MUSIC PHOTO PAUL MARC MITCHELL 13 IRISH PREMIERE Death of Gesualdo Created and Directed by Bill Barclay Performed by The Gesualdo Six and six actors Choreography by Will Tuckett Costumes by Arthur Oliver Puppet by Janni Younge The subject matter may be gruesome but the staging, singing 14 CLASSICAL MUSIC PHOTO BRÍD ODONOVAN CRASH ENSEMBLE Land of Winter Donnacha Dennehy Conductor Ryan McAdams Larissa OGrady violin Maria Ryan violin Lisa Dowdall viola Kate Ellis cello Caimin Gilmore double bass Alex Petcu percussion Caitriona Frost percussion Susan Doyle flute/piccolo Rebecca H 15 Timo Andres & David Kaplan Since meeting at Yale, Timo Andres and David Kaplan have built stellar careers as pianists and, in Andres case, as a composer both celebrated for their interpretations of contemporary classical works. For KAF26 they join forces to present a pair of exciting lunchtime CLASSICAL MUSIC PHOTO PETE-WOODHEAD 16 James McVinnie Bach: Organ and Piano Programme (*denotes organ piece) Johann Sebastian Bach French Suite No. 4 in E flat BWV 815 Sonata No. 4 in E minor BWV 528* Concerto in the Italian Style BWV 971 Interval Chorale-prelude, Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BW 17 Irish Chamber Orchestra The Devil, the Witch and the Warlock Directed by Henning Kraggerud Journey through the supernatural imagination of Europe: saints and sorcerers, devils and dancing witches, storms, ghosts and the twilight of the Norse gods. In this vividly theatrical programme directed by 18 CLASSICAL MUSIC Dowland 400 Curated by Mark Chambers To mark the 400th anniversary of John Dowlands death in 1626, this four-part concert series curated by countertenor Mark Chambers charts the extraordinary life of Europes first musical superstar. Long before the concept of a pan-European ar 19 Concert III: Concert IV: The Earls of Ormond: Caoimhe de Paor (recorder), Norah OLeary & Sarah Groser (viols), Malcolm Proud (chamber organ), Siobhán Armstrong (harp) & Mark Chambers (countertenor) The Earls of Ormond & guests Mr Dowlands Musicall Notebooke, Vol. I Mr Dowlands Musicall Note MUSIC/DANCE PHOTO MAURICE GUNNING 20 COLIN DUNNE, BECKY NÍ ÉALLAITHE & ULTAN OBRIEN For The Record Credits Performers Colin Dunne Becky Ní Éallaithe Ultan OBrien Director Kellie Hughes Sound Engineer Hugh Clery Ward Lighting Designer Eoin Winning WED THU 9PM 7.30PM 12 13 Renowned dancer Co MARBLE CITY SESSIONS & RESIDENCIES PHOTO RELLIE KOEPKE PHOTOGRAPHY IDRÎSÎ ENSEMBLE, LAYALE CHAKER & FRANCESCO TURRISI 21 Trobairitz Compass Idrîsî Ensemble is transforming the scene with gripping, deeply researched performances - unlike anything else Ive heard Last year, Francesco Turrisis firs 22 MARBLE CITY SESSIONS & RESIDENCIES PREMIERE PHOTO MOLLY KEANE Kate Ellis, Síle Denvir, Lucia McPartlin & Linda Buckley PHOTO GIORGIA FANELLI Sean nós singer and harpist Síle Denvir, cellist Kate Ellis, fiddle player Lucia McPartlin and composer and electronic artist Linda Buckley come togeth 23 The Breath Stuart McCallum and Ríoghnach Connolly may come from very different musical backgrounds McCallum is an acclaimed guitarist and ex-member of The Cinematic Orchestra, while Connolly is a multi-award-winning folk singer but since joining forces as The Breath in 2016, they have crafted 24 MARBLE CITY SESSIONS & RESIDENCIES Méav Ní Mhaolchatha For three decades singer and composer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha has been at the forefront of Irish music, gracing stages and concert halls worldwide with her unique voice. A founder member of Celtic Woman, she has released a string of solo albums 25 PREMIERE Irish