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music · Saturday 1 August 2026 · 3:00pm 
Mary Bergin and Mick Conneely at Music in the Forest
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
Two of the most respected names in Irish traditional music take to the open air at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary on the first Saturday of August. Mary Bergin, widely regarded as the player who lifted the tin whistle to the front rank of traditional instruments, is joined by Mick Conneely on fiddle and bouzouki for an afternoon concert in a forest setting that feels genuinely removed from the everyday. If you have ever wanted to hear slow airs and jigs played at the highest level, in the kind of quiet that only a woodland glade can offer, this is the occasion.
The concert runs from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in Dorlindon’s outdoor forest amphitheatre, with gates opening at 2:00pm to give you time to settle in. Bergin’s playing is built on crisp ornamentation and a clarity of tone that has shaped whistle players across Ireland for more than four decades - her 1979 debut album Feadóga Stáin is still considered a benchmark recording. Conneely brings fiddle and bouzouki into the mix, widening the sound to include a rhythmic, melodic depth that suits the afternoon pace. Expect slow airs, lively dance tunes and repertoire drawn from the regional styles that have been passed down through generations of Irish musicians. A portion of ticket proceeds goes to the Children’s Health Foundation, supporting equipment and research at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals.
Tickets must be booked online through Eventbrite in advance; they are not sold at the gate. The event is open to ages 12 and up. Free parking is available on site, though it is worth carpooling if you can, as outdoor events in this setting fill up. Bring comfortable outdoor footwear and clothing you can layer - forest floors hold the cool even on warm August afternoons.
Kilmacanogue sits just off the N11 south of Bray, roughly 30 kilometres from Dublin city centre - it is a straightforward drive down the dual carriageway, then a short turn into the village. By public transport, the 133 Dublin Bus service runs from Bray to Kilmacanogue, and Bray DART station is a short taxi or bus ride from the village. Once in the area, follow signage for Dorlindon; on-site parking is free for ticket holders.
Kilmacanogue is the gateway to the Sugarloaf Mountain walking trails, and the Great Sugar Loaf is visible from much of the surrounding area - a short walk before or after the concert is a natural way to stretch the afternoon. There is more to see in Kilmacanogue and across Co. Wicklow.
Heading to Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary in Kilmacanogue? Wicklow has plenty more to see. Read the Kilmacanogue area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.