The Wexford Spiegeltent Competition 2025 kicked off on Wexford Quay yesterday, Wednesday sixteenth October and runs till Saturday 1st November.
Now in its fourteenth yr, the pageant has turn out to be one among Eire’s most distinctive and atmospheric dwell occasions – staged in one of many world’s final remaining authentic Spiegeltents (that means “mirror tent”). Handcrafted from wooden, mirrors, velvet, and brocade, Spiegeltents date again to early Twentieth-century Belgium, the place they travelled from city to city internet hosting music, dance and theatre. Their mirrored partitions, ornate cubicles and round design create a uniquely intimate area that has captivated audiences for generations. As The Irish Instances as soon as famous,
“Their round form and discreet cubicles created a way of intimacy that lent the tents a fame for debauchery that persists to this present day.”
This yr’s performances happen in The Fortuna — the biggest Spiegeltent nonetheless in operation wherever on the earth. Returning to Wexford’s scenic quay entrance, The Fortuna brings with it a century of historical past, craftsmanship and tales from its travels throughout the globe.
Music, Comedy and Magic Beneath Canvas
Occasion organisers Lantern have lined up an distinctive programme for the fourteenth version of what has turn out to be a jewel in Wexford’s annual cultural calendar.
Over the Competition’s length, spanning three weekends, audiences can anticipate world-class music, comedy, and efficiency in one of the vital atmospheric venues in Eire. Music highlights embody The Coronas, Dan McCabe, Lyra, Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan, Paul Brady, Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill, and rising Wexford star Ruben Buggy, who headlines his first main present.
Rock followers can look ahead to The Beautiful and Qween, whereas folks and trad lovers can take pleasure in Sharon Shannon and her Large Band, joined by Steve Earle, Mundy, Camille O’Sullivan and Liam Ó Maonlaí.
Comedy takes centre stage with Jack Dee, Dylan Moran, Neil Delamere and Jarlath Regan, whereas The Day by day Dilemma Uncensored Dwell guarantees a raucous evening of dialog, drag and DJs. For households, OTT Wrestling’s Halloween Slam returns on the Financial institution Vacation Monday with its trademark mixture of humour and high-flying motion.
Sustainability and Innovation
Additionally returning this yr is Lantern’s Cup Deposit Return Scheme, a part of the pageant’s dedication to sustainability and its Go away No Hint ethos.
Eventually yr’s occasion, refuse was drastically diminished and an estimated 85,000 single-use plastics had been eradicated via initiatives together with:
- Avoiding the usage of 65,000 single-use cups via a deposit return scheme
- Changing 15,000 plastic straws with paper options
- Utilizing 5,000 biodegradable cup holders constituted of moulded pulp
These practices are actually being rolled out throughout Lantern’s wider occasions portfolio, together with Dwell on the Breakwater, eliminating greater than 155,000 single-use plastics to this point.
Programme and Tickets
With many performances already bought out, restricted tickets stay right here.
With a line-up that spans Irish rock, trad, folks, comedy and efficiency — all below the shimmering mirrors of The Fortuna — Wexford Spiegeltent Competition 2025 guarantees one other unforgettable pageant on the jetty.
Supported by Wexford County Council.
