Dara MacGabhann Dara MacGabhann

Speakeasy Night in the Gaol returns to the Oriel Centre, Dundalk

We are delighted to return to the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol on Saturday 22nd of November. Prepare to step back in time with The Two Five Ones: Speakeasy Night in the Gaol – 22nd November 2025 in the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol, Dundalk

If you love jazz, blues, swing, or simply evenings of timeless song in atmospheric surroundings, mark your calendar: The Two Five Ones return to the Oriel Centre in the historic Dundalk Gaol on Saturday 22 November 2025, for a Speakeasy Night you won’t want to miss.

We’ve built a reputation for immersive “Speakeasy” themed events, where the performance is as much about atmosphere and style as it is about the music — think period dress, vintage vibes, full costume possibilities, and live music that transports.

Speakeasy Night in the Gaol

For this show, The Two Five Ones will bring in some special guests for an enhanced, richly textured set:

Aoibhín Ní Ghabhann — guest vocalist bringing her own style and presence.

Alex Watson on double bass (upright bass) — adding depth and groove.

John Cosgrove on saxophone — expect some soulful sax tones to complement the vocals and guitar.

Together, the lineup promises a full, rich sound — with expanded instrumentation and voices to elevate the Speakeasy experience.

Venue & Atmosphere

Where: Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol — a venue full of character, steeped in history.

When: Saturday 22 November 2025, from 8pm to 11pm.

Dress code / vibe: The Speakeasy nights are known for encouraging period-style attire — flapper dresses, suits, vintage sparkle. While not mandatory, dressing up enhances the evening.

Tickets are already on sale, and past Speakeasy events at this location have sold out, so it’s wise to book early to avoid disappointment.

What to Expect

A mix of classic jazz standards — those great songs from the American Songbook, swing tunes, blues standards that defined early popular music. Interspersed with our own original compositions (from albums like Slave to the Moon) so you get to hear fresh material, not just covers of standards.

A warm, immersive atmosphere: the combination of historic space, guest musicians, and the theme means more than just a concert — it’s an experience.

Why You Should Go

It’s rare to find a musical event that combines quality live performance, vintage glam, ambiance, and originality in one.

Perfect for those who appreciate music history and nostalgia – but also for those who enjoy discovering new original work.

A chance to gather with friends, dress up, escape routine, and enjoy an evening of elegance and sound.

Book Here ; https://www.thetwofiveones.com/shop

Space is limited, and given our history of sell-outs in Dundalk, booking ahead is highly recommended. For booking and more information, check The Two Five Ones’ website or through the Oriel Centre’s box office where physical tickets will be available to purchase.

In short: If you want an evening that transports you, entertains you, and leaves you humming, Speakeasy Night in the Gaol is one to put at the top of your must-see list this November.

Summer festivals and upcoming gigs

As we move into the Autumn season we just want to thank everyone who gave us their support over the Summer. We particularly enjoyed the festival season in Monaghan - Great fun was had performing at the Streetfood Festival Monaghan, The Sunflower Meadow Festival in Scotshouse and of course the Harvest Time Blues Festival in September.

Opportunities to come and see us :

  • Tuesday 7th October 8pm            Darkey Kelly's Singer Songwriter Night (Free Admission)

  • Friday 31st October              Festival of Samhain, 3 Course Dinner, 1930s themed event - Tin Church Laragh, Limited Tickets available through chefpeadar@gmail.com or WhatsApp 0034 611 39 81 10

  • Saturday 22nd November Speakeasy with The Two Five Ones and Guests - at the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol Book Here ; https://www.thetwofiveones.com/shop

  • Saturday 21st Feb 2026 Tommy Keyes at the Sugar Club with full band and strings (Special guests The Two Five Ones)

    https://tickets.thesugarclub.com/events/thesugarclub/1813945

Hope to catch you at one of our gigs soon…..

Dara & Andy

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Dara MacGabhann Dara MacGabhann

Festival Season & Sugar Club

Well it’s been a busy few months since our last news blog - One of the highlights being our Tin Church, Laragh gig on the 12th of July. Such a buzz…..the audience seemed to know every song which were singing and were in full voice. Thanks to Alex Watson, John Cosgrove and Aoibhín Ní Ghabhann for joining us once again. We will add some of the videos to our Youtube Channel over the next few weeks.

We also had great fun the week before on 6th of July providing entertaininment at the 1940s Afternoon Tea event on the 6th of July in the Tin Church. The atmosphere was fantastic! The good news we are back in the Tin Church, Laragh on the 31st of October for a 1930s Samhain event which will include dinner. We will keep you posted on ticket links for this.

