Michael D Higgins and Myles O'Reilly will open this year's Other Voices in Daingean Uí Chúis tonight, it has been announced.
Thousands of music revellers are expected to descend on Daingean Uí Chúis this weekend as the music festival gets underway in the west Kerry town.
Over 120 artists will take to the stages in the small coastal town in the annual celebration of homegrown talent. The headline acts appearing in this year's Other Voices include Dermot Kennedy, Amble, Sorcha Richardson, Dove Ellis, The Scratch, Travy and Chalk.
While main stage in St James Church will host some of the more established names, the Jameson Music Trail will feature scores of gigs in pubs and other venues across the town, offering up-and-coming Irish acts an invaluable platform, as welcoming back already familiar performers. This year the music trail will host the likes of BOLD LOVE, Bog Bodies, Scullion, Pebbledash, Throwing Shapes and Cuas.
Former Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins will make a special appearance at the festival to perform poems from his spoken word collaboration with ambient artist Myles O'Reilly.
He said of opening Other Voices 2025: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to perform in Dingle this weekend with my friend and musical collaborator Myles O'Reilly.
"For nearly a quarter of a century, Other Voices has brought together so many of the best performers from Ireland and across the world for a weekend of special performances within a shared cultural community of artists. It is an honour to join them this year for what I know will be another inspiring event."
The town will also host Ireland’s Edge, an gathering which runs in tandem with the music festival and encourages debate on topical challenges facing Irish Society.
This year’s conference is entitled Welcome Here, Kind Stranger / Fáilte Romhat a Strainséir Shéimh. Speakers include human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly, DJ and presenter Shampain, journalist Una Mullaly, author Ed Caesar and Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib of Medicins Sans Frontiérs.
The musical focus of the Other Voices festival is very much centred on the historic church of St James.
The quaint protestant church was built in 1807 on the site of an earlier medieval Catholic church, which is reputed to have been erected with the financial assistance of Spanish merchants who lived in Daingean Uí Chúis at the time (hence retaining the connection to San Tiago – i.e. St James of Compostela).
The intimate venue has seating in the pews for just 75 people, yet in an effort to secure precious tickets, organisers say almost 60,000 people entered various competitions and lotteries hosted by Irish media outlets.
Now in its 24th year, organisers say the Other Voices festival contributes over €2 million to the local economy over the course of the weekend, while the live-streaming and televised coverage of the events enhances the Dingle Peninsula’s reputation as an attractive destination for tourists.
Music and conversation with artists such as Seán McKeon and alt-pop artist Annie-Dog will feature as part of the live-streamed IMRO Other Room series, while the likes of Cáit O’Riordan of the Pogues, journalist Michael Moynihan and writer Ben Fraser will be interviewed at the Banter events in Foxy John’s pub.
Festival director, Philip King, says Other Voices has evolved and grown over the years, but still retains its core attraction for both artists and attendees.
"There’s a deep relationship between all of the values that we espouse in Other Voices and all of the cultural artefacts and richness that is in this place, the language, the music, the welcome of the people and the beauty of the place.
"Other Voices is celebrating what’s about to happen. We want to provide a platform, with best production values in the world, to celebrate the diverse musical voice of Ireland, right now," said King.
Mr King said he was delighted that Dermot Kennedy was returning to perform in Daingean Uí Chúis, but that he was also excited by the desire of up and coming acts to be added to the set list.
"In the Guardian newspaper last week they listed off a series of names from CMAT to Kneecap and everybody else in between, all of whom had been here at this place to begin their careers." he said.
"Look for example at the success of a band like Amble. They have sold about 70,000 tickets for their shows – four nights next week in the 3Arena, then the SSE Arena in Belfast and then off on to Australia in the new year to play for the Irish people who have migrated there. It’s a phenomenal success.
"So there is definitely something in the musical voice in Ireland right now. And I think that there is actually a very strong link to that voice from the well of tradition that we call the rich cultural ping that comes out of west Kerry."
The visual arts will also be celebrated as part of this year’s Other Voices festival. 'Cogar’ will feature an array of exhibitions and performances.
Local artist Áine Ni Chíobhain says the Other Voices festival is a source of light and inspiration for creative minds during the dark winter on the peninsula.
"The town is buzzing right now. There are musicians and artists coming from everywhere and local artists are being given a platform."
"We have art exhibitions, installations, light shows, print and video art, spoken word and walkabout performances. The town is alive with art."
Michael D Higgins and Myles O'Reilly's performance will be broadcast live at 6:45pm on Friday 28 November via the Other Voices YouTube.
