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festivals · Saturday 11 July 2026 · Various 
Kells Summerfest - In the Garden 2026
At Headfort Arms Hotel Garden · Headfort Place, Kells, Co. Meath
At Headfort Arms Hotel Garden · Headfort Place, Kells, Co. Meath
The Headfort Arms Hotel throws open the gates of its Georgian gardens for a full outdoor country music party on Saturday 11 July - two back-to-back tribute acts, an outdoor bar, pizzas, and a crowd that takes the country attire request seriously. Kells Summerfest In the Garden is the kind of event that makes a summer evening in a small Irish town: unhurried, good-humoured, and genuinely musical. It suits country music fans of every persuasion, from outlaw-era purists to newer Stapleton converts.
Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm sharp. First on stage are The Highwaymen Reincarnated, honouring the original Highwaymen supergroup - the outlaw-country collective of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. After that, Tennessee Whiskey steps in: the Ultimate Chris Stapleton Tribute Show, delivering the big-voiced Southern soul and modern country sound Stapleton built his name on.
The setting is the landscaped gardens of the Headfort Arms, a Georgian four-star hotel that was once the townhouse of the Marquis of Headfort. The outdoor bar and pizza stand are on site through the evening, so there is no need to dash anywhere between acts. Country attire is encouraged - boots and hats are warmly received. Tickets are available through TicketStop; check the Headfort Arms website for the current price and availability.
Kells is on the N3 approximately 55 km north-west of Dublin, around 45 minutes by car. Bus Eireann runs services from Dublin Busaras to Kells (route 109 via Navan), with the journey taking roughly 90 minutes. The Headfort Arms Hotel sits at Headfort Place in the centre of town, a short walk from the main street. Street parking is available in Kells town centre on Saturday evenings.
Kells is one of the older monastic towns in Ireland - the Book of Kells was kept here before making its way to Trinity College Dublin, and the round tower and high crosses in the town are worth a look in daylight before the evening kicks off. There is more to see in Kells and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Headfort Arms Hotel Garden in Kells? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Kells area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.