Legendary Irish group Aslan is coming to Melbourne!

After over 40 years together, Aslan suffered the sad loss of their front man, Christy Dignam in 2023. The group’s other members, Joe, Alan and Billy decided to continue their journey to keep their band, their songs and their music alive.

They welcomed new frontman Lee Tomkins, who has brought a new energy and feel to the band.

Aslan will be performing on Sunday 20th July at 7:30 p.m. at Harvey’s Sports Bar, Fitzroy St. in St. Kilda. They will be supported by local favourites, The Bad Penguins.

Tickets are currently on sale through Troubadour Presents, at their website troubadourpresents.com.

The next in the Melbourne Irish Studies Seminar Series will be on Wednesday 9th July at 4:30 p.m. at the Jabiru Room, Newman College at the University of Melbourne in Parkville. The lecture will also be online for those who cannot attend in person.

Frances Devlin-Glass presents “Counter-Cultural Truth-Telling in Furphy’s Fiction and Bulletin ‘Pars’.”

These lectures are free and open to everyone. The link will be made available closer to the date.

For more information, contact the Melbourne Irish Studies Seminar Series at melbirishstudies@gmail.com.

Saoirse, will be performing at the Victorian Folk Music Club on Tuesday 8^th July. The Club is located at the Ringwood East Senior Citizens Hall, Laurence Grove.

The Celtic-folk band has performed at many festivals throughout Australia over the years, performing traditional Irish favourites as well as original pieces. The group consists of Anthony O’Neill, Bernadette O’Neill, Cyril Moran and Sile Colman.

The performance begins at 7:45 p.m. Tickets range from $11 - $15. They can be purchased in advance via Humanitix or at the door.

The Geelong Celtic Supporters Club presents an Irish-Scottish Family Day on Sunday 6^th July at the City of Geelong Bowls Club, Ballarat Road in North Geelong.

Join them for a family-friendly celebration of Irish & Scottish culture with live music, local talent and craic all around. Kicking off at 12:00 noon and running until 5:00 p.m., this FREE event features traditional music, kids music, a book reading, raffles, and much, much more!

 Bring your family, bring your mates – all are welcome.

Melbourne Comhaltas is marking its 55^th anniversary with a Winter Solstice event on Sunday 22^nd June at St. Philip’s Anglican Church Hall, Hoddle St. in Abbotsford.

The event kicks off at 2:00 p.m. with a kids and families afternoon, with music, dancing, and kids games and activities.

For the adults, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m., there will be mulled wine, as well as the famous Comhaltas music, dancing, song and craic.

The entire event is FREE, but for catering purposes, please let us know you’re coming by contacting Mary at 9435 4435.

The launch of the 2026 Lake School of Celtic Music, Song & Dance will take place on Saturday 21^st June from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Celtic Club, Sydney Rd. in Brunswick.

The featured artists are the 2025 Stars of the Lake, Glór. Glór is a trio of young women: Ailish Moran, Tadgh Bryant and Dubhessa Bryant.

This promises to be a fantastic afternoon not to be missed. The cost is $10 for adults, children under 17 are free. Bookings are not necessary -- payment to be made at the door.

For more info., contact Jim at 0400 267 894.

Friend of the Irish community, Helen Mohan, is stepping down from her role as an outreach coordinator with the Irish Australian Support & Resource Bureau. Everyone is invited to the Bureau on Tuesday the 17^th of June from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to celebrate Helen and her achievements with the Bureau.

If you can, please bring a plate and a card for Helen to say thank you for all the work she has done over the past few years.

The Bureau is located at 440A High St. in Northcote. They can be contacted at 9482 3865

IASRB Website

Irish comedy trio Foil, Arms & Hog will be appearing at Hamer Hall on Monday 16^th June at 8:00 p.m.

The group has developed quite a following, performing all over the world and amassing over one million YouTube subscribers. Come along for what’s sure to be a fantastic night’s entertainment.

This radio program was lucky enough to interview Conor, also known as “Arms,” and that interview will air on our Saturday 31^st May program.

Do you have a school-aged child who is interested in learning the Irish language? Expressions of interest are currently being sought for starting a

Gaelscoil in Melbourne/Naarm. Interested listeners can find out further information through the Gaelscoil Melborune Facebook page or by e-mailing gaelscoilmelbourne@foras.ie .

Melbourne Irish Studies Seminar Series - Online

Wednesday 28th May 2025 at 6:00pm (AET), 9:00am (IST)

Fergal McDonald, PhD candidate, Victoria University, Melbourne

Contact with the Past, Connections in the Present: Springhill Community House and the Ballymurphy Massacre Campaign

image: Irish Association of Australia & NZ website

Gaelic Park’s 55^th Irish National Day will take place on Sunday 25^th May. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. for a day filled with Irish dancing and music, Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, food and loads of kids’ activities. Gaelic Park is located at 324 Perry Road in Keysborough.

For more details contact secretarygaelicpark@outlook.com.

The Malvern Theatre Company is staging a production of the John O’Donoghue play, A Happy & Holy Occasion.

The play runs from Saturday 26^th April – Saturday 10^th May at the Malvern Theatre Company, Burke Rd. in Malvern East. Tickets are $27 (no concessions).

The Victorian Folk Music Club is holding an Irish ceili on Saturday 3^rd May with music by the Joan Mundy band. The ceili runs from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.

The Victorian Folk Music Club is located at the Ringwood East Senior Citizens Hall, 6 Laurence Grove in Ringwood East. A light supper will be provided, but a plate to share would be appreciated.

For more information, contact 9762 1389.

Irish comedians Pat & Faye Shortt bring their “Knuckle Down” show to the Athenaeum Theatre on Wednesday 30th April.

Pat is well known for his work with d’Unbelievables and Killinaskully, as well as dramatic turns in Garage, and his daughter Faye is making her mark on the Irish comedy scene.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, but in the meantime tune in on Saturday, 22 March at 11:00 when Mary Ann will bring you a special Voice of the Irish interview with this father-daughter comedy dynamic duo

The next Sunset Celtic Music Session at the Chelsea Yacht Club will be tomorrow, Sunday 27th April from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

These sessions are on the last Sunday of each month, and they’re a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. All are welcome.

Even if you don’t play an instrument, come along and enjoy the music. BYO nibblies; Club bar will be open. The cost is a $5 donation, but kids are free. For more info., contact Jim at 0400 267 894..