The National Concert Hall Proudly Presents ‘Against All Certainty: A Celebration of Michael D. Higgins’ with Stellar Cast of New and Iconic Irish Voices and National Symphony Orchestra Ireland on Friday 5 September 2025, 7.30pm 

The National Concert Hall is proud to present ‘Against All Certainty: A Celebration of Michael D. Higgins’, an extraordinary evening of poetry and music celebrating the release of the President’s debut Spoken Word Album Against All Certainty and honouring his profound and enduring contribution to the arts, culture, and society in Ireland. 

Taking place on Friday 5 September 2025 at 7.30pm, this special event is a celebration of not only President Higgins’s rich legacy as a poet and cultural champion throughout his presidency, but also of the creative spirit he has inspired across the country. 

Hosted by much-loved presenter Tommy Tiernan, the centrepiece of the evening will be live performances of President Higgins’s own poems, coinciding with the release of his debut spoken-word album Against All Certainty on Claddagh Records, and will also feature an exceptional line-up of Ireland’s most acclaimed artists and musicians, including: 

• acclaimed Irish singer/songwriters Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Imelda May, Andy Irvine & Brían Mac Gloinn (of Ye Vagabonds), musicians Myles O’Reilly +  Rónán Ó Snodaigh, master fiddle player Martin Hayes, new voices Niamh Bury, Muireann Bradley and Seán Boylan. 
• Former Ireland Professor of Poetry Paula Meehan, prize-winning author and former Laureate for Irish Fiction Sebastian Barry, Limerick based rapper God Knows, well-known broadcaster and TV presenter Ryan Tubridy, gay rights activist and Drag Queen Panti Bliss, and actor and writer Olwen Fouéré. 
• National Symphony Orchestra Ireland conducted by David Brophy. 

Maura McGrath, Chairperson and Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall, said: “As the National Concert Hall’s Patron and long-time advocate of the arts, President Higgins has always understood the power of the arts to connect us, challenge us, and help us imagine a better future. His unwavering commitment to the arts has been an inspiration, not only in elevating Irish cultural life but also championing creativity as an essential part of our national identity. It is a tremendous honour for the National Concert Hall together with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland to present this special tribute in his name and to celebrate his rich and enduring legacy as a poet and cultural champion with a line- up of acclaimed musicians and artists.” 

President Higgins is the author of four poetry collections—The Betrayal, The Season of Fire, An Arid Season, and New and Selected Poems—and Against All Certainty is his first recorded spoken-word project, created at Áras an Uachtaráin.  

National Concert Hall Box Office Information Tickets: €35, €50, €65, €85. (10% Discount for NCH Friends). Please note tickets are limited to two per person.  

Tickets On Sale Thurs. 31st July 10am (or Wed. 30th July for NCH Friends) www.nch.ie Box Office Tel: 01- 417 00 00 

Against All Certainty Album €15, available to purchase with your ticket at the time of booking (Album will be available for collection on the night).  

 Option to purchase the album only is available directly from Claddagh Records.  

ENDS: Media Queries: Sinéad Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. 087 1775334 or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall, 085 7129628. 

About The National Concert Hall 

Located in the heart of Dublin beside the beautiful Iveagh Gardens, the National Concert Hall (NCH) has been Ireland’s leading cultural institution for music since 1981. Home to National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, National Symphony Chorus Ireland, Cór Linn, Cór na nÓg and resident ensembles including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Music Generation and Crash Ensemble, the NCH plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to and enjoyment of live music performance of all genres for Irish people everywhere. Looking forward, the NCH’s ambitious redevelopment under Project Ireland 2040 will further elevate its contribution to the arts and the musical landscape of Ireland for generations to come.   

 

Cuireann an Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta i láthair go bródúil ‘In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta: Ceiliúradh ar Michael D. Higgins' le foireann iontach de Guthanna Nua agus Íocónacha na  hÉireann agus Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann Dé hAoine 5 Meán Fómhair 2025, 7.30pm 

 

Tá an Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta bródúil as ‘In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta:  Ceiliúradh ar Michael D. Higgins'a chur i láthair, oíche urghnách filíochta agus ceoil ag ceiliúradh eisiúint chéad albam an Uachtaráin, Focal Labhartha, In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta, agus ag onóir a ranníocaíocht dhomhain agus bhuan do na healaíona, don chultúr agus don tsochaí in Éirinn. 

Beidh an ócáid speisialta seo ar siúl Dé hAoine an 5 Meán Fómhair 2025 ag 7.30pm, agus is ceiliúradh é ní hamháin ar oidhreacht shaibhir an Uachtaráin Higgins mar fhile agus mar churadh cultúrtha le linn a uachtaránachta, ach freisin ar an spiorad cruthaitheach a spreag sé ar fud na tíre. 

