
Everything you need to know about Charli XCX's Dublin and Belfast gigs
Charli XCX is set to bring her BRAT tour to Ireland with two huge outdoor shows in Dublin and Belfast this June.
BRAT, the Ivor Novello-winning singer-songwriter's sixth studio album, made an indelible mark on the cultural zeitgeist when it was released last June, and now Irish fans will finally get a chance to see the songs performed live.
The acclaimed English popstar is set play Dublin's Malahide Castle and Belsonic, a music festival held at Ormeau Park in Belfast.
Find out everything you need to know about the hotly-anticipated gigs here.
When and Where
Charli XCX will take to the stage at Malahide Castle on 17 June and Belsonic Belfast on 18 June.
💚Following the release of the critically acclaimed album 'BRAT', electronic superstar @charli_xcx has announced shows at Malahide Castle, Dublin on 17 June and Ormeau Park as part of the @belsonicbelfast series on 18 June 2025.
🎟️Tickets on sale Friday at 12pm… pic.twitter.com/0jMWhYvzTP
— Ticketmaster Ireland (@TicketmasterIre) November 20, 2024
Getting There
Malahide Castle, Co Dublin
As traffic delays are inevitable, concert-goers are encouraged to walk, cycle, use public transport and private coach services.
DART - Take the DART from any city centre station to Malahide station. The station is approximately a 15 minute walk from the castle.
Bus - Dublin Bus routes 42, 42d and 142 connect the city centre with Malahide village. Dublin Bus is also running a ConcertExpress service for all Malahide Castle concerts. For full details click here.
Please note: During the concert dates, Malahide Castle's car park will be closed from 2pm.
Approach route - Pedestrians will only be permitted into the grounds of Malahide Castle via Hogans Gate (near DART station). Pedestrians will not be permitted to enter through any other park gate.
Belsonic
Translink have put on a range of bus and train travel options for Belsonic 2025.
Bus - Special Goldliner coach services will operate from/to Foyle Street Buscentre for select Belsonic events. Tickets can be purchased online only.
Metro - Ormeau Park is serviced by the Metro 7 corridor and some Metro 6 services. Plan ahead with the Translink Journey Planner app or online.
Rail - There will be additional Rail Services to Ormeau Park running throughout Belsonic. All additional services depart from Lanyon Place Station.
Please note: There is no designated parking at the Belsonic concert site.
Opening time of the venues
Malahide Castle - Gates open at 5pm. No queueing allowed before the gates open. There are no re-admissions to the concert. If you leave, there is no re-entry.
Belsonic Belfast - Gates open at 6pm with organisers warning concert-goers not to arrive on site until close to that time. Last entry/gates close at 9.45pm sharp and there is an expected 11pm curfew.
Can I still buy tickets?
Nope! The tickets have long been snapped up for these gigs. Fans can keep an eye on Ticketmaster for official resale tickets and see if they get lucky.
Support act
Special guest for both gigs will be English indie pop musician The Japanese House.
Age restrictions
For Dublin and Belfast, under 16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 25, who takes full responsibility and remains with them throughout the event. Gigs are not permitted for under 5s.
For Belsonic - front standing is for those aged 10 and above only.
What else should I be aware of
Malahide Castle and Belsonic are both standing only venues, and both concerts take place outdoors. Check the forecast and dress accordingly for Irish weather.
Strict security checks will be in operation.
