Everything you need to know for Feile Classical: Opening times, how to get there, parking and what to bring

More than 20,000 music fans will descend on Thurles this weekend for the ultimate comeback when Feile Classical kicks off on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd September.

Billed as 'Feile for grown ups', the two day concert will reunite much of the original Feile line up from 90-94' in Semple Stadium with a classical twist in the form of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. 

Are tickets still available?

Tickets for Saturday night sold out within minutes last April but a limited number of production seats are still available for tomorrow night (Friday September 21st). Tickets cost from €49.50 plus charges and can be purchased from Ticketmaster.ie

What time does everything kick off?

Gates at Semple Stadium officially open at 4pm on Friday with the earlier time of 3pm on Saturday. An exciting line up of events, including discussions and live music, take place on stages inside Semple grounds before the main stage opens at 7pm bringing the original Feile headliners back on the pitch once more.

Friday: Gates open at 4pm

The Dome: Tribal talks with music legends Will Leahy, Joe and Steve Wall in discussion with Paul Rouse and John Meagher. 

Tipp Top tent: Featuring The Pale, Crow Black Chicken and Seskin Lane

Appleman's Stage: Saved by the 90's - Eric and Niall Hitchers playing everything from 90s club bangers to rock anthems with live drums and visuals, as well as live DJ sets from Lee Roy and Mickey Mac

Saturday 22 September: Gates open at 3pm

The Dome: Tribal sport and music talks with legends Bobby Ryan, Donie O'Connell, Ger Cunningham. Will Leahy and Steve Wall in discussion with Paul Rouse and John Meagher and special guests Jiggy.

Tipp Top tent: Engine Alley, Johnny Fean (Horslips), Jester

Appleman's Stage: Saved by the 90's - Eric and Niall Hitcher's playing everything from 90's to rock, a live DJ set from Lee Roy and Mickey Mac plus special guests the Camembert Quartet.

Pop up Music Trail on Saturday

On Saturday 22nd a host of free events have been organised for the Thurles 'Music Trail' with 12 free pop up music performances taking place in selected venues across the town including sets from Locklin, Bright Falls, Sam Rappoport & 5 Day and Hvmmingbyrd.

Full line up:

12           Bright Falls                   Classic Barbers

12.30pm  Locklin                         Bookworm
1pm        Sam Rapport & 5 Day    Brennan's Pub
1.30pm    Small Fish                    Franks Hardware
2pm        Ivan Nicholas                Libertea's Rooms
2.30pm   Paddy Hanna                 Millea's
3pm        Patrick Freeman            Sue Ryder Shop
3.30pm   Eoin Dolan                    Boyles
4pm        Curtis Walsh                 Deja Brew
4.30pm   Participant                    GAA Museum
5pm        Katie Laffan                  Skehan's Bar
5.30pm   Hvmmingbyrd               The Green Sheep

Feile Classical After Parties

A number of events and after parties will run in venues across Thurles following Feile Classical from 11.30pm each night. 

Friday Night

Féile Classical AfterParty: The Stunning & Will Leahy’s 90’s Party in the Premier Hall Thurles from 11:30pm to 2am. Tickets: €20.50 on sale now from Ticketmaster

Féile Classical AfterParty: LEEROY (The Prodigy DJ Set) at Thurles Greyhound Stadium from 11.30pm to 2am. Tickets: €16.35 on sale now from Ticketmaster

Tipp Top tent: Today FM Silent Disco with Ferg Darcy Vs DJ NDT

Saturday Night

Féile Classical AfterParty: Jerry Fish & Will Leahy's 90's Party in The Premier Hall Thurles from 11.30pm to 2am. Tickets €20.50 on sale now from Ticketmaster

Féile Classial AfterParty: Ska Night with Special Brew. Hosted by Féile - Trip to Tipp live in Hickeys, Cathedral Street, Thurles from 11.30pm to 2am. Tickets €10 available here

Tipp Top tent: Today FM silent disco with Ed Smith Vs Paul Webb

Feile Classical ticket holders have access to all daytime entertainment plus the late night silent disco and The Dome at Semple Stadium. The after-parties at the Premier Hall and the Greyhound Stadium are separate events with tickets from Ticketmaster or on the door on the night. 

Transport routes and Parking

There are a number of same-day return bus routes departing from Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork, Fermoy, Dublin, Portlaoise, Galway, Ennis, Limerick, Nenagh, Waterford, Clonmel, Athlone, Birr, Roscrea and Tralee. 

Return journeys will depart 45 minutes after the end of the concert from the drop-off point at Thurles Racecourse. Tickets cost from €20 – €35 and are available now for Friday here and on Saturday here. 

Semple Stadium is a 13 minute walk from Thurles train station via Bohernanave however there are no special trains running for Feile Classical. 

A car parking facility will open at Thurles Greyhound Stadium each day. Parking costs €16 and is available from Ticketmaster.ie

There will also be a number of car parks close to the concert venue opening at noon and closing at 3am which cost €10 per day.

Tesco Ireland in Liberty Square will also run a free Shuttle Bus from our Thurles store to Semple Stadium on Friday and Saturday - on the hour from 2 - 7pm. First come first served. Just pick up your free ticket from the Customer Service Desk.

Where to stay?

In a far cry from the Feile days of the 1990's, festival goers can now 'glamp it up in style' in the designated Feile campsite in luxury Tipis, yurts or even a KarTent made from 100 percent strong, recyclable cardboard. Local accommodation providers in the town were booked out within minutes of Feile tickets going on sale earlier this year. 

Eco-Glampsite

The glamping site operates a 'leave no trace' policy. Guests are expected to remove all equipment from the site after the event and place all rubbish  the bins provided. All campsites will have clean toilet and shower facilities as well as the Tipperary Festival Foods Pop-Up which will cater for hungry concert goers. Items not allowed in the Eco-Glamping campsite include the following:

- Personal tents or sleeping apparatus
- Barbecue or external cooking equipment including gas cookers.
- Flares
- Fireworks
- Drugs
- Pets or animals (except guide dogs)
- Knives or offensive weapons
- Amplifiers or excessively loud speakers

Full Glampsite information is available here

What is allowed inside Semple Stadium?

List of items prohibited in Semple Stadium

- Stadium
- Backpacks bigger than A4
- Knives or sharp objects
- Flares
- Fireworks
- Glass bottles or glasses
- Bottle caps
- Umbrellas
- Offensive weapons
- Offensive or political flags or banners
- Video recording equipment
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Non personal medication
- Pets or animals (except guide dogs)