Get your tickets before they're gone! Longford's new music festival
ABÚ Fest will take place from 2-11pm on Saturday July 11 in a dedicated arena at Skelly’s Bar, Ballymahon.
18 bands, two stages, plenty of great food ... and best of all, it’s happening right here in County Longford!
Abú Music Festival 2026 - a new festival organised for the growing teenage live music scene that has been developing in the midlands over the last few years - is set to take place on Saturday July 11 at Skelly’s Bar in Ballymahon.
Founded by six ambitious and innovative young Longford musicians just last January, this exciting new summer music festival promises to showcase the best of emerging talent from the midlands and beyond.
Joni Clarke, one of the festival organisers, said those involved all have experience within the vibrant Midlands music scene.
“Most of us met up in Longford School of Rock and Music Generation and have been playing gigs around the midlands for the last few years,” Joni explains. “There is a really vibrant scene of young indie rock bands and song writers, making their own music and performing in bars and spaces around the midlands”.
Committee member Harry Lally added, “We have put together an exciting line-up of bands and solo artists from as far away as Galway and Dublin.”
“The line-up is stacked with eighteen acts from various genres including, Connor Kinsella, What’s That Smell?, Paralysis, Someone’s Love Letter, Supersonic Surfing Circus, Happy Sunny, Lucy Lane, Aimee Dolan, Freakishly Tall Toddlers, Lilly Hall, and The Coast.”
One of the main programmers Tom O’Connor from Boyle spoke of the committee’s excitement at having ‘Grooveline’ and ‘Thanks Mom’ as their headline acts playing for the main stage.
Continued Tom, “We also have a second stage mostly for acoustic acts and we are delighted that Longford based singer-song writer Emily Doyle will be headlining on it”.
The good news is that entry for over-15’s is allowed as long as they have valid ID.
Organiser and drummer Florence Brunt explained, “We believe everyone should be able to experience a festival by the time they turn 18, that’s why we are allowing entry for over 15s providing they have valid ID. The festival arena has a mineral bar to facilitate entry of minors”.
The festival is being supported by County Longford Arts Service who provided some of the necessary funding but more importantly, provided mentoring and a space for the organisers to meet up and plan the festival. Organisers say Pat Byrne, owner of Skelly’s Bar, has also been very supportive of the festival.
The one-day festival runs from 2pm to 11pm in a dedicated festival arena at Skelly’s Bar in Ballymahon.
Tickets are €25 and can be purchased on www.abufest.com