“Currently, live music bookings are handled through a mix of WhatsApp messages, phone calls, spreadsheets and agents. This creates unnecessary administration, poor visibility around availability and last-minute cancellations,” says Matthews, who co-founded digital booking platform CeolConnect, with Hugh Prendergast and Sam Owens last year. “CeolConnect is designed to simplify how live music is booked and managed across Ireland’s hospitality sector. Venues can post gigs, manage schedules, confirm bookings and keep track of their live music calendar in one place. “The platform is built specifically around the realities of Irish live music, where recurring weekly gigs, local relationships, and trust matter,” Matthews adds.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2026 09:01 UTC