Festivals in Ireland

Ireland’s got so much to offer. Don’t just see the sights – feed your imagination, blow your mind, restore your spirit.

No matter what time of year, the cities, towns and villages of Ireland come alive with cultural events. Get to the root of Ireland’s rich heritage or explore the edgy and progressive – or just have great fun. And maybe sup a pint of the black stuff before you leave.

As the Irish people have a genuine sense of fun, they invented a festival to celebrate all sorts of occasions – the least you can do is join in!

East

Dublin Festivals:

January:

Temple Bar Traditional Festival – Traditional music festival, in the bars of the cultural quarter. Held over the last week in January.  http://templebartrad.com/

February:

Jameson Dublin International Film Festival – Local fliks, arty international films and advance releases of mainstream movies make up the menu of the Cities film festival, which runs over two weeks in late February. http://www.jdiff.com/

March:

St Patrick’s Festival – The mother of all festivals; hundreds of thousands gather to honour St Patrick over four days around March 17^th on city streets and various venues. http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/home.html

May:

Heineken Green Energy Festival – Four day rock and indie music festival based outside Dublin Castle and in adjacent venues. http://www.dublinevents.com/events/festivals/heineken-green-energy-festival.php

June:

Diversions – Free outdoor music, children’s and film events at weekend from June until September in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square. http://www.goireland.com/BLOG/article/The-Diversions-Festival-2008-in-Temple-Bar-Dublin.html

Bloomsday Festival - Literary lovers should head to  Dublin in June for the intriguing Bloomsday Festival, where fans of Joyce’s Gargantuan Ulysses dress up in traditional gear and scoff old Dublin food like “nutty gizzards” and “urine-soaked kidneys”.  http://www.visitdublin.com/Events/MajorEventsInDublin/Detail.aspx?id=235&mid=4369

July:

Oxegen – Two day gig in mid July at the Punchestown racecourse with heavyweight headline acts. http://www.dailymusicguide.com/Reviews/oxegen-festival-ireland-t-in-t-21072008-0107.aspx

August:

Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures – Colourful multicultural music, art and theatre festival on the last weekend in August. http://www.festivalofworldcultures.com/

September:

Dublin Theatre Festival – A well established international theatre festival held over a fortnight in late September. http://www.dublintheatrefestival.com/

Dublin Fringe Festival – Comedy and alternative fringe theatre held from late September to early October. http://www.fringefest.com/

Kilkenny Festivals:

Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots – In early May more than 30 different venues participate in hosting Ireland’s biggest music festival, with country, old timey American roots music strongly emphasized. http://www.kilkennyroots.com/

Cat laughs Comedy Festival – Cat laughs is a much acclaimed gathering of world class comic. Held in late May to Early June. http://www.carlsbergcatlaughs.com/

Kilkenny Arts Festival – The City comes alive with theatre, cinema, music, literature, visual arts, children’s events and street spectacles for 10 action packed days in mid August. http://www.kilkennyarts.ie/

Kilkenny Celtic Festival – A celebration of all things traditionally Irish, especially the language. Performances, exhibits, seminars and more. Held in late September into early October. http://www.celticfestival.ie/

Waterfords International Light Opera Festival takes place the last fortnight in September. It’s cheaper and more accessible than the more famous Wexford Opera Festival but booking is still advised. http://www.waterfordfestival.com/

Wexford Opera Festival is held in October in the Theatre Royal. It began in1951 and has grown to the country’s premier opera event. Rarely performed operas and shows are stages for packed audiences and fringe street theatre, poetry readings and exhibitions give the town a fiesta atmostphere. Many local bars even run their own amateur song competitions. Booking for this event is essential and is advised three months in advance. http://wexfordopera.com/

Wicklow Regatta Festival is held every year for ten days between July and August. The extensive programme of events and activities includes swimming, rowing, sailing, and raft races, singing competitions, concerts and the Festival Queen Ball.  http://www.wicklowregatta.com/

West

Galway Festivals:

Cuirt Poetry & Literature Festival – Top named authors converge on Galway in April for Ireland’s premier literary festival, featuring poetry slams, theatrical performances and readings.

Galways Arts festival – A two week extravaganza of theatre, music, art and comedy in mid July. http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/

Galway Film Fleadh – One of Ireland’s biggest film festivals, held in July around the same time as the arts festival. http://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/

Galway Race Week – Horse races in Ballybrit, 3km east of the city, are the centre piece of Galway’s biggest, most boisterous festival of all. This week occurs late July or early August. http://www.galwayraces.com/

Galway International Oyster Festival – Oysters are washed down with plenty of pints in the last week of September. http://www.galwayoysterfest.com/

If you prefer your festivals small and intimate, try the harp festivals in Roscommon.  

South

Cork Festivals:

Eigse Literary Festival – Eigse literary festival is held in February with writing workshops, reading and exhibitions. http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/listings/product/?fid=FI_15879

Corona Cork Film Festival – The film festival is held in October with an eclectic week long programme of international films. http://www.corkfilmfest.org/ccff/index.php

Guinness Jazz Festival – All star line up in venues across town. http://www.corkjazzfestival.com/

Try the rough and ready horse and pony fairs from  Cavan to  Cork. Even today, the horses are priced in guineas, and bought and sold with a spit in the hand.  

The Castletownshend Maritime Week – The marine week is held end of July – beginning of August. Castletownshend Maritime Week is to promote the local scenery and history of Castletownshend. It provides entertainment for adults and children, locals and visitors to the area. http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/whats-on/listings/product/?fid=FI_74165

The programme includes a lecture on West Cork wildlife on Wednesday night, a classical music concert in St. Barrahane’s Church on Thursday night and the official opening parade on Friday night. Sunday morning will begin with a maritime service in St. Barrahane’s Church and mass in connection with the sea and maritime in the local Catholic Church.

Musical entertainment is on offer throughout the festival, while fancy dress, bowling, football and monster BBQ are also planned as part of the festival.

North and Northwest

Derry Festivals:

May:

City of Derry Jazz Festival – Four Days of jazz in various venues around the City. Held in early May. http://www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com/

June:

Foyle Regatta – River based festival with tall ships, yacht races, boat trips, live music and shore side street entertainment. http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=113754

August:

Gasyard Wall Feile – A major cultural festival that features live music, street performances, carnival, theatre and Irish Language events. Held in early August. http://www.nireland.com/gasyard.feile/

City of Derry Guitar Festival – The grounds of University of Ulster host performances and master classes from guitar greats around the world, including classical, acoustic, electric, flamenco and bass. Held in late August. http://www.cityofderryguitarfestival.com/

October:

Halloween Carnival – Ireland’s biggest ever street party has the entire city dressing up and dancing in the streets (27^th – 31^st). http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween/

November:

Foyle Film Festival – This week long event is the North’s biggest film festival. http://www.foylefilmfestival.org/

http://www.foylefilmfestival.org/files/booking.htm

The Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival – The Folk and traditional music festival is held end of July – beginning of August. http://www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com/

The Festival consists of three nightly concerts presenting quality acts, all day street entertainment including open air concerts, music workshops, storytelling, busking competition and entertainment for children.

The Festival is one of the oldest of its kind, set in one of the oldest towns in the country, the home of the poet, William Allingham and the birth place of the rock musician Rory Gallagher.

The town has historic significance on the banks of the Erne Estuary and the gateway to Northern Ireland.

Email: info@ballyshannonfolkfestival.com 

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