skip to main content

Thousands attend festival for people with additional needs

Music fans enjoying the show at Ablefest
Music fans enjoying the show at Ablefest

Ireland's first and largest music and arts festival for people with additional needs has been held in Co Meath.

Ablefest 2025 in Fairyhouse saw acts such as Jake Carter, Johnny Brady, Brian Mullen take to the stage in front of a packed crowd.

Around 2,500 people descended on the racecourse for the event which catered for those with additional needs.

John Evan from Celbridge, Co Kildare with the Woody character from Toy Story at Ablefest 2025
John Egan from Celbridge, Co Kildare, with Woody at Ablefest 2025

Festival-goers were also able to enjoy a "myriad of creative fun" at an array of art and activity stations.

Special toilets were provided by AccessoLoo for wheelchair users needing hoists while staffed sensory pods were also on site.

The non-profit event was co-founded by Shay Casserley and Kevin Farrell in 2018.

Mr Farrell said it was "brilliant" to see everybody out enjoying themselves.

"For us it’s very emotional, we both have kids with disabilities, that’s why we set this festival up.

Fans at Ablefest
People enjoying the music at Ablefest

"To people here it’s their Electric Picnic, that’s what they call it.

"Some of the people we know here, they say to their siblings 'you’re going to your Electric Picnic and I’m going to mine'.

"It’s tailored to suit every sort of disability, but everybody is welcome," said Mr Farrell.

Along with their own event, the group also has collaborations with other big festivals like Dublin’s TradFest and St Patrick’s Day in Killarney.

Mr Farrell said they are planning further events in the future.