Athy's Dreamland Ballroom hosts incredible ‘He for She’ concert
Athy Band IF, Makayla, Melina, Bob and Natalia
LAST Saturday night was a 2025 highlight for the people of Athy with the ‘He for She’ concert taking place at the Dreamland Ballroom.
The 'He for She' event was organised as part of the 2025 Spirit of Brigid festival in Kildare this month.
The idea behind it was to invite male musicians to come together in the name of female empowerment, adding a new dimension to the Brigid’s Day proceedings in which men share the festival and its core message.
Taking place in a very special venue, the Dreamland Ballroom is famously revered for past concerts with musical icons such as Thin Lizzy, and former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr just last summer.
The sold-out event starred world-renowned singer-songwriter Bob Geldof, as well as Athy's own Jack L, rising star Robert Grace, Corona's frontman Danny O’Reilly, Irish folk trio Amble and local Athy collective MOA (Made of Athy).
The night was incredibly successful with many standing ovations and applause, and a show that went on until 11pm.
All played brilliantly, with Danny O’Reilly from the Corona’s remarking that “it was like going on after Elvis,” after Jack L's brilliant performance.
Preparations for the concert were community led, and Athy’s own MOA, which was a collective of different young musicians from Athy College, were organised by their school principal Richard Daly and mentored by seasoned professional Jack L.
MOA consisted of band IF’s Makayla Farrell, Melina McDonald, and Natalia Bielaszewska; band Hard Choice’s Faith Price, Colm Rothwell, Arthur Hevia, Charlie Price, and Zoe Doyle and Darragh Ennis on lead vocals.
Event organizer Colm Walsh strongly supported MOA with Jack L’s mentorship, emphasising their role in showcasing Athy’s young musical talent and fostering community support for budding Athy musicians. He stated, “If you can see it, you can be it!” Concerning the lasting impact of this kind of mentorship, he said: “There is a legacy that this stuff leaves behind.”
It was a brilliant night of entertainment for all, with some of the audiences highlights being Jack L's rendition of 'Folsom Prison Blues' by Johnny Cash, and Bob Geldof closing off the night with his masterly performance and being joined by Jack L onstage for 'The Great Song of Indifference'.
