Starlight – St Canice Cathedral – 14th – 21st December 2025

This December, Yulefest Kilkenny delivered an unforgettable cultural highlight with the Irish debut of Starlight, the extraordinary 360° immersive light and sound experience. Over eight magical nights, audiences were invited to step inside a truly breathtaking fusion of art, history, and technology.

Set within the awe-inspiring 800-year-old St. Canice’s Cathedral, Starlight transformed the historic space into a luminous canvas of colour, motion, and sound. The 35-minute immersive loop guided visitors through a sequence of beautifully crafted projections, inspired by the guiding star of the Nativity, accompanied by a bespoke cinematic soundscape that resonated powerfully throughout the cathedral.

The scale and sensitivity of the installation respected the sacred nature of the space while reimagining it in a contemporary and captivating way. Many attendees described the experience as stepping inside a living work of art, often likening it to “the stained-glass windows of our time.”

The event was exceptionally well received, drawing large audiences and becoming a standout centrepiece of the Christmas season in Kilkenny. Its success firmly established Starlight as a landmark cultural moment, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

Overall, Starlight was not just an event, but an experience—one that blended heritage, creativity, and innovation, and will be remembered as the beginning of a new Christmas tradition in Kilkenny.

Click on an image below for a larger version

Watch a clip here!