← All events
music · Saturday 18 July 2026 · 3:00pm 
Gay McKeon, Mary Corcoran, Roma Casey, Tom McDonagh
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
At Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary · Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow
Four of Ireland’s traditional musicians - Gay McKeon, Mary Corcoran, Roma Casey, and Tom McDonagh - come together for an afternoon concert at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary on Saturday 18th July 2026. The event is part of Music in the Forest, a summer concert series now in its second year, and it draws on Irish traditional tunes and song rather than the medieval and baroque repertoire that runs elsewhere in the programme. It suits anyone who loves live trad in an unusual setting: not a pub back room or a festival stage, but a natural forest amphitheatre known as the Cathedral of Trees, roughly ten minutes’ walk from the entrance. Children under 12 are not admitted, which gives the afternoon a quieter, more focused atmosphere than a family festival.
The concert runs from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, with gates opening at 2:00pm. The Cathedral of Trees is a circular clearing in old woodland, and the canopy acts as a natural ceiling overhead. Performers play at close quarters to the audience - there is no amplified distance between you and the music. Gay McKeon brings a deep piping tradition to the stage; Tom McDonagh, Mary Corcoran, and Roma Casey add further texture across voice and instruments rooted in Ireland’s airs, jigs, reels, and song forms. The programme draws from Ireland’s shared musical heritage without being a fixed set list released in advance - expect the kind of repertoire that shifts to the room and the afternoon. A portion of the proceeds from every Music in the Forest concert goes to the Children’s Health Foundation. The festival is supported by RTÉ Supporting the Arts.
If the weather turns during the event, Dorlindon moves the performance to a sheltered space nearby rather than cancelling - outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear are worth packing regardless of the forecast.
Kilmacanogue sits on the N11 south of Bray, about 30km from Dublin city centre. By car, take the N11 towards Wicklow and exit at Kilmacanogue village. Dorlindon is signposted from there. Parking on site is limited, and the organisers ask ticket holders to carpool where possible - it is worth arranging this in advance if you are travelling with others. The venue is not easily reached by public transport, though Dublin Bus services along the N11 corridor stop at Bray from where a taxi or rideshare could cover the remaining distance.
The village sits at the foot of the Great Sugar Loaf, one of the most recognisable peaks in Leinster, and the surrounding countryside is good walking territory before or after the concert. 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.