Fans looking for a standout live music event this autumn have a fresh date for the diary. In a welcome boost for entertainment news Ireland, Damien Dempsey has been confirmed as a headline name for Night and Day’s new Hideaway Sessions gathering in Leitrim this September.
The one-day satellite festival follows the continued rise of Night and Day, which has built a strong reputation since launching in 2022. After a successful 2026 edition in Roscommon earlier this year, organisers are now taking the experience west for an intimate woodland setting at Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway on September 19.
Damien Dempsey tops the latest entertainment news Ireland lineup
The announcement places one of the country’s most enduring performers at the centre of the event. Damien Dempsey, whose career spans three decades and includes six Irish number one albums, brings major weight to the bill and adds immediate buzz to the latest entertainment news Ireland cycle.
He will be joined by a carefully selected supporting lineup featuring:
- Áine Tyrell
- The Vibes
- Fair Green
- Kit James
Organisers have also said more acts are still to be revealed, alongside a wellness programme that is expected to add another dimension to the festival experience.
A woodland festival concept with room to grow
Set across a 100-acre estate in Leitrim village, Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway offers a different atmosphere from the typical open-field festival. The site will host three stages as well as a mix of indoor and outdoor performance spaces, giving the event a boutique feel that should appeal to audiences seeking something more immersive.
That setting is already familiar to live music fans. Drumhierny has previously hosted Hideaway Sessions concerts featuring respected Irish acts including Lisa Hannigan, Paul Noonan and Gemma Hayes. That track record suggests the organisers are leaning into a curated, quality-first approach rather than scale alone.
Why this matters in Irish entertainment news
For followers of Irish entertainment news and music news Ireland, the announcement underlines the appetite for regional live events that combine established headline talent with distinctive locations. It also shows how festivals are evolving beyond the traditional once-a-year model, using spin-off editions to keep momentum going and audiences engaged.
From a wider festival news Ireland perspective, Hideaway Sessions looks positioned as both a continuation of the Night and Day brand and a standalone event with its own identity. With Dempsey attached, expectations will naturally rise.
Key details at a glance
- Date: September 19, 2026
- Location: Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, Leitrim
- Headline act: Damien Dempsey
- Also announced: Áine Tyrell, The Vibes, Fair Green, Kit James
- Tickets: From €70, on sale now
What to watch as more acts are announced
There is still more to come from the lineup, and that leaves room for Hideaway Sessions to build even stronger word-of-mouth in the weeks ahead. Anyone tracking concert news Ireland or planning their weekend entertainment Ireland calendar will want to keep an eye on further updates.
For now, the biggest takeaway from this round of entertainment news Ireland is simple: Night and Day is not waiting until next year to make noise again, and Damien Dempsey’s addition gives this woodland offshoot real headline appeal.
