5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Carlow to host Ireland's first ever vegan music festival – ‘We all know vegans love to dance'
While the idea of combining veganism with music is a new phenomenon to Ireland, vegan music festivals are already prominent in other countries around the world.
For three whole days, starting on Friday August 15 and running until Sunday August 17, Lisnavagh House & Garden in Rathvilly, Co Carlow will be transformed into a vegan's paradise for Féile Vegan – Ireland's first and only vegan music festival.
From live music to thought-provoking talks, delicious vegan food, non-food vegan vendors, cooking demos and wellness sessions, there is lots to do and see, whether you are a seasoned vegan or someone who is just curious about cruelty-free living.
The legendery Sharon Shannon, who is a lifelong advocate for veganism and animal rights, has also just been announced as a suprise guest and is set to headline on Saturday night of the festival.
'This is the very first vegan music festival in Ireland ever,' Féile Vegan organiser Denis Nealis told the Irish Independent. 'It's never been done here before.
'We have had vegan festivals but this is the first time we have combined a vegan festival with that musical element so it's very exciting.'
When asked why veganism and music needed to be combined into a festival, Denis had one very simple answer.
"Well we all know vegans love to dance,' replied Denis.
With veganism growing in popularity in Ireland, Denis and the rest of the Féile Vegan team said that now feels like the right time to launch a vegan music festival
"There is definitely demand in the market for a vegan music festival,' added Denis. 'Veganism is becoming more popular in Ireland and there are far more vegan products available in the mainstream shops like Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl.
"Vegans and people on the veggie spectrum have been looking for something different like a vegan music festival where veganism, music and wellness is combined into one singular event for like-minded people.'
Veganism and vegetarianism has a strong history in Ireland, although Denis argues that most of it has been 'airbrushed' out of history.
George Bernard Shaw, who has Carlow connections through inherited property, was an early vegetarian. Meanwhile pioneering Irish scientist, John Tyndall, who was born in Carlow in 1820, is commonly referred to as the 'father of climate science'. During his career, the Carlow man proved the greenhouse effect and became the first scientist to explain why the sky is blue among a number of other notable achievements.
"George Bernard Shaw was a Dublin native but he inherited property in Carlow, that's his Carlow connection and he was heavily involved in vegetarian societies, which were known as Pythagorean socities back then,' explained Denis.
"He was a vocal advocate for vegetarianism and spoke and wrote widely about its benefits.'
As the first day of the inaugural event rapidly approaches, Denis says that anyone can attend Féile Vegan with participants even encouraged to bring their dogs along for the weekend.
"Féile Vegan is family and even companion animal friendly,' said Denis. 'Attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs along with them and we will also have a wide variety of different animal charities there at the festival that you can connect with.
"Children under the age of 12 also go free and we will have lots of activities on offer for the entire family across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.'
For a full line-up of live music, events and activities at Féile Vegan, you can visit the Vegan Society of Ireland website and the Féile Vegan 2025 social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Tickets are available to purchase through eventbrite with a variety of different ticket types available from day passes starting at €54.60 to weekend glamping tickets costing up to €430. Children under the age of 12 go free.
