Introducing Airneánach | Nightbird, a new series of performances taking place at Galway’s oldest building, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.

Airneánach is a creative dialogue between the ancient fabric of the church and the city’s contemporary soul. A curated series of live performances that weaves together the past, present, and future of Galway. We are uniting sound and visuals to showcase the incredible talent of Galway and Ireland, honouring the building’s deep history while placing it firmly within modern-day life.

Join Airneánach for three nights in 2025, starting with…
tessio
Friday 7th of November, 8pm
tickets here

A performance that will resonate through the nave and aisles, honouring the timeless spirit of the church.

tessio is a singer-songwriter duo from Derry, made up of Callum Feeney and Jude McCandless. They write, record, and produce their own songs, which feature acoustic guitars and close harmonies.

Described by Chordblossom as having “a skill for songwriting way beyond their years,” tessio has supported well-known acts such as Billy Ocean, Hothouse Flowers, and The 4 Of Us. In 2024, the duo performed at both Other Voices and the RTE Folk Awards. tessio released their self-titled debut album in December 2024 to much praise, receiving consistent airplay on BBC and RTE Radio in the UK and Ireland. They are currently working on their second album. Their latest single, “Handle With Care,” was released on June 13, 2025 to critical acclaim.

The name for the series takes inspiration from an old Irish word Airneánach, (Arr-nen-ech) roughly translates as ‘night owl/nightbird’ or ‘one who is fond of night-visiting’. Night visiting, or ‘airneán’, is a long-standing Irish tradition of nighttime social house visits where tunes, songs, and stories are shared.

The Airneánach pilot series is developed in collaboration with the Galway City Night-Time Economy Advisor. This iteration is funded by Galway City Council Night-Time Economy and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

Performances are non-alcoholic; guests are invited to explore Galway’s vibrant nightlife and dining scene before performances or afterward to continue their evening.