Among the items not permitted are: bags larger than A4, glass or cans, umbrellas, parasols, alcohol, garden furniture, e-scooters and e-bikes, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Charli XCX at Malahide Castle: Stage times, set list, ticket information, how to get there and more
Few artists have experienced as transformational a year as Charli XCX did in 2024, buoyed by the release of critical and commercial phenom Brat . Such was the ubiquity of the hyperpop star's album and marketing campaign, a simple flash of slime green, void of any text, is now synonymous with her music. Charli famously described the starter pack for a Brat summer as a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra. A host of Grammy and Brit awards later, Charli XCX is landing in Dublin for her biggest Irish show to date. Just over a year on from Brat, there is no sign of the hype wilting. When and where is it? Charli XCX plays Malahide Castle in Dublin on Tuesday, June 17th. READ MORE What time should I arrive? Gates are at 5pm, meaning the show is expected to start at 6pm. Stage times are not yet available, so keep an eye on Charli XCX's social media for updates. The concert should be finished by 10.45pm. Who is playing? Support on the night comes from FIFI and English indie-pop artist The Japanese House . Charli XCX will headline. What songs will Charli XCX play? Brat is sure to feature heavily in Malahide, with a selection of other tracks from Charli's back catalogue. Below was a recent set list from her gig in Paris. 365 360 Von dutch I might say something stupid Club classics Unlock It Apple Girl, so confusing Everything is romantic Speed Drive Sympathy is a knife Guess 365 party 4 u Vroom Vroom Track 10 I Love It How do I get to and from the gig? Though it is possible to drive, you are encouraged to use public transport to get to and from Malahide Castle. Allow yourself plenty of extra travel time, as traffic delays and congestion are inevitable. Travel by bus: Dublin Bus operates services to Malahide village from the city centre. The H2 and 42 routes connect with Malahide, while the 102 provides a direct route from Dublin Airport. [ Brat summer: Annoying, dirty, hedonistic, bra-less, is this the end of the clean girl era? Opens in new window ] Marathon Coaches are offering private, direct return buses to the concert from Northwall Quay Bus Stop 7623. JJ Kavanagh Event Coaches are also offering private coach services from locations including Limerick, Portlaoise, Kilkenny and Carlow. Irish Concert Travel offer a similar service from the likes of Donegal Town, Sligo, Longford and Galway. Travel by train/Dart: Malahide train station is about a 15-minute walk away from the concert venue and connects to city centre dart locations including Grand Canal Dock, Pearse, Tara Street and Connolly. The Dart usually run extra services for concerts in Malahide, with the last train leaving the station sometime between 11.30pm and midnight. Travel by car: There is limited parking at Malahide Castle, but it is possible to drive to and from gigs. You are recommended to book parking by downloading the Evntz app and clicking 'parking' on the page for Charli XCX. Recommended car routes are: Via the M50: From Dublin city centre, west and south of Ireland, exit the M50 at Junction 3 (signposted M1 Belfast/Airport), continuing on to the R139. At the roundabout, take the second exit, continuing on the R139 for 2.6km. Turn left on to Malahide Road/R107. Continue straight for 4.2km, then take a right on to Back Road. Follow signs for car parks on your left. Via the M51: From the north of the country, exit the M1 at Junction 4 (signposted R132 Swords/Malahide/Donabate). Keep right, merging on to the R132. At the roundabout, take the second exit, keeping on the R132. At the next roundabout, take the second exit, again staying on R132. Take a slight left, merging on to Swords Rd/R106, and continue for 2.9km. Turn right on to the Dublin Road/R107, continue straight for 700m and then turn left on to Back Road. Follow signs for car parks on your left. Are there any tickets left? Unfortunately, the gig is sold out, despite Malahide Castle holding an impressive max capacity of 20,000. Keep an eye on Ticketmaster for resale tickets here . Remember to download your tickets on to your phone in advance, in case there are internet or connectivity issues at the site. Screenshots may not work on the day, as Ticketmaster often use live or dynamic barcodes that update regularly. What's the story with security? Attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult to be permitted entry. You should bring an official form of identification – a passport, Garda age card or driving licence. Bags will be searched on arrival, and you are advised not to bring a large bag to avoid the possibility of a lengthy delay or even the refusal of entry. Be warned also that it is prohibited to bring alcohol, umbrellas, garden furniture, flares or professional recording equipment in with you. What does the weather look like? Weather is forecast to be largely settled next week, with less rain than usual and above average temperatures according to Met Éireann .


