By the Light of the Silvery Moon at VISUAL Carlow

By the Light of the Silvery Moon closes VISUAL Carlow’s October music programme with a three-person show that weaves storytelling into live music rather than treating them as separate acts. Storyteller Aindrias de Staic leads, with percussionist Brian Fleming and harpist Aisling Lyons playing continuously through the piece rather than providing occasional incidental backing.

What to Expect

The show moves through folklore, myth and humour, described by the venue as covering “stories both ancient and unexpected” at a fast, entertaining pace rather than a slow, reverent retelling. Fleming’s percussion and Lyons’s harp aren’t just accompaniment - the music carries as much of the show’s atmosphere as de Staic’s storytelling does, shifting between driving rhythm and delicate, atmospheric harp passages depending on where each story goes. It’s pitched as an evening for adults, carrying a 16+ age rating, likely reflecting some of the material’s tone rather than explicit content.

Good to Know

• Friday 30 October 2026, 8pm.
• Tickets €27 including booking fee, online, in person or by phone through the box office (059 917 2400).
• The George Bernard Shaw Theatre, VISUAL Carlow, Old Dublin Road, Carlow Town.
• Recommended 16+. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable; groups of more than 8 or wheelchair users should contact the box office directly.

Getting There

VISUAL is on the Old Dublin Road on the northern edge of Carlow Town, with its own car park. It’s roughly a 20-minute walk from Carlow railway station on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, or a short taxi ride.

About the Venue

VISUAL opened in 2009 on land donated by Carlow College, built after an international design competition won by British architect Terry Pawson. The complex pairs the 330-seat George Bernard Shaw Theatre with gallery space that stages around 15 exhibitions a year, and admission to the galleries is free, Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5:30pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm. It’s worth building in time before or after a show to see what’s currently on display.