Á óstáil ag an láithreoir Tommy Tiernan, a bhfuil an-tóir air, agus beidh léirithe beo de dhánta an Uachtaráin Higgins féin mar phríomhghné na hoíche, ag an am céanna le heisiúint a chéad albam labhartha In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta ar Claddagh Records, agus beidh clár eisceachtúil de na healaíontóirí agus ceoltóirí is mó cáil in Éirinn le feiceáil freisin, ina measc: 

• an t-amhránaí/scríbhneoir amhrán Gaeilge Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Imelda May, Andy Irvine & Brían Mac Gloinn (ó Ye Vagabonds), na ceoltóirí Myles O’Reilly +  Rónán  Ó Snodaigh, máistir fidléir Martin Hayes, guthanna nua Niamh Bury, Muireann Bradley agus Sean Boylan. 

• Iar-Ollamh Filíochta na hÉireann Paula Meehan, údar duaiseach agus iarLaureate don Fhicsean Éireannach Sebastian Barry, rapálaí God Knows atá lonnaithe i Luimneach, an craoltóir agus láithreoir teilifíse aitheanta Ryan Tubridy, gníomhaí um chearta aeracha agus Drag Queen Panti Bliss, agus an t-aisteoir agus scríbhneoir Olwen Fouéré. 

• Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann faoi stiúir David Brophy. 

Dúirt Maura McGrath, Cathaoirleach agus Robert Read, Príomhfheidhmeannach an gCeoláras Náisiúnta: “Mar Phátrún an Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta agus abhcóide fadtréimhseach na n-ealaíon, thuig an tUachtarán Higgins i gcónaí cumhacht na n-ealaíon chun sinn a nascadh, dúshlán a thabhairt dúinn, agus cabhrú linn todhchaí níos fearr a shamhlú. Is inspioráid é a thiomantas gan staonadh do na healaíona, ní hamháin maidir le saol cultúrtha na hÉireann a ardú ach freisin chun an chruthaitheacht a chur chun cinn mar chuid riachtanach dár bhféiniúlacht náisiúnta. Is mór an onóir é don Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta, i gcomhar le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann, an t-ómós speisialta seo a chur i láthair ina ainm agus a oidhreacht shaibhir agus bhuan mar fhile agus mar laoch cultúrtha a cheiliúradh le sraith ceoltóirí agus ealaíontóirí aitheanta.” 

Is é an tUachtarán Higgins údar ceithre bhailiúchán filíochta—The Betrayal, The Season of Fire, An Arid Season, agus Dánta Nua agus Roghnaithe—agus is é In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta an chéad tionscadal labhartha taifeadta aige, a cruthaíodh in Áras an Uachtaráin. 

Faisnéis faoi Oifig na dTicéad i Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta Ticéid: €35, €50, €65, €85. (Lascaine 10% do Chairde NCH). Tabhair faoi deara go bhfuil teorainn le dhá thicéad in aghaidh an duine. 

Ticéid ar Díol Déardaoin 31ú Iúil 10am (nó Céadaoin 30ú Iúil do Chairde NCH) www.nch.ie Oifig na dTicéad Teil: 01- 417 00 00 

Albam In Aghaidh Gach Cinnteachta €15, ar fáil le ceannach le do thicéad tráth an áirithinte (Beidh an t-albam ar fáil le bailiú ar an oíche).  

CRÍOCH: Fiosrúcháin ó na Meáin: Sinéad Doyle, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Caidreamh Poiblí, Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta, Ardán Earlsfort, Baile Átha Cliath 2. 087 1775334 nó Roisin Dwyer, Feidhmeannach Caidreamh Poiblí & Foilseachán, Halla Ceolchoirme Náisiúnta, 085 7129628. 

Faoin gCeoláras Náisiúnta 

Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath in aice le Gairdíní álainn Uíbh Eachach, is é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta (NCH) príomhinstitiúid chultúrtha ceoil in Éirinn ó 1981. Mar bhaile do Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Cór Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Cór Linn, Cór na nÓg agus ensembles cónaithe lena n-áirítear Cór Seomra na hÉireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Music Generation agus Crash Ensemble, tá ról lárnach ag an gCeolfhoireann Náisiúnta maidir le rochtain agus taitneamh a bhaint as taibhithe ceoil beo de gach seánra a chinntiú do mhuintir na hÉireann i ngach áit. Ag breathnú chun cinn, cuirfidh athfhorbairt uaillmhianach an NCH faoi Thionscadal Éireann 2040 lena rannchuidiú le healaíona agus le tírdhreach ceoil na hÉireann do na glúnta atá le teacht.