Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr is set to play Athy's Dreamland Ballroom, the venue where his parents first met in the early 1960s.
Both of Marr's parents, John Joseph Maher (who is now 81) and Frances Patricia Doyle (75), are from the town and moved to Manchester to start a new life for themselves as a young couple.
Marr, who changed his surname to avoid confusion with Buzzcocks drummer John Maher (whose parents also came from Athy), will play the Dreamland Ballroom on 25 June, with tickets going on sale this Friday at 10.00am.
It marks acclaimed guitarist's return to his family home following his 2018 visit to unveil a plaque on Emly Square celebrating his roots in the Kildare town.
The plaque is part of the Made in Athy project, and speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at the time, Marr said, "It's kind of almost overwhelming seeing these faces that have turned out, and some of them look like me as well which is kind of amazing.
"I'm meeting some of my cousins and my relatives so, on a personal level, it's beautiful."
When asked if he would seek Irish citizenship, he said, "If they'll take me, I'm on board. If they'll have me, I'm around!"
Watch: Johnny Marr meets his relatives in Athy in 2018
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The mother of Stone Roses bass player Mani also hails from Athy and was friends with Marr's mother.
The Dreamland Ballroom was opened by brothers Jim and - future Taoiseach - Albert Reynolds in July 1961 with a show by Victor Sylvester and boasted a "nearly 5,000 sq. ft." dance floor.
In early 1971, the brothers sold the ballroom to their major competitor, Associated Ballrooms, and it was renamed the Sunflower Ballroom and reopened in September 1971 with a show by the Royal Showband.
As the ballroom circuit began waning, the Dreamland was sold in 1982 and for the last 35 years it has been used as a community centre. It has been renamed ARCH (Athy Recreational Community Hall) and continues to play a role in the local community.
