Dire Straits' John Illsley Live

John Illsley, the bass player and a founding member of Dire Straits, plays Mullingar Arts Centre on Friday, 16 October 2026 as part of an Irish tour. Illsley formed Dire Straits with Mark Knopfler in 1977 and stayed with the band throughout its recording career, playing on every studio album from the self-titled debut through to 1991’s On Every Street, before the band came to an end in the 1990s.

What to expect

Expect a set drawing on the Dire Straits catalogue, songs that shaped stadium rock through the late 1970s and 1980s, alongside material from Illsley’s own solo career, which has continued steadily since the band stopped recording. His shows typically combine the songs audiences want to hear with his own perspective on the band’s history, told from inside the group rather than as a tribute act, mixing performance with stories from three decades on the road. The Mullingar date sits within a broader Irish tour announced for autumn 2026, and Mullingar Arts Centre’s mid-sized theatre setting, an intimate room rather than an arena, suits this kind of songs-and-stories show better than a large venue would.

Getting there

Mullingar Arts Centre is on Lower Mount Street in Mullingar town centre, within walking distance of the Market Square and the town’s train station on the Dublin to Sligo line.

While you’re in Mullingar

Lower Mount Street is close to Mullingar’s cathedral and the town’s main shopping streets, with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby for before or after the show. There is more to see in Mullingar and across Co. Westmeath.

Good to know

• Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
• Time: 8:00pm
• Venue: Mullingar Arts Centre, Lower Mount Street, Mullingar
• Price: not listed, contact the box office for current pricing