Unique Upperchurch music festival ‘Hoolie in the Hills’ is a massive hit

An electric atmosphere lit up Hoolie in the Hills over the weekend as a huge crowd flocked to the festival that is fast becoming a music mecca.

Hoolie in the Hills drew crowds of merrymakers to Upperchurch over the bank holiday weekend to celebrate at the boutique festival.

The village back in the day hosted the ‘Ned of the Hill’ festival and this new festival, in its second year, brought all the energy and fun to life once again.

BASE CAMP on Saturday was an electrifying mix of live acts, Rhythm and Sticks, Riff Shop, The Dorans and Tradstone, reaching a chest-pumping crescendo with Jenny Greene’s dance anthems.

The weather played its part as the rain held off and the crowd enjoyed the sounds and the craic. Concert goers danced nonstop as strobe lights pulsed across Kinnane’s Field into Saturday night.

The place was buzzing with energy on Sunday afternoon as the talented Seskin Lane, Kevin Molloy, Strings and Things, and The Bootlegs set the tone with toe-tapping tunes ringing out across the Slieve Felim Mountains.

The excellent ‘Streams of Whiskey’ could be headliners in their own right and they got the crowd in a frenzy playing Pogues classics.

Sunday’s session was lit up by headline act Sharon Shannon bring her lively traditional Irish tunes to COOLA BOOLA at Hoolie in the Hills. The field was the place to be as the ever popular Rebel Hearts got the crowd whipped into a frenzy by playing some local favourites as the athmosphere heaved in the village.

A sense of pride and nostalgia filled the festival as Rebel Hearts brought the night to a close, tugging at the heartstrings and getting the crowd going with classics such as ‘Irish Rover’ and the ‘Ballad of Michael Hogan.’

It capped off a fantastic array of artists that looked to enjoy playing the unique setting in the heart of Tipperary. A special appearance from the TikTok sensation ‘my crazy life caroline’ attracted a swarm of fans throughout the festival.

Young and old, festival goers flocked to get an audience with social media influencers. The Co. Clare blogger was there to crown the ‘festival glam’ winners.

The winners were Lilly Maher of Ballycahill and Antoinette Stapleton from Upperchruch. 75 mojo fences around the stage, 35 strobe lights, eight food trucks, three tents, 12 acts, 40 support staff, and one couple's vision for a unique community to bring the tradition of music back to Upperchurch.

Fergal Butler of Kinnane’s Pub and his wife, Eavan Fogarty, brought Hoolie in the Hills to life for a second year. Organiser Fergal Butler said, “The weekend was sensational!

“A huge thank you to Rebel Hearts for finishing off 2024 and rocking Kinnane’s field to round out the weekend. The crowd was pounding the ground, from the main stage to the drinks tent.

“Delighted to have Jenny Greene, Sharon Shannon, Rhythm n Sticks and all the incredible support bands who were fantastic and made the Hoolie in the Hills such a lively experience.

“We must mention Tom McCormac, event controller, and the Order of Malta, Thurles Gardai, in the capable hands of Seargent Lorraine and her team - a great example of community policing.

“We are looking forward to next year and creating even more unforgettable craic. Mark your calendars,” said Fergal.
Hoolie in the Hills is sponsored by Rockshore, Red Bull and Whiteclaw. Plans are already underway to relive the experience next year during the bank holiday weekend of August 2nd and 3rd, 2025.