Chamber Orchestra PHOTO ROBERT FLANAGAN Niall Vallely Concertina, Whistles Liz Knowles Fiddle, Viola dAmore Niwel Tsumbu Guitar, Vocals Sun Lines Kentucky fiddle virtuoso Liz Knowles, Congolese guitaristvocalist Niwel Tsumbu and Irish concertina master Niall Vallely were all fa 26 MARBLE CITY SESSIONS & RESIDENCIES Francesco Turrisi, Rhiannon Giddens, Niwel Tsumbu & Éamonn Cagney Last year Grammy Award-winning polymath Francesco Turrisis residency at the Festival featured a thrilling collaboration with Kate Ellis and Congolese guitar virtuoso Niwel Tsumbu. This year Turr 27 FESTIVAL FINALE Martin Hayes & Friends Martin Hayes rounds off the Marble City Sessions in style with another eclectic gathering of leading Festival artists and musicians, including Kyle Sanna, Kate Ellis, Francesco Turrisi, Rhiannon Giddens, Danny OMahony, Síle Denvir and more, all celebrating 28 MUSIC Barrel Yard Sessions Whether youve a long day of Festival-going behind you or a big night ahead (or both!), drop by the Barrel Yard on both Saturday evenings of the Festival and unwind with a beer, a bite and some laidback summer grooves. This event is for over 18s. Space is limited so a 29 Ukulele Death Squad If Quentin Tarantino ever needs a ukulele band to play during a shoot-out in a Mexican cantina, Ukulele Death Squad should be his first port of call. Audiences all over the world have thrilled to their thumping rhythms, epic vocals and punk-rock attitude, and theyre guarante 30 LITERATURE & TALKS THE HUBERT BUTLER ANNUAL LECTURE Mary Robinson Where life is fully and consciously lived in our own neighbourhood: Meitheal, community and food sovereignty Hosted by Olivia OLeary Former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson is a memb PHOTO LAURA SHEERAN Crossing the Lines: the Makers of The Curing Line In conversation with Kate Ellis Following the world premiere of their opera The Curing Line (see page 4) composer Michael Gallen, librettist Annemarie Ní Churreáin and director and video designer Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern reflect on 32 LITERATURE/TALKS LITERATURE & TALKS a beautiful and disturbing book on the reality of so many Travellers lives Anne Burke Rosaleen McDonagh Contentious Spaces PHOTO DEREK SPEIRS In conversation with Maureen Kennelly Writer, playwright, performer and Human Rights Commissioner Rosaleen McDonagh HISTORY, LITERATURE & TALKS Gillian OBrien Death Becomes Us: Tradition, Ritual & the Comedy of Grief 33 SPECIAL DEALS FOR THESE EVENTS See kilkennyarts.ie Its no secret that the Irish are obsessed with misery, suffering and death. Where else would a website that publishes death notices get fiv 34 LITERATURE & TALKS Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet Join us in the Parade Tower to celebrate the 26th edition of the Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet, launched by Festival poet in residence Annemarie Ní Churreáin and this years Broadsheet editor, poet Jane Robinson. THU Parade Tower Admission FREE BUT TI 35 Annemarie Ní Churreáin POET IN RESIDENCE In conversation with Olivia OLeary Biddy Jenkinson once described a poet as a troublemaker by profession. Its an observation that chimes deeply with Annemarie Ní Churreáin. Since Bloodroot, her first collection, Ní Churreáin has drawn inspiration from Iri 36 VISUAL ART No 4 Porthemeor Studios, St Ives, Cornwall, 1988. Photo: Cornel Lucas 37 BUTLER GALLERY IN ASSOCIATION WITH KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL Tony & Jane OMalley: The Shared Studio Curated by Anna OSullivan, Butler Gallery Director Butler Gallery, in association with