The Johnston's Music Festival

28/07/2022

Absolutely tragic news. We are heartbroken to hear and may such a wonderful musician rest in peace 💕 ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis

Mick Moloney, often named Irish America's greatest performers and who was considered the greatest historian of Irish music, has died.The Limerick-born musician, Mick Moloney, who was 77, had been honored by both the US Government with a National Heritage Award.

01/07/2022

What a great throwback to the TLT in 2011 at the beginning of our festival journey! Remember it well!

Excerpts from The Johnstons' Reunion Concert 2011. This one-off event at The TLT Theatre, Drogheda was an initiative of 'The Johnstons' Festival' committee ...

15/06/2022

Some great photos here courtesy of Gasun Photography! Thanks for capturing the events that took place, we have some very happy attendees! Who can you spot!? 👀🎶🤩🎵

04/06/2022

Can’t wait to see the donated memorabilia in the archives! Im sure it will bring back memories for many!

01/06/2022

What a performance! In case you missed it, here’s a clip of Lucy Johnston and Mick Maloney singing it out at Slane Castle! 🎶🎵🎶

26/05/2022

We are still buzzing from the weekend with some great pictures surfacing! A fine audience here at slane castle for our final show. Who can you spot in attendance!? Also featuring photos of Lucy Johnston, Mick Maloney, uileann piper Louise Mulcahy and Mick with the green fields of America!

24/05/2022

WHAT A WEEKEND!!! Thank you very much to all the performers and organisers of this fantastic festival in its 10th year. Of course it would’ve been nothing without the spectators either, so thanks to everyone who came out and supported the events! Roll on next year!! 🎶🎵

23/05/2022

🎵🎶We are at Slane Castle tonight to wrap things up! This concert will be recorded and entered into the irish music archives tonight for the first time. Some great performances ahead including Mick Maloney, Green Field of America and Anthena Tergis, the former lead fiddle player with riverdance! Tickets are €25 from Slane Hub on 0419824000, a final night not to be missed! See you at 7pm🤩🎵🎶

23/05/2022

A very big thank you to the committee of The Johnston's Music Festival , the wonderful Clarkes, the sound engineer and audience for a glorious night in the beautiful venue.

07/05/2022

Did you know we are on Twitter too!?

The latest Tweets from johnstonsfestival (): "10th Johnstons Folk Music Festival 2022. May 23rd 2022. Mick Moloney (ex-Johnstons) in concert with The Green Fields of America and special guests. Slane Castle Ballroom 7pm. Tickets on sale now €30 from Slane Hub Office 0419824000."

22/04/2022

Niamh Parsons performing “Fear A Bhata”. A beautiful piece, sung so delicately. Looking forward to seeing her at this years festival!
Tickets for her performance and all performances can be obtained in the Tourist Office Slane Phone 041-9824000

Irish version of Scottish Song Fear a Bhata (Far a watta) From The Liverpool Irish Sessions

16/04/2022

Further insight into our artists performing at this years festival!

26/03/2022

A limited number of weekend tickets available &€40each. Tickets for all concerts on sale in the Tourist Office Slane Phone 041-9824000

25/03/2022

Monday Night May 23rd
A brilliant closing event in Slane Castle 7pm!

Mick Moloney of the Johnstons
Niamh Parsons
The Green Fields of America Tickets €30 each

25/03/2022

Sunday May 22nd Afternoon Session with:
Navan Silver Band in the Village Gardens Slane at 3pm

Evening session in Rathkenny Hall 8pm with:
340 years of Jigs and Reels
With the Darby Brothers,Paddy Reilly and Miceal Clarke plus The Chapel Street Band
MC Tom Kerrigan
Tickets €10 each

25/03/2022

The Johnstons 10th Folk Music Festival
Saturday May 21st:

St Patricks Church of Ireland Slane 8pm
Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne in concert
plus supporting act
Tickets €15 each

Ballad Session after concert in the Village Inn Slane 9-30pm
with the Slane & District Mens Shed Music Group

24/02/2022

01/09/2020

Who remembers it like it was yesterday!?

U2 at Slane Castle 19 years ago today !

This concert was filmed and released as U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle.
It was a difficult time for Bono, who had lost his father to cancer just days before the filming. In fact, their first night at Slane was only a day after Bob Hewson was buried. This was reflected in the band’s performance, carrying more emotional weight and intensity than usual. U2 Go Home was filmed on Saturday September 1, 2001, just moments after Ireland secured its place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with the only goal of the match, scored by Irishman Jason McAteer. The match was shown to the football-crazy Irish crowd at Slane Castle prior to the concert, adding to the already festive air. Bono mentions the goal during “Beautiful Day”, singing “Beautiful goal” at the songs closing. Later, he kicks a blown up ball off the stage symbolizing the historic kick. During “New Year’s Day”, Bono drapes himself in the Irish flag, something he has seldom done — preferring the white peace flag — asking the crowd to imagine he’s Jason McAteer. The crowd was in a frenzy for most of the night, making this concert video one of the band’s most compelling live recordings. Also, U2 was the first artist to headline two concerts at Slane Castle in the same year. At the end of Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono read off the names of all of the victims of the Omagh bombing. The show closed as did last week’s Slane show with the Unforgettable Fire being played over the PA system with fireworks in the sky.

23/07/2020

R.E.M 25years ago- Slane Castle. Who remembers?!

🎵Shiny happy people🎶

30/05/2020

What a throwback. Slane has been rockin for quite some time now!

24/05/2020

All of us who have put in so much effort to this years Johnston’s music festival don’t want to use the word cancelled. It is with great sadness that given the current situation here in Ireland it is best to postpone everything, whether that is for later in the year (unlikely) or postpone it until next year. The safety of the community comes first and boy will this festival be bigger and better than ever when we return! The surprise guests will hopefully be around when we do decide to go ahead, but we’re not letting the cat out of the bag!
Stay safe, keep your distance, and soon together we’ll be out, a stronger community than ever before. We will keep you updated.
🎵🎵Anyone who has been jamming at home feel free to send us in your songs for reposting🥳🎵🎶

07/03/2020

It’s nearly that time of the year again folks! Please like and share the good vibes ready to come to Slane! 🎶🎵🔜

01/11/2019

Good oul SLane! ♥️ Who remembers?!

17/09/2019

A great performance by Sean Keane at The Johnstons Folk Music Festival! A sell out crowd were entertained with powerful renditions of his most popular songs as well as new material from his latest record ‘Gratitude’. Afterwards, Sean mingled with the fans and signed autographs! Who was lucky enough to get that experience??! Share if you did!

14/09/2019

Would be great to get some highlights from this years festival-send them in!! And don’t forget festival continues with MR BRIGHTSIDE tonight in the Valley Inn!!