They have been described as the hottest ticket in Ireland and, after an impromptu performance in a Londonderry pub in February, Kingfishr are back – this time to sing to thousands.

The Limerick indie-folk group will perform at Live at the Square in Ebrington on Monday evening in front of around six thousand fans.

Members Eddie Keogh, Eoghan ‘McGoo’ McGrath and Eoin ‘Fitz’ Fitzgibbon – have emerged as one of the top Irish bands in recent years and their popularity is growing.

They topped the Irish charts on three separate occasions last year with their hit viral track, Killeagh.

They were in for a quiet pint in a local pub Peadar O’Donnell’s in Derry in February and were urged to sing Killeagh, the song which has become an anthem for fans.

It was described as “an amazing moment” by one fan. Many pub goers had their phones on hand to capture the performance.

Lead singer Eddie Keogh also posed for photos with delighted fans and pub staff.

Keogh is a big fan of the city and, before the band’s sound check at Ebrington on Monday, he fondly recalled the pub visit.

“I actually love Derry. We came down for a music video a couple of months ago and it was so funny all the different responses.

“We were out in Peadar’s both nights, down drinking pints and the response was crazy,” Keogh said.

“I was forced to get up on the chair to sing a song with the two boys. I love Derry. I think it’s one of my favourite towns in Ireland. I’ve stood on a few tables in all my time and so I think I was happy enough.

“I am probably more comfortable on the table than I am on the floor. I love the whole spirit of the place. It seems brilliant.”

He said the “novelty” of big gigs like this hasn’t gone away.

“It’s great for people to have things to look forward to in gigs and music, especially when it’s Irish music – it’s class.”

Killeagh first hit top spot in May last year, returning to number one twice by the end of the year and was 2025’s most streamed song on Spotify in Ireland.

Their musical stock has risen sharply and their debut album Halycon was also an Irish chart topper.

The band have been on tour in Australia, the US, and in the UK but they said they love coming home and performing for an ever increasing fanbase in Ireland.

Keogh said he hated the whole idea of an ivory tower between fans and bands they follow.

“People thinking that if you write tunes oh you are so cool. It’s stupid in my opinion,” he said.

“We’re very happy – sure that is how we started. We started in college singing at house parties and going out and doing things you can do in your twenties. Sure look, it’s great craic.”

He said the band recently returned from America where the response and energy was “just outrageous”, but you “never get any better than a home crowd”.

Reflecting on the success of Irish music in recent years, Keogh said it was good to be part of the “vanguard” of other Irish acts like Amble, The Mary Wallopers, CMAT, Fontaines DC, and Kneecap.

“Especially young kids, we always get people coming up to us who say ‘My kid is five or six and will not stop singing Killeagh.'”

Concert promoter Niall O’Kane said they had to pull out all the stops to secure Kingfishr for the gig which “sold out in minutes”.

“We believe that they are the biggest and hottest ticket in Ireland at the moment and the fans here are in for one of the greatest nights.

“That’s really what we’ve been trying to do in recent years – to take Live at the Square to a whole new level and Kingfishr are playing a vital role in that.”

Karl Diamond, a spokesperson for Live at the Square said there is a strong focus on showcasing local talent at the gigs in Ebrington.

Next weekend it will host a series of gigs featuring James Arthur and JLS.

Organisers have been working with Ulster University to give local band 4AM the chance to open for JLS.

“That’s a great opportunity for them and we want to build on that in the years ahead.

“To give local talent a chance to shine.”