Chasing Abbey @ Monroe’s Live, Galway (18.07.26)
On a warm Galway night in the heart of the Galway International Arts Festival, Monroe’s Live was transformed into something far greater than a concert venue. Packed to capacity for a sold-out performance on July 18th, the intimate room became a pulsating celebration of Irish identity reimagined for a new generation, as Chasing Abbey delivered a set that was equal parts rave, folk session and cultural revival.
The Tullamore trio of Ronan Bell, Jonathan Byrne and Ted Conway have spent the past decade carving out a distinctive niche by fusing electronic dance music with the rich traditions of Irish folk. Their latest releases, ‘Arís is Arís’ and ‘Íorónta’, suggest a band entering an exciting new chapter, but on the evidence of this performance, Chasing Abbey are already operating at a level that feels destined for much bigger stages.
From the opening moments, the energy inside Monroe’s Live was relentless. Every beat landed with festival-sized force, while the crowd responded with the kind of enthusiasm that only comes when a hometown audience knows every lyric and every drop. Yet despite the heavy electronic production underpinning much of the set, this never felt like a performance hidden behind laptops or backing tracks. Instead, banjos, guitars and tin whistles were woven seamlessly into thunderous basslines, creating a soundscape that was unmistakably Irish yet thrillingly contemporary.
It is an ambitious balancing act, but Chasing Abbey make it appear effortless. The traditional instrumentation never feels ornamental, nor do the electronic elements overwhelm the folk roots. Instead, each complements the other, producing an expansive, anthemic sound that is equally at home in a packed nightclub, on a festival main stage or in a traditional music session. Few contemporary Irish acts have managed to bridge these worlds so convincingly.
Perhaps even more impressive than the musicianship was the band’s remarkable connection with their audience. Monroe’s Live became a communal space rather than a venue, with Bell, Byrne and Conway encouraging participation throughout the evening. One of the most memorable aspects of the show came as the trio patiently taught the audience the pronunciation and meaning of Irish-language lyrics before inviting everyone to sing them back. What could have been a novelty instead became a genuinely moving expression of shared heritage, transforming hundreds of concertgoers into a united choir.
It speaks volumes about Chasing Abbey’s vision that these moments never interrupted the momentum. Instead, they deepened it. Their concerts are not simply about dancing, although there was certainly no shortage of that. They are also about reconnecting audiences with language, history and identity in ways that feel joyful rather than didactic. In an era when preserving the Irish language can often seem confined to classrooms or official initiatives, Chasing Abbey have discovered an altogether more powerful classroom: the dancefloor.
The band’s storytelling also deserves recognition. Like the great Irish balladeers before them, they understand that music carries stories across generations. Their songs may arrive wrapped in electronic textures and festival-ready production, but beneath the soaring synths lie themes of belonging, resilience, unity and social consciousness. There is an unmistakable sincerity to their message that elevates the performance beyond mere entertainment.
The trio were equally assured with their vocals. Their harmonies remained crisp despite the demanding production, with striking vocal clarity cutting cleanly through the dense electronic arrangements. The live instrumentation added authenticity throughout, ensuring the performance retained an organic warmth often absent from electronic-heavy shows. It was this combination of precision and passion that made the evening so compelling.
The visual simplicity of the production also worked in the band’s favour. Rather than relying on elaborate staging, the focus remained firmly on the music and the collective energy between performers and audience. Every chorus became a shared release, every instrumental passage another opportunity for the room to erupt. By the closing moments, Monroe’s Live felt less like a venue and more like the beating heart of a cultural celebration.
For the Galway International Arts Festival, Chasing Abbey proved an inspired booking. They embody exactly the kind of artistic confidence that contemporary Irish music should celebrate: respectful of tradition without ever being constrained by it. Their fusion of Celtic heritage and modern electronic production is not a gimmick but a living evolution of Irish musical culture.
As the final notes faded and the audience reluctantly spilled out into the Galway night, there was a tangible sense that everyone present had witnessed something special. Chasing Abbey are no longer simply one of Ireland’s most exciting live acts; they are becoming standard-bearers for a fresh, outward-looking vision of Irish music.
Find out more about Chasing Abbey on their Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
