THE DUBLINERS ENCORE & RORY MAKEM
7:00pm Saturday 7th November 2026 – Tommy Makem Arts & community Centre, Keady
Experience the ultimate celebration of folk music at the Main Festival Concert! Headliner’s The Dubliners Encore, the official show, will recreate the legendary band’s magic, spirit, and greatest hits. We are also deeply honoured to welcome the phenomenal Rory Makem to the stage. A master of the craft, Rory brilliantly carries on his father’s rich musical legacy, captivating audiences with his extraordinary musicianship and unmatched passion.
THE DUBLINERS ENCORE
The Dubliners Encore is the official stage show telling the story of one of the world’s greatest folk bands, The Dubliners.
Created and produced by original Dubliner John Sheahan and his daughter Ceoladh Sheahan, with Musical Director Phil Coulter.
These five incredible musicians James Gallagher, Kilian O’Flanagan, Jeremy Jenkinson, Adam Holohan and Aidan Connolly were handpicked by John and Ceoladh to recreate the spirit, energy, and musical talent of each original band member, Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew, Ciarán Bourke, Barney McKenna and John Sheahan. These musicians capture the magic of The Dubliners singing all their hits, including The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Black Velvet Band, Whiskey in the Jar and The Irish Rover.
Since launching the stage show on The Late Late Show in September 2024, the show has performed to thousands of Irish music fans at sold-out venues across Europe. Now, following their recent sell-out Irish theatre tour, The Dubliners Encore are delighted to take to the stage at Tommy Makem Folk Festival to perform the music and songs from the show.
RORY MAKEM
A seasoned performer with over 37 years on the road, Rory has toured extensively with The Makem Brothers, and the Makem and Spain Brothers and for 17 years played guitar with his father, Tommy Makem. He has played sold-out venues, festivals, and theaters throughout the United States, Canada, England, Scotland and Ireland. At his best on stage, Rory captivates his audiences with charisma, passion for the songs, poetry, history, humor and skilled musicianship.
The love of song runs deep in the family. Continuing a legacy handed down from his Grandmother, the legendary source singer Sarah Makem, Rory pulls the songs of the worker, the sailor, the lovers, the fighters and the land from the pages of history and breathes life into them. An adept interpreter of folk songs, he masterfully accompanies himself on guitar, banjo, mandolin or bouzouki.
Not limiting himself to the stage, Rory has played on movie soundtracks including A Fool and His Money, and The Lightkeeper. His compositions can be heard as the backdrop for PBS series as diverse as Tommy Tang’s Modern Thai Cuisine to It’s an Age Thing, to Simply Painting.
Learning from those that came before you is the essence of folk music and Rory has had the great honor to learn from the best. Of course there were the many years at his father’s side… absorbing the master at his craft. He has also recorded with some luminaries of modern folk music; Tom Paxton, Noel Paul Stookey, Bill Staines, Eric Weissberg, Roger McGuinn, Dave Mallett, Gordon Bok, Jonathan Edwards, Rick and Ron Shaw, and Schooner Fare.
Through more than 37 years of plying his craft, Rory has established himself as one of the leading forces in the song tradition of Irish music… and so… the tradition continues.
Don’t miss this spectacular night of world-class folk music! Join us for an unforgettable double bill and experience the incredible energy of The Dubliners Encore alongside the timeless tradition of Rory Makem live on stage. Secure your seats today to be part of a truly special evening celebrating the very best of our song tradition.