Luke Thomas & The Swing Cats: Kings of Swing

Luke Thomas returns to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Friday, 31 July 2026 with his band The Swing Cats for Kings of Swing, the Rock Swings edition, a show that reworks rock staples in big band arrangements alongside classic swing standards. Thomas has appeared on major Irish television programmes and has two number one albums to his name; this date follows an earlier, well-received show at the same Oxmantown Mall venue.

What to expect

The programme sets swing arrangements of songs by Thin Lizzy, Oasis, Queen and The Beatles against the big band standards that give the show its name, with a full band on stage rather than a stripped-back acoustic set. Birr Theatre bills it as “an absolute must for all swing music fans,” and the format leans on Thomas’s television profile and his experience arranging rock songs for a swing band, something he has built several shows around over recent years. Expect a mid-scale theatre gig rather than a club night: seated and standing options are both available depending on the ticket type, booked online through Ticketsolve or by phone with the box office. The venue has hosted Thomas before, so this is a repeat booking rather than a first appearance in Birr.

Getting there

Birr Theatre & Arts Centre is on Oxmantown Mall in Birr town centre, one of the town’s Georgian boulevards, a short walk from Emmet Square. Parking is available on nearby streets and in the town’s public car parks.

While you’re in Birr

Oxmantown Mall runs close to Birr Castle Demesne, seat of the Earls of Rosse since 1620 and home to the historic Leviathan telescope. There is more to see in Birr and across Co. Offaly.

Good to know

• Friday, 31 July 2026, 8pm
• Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Oxmantown Mall, Birr, Co. Offaly
• €28 plus booking fee
• Box office: 057 9122911 or info@birrtheatre.com