Booleigh Ska Festival attracts music fans from across the country
John Kelly, Murt Walsh and Alan O'Curran
THE Booleigh Ska Festival 2025 was an unforgettable weekend of rhythm, soul, and community spirit which invited around 900 people across the three days.
Music lovers from Dublin to Cork gathered to celebrate ska in all its glory, creating an atmosphere that was equal part welcoming and equal parts craic.
The festival featured a lineup of live bands including The Gangsters, The Scalps, The Mad Banners Band, and The Jager Bombers. Each act brought their own high-energy performance that kept the crowd moving from start to finish. As well as live bands, DJs also performed across the weekend.
Owner of Booleigh Sports Bar and Steak House, Murt, told Kildare Nationalist that the festival was a brilliant success.
“It’s been running every year since the early 2000s. Ska is a specialised music. It brings in all walks of life – from guards to nurses to school teachers” he said.
Murt explained how Booleigh Sports Bar is one of the few venues outside Dublin that holds a ska festival every year.
“It’s a real laid back festival,” he said. “Eat, drink, and be merry for the weekend.” It’s clear that Booleigh Bar has hosted something special. The festival left behind not only great memories but also an excitement for what next year might bring.
Ska is alive and thriving at Booleigh Bar—and it’s not leaving any time soon.