Kilkenny Arts Festival, is delighted to present a building-wide exhibition honouring the work of the late Tony 38 VISUAL ART Diana Chambers, A Greek Party, Acrylic on Board, 122 x 125 cm, 2016 (inspired by The Intervention of the Sabine Women, a 1799 painting by the French painter Jacques-Louis David) DIANA CHAMBERS RETROSPECTIVE Allday & Everything Diana Chambers has been a practising artist at KCAT Art SCREENINGS 39 The Journey of Weather-Exposed Bones (Nozarashi Kikō) A film by Alan Gilsenan Written by Andrew Fitzsimons The new film by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Alan Gilsenan is a poetic essay on contemporary Japan. Inspired by the poetry of the famous haiku master Matsuo Bashō, Gilsenan o 40 FAMILY Barnstorm Theatre StormFest Barnstorm Theatre Company, supported by Kilkenny Arts Festival, presents a week of plays for children, their families and young adults at the Old Bank on The Parade. Admission €10 or 4 tickets for €36. The Dig All his life Mac has wanted to be an archaeologi OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE/FAMILY 41 Secret Garden Music The ever-popular Secret Garden Music Series returns for another year, bringing a stellar (but unannounced) line-up of musicians to perform a series of short pop-up concerts in some of the citys most iconic spaces. If youre out and about during the 42 Marty in the Morning Weekdays, 7-10am Marty_halfPage_190x117_v1.indd 1 Every year, RTÉ supports more than 160 arts events nationwide. Apply Now: www.rte.ie/supportingthearts 08/06/2026 14:23 43 15-23 August Find events on heritageweek.ie 1 Special Festival menus available at select restaurants GREAT PLACES TO EAT 2 Aroi 056 770 3644 3 4 Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro Billy Byrnes Gastro Pub 056 775 6297 056 772 1783 5 Butcher Steakhouse & Cocktail Venue Butler House 056 776 44 12 13 Fennellys of Callan 14 Ember at Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel 086 069 1421 16 15 La Rivista 056 777 1666 Langtons Restaurant Lenehans Bar & Yard 056 776 5133 056 772 1621 056 777 1888 23 22 21 24 Newpark Hotel Pennyfeather Café Petronella 056 776 0500 056 771 5298 056 776 1 45 17 18 Marble City Bar 19 Matt the Millers Bar & Restaurant 056 776 1143 20 Victors at The Club House Louies 056 775 0016 056 772 1994 056 776 1696 27 26 28 29 Rafters Gastro Pub Tower & Castle Stathams by Pembroke Kilkenny 056 772 2970 056 771 5476 056 778 3500 34 35 Dunnes 46 49 GREAT PLACES TO DRINK 50 52 51 Bridies Cleeres Bar Kytelers Inn Ó Riadas 056 776 5133 056 776 2573 056 772 1064 R95 CH79 53 54 GREAT PLACES TO SLEEP 55 56 Paris Texas Syd Harkins Pub Butler House Hotel Kilkenny 056 776 1822 R95 VK02 056 776 5707 056 776 2000 butler.ie D ROA LF 45 ROTHE HOUSE Kytelers Inn BLACK SS N RA KIE ST ST ENT IAM The Black Abbey T TREET MILL S E IAM L WIL ST HIGH EET STR LLI FR Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel EET STR 33 Victors at The Club House Great Places to Sleep ST 12 To Fennellys of Callan Highbank Orchard Ca ll Kilkenny Arts Festival 2026 Schedule 48 Thursday 06 St Canices Cathedral Friday 07 Saturday 08 Sunday 09 Monday 10 Crash Ensemble: Land of Winter, 9pm, p.14 James McVinnie Bach: Organ and Piano 7pm, p.16 The Hubert Butler Annual Lecture: Mary Robinson 5pm, p.30 Chamber Choir Ireland: Forgo 49 Tuesday 11 Wednesday 12 Thursday 13 Cate Le Bon, 8pm, p.28 Irish Chamber Orchestra, Niall Vallely, Liz Knowles, Niwel Tsumbu, 7pm, p.25 Death of Gesualdo, 9pm, p.13 Irish Chamber Orchestra: The Devil, the Witch & the Warlock, 7.30pm, p.17 Martin Hayes & Friends 7pm, p.27 Light Up the Castl kilkennyarts.ie