Opportunities to see us over the next few months:

  • Friday 22nd of August - 7pm Monaghan Street Food Festiva, Long Table Dinner, Church Square, Monaghan (SOLD OUT)

  • Saturday 30th August 3pm-5pm - Sunflower Meadow Festival, Scotshouse, Monaghan

  • Sunday 7th of September 3pm - 4pm Harvest Time Blues Festival, Juke Joint

  • Tuesday 7th October 8pm, Darkey Kelly’s Singer Songwriter Night

  • Friday 31st October, Festival of Samhain, 3 Course Dinner, 1930s themed event - Tin Church, Laragh

Sugar Club on 21st of February - Special Guests to Tommy Keyes

We are thrilled to let you know that we have been invited to perform as Special Guests at Tommy Keyes forthcoming concert in the Sugar Club on 21st of February. We have been friends with Tommy for many years now and regularly appear at his Singer Songwriter Nights in SDarkey Kelly’s in Dublin. In fact we have recorded two of Tommy’s songs on our Slave to the Moon album and he has also had Dara featured on four of his own albums.

The Sugar Club is a wonderful venue, very conveniently located on Leeson St, just off St Stephen's Green, close to Luas, train and bus connections.  About half the capacity is seated (first come first served).  The gig is on Saturday 21 February, doors at 7.30, show starting at 8pm sharp and ending at 10.30.

Only 300 tickets will be sold for this show.  They're on sale now and - judging by the number of people who have already started buying tickets, there is every chance that it will sell out, especially as the ticket price is a very reasonable €20 plus booking fee. They are only available through the Sugar Club website here.

Tommy is pulling out all the stops to make this an exceptionally entertaining night - what better way to spend a Saturday night than in a comfortable venue listening to great songs, performed by a 14-piece band including some of Ireland's top musicians.  Don't miss your chance.... snap up your tickets now.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

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April 2025

April 2025

New Website

We are delighted to announce we now have a website. After months of slaving over our laptops we now have a central point for all our mails and sales. And of course our latest gigs will be posted here for your convenience too. You might have also noticed our new logo - designed by ourselves and hopefully it reflects our music genre.

Join the Two Five Ones and guests at the beautiful Tin Church, Laragh, Co. Monaghan on Saturday 12th of July 2025.

We are delighted to bring our show back to this beautiful, rustic venue in the heart of Monaghan. We will be joined by Alex Watson on upright bass and John Cosgrove on Saxophone and are delighted to have guest vocalist Aoibhín Ní Ghabhann back on stage with us . Expect to hear some new bluesy tunes in the set along with our usual blend of jazz standards interspersed with our original compositions.

Tickets €22

Learn more

More opportunities to come and see us over the next few months:

  • Thursday 24th April - 9pm, Fireside Sessions, Toales, Crowe Street, Dundalk, with support from Tony Smith

  • Friday 30th May - Otv’s Blues and Other Hues, Anseo, Camden Street, Dublin

  • Saturday 21st June - O’Leary’s Vista Social Club, Cootehill, Co Cavan

  • Saturday 12th July- The Two Five Ones and Guests - The Tin Church, Laragh, Co.Monaghan

  • Tuesday 29th of July - 8pm-Darkey Kelly’s Singer Songwriter Night - Darkey Kelly’s , 19 Fishamble Street, Dublin

A group of four musicians outdoors, holding musical instruments including a saxophone, guitar, and double bass. They stand near an orange door with decorative hinges, surrounded by greenery and foliage.
Poster for Fireside Sessions featuring The Two Five Ones and guest Tony Smith, with a man holding a guitar and a woman standing next to him, smiling. Event details: Free admission, Thursday 24th April at 9pm, Toales Rock Bar & Live Venue.

Video nomination

We were delighted to discover the video for our song ‘Life’s Too Short’ was nominated in the Best Music Video category by Naas Film Festival 2025 over the Easter weekend. Alas we didn’t win, but it was an honour to be nominated and receive the recognition. Incidentally the video was filmed in the Tin Church, Laragh, so if you haven’t been there yet it will give you a hint of what you are in for in July. Have a wee look at our video, featuring Charlie McGettigan, by clicking the link below.

Link to Video

Speakeasy night in the Gaol

We had a really fun night at our Speakeasy Night in the Gaol in The Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol on 15th February. Another full house, and what a wonderful crowd they were. Here are a few photos from the event.. The same line up will be in the Tin Church Laragh on July 12th, so it promises to be a crackin’ night!

A group of five people posing indoors, wearing vintage-style clothing including vests, suspenders, hats, and dresses. They are smiling and standing in front of a wall with framed pictures.
Musicians performing on stage with audience seated in a dimly lit venue. A woman sings into the microphone while a man plays guitar. Background includes stairs and blue lighting.
Person singing into a vintage microphone, wearing a floral dress, with a dramatic expression under colorful stage lighting.

New Merch

Finally, we are currently designing merch to sell at gigs and directly from our new website. We are always on the look out for new ideas that would suit our music. Drop us a line and tell us what you would like to see on our merch stand! We would love to hear from you!

thetwofiveones@gmail.com