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
TikTok Boom: The rise and reign of viral dance trends
TikTok hasn't just reshaped social media; it's rewritten the rules of cultural fame. With a tap and a twist, a bedroom video can go global. From CMAT's 'Woke Macarena' to unexpected dance-floor icons, Sarah McIntyre and Laura Delaney ask: What does it really take to go viral in 2025? Unlike traditional platforms, virality on TikTok doesn't hinge on follower count - anyone can break through. At its core, the app thrives on participatory trends, with dance challenges leading the charge, turning everyday users into cultural contributors overnight. In recent weeks, CMAT's Take a Sexy Picture of Me, aka the 'Woke Macarena', has become a global trend, inspiring over 39,000 videos to date, with over 100 million views. Lola Young, Julia Fox, Cher Lloyd and Amelia Dimoldenberg are among the high-profile names who have given the fun and sassy dance a whirl. TikToker Sam Morris (@justsammorris) is the creator behind the viral dance sensation. Last month, he posted a video showcasing his original choreography to the track, proudly dubbing it his "Apple dance TikTok choreographer moment." According to Rebecca O'Keeffe, Head of Content Operations at TikTok, what makes this particular trend interesting is its grassroots origin. "It only really became a thing in the last week or two, and that's all down to one man making a video in his bedroom," she says. "It wasn't some massive creator doing a collab with CMAT. He spotted the clue and jumped on it. If you think something is going to work, give it a go, because it probably will." What actually makes a TikTok go viral? If there's one question TikTok's content team hear daily, it's this: How do I go viral? We ask the experts. Arthur Gourounlian, Dancing with the Stars judge, dancer and choreographer, is known for his joyful and engaging content on social media - he believes the first three seconds are everything. "Grab attention right away," he advises. "Use something surprising, relatable, or visually engaging. People connect with real, unfiltered moments. Being yourself makes you memorable." From a production standpoint, he recommends sharp editing, strong lighting and a clear message. The dancing pro also gives a shout-out to trending sounds or topics, as "using popular audio or participating in trends boosts discoverability". "Whether it's funny, emotional, or informative, the video should have a clear purpose," he adds, saying "engagement – asking a question, using on-screen text, or prompting comments can encourage interaction." For Matthew Gardiner, one half of the Irish dancing duo The Gardiner Brothers (3.9 million followers and over 85 million likes on TikTok), it's about consistency and patience. "It feels almost random sometimes what gains traction. We do think that consistency is a huge thing, because you don't know what's going to go viral," he says. "Sometimes we have a feeling like 'OK, this one's good, this one's going to do well,' but then it doesn't. And you don't really have an answer for that, and you've just got to keep trying. "If you enjoy it, some people out there are going to enjoy it, and it doesn't have to always go viral." He recalls a tip from a social media guru he watched online during the pandemic that stuck with him. "You know the phrase 'quality over quantity', he actually flipped it and said 'quantity over quality', because quality is subjective. "Somebody out there is going to enjoy your content, so just keep putting it out and then the odd one will grow." Rebecca reckons that the key to being successful on the platform is "nailing the engagement side of things" and admits "everyone with a phone who has access to the app is a creator". Interestingly, when it comes to being successful on the platform, she says you don't need big numbers to make an impact. "You don't need to have millions of followers to become a sensation on the platform. It's all about spotting that creative niche and jumping on it, and those kinds of trends can start from anywhere – me in my kitchen has as good a chance at going viral as the Kardashians in LA. "You can start from zero and grow this incredible, engaged audience quite quickly if you just nail the engagement side of things". What sounds and moves work best? So what does it really take to go viral on TikTok and capture the attention of millions? "The algorithm is a fickle little thing. We can't predict its behaviour - it would be great if we could," Rebecca laughs. "I work really closely with creators, and I'd say at least every day, I get asked 'how do I go viral?'. It's really down to how engaging the content is as opposed to having a million followers. "The likelihood being that if you have a million followers, you're probably quite an interesting and engaging human by default. My advice if you are starting from zero is to scroll and see what people are interested in, jump on those trends when you spot them, don't wait for them to become massive trends." Matthew, who was born in Denver and raised in Galway, says it's "the classic songs" that consistently do well for The Gardiner Brothers on TikTok. "Things like The Bee Gees have always done well. Those songs are timeless - the younger generation loves them as well." Some dance routines are destined for virality, but they are rarely the most complex ones. "The most viral dances are usually simple, repeatable, and don't require pro-level skills," shares Arthur. "They should be visually fun and expressive. Think hand movements, body rolls and hair flips." He reckons that songs with a strong beat, catchy hook, or dramatic moment, especially early on, tend to perform best. The key is that "people of all ages and skill levels feel confident trying them". "If people can learn it quickly and feel cool doing it, they're way more likely to recreate it - and that's what spreads it!" he adds. Has TikTok changed the dance world? Absolutely. And for the better, according to both Matthew and Arthur. "Dance is all over people's For You pages and reels feeds all the time," Matthew says. "I don't think people were constantly