Dublin Castle In Ecstasy
- Sophie Lee
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
Written by Sophie Lee . Founder . 01/01/26
New Year’s festivities came to a magical close last night within the walls of Dublin Castle. Counting down to the new year with Inhaler felt special, but the line-up leading up to their headline set was incredible.
The matinée showcased various Irish talents, with performances from Cliffords, Madra Salach, Still Blue, and Baby Rat. Artists we’ve seen before and continue to be floored by. Florence Road and BIIRD were standouts on the night. Having covered Florence Road at Ireland Music Week, it’s clear they’re only getting better. What we witnessed last night was a band on a steady upward climb and seeing that growth first hand made us incredibly proud of our national talent.
We didn’t expect to like BIIRD as much as we did. Trad isn’t usually something we gravitate towards, yet their set was strikingly cohesive. Despite the many moving parts, every member played a visibly integral role. Seeing an all-female band command the stage with such confidence was powerful, it made us feel proud and seen. Growing up in small countryside towns, their sound unexpectedly transported us back home, a feeling we never anticipated in the heart of Dublin city.
When Inhaler finally took to the stage, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The crowd roared, it was completely electric. It was genuinely heart-warming to be surrounded by friends celebrating together, mirroring our own experience in the crowd. Opening with Open Wide, the band played with a vigour that felt new. Having collectively attended 21 Inhaler shows, the difference was impossible to miss, in their presence, their etiquette, and their playing. As the final show of the Open Wide tour, it was nothing short of exceptional.
Ryan McMahon’s relentless drumbeat thundered beneath thousands of voices screaming lyrics back at the band. Elijah Hewson wore an expression of pure disbelief, at times almost drowned out by a crowd that knew every word by heart. One surprise inclusion in the setlist was My King Will Be Kind. The line “I fucking hate that bitch” rang out volatile and unfiltered, echoing off the castle walls. Musically, the song is deceptively simple, yet it works flawlessly. Josh Jenkinson’s acoustic strums intertwine with Elijah’s melancholy riff, creating something powerful. It was clearly inspirational enough to have the fella beside us write song lyrics (would love to know where those ended up).
My Honest Face erupted into what felt like one massive mosh pit. Every video we took came out blurry, chaotic, and completely unusable for An Seomra Ceol but maybe that’s exactly the point. The siren-like riff blared as the crowd threw themselves. It was messy, euphoric, and unforgettable. We will never forget it.
Totally was a clear highlight. Elijah Hewson turned the mic stand toward the crowd, letting them finish the lyrics, and there was something so deeply human about thousands of people screaming “why does it hurt me so much” in unison. That’s what Inhaler do best. Inhaler are a band that is so deeply human, they don’t pretend to be something they aren’t. They simply show up as they are, and that honesty resonates.
Everyone expected Dublin in Ecstasy to carry us into midnight, but instead, the band surprised us with It Won’t Always Be Like This from their debut album. The lads have often said they feel they’ve never written a “hit,” yet that song stands as one of the strongest in their discography. It felt like an ode to the new year, a reminder that change is possible, that you’re not stuck where you are. As the chorus rang out, “It won’t always be like this” it landed exactly where it needed to. It was what people needed to hear.
Fireworks burst above Dublin Castle, confetti filled the air, and just like that, 2026 arrived. There was no better way to welcome it in.
Comments