In March 2025, The Ireland Funds Australia was honoured to be named one of the charity partners for superstar Dermot Kennedy’s inaugural Misneach (“Courage”) Festival, held at Sydney’s iconic Domain. Drawing an estimated 25,000 people, the event was a celebration of music, resilience and community, with an incredible line-up including The Frames and Glen Hansard, Matt Corby, Meg Mac, Fynch, Amble, Cliffords, and Susan O’Neill — to name just a few. The highlight of the night, of course, was Dermot’s unforgettable performance.
The Music, Australia’s leading music publication, praised Dermot’s curatorial flair and humility on stage: “Headliner Dermot Kennedy shone in the way he always does… making sure the spotlight didn’t just fall on him but on everyone around him.” Beyond his exceptional talent, Dermot is deeply committed to giving back — and with Misneach, he hopes to establish an annual global platform for rising Irish and local artists.
We are incredibly proud that Dermot selected The Ireland Funds Australia as a beneficiary. For nearly 40 years, we’ve been committed to supporting communities across Ireland and Australia — from peace and reconciliation initiatives in Northern Ireland (including 20 of the current 73 integrated schools), to educational programs like No Mind Left Behind and vital community development efforts including Soar Ireland, Men’s Sheds, Learning Hub Limerick, The GO Foundation, and the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
We wholeheartedly share Dermot’s vision to give back to communities — both in Ireland and the cities that welcome him. We look forward to Misneach growing from strength to strength, and extend our heartfelt thanks to Brett Murrihy, WME, Frontier Touring, and TAP for making this extraordinary event possible.