seeing dance and interacting with dance every day of their lives before social media, which is great because dance is obviously something positive. "Continuing to put any form of dance in the spotlight every day, even if it's just a quick 10 to 15-second snippet, I think that's great." Arthur agrees and points out that the platform has made dance much more accessible to people all over the world. "TikTok has completely transformed the dance world - it's made it more accessible, more inclusive, and more global than ever before. You don't need to be a professional dancer or have studio space to make an impact. All you need is a phone, a catchy song, and a bit of creativity." The TV star continues: "What I love most is how it's given people from all walks of life the chance to express themselves through movement. "Dances can go viral overnight, and suddenly you've got people all over the world - from kids in their bedrooms to celebrities on red carpets - doing the same routine. It's created a sense of shared energy and connection, which is really powerful. "It's also reshaped how we see choreography. It's not just about technical perfection anymore - it's about vibe, personality, and originality. In a way, TikTok has democratised dance, and I think that's beautiful." The Irish flair for viral moments Arthur believes that Irish audiences connect with dance trends that "blend fun, energy, and a bit of cultural flair". "Anything that brings people together - like group dances, easy-to-follow routines, or ones with a bit of humour - tends to do really well here. We love a good laugh and a shared moment, so trends that feel inclusive or playful often take off. "Also, any trend that includes Irish music or nods to Irish culture tends to strike a chord. We've seen some TikToks where traditional Irish dance gets a modern twist, or Irish songs go viral with creative choreography, and people absolutely love it. It's that mix of pride and playfulness that really resonates." He adds: "At the end of the day, we're a nation that loves storytelling, rhythm, and a good time - so if a trend taps into that spirit, it usually finds its way into Irish hearts (and TikTok feeds) pretty quickly." Matthew says that fans of The Gardiner Brothers love to see them giving Irish dance a modern edge. "They love to see us go back to the traditional Irish music, which we love to do as well because we want to hold on to that tradition, "he said. "We love modernising it, but we love holding on to what Irish dancing really is and having a balance of both." "I think it's something in all Irish people, when you hear the trad tunes come on, your shoulders get moving and your feet get moving." Is going viral something you can plan, or is it luck? When it comes to blowing up on TikTok, it seems to be a mixture of planning, elbow grease and some good old-fashioned luck. "Going viral is a bit of both - strategy and luck," Arthur explains. "You can definitely plan your content with the right ingredients: a catchy hook, trending sounds, relatable themes, good timing, and engaging visuals. "But at the same time, there's no exact formula. Sometimes the most unexpected, off-the-cuff videos are the ones that blow up. That's the magic of social media - there's always an element of unpredictability. You never really know what's going to resonate or when the algorithm will suddenly pick up your video. "So yes, you can prepare, be consistent, and stay creative - but sometimes, it really is just about being in the right place at the right time with the right vibe." Matthew adds: "The app seems to be in control most of the time because they're constantly changing their algorithm. They're changing the times that you're supposed to be posting at, so you're at the mercy of a little bit of luck for sure. "It's also fun to hop on the trends and put our own spin on it, because they won't have an Irish dancing aspect to it, but we love to chime in on that with some Irish flair. "You just have to keep trying to put out your best self all the time." A launchpad for Irish artists TikTok's power as a music discovery platform is hard to overstate. In fact, last year, 84% of songs that entered Billboard's Global 200 chart went viral first on TikTok. The platform has played a pivotal role in identifying and elevating emerging artists, providing them with a platform to attain global recognition. "TikTok has broken down barriers for a lot of emerging artists that maybe didn't necessarily get the label recognition prior to TikTok's accessibility. It's allowed the community to discover who's worthy of a record deal or the No1 hit on the Billboard charts," says Rebecca. One such success story is KhakiKid from Crumlin in Dublin. The Irish alt-rapper, known for his jazz-infused hip-hop and introspective storytelling, found fame earlier this year with his single Date Nite featuring Saint Demarcus. The track gained massive traction on TikTok and even caught the attention of Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez. Thanks to its TikTok virality, Date Nite has been streamed over 500,000 times on Spotify and was a Top 40 Single in Ireland, solidifying KhakiKid's status as a rising star in the Irish music scene. The spotlight on Irish musicians, especially those embracing the Gaeltacht culture, signals a broader appreciation and demand for authentic, homegrown artistry on the world stage. "For the last two years, it's been all about Irish actors, and it took over the Oscars last year," Rebecca says. "But it's Irish musicians that are at the tip of everybody's tongue at the moment - especially those embracing Gaeltacht culture. "We've got so many strong ones like Florence Road, Khaki Kid, all these incredible artists who are slowly but surely carving out a space for themselves, which wouldn't have been available to them if they didn't have the platform." So, what's the secret? There may not be one. But what's clear is that TikTok has redefined what it means to connect, perform and create. It's given a voice - and rhythm - to people who may never have stepped onto a stage, and a spotlight to artists who might otherwise have gone unheard.


Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The land of migrant saints and scorers - new RTE shows uncover home truths
Had anyone bothered to ask I'd have told them for nothing. When a replacement anthem was needed to unify the various Irish sects, north and south, to be played at big sporting occasions, Dominic Behan's shanty 'Thank God We're Surrounded by Water' could have ticked most of the boxes. It's a good seafaring ballad fit for a wild island tribe. In their wisdom the powers that be asked Phil Coulter instead and the rest is history. But if you wanted reminding that being surrounded by water is what defines us more than any other thing, it came this week in the shape of two epic new RTE productions. Both have the taste of salt air about them and plenty of Irish people doing what we have done well for centuries - gazing out at the waves and contemplating the sheer unlikely wonder of it all. 'From That Small Island' ambitiously sets out to tell the story of the Irish since prehistory in four lavish episodes every Sunday evening. On Mondays, 'Hell for Leather' even more ambitiously tries to capture Gaelic football's part in that island tale in a mere five parts. Both depict the Irish as a tribe apart, cut off by the waves at the edge of the world. The sea has been with us from the beginning, right back when we drifted off into the wilds of the north Atlantic while England was still waiting on its initial tectonic Brexit from the continent. The first hunter gatherers may have walked from Africa to Western Europe, but to get all the way here they had to get in a boat. The documentary makers revealed how the earliest homo sapiens to make that determined journey were likely dark skinned from around modern-day Turkey. So were the first farmers who followed them, shipping cows and barley over the seas and setting up in what they must have assumed was the ends of the earth. Instinct says this isolation should have made us an inward-looking people – 'insular' was what outsiders even called our strange language when they would encounter us. But like all good stories there's a twist. There became as many departures as arrivals from the island, or as one academic describes it to viewers, our story became one of 'comings and goings.' We earned a reputation as 'the wandering Irish'. And maybe the greatest of those early wanderers was a monk from Co. Carlow. Columbanus founded seats of learning on the continent in the sixth century and brought crazy Irish ideas across the seas with him. Some still survive in his own writings. One was that people should be judged on their principles rather than their station in life. Another was the radical concept of a united Europe. Over a thousand years later, a gathering of statesmen marking the anniversary of the death of this migrant monk amid the rubble of war, would use his ideas to conceive of a project that we know today as the European Union. Not surprisingly this narrative of who the first Irish really were and their migrant roots has sparked the usual deranged mouth-frothing in the online echo chambers. Presumably some of their modern-day descendants were hoping for an origin story involving a pure race dancing at the crossroads around burning buses. If 'From that Small Island' annoyed the far-right people, 'Hell for Leather' just annoyed the right people. Its handful of critics were mostly those who baulk at the notion that the GAA is somehow a sport apart, uniquely of the Irish, born as it was in this place surrounded by water. They object to contributors to the programme speaking of how that somehow allowed the game to forge intangible connections like identity, community, belonging, and a sense of parish. These are some of the same people who then go away and get misty eyed themselves while singing Ireland's Call or supporting a team of multi-millionaires in the pay of multi-billionaires somewhere over the seas. But when it comes to what they dismiss as 'over mythologised' and 'mystical guff' about the special place of the GAA in the Irish story, they refuse to believe in a sense of wonder. As that other seafaring monk of the Skellig Islands, Yoda, might have told them, that's why they fail to get it.