There are be four days of women-centred programming in Dublin city this week, in the spirit of celebration of women past and present inspired by the Celtic goddess Brigit.
Brigid’s programme features a serie of talks, performances, walks, workshops, music, visual art and gatherings. The full programme is here, but I’ve pulled some music event recommendations Brigit below.
1. Gemma Dunleavy
Friday January 30th
Abbey Presbyterian Church, Parnell Square
Presented by Brigit with District Magazine, it’s a rare show from inner city Dublin’s finest contemporary vocalist Gemma Dunleavy.
The ‘Up De Flats’ singer has spent the last couple of years exploring her creative possibilities exploring Georgian folk music in her time away.
Friday’s gig, performed in Presbyterian Church, will be an opportunity to see how recent experiences are shaping the world of Gemma – at ease with R&B ballads as she is club bangers.
Support from electronic pop artist Essiray and poet Anna D.
2. Muireann Bradley
Saturday January 31st
Abbey Presbyterian Church, Parnell Square
Muireann Bradley is a young Donegal guitarist and singer who draws from a deep and surprising well of Americana folk and blues music.
Bradley’s youthful presence brings a new perspective on these old old songs, appropriate for a celebration of our ancient Goddess, as part of this Brigit x District live collab.
Support from harpist and folk songwriter Molly Donnery and poet Jan Brierton.
3. Ahead of the Curve – Women in Music Brigit 2026
Saturday January 31st
Curveball
Frances Wilde and special guests present a night of music by women in Dublin’s music scene. Ahead of the Curve features performances from:
Miranda Faul, a singer-songwriter who blends folk, pop, R&B, and soul to create a distinct style.
Ais L – Dream-folk artist blends folk sound with experimental rock and electronic music.
Frances Wilde – a folk singer-songwriter living in North Co. Dublin.
April Cleary – melodic singer-songwriter with debut single ‘Jitters’.
4. Witches, Bitches & Goddesses Honour Brigit
Sunday February 1st
Dublin 7
Witches, Bitches & Goddesses is an intimate performance of a 80-piece song cycle, performed in an accommodating stranger’s house by Jelena Soro and Jennifer McMahon.
The album and performance is an electronic-driven, vocal focused devotional offering to the divine feminine. WBG explores the concepts and narratives of female archetypes in Slavic and Celtic mythology, transmuting old stories into new.
The music has been thoughtfully created to reflect different points in the year, honouring the natural flow of life and the elements- fire, water, earth, air and void.
5. Signs Of Life
Sunday February 1st
The Sugar Club
Mark the beginning of spring with an eclectic lineup of musicians and DJs, playing from early to late across three rooms, both indoors and outdoors at The Sugar Club.
Signs Of Life hosts performances across jazz, soul, funk, trad, hip hop, disco, and house; with harpist Alannah Thornburgh, instrumental funk band Chief Keegan, soul artist Leon Stax performing live.
DJs include Little O and Pals, Pablo Santo, Hayley Connolly, DJ Kixx and Telephones DJs and more going til 3am.
6. Imbolc 2026 Fair
Monday February 2nd
Meeting House Square
The Imbolc Fair returns for its fourth year from 11am to 5pm on Bank Holiday monday with a programme of music, food, stories, flower and wreath workshops, kite making, clothes swaps, crafting, screenprinting, buttermaking and facepainting.
DJ Louise Bruton
A daytime DJ set from Lou Bru playing exclusively female artists.
See the full Brigit programme.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
