Live Music Lineup Set For Irish Fest At Chicago Gaelic Park

OAK FOREST, IL — The Irish Music lineup for Irish Fest 2025 at Chicago Gaelic Park Aug. 22–24 has been revealed, venue staff announced.

There will be pipes-a-plenty with viral internet sensation Ally the Piper blending Celtic influences with rock music, Elias Alexander testing the bounds of traditional music and the power of electronic production, and traditional pipe bands Shannon Rovers and The Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society.

All three music stages at 6119 147th St. will come alive with entertainers such as: Gadan featuring Enda Scahill (Galway); The Kilkennys (Kilkenny); Meaedbh Walsh (Cork); The Byrne Brothers (Donegal); The Fenians (California); Colm and Laura Keegan (Celtic Thunder, Dublin); Rachel Walsh (Mayo); On the Lash (Michigan); Diversion (Dublin); Kieran Byrne (Limerick); Fiddle in the Middle (Chicago); Shane Beirne (Roscommon; Gaelic Brew (Cork); Without U2 (Chicago); Jinty McGrath (Cork);and The Larkin & Moran Brothers (Mt. Greenwood).

Tickets are now available at pre-sale prices at Irish Fest 2025 Tickets.

Gaelic Park’s Irish Fest Forced to Make Lineup Changes

No Garron Noone or Drops of Green this year.

Due to visa and other issues, singer/comedian Garron Noone from County Mayo, and Drops of Green, a band with musicians from Laois, Kilkenny and Waterford, will not be appearing at the fest. Both have canceled their US tours, a representative from Chicago Gaelic Park said.

Festival organizers have been able to replace those acts, and fest-goers will have the opportunity to see Maedbh Walsh, the very popular singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and Jinty McGrath, a Boston and Nashville favorite, both from County Cork.

In addition, the renowned U2 tribute band Without U2 has been added, and the music lineup for the weekend will now feature 20 bands.

Boss Tribute Band Coming to Gaelic Park Irish Fest

Saints in the City, a band from New Jersey that passionately and authentically celebrates the music and spirit of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, will perform at this year’s Irish Fest at Gaelic Park on August 23.

Bruce Springsteen is one of Ireland’s favorite performers and is known there for selling out arenas and performing impromptu gigs in pubs. With roots in Kildare, Bruce proudly embraces his Irish heritage, and has incorporated Irish themes and influences in his music.

Festival organizers, in addition to lining up a full schedule of the best of Irish music, are pleased to present this American band, and are sure that fest goers will appreciate the power, the energy and the heart that Saints in the City brings to the music of “The Boss.”

Women Taking Center Stage at Irish Fest 2025

The fest will feature some very well-known female musicians. Viral internet sensation Ally the Piper has captivated audiences worldwide and she’s bringing her dynamic show to Oak Forest, where she will be blending Celtic influences with classic rock and more.

Maedbh Walsh, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from County Cork with a large online following will also be featured. She’s known for her powerful vocals, emotive performances and versatile musicianship.

From County Mayo, the lovely and charming Rachel Walsh is a pop singer-songwriter with two #1 Singles in Ireland, best known in the USA for her many performances in Chicagoland and Boston. Evelyn Thom from Chicago is the fiddler in the middle of Fiddle in the Middle, and Colm and Laura Keegan features Laura Keegan, former principal musician with Celtic Thunder. You’ll also see Crystal Santana with The Fenians and Elizabeth June with On the Lash.

Tickets are now available at pre-sale prices at Irish Fest 2025 Tickets.