Hibernacle Festival Day 2 – live gallery and review from Orlagh House Rathfarnham Dublin 19.07.2025

Since joining Mc Gig Music, I’ve photographed many gigs and festivals for this publication, but few have stayed with me like the first iteration of Hibernacle in Orlagh House in 2025. I raved about it everywhere—online, in my Mc Gig Music review, and honestly to anyone in my personal life who would listen. The location, the thoughtful programming, the calibre of artists, the atmosphere from start to finish—it all felt magical.

We are unfortunately in very uncertain times where smaller independent festivals are facing growing challenges on keeping their heads above water, what with mounting costs and ticket sellers going bust. As the summer season came and went last year, I settled into the knowledge I wouldn’t set foot in a field of cheery happy music fans for at least another six months and instead turned my attention to the winter indoor show calendar. As the colder months ensued, at times I found my mind drifting back to that warm sunny day in Orlagh House watching on from side stage as some of the greats of Irish music joined together to sing a rendition of ‘I Thought We’d Have More Time’ in tribute to their friend and still feel the tingle of being present for a unique moment like that.

All of us standing listening to those tight harmonies, overlooking the Dublin mountains as golden hour set in and as the final chorus played the vision of Wallis Bird’s face looking off wistfully into the horizon was scorched on my brain and forever memorialised through my lens.

Carsie Blanton photos:

Pure magic! As I said, nothing is guaranteed in the music industry these days, but in the back of my mind, I hoped, the success of the first outing, would guarantee we’d all be standing in Orlagh House experiencing that same united feeling in the summer to follow. So when Hibernacle announced its return, I jumped at the chance to be there again. I couldn’t make both days, but I was determined to savour every second of Day Two.

One of the festival’s strengths has always been its unique two stage structure: the main stage and the Secret Garden which run in harmony rather than in competition. The Molloy sisters’ vision creates a musical pilgrimage of sorts which guides the audience to move together between stages for perfectly timed sets of different musical and spoken word offerings that leave you wanting more. It’s a festival built for music lovers and people who appreciate the craft, not for commercial convenience, as is sometimes a pit the bigger festivals fall into.

What struck me again this year was how deeply the Irish music community embraces Hibernacle. Artists don’t just perform here and leave after their set; they stay, mingle, and sometimes even invite each other onstage for a spontaneous collaborative performance. The SUSO Gospel Choir led by Eimear Crehan opened the main stage programme on the day and later accompanied Wallis Bird for both her Secret Garden and Main Stage performances which went down a treat by all the punters and the artists themselves who were just radiating joy.

Roisin El Cherif delivered another stunning festival set, including her unforgettable rendition of Siúil A Rúin, which has lingered in my brain since I first saw her perform it live back in May. In Lieu of Flowers—Eoghan Hally and Kate Toohig founders of When Next We Meet festival put together a gorgeous set for the audience in the Secret Garden while American artist Carsie Blanton won over the entire crowd with her sharp, catchy set and has firmly gained a fan in this reviewer by her provoking lyricism.

Roisin El Cherif photos:

Between performances, the crowd was treated to trad music in the courtyard and a selection of hits played by RUGS, which proved very popular with the punters. I chatted with resident artist of the festival Roesy, whose stall displayed wood burned pieces marking the Limerick vs Galway All Ireland final which fell on day two of the festival. His own main stage set had the crowd begging for an encore, but the tight schedule rolled on to Scullion, Wallis Bird, and headliners Stockton’s Wing.

By evening, every blade of grass was dancing. As Stockton’s Wing closed their final track, I finally put my camera down and soaked in the scene—no exhaustion, just that warm, familiar feeling of being creatively and emotionally full.

Hibernacle remains one of the most special festivals in Ireland. It rejects the corporate clutter that dominates so many events and instead offers something intimate, genuine, and deeply communal. I left Orlagh House once again with that fuzzy reminder of why I fell in love with this festival in the first place.

Long live Hibernacle.

Roesy photos: