Richard Bodin
Limerick’s own Hermitage Green are coming home. The band have announced a special 15th anniversary concert at King John’s Castle on May 3rd, 2026 — a milestone moment in the very city where it all began.
A Happy Accident That Stuck
For a group that “never planned on being a band,” the story of Hermitage Green is one of those happy accidents that somehow turned into something much bigger. Back in 2010, Barry Murphy rugby career was suffering from his injuries, recession was biting hard… Alongside brother Dan and friends Darragh Murphy, Darragh Griffin, and Dermot Sheedy, he began meeting up for casual sessions in Dan’s Pub, his brother’s place in Limerick.
“We never planned on being in a band,” Barry told the Irish Examiner. “We were thrown together at the start — we really fell into it. We’d sit down with a big pot of tea, have a chat, and play a few tunes. It was weird when people started coming to see us: suddenly we realised we’d have to put a setlist together. It snuck up on us.”
What began as a way to unwind from the struggles of everyday life quickly snowballed. Within months, word spread about the five friends making magic in the corner of a pub. Their modest get-togethers evolved into something more demanding: rehearsals, new songs, and eventually, a first release.
Growing Beyond Limerick
They released their first EP The Gathering in 2012, followed by a live album in 2013. Soon Hermitage Green were packing venues across Ireland and the UK. The real breakthrough came in 2015 when they signed to Sony Music. They released their first single with Sony “Jenny” in June, and started working actively on their debut album. Hermitage Green released Save Your Soul in 2016 —reaching #3 on the Irish charts— followed by Hi Generation in 2021. Over time, their sound — an energetic blend of rock, folk, and traditional Irish roots — continued to evolve, with Connection (2024) bringing in fresh electronic textures.
Full Circle at King John’s Castle
From Limerick pubs to stages across Australia, North America, and beyond, the band have carried their hometown spirit everywhere they’ve played. It feels only right that, after fifteen years of touring, writing, and growing together, Hermitage Green’s story comes full circle at King John’s Castle — a landmark as proud and enduring as the band themselves.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 15 years together than by coming home to play King John’s Castle,” the band said. “It’s where so much of our journey began, and to mark this milestone surrounded by our fans, friends, and family means the world to us.”
Tickets go on sale on November 7th at 9am.
In other news…
Additionally, Barry Murphy was in Chicago last week to sing “Ireland’s Call” ahead of Ireland’s test match against the All Blacks. It was the first time a former Irish international has returned to the pitch in that way. He will also perform Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call at the upcoming home fixtures at the Aviva Stadium in november, against Japan, Australia, and South Africa.
