Kingfishr guitarist and backing vocalist Eoin Fitzgibbon has announced he is taking a short break from touring, telling fans that the pressures of the band's quick rise to fame have "caught up" with him.
The Irish indie folk trio – made up of Eddie Keogh, Eoghan McGrath and Eoin Fitzgibbon – have become one of the country's biggest success stories since forming in 2022, selling out major venues and dominating the Irish charts.
The band are currently in the middle of a run of live shows and are due to headline a trio of major Irish outdoor shows next year, including Belsonic Festival in Belfast on June 11, Marlay Park in Dublin on June 19, and Thomond Park in Limerick on July 10.
Demand proved so strong that an additional Thomond Park date on July 9, 2027 was quickly added.
However, Fitzgibbon confirmed on the band's Instagram page that he will be stepping away from touring for a "short break", while reassuring fans there is no serious cause for concern.
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“Hi everyone, Fitz here with a quick update. I am going to be taking a short break from touring. I am all good and it is far from anything serious, but a step back is required all the same.
“The last year or so has been nothing short of incredible. The venues, the occasions, the memories, we may be some of the luckiest people on the planet to get to do what we do and I am grateful to each and every one of you for making it possible.
“Unfortunately with all of that comes a lot of pressure and that has caught up with me. I need a little time to recover from it.
“Kingfishr is the thing I am most proud of in life so far and the second I’m up for it I’ll be back again but for now the boys will continue without me.
“Take care of each other. I’ll see you all very soon. Fitz.”
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The announcement comes during a remarkable period for Kingfishr, whose popularity has soared over the past year.
Their breakthrough hit 'Killeagh' spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Irish charts, while their debut album, Halcyon, also reached the top spot following its release. More recently, the band's latest single, 'The Sun Will Never Settle', has continued that success, spending two weeks at No. 1.
The trio are also behind fan favourites including 'Hold Me Down' and 'Diamonds & Roses', and their rapid rise has seen them graduate from intimate venues to some of the biggest stages in Ireland.
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Speaking after announcing the concerts, frontman Eddie Keogh reflected on how far the band has come.
“Before we started the band, we had been to many of the venues we played last week to see our favourite artists play: Mumford & Sons, Paolo Nutini, The Killers being the ones that spring to mind. Being on those stages was nothing short of an out of body experience. The support we felt every night was some we will cherish for the rest of our lives. We want to do it again, but bigger. So that’s what we’re doing.”
