There are few Dublin traditions as powerful and soul-stirring as a Damien Dempsey gig at Iveagh Gardens and this year, on the hottest day of the year no less, Damo delivered yet another unforgettable night in his 12th year playing the venue.
Bathed in golden summer light and backed by a sea of passionate fans, the atmosphere was electric and deeply emotional from start to finish. Dempsey, a true storyteller of the people, poured his heart into every lyric, songs rich with defiance, hope, pain, and love. With his 16-track double album Hold Your Joy released last October, he’s brought even more depth to his live shows, blending rousing anthems with vulnerable truths.
The crowd erupted for every track, shouting every word with full heart and voice especially for the beloved “Sing All Our Cares Away” and “Apple of My Eye.” It wasn’t just a gig; it was a communal release. Arms around shoulders, voices united, and eyes often misty, it was everything a Damien Dempsey show promises to be.
There’s something uniquely powerful about a Damo crowd. The love, the loyalty, the passion you feel it in every roar, every lyric screamed skyward. His music doesn’t just entertain, it heals. Every show is a celebration, a homecoming, a reminder that no matter what life throws at us, we rise together.
Zeztra photos:
Damien Dempsey photos:
Photos & words – Erica Keogh @ericasnapz