Born and bred in Dublin, singer Kilian O’Flanagan plays Ronnie Drew. As noted by John, Kilian’s gravelly vocal style is almost identical to that of Ronnie’s.

Kilian has been honing his artistic talent from a young age, when at 16 he won the Seán Dunne Young Writers Award. He began his musical journey as a live performer in Dublin venues, before graduating to performing at folk festivals across Europe. He has shared the stage with many celebrated artists including Lisa O’Neill and Pete Doherty of The Libertines.

“Recapturing the essence of one of Ireland’s greatest ever singers and most recognisable ambassadors has been a thoroughly rewarding experience, especially as a Dubliner myself.” – Kilian

Donegal native and born stage performer James Gallagher plays Luke Kelly. Upon first hearing the raw power and emotion in his voice, John Sheahan and Phil Coulter instantly recognised his natural ability to captivate audiences exactly as Luke did.

James is a celebrated folk singer and banjo player who has been sharing his talents with audiences since the age of 10. He was heavily influenced by the singing, banjo playing and overall stage presence of Luke. He is renowned across Ireland and Europe for the passion of his vocal performances which he has combined with a mastery of the five-string banjo.  

“Luke has always been a massive influence on every aspect of my musical career and so I almost feel as if I have been preparing for this role my entire life.” – James

Dubliner and renowned tenor banjoist Adam Holohan plays Barney McKenna. John Sheahan and Phil Coulter have both observed that he is the living embodiment of Barney, not just in his playing but in his attitude to life.

Adam began playing the tenor banjo at the age of 13 citing The Dubliners, and Barney in particular, as being monumental influences in his development as a musician. In addition to a BA in media management, he graduated from college with a HND in traditional music performance. Adam enjoys nothing more than playing in front of a live audience and has toured extensively across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the USA.

“Barney has always been a musical hero of mine. From a young age I wanted nothing more than to replicate his rhythmic style and staggering technical talent. Being asked to be part of the Dubliner’s story has been a dream come true.” – Adam

Multi-instrumentalist, singer, and Dublin city native Jeremy Jenkinson plays Ciarán Bourke. In the true spirit of Ciarán, Jeremy is a born entertainer. John Sheahan was immediately taken by his innate ability to engage, enchant, and entertain an audience with his musical talents and charisma.

Jeremy’s love of music is infectious. A gifted musician with a powerful stage presence, he has performed for audiences in places as diverse as The Netherlands, Ethiopia, Spain and Dubai. Jeremy has a MA in Traditional Irish Music Performance from the University of Limerick where he studied flute and tin whistle.

“Being a part of this unique journey from the beginning has been incredible. The amount of heart that has been poured into every aspect of the show is nothing short of astounding. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment.” – Jeremy

Dublin born musician and composer Aidan Connolly plays John Sheahan. John was delighted that Aidan accepted his invitation to represent him in the show.

Aidan has always been enthralled by traditional Irish music and has developed a deep understanding and knowledge of the genre, which is well beyond his years. He grew up surrounded by traditional players and began showing a keen interest from a very young age. He is now an accomplished fiddle, banjo, flute, and accordion player, and has released four critically acclaimed albums. Nominated for Best Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022, Aidan has performed his compositions globally across Europe, the USA, and Japan.

“I have great admiration for the music The Dubliners have created over the decades, as well as their role in reshaping the genre itself. Working with John each day, sharing tunes and stories, has been a personal highlight for me.” – Aidan