Michael D. Higgins with Myles O’Reilly to open Other Voices Dingle 2025

Other Voices is honoured to announce that Michael D. Higgins, in collaboration with musician and filmmaker Myles O’Reilly, will open this year’s Other Voices festival in Dingle on Friday, 28th November 2025. This marks a special moment in the festival’s history, bringing together two of Ireland’s most distinctive creative voices for an intimate and unforgettable performance.

To celebrate the release of Against All Certainty (Extended Edition), Other Voices is honoured to announce that Michael D. Higgins and Myles O’Reilly will open this year’s festival in Dingle today, Friday 28^th November. This marks a special moment in the festival’s history, bringing together two of Irelands most distinctive creative voices for an intimate and unforgettable performance. The duo will perform a selection of poems from the original spoken-word release including a surprise debut recital of “Of Possibility” from the Extended Edition, out today, marking the first time the pair will perform this track together live.

Released earlier this year, the album reflects a lifetime of observation, compassion, and cultural engagement, themes that sit at the very heart of Other Voices. Myles O’Reilly, renowned for his evocative musical landscapes and visually poetic film work, has crafted an atmospheric score that amplifies the intimacy and emotional depth of Michael D. Higgins’ words. Together, they create a rare synergy of sound, story, and place, inviting audiences to experience poetry and music in its purest, most heartfelt form.

Watch the collaboration here: Michael D. Higgins & Myles O’Reilly – Against All Certainty

Michael D. Higgins said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to perform in Dingle this weekend with my friend and musical collaborator Myles O'Reilly. For nearly a quarter of a century, Other Voices has brought together so many of the best performers from Ireland and across the world for a weekend of special performances within a shared cultural community of artists. It is an honour to join them this year for what I know will be another inspiring event."

Founder of Other Voices Philip King said: We are honoured to welcome former president Michael D.Higgins to Dingle for Other Voices this year. He will perform a number of poems from his collection All Against Certainty with musician and filmmaker Myles O’Reilly. The community of artists and musicians gathered together in Dingle for Other Voices will be delighted to welcome a fellow artist and a man who has done so much to foreground the vital importance of the arts, of the language and of the culture of Ireland over the past several decades. Beidh fáilte roimhe anseo in Iarthar Duibhneach.

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As Other Voices approaches its 25th anniversary next year, the festival continues to gather musicians, poets, and visionaries in its West Kerry home of Dingle, where art is shared close-up. Michael D. Higgins’ participation honours the festival’s roots and celebrates the broader cultural community of Ireland and an ever-growing family of artists at home and abroad.

This special performance will be broadcast live at 6:45pm on Friday 28 November via the Other Voices YouTube. 

Other Voices 2025 is made possible with the support of Reed, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, RTÉ, Walls Construction, Kerry County Council & IMRO.