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music · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 7:30pm 
Derek Ryan at Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre
At Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre · Ballykeeffe, Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny
At Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre · Ballykeeffe, Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny
Derek Ryan brings his brand of contemporary Irish country music to one of the most singular outdoor venues in Ireland on Saturday 15 August 2026. A Carlow man who won two All-Ireland titles in traditional drumming before pivoting to country pop, Ryan has spent the last fifteen years racking up Irish chart toppers and building a loyal following at summer shows and concerts across the country. This is the kind of night that suits country music fans of all ages - a long August evening, limestone walls rising around the stage, and a performer who knows how to work a crowd.
Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre sits at the foot of a disused limestone quarry near Kilmanagh village, roughly twelve kilometres south-west of Kilkenny city. Volunteers transformed the old quarry into an outdoor performance space in the 1990s, and the venue opened in 2000. A purpose-built stage followed in 2011 at a cost of €100,000 - the first of its kind in Ireland at the time. The tiered limestone benches seat around 350 people, with grass terracing behind for another 400. The natural bowl shape of the quarry gives it exceptional acoustics, and the steep rock faces form a dramatic backdrop to any performance.
Derek Ryan has been one of the steadiest names in Irish country since “God’s Plan” broke through in 2010. Two of his albums hit number one in Ireland - “The Simple Things” (2014) and “One Good Night” (2015) - and his live shows draw on a back catalogue that mixes original material with the kind of up-tempo country that fills a dance floor. Expect a full band set with support acts on the bill. The show starts at 7:30pm.
Bar facilities, hot food and snacks are available on site. Toilets including wheelchair-accessible facilities are provided. The venue operates as a seated event - patrons are asked to stay seated except when moving to the bar or toilets.
Ballykeeffe is at Kilmanagh, about 12km south-west of Kilkenny city via the R697. From Kilkenny, follow signs for Callan and turn off for Kilmanagh; the venue is signposted locally. On-site parking is available. If travelling from Dublin, the M9 motorway brings you to Kilkenny in about 90 minutes. Bus Eireann and Expressway services run to Kilkenny city from Dublin, Cork and Waterford, but getting to Kilmanagh from the city requires a car or taxi. Plan for that in advance on event nights.
An August evening at Ballykeeffe is worth turning into a longer trip. Kilkenny city is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Ireland, with the castle, the Black Abbey, the medieval mile and a strong independent food scene all within easy walking distance of the centre. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.