THE Rose of Tralee, the Galway Races, the Ould Lammas Fair, Puck Fair — Ireland has more festivals than you could reasonably shake a stick at - there’s probably even a stick-shaking festival somewhere.
Whether your interests lie in comedy, music, theatre, opera, busking, drama, film, food or jazz, you'll find a gathering to suit your taste this summer.
We look at some of the biggest and best to come this year...
Blooming great day out in Dublin. Picture: Tourism IrelandThe Bloomsday Festival June 10-16
Bloomsday honours the walk Leopold Bloom made in Dublin as per the bewilderingly comprehensive novel Ulysses. Joyce’s book romps through Dublin and various literary forms: parody, fantasy, realism, as well as stream-of consciousness. The festival will feature talks, walks, pub crawls, theatrical presentations, readings and events such as the Footsteps of Leopold Bloom Walking Tour. Plus the odd gorgonzola sandwich and glass of claret at Davey Byrne’s.
The Galway Sessions June 13-19
A celebration of the music that Irish emigrants took with them in their wanderings across the globe. A special focus this year is one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, Éamon Ceannt, a uilleann piper and a founder of Na Piobairí Uilleann. A concert called Remembering Éamon Ceannt will feature Lúnasa, Julie Fowls, Liam O’Flynn, Sean Keane (of the Chieftains) and Paddy Glackin.
The Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival June 17-19
Heave ho me hearties, splice the main brace and head for Ballydehob in west Cork — if you’ve any interest in matters nautical or musical. The Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival features sea songs, shanties, dance and craft displays, workshops, sea songwriting competition, busking — plus sessions in the pubs and main stage on Ballydehob pier. This year’s guests include Andy Irvine, Steve Turner, Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly.
Dublin Pride June 22-26
Celebrations, partying and extravaganzas promoting and celebrating LGBTQ diversity. The highlight is the annual Pride Parade and post parade celebrations in Merrion Square on Saturday, June 25.
Cork Midsummer Festival June 7-26
Music, opera, circus, theatre, dance, visual arts, festival trails and workshops are all included in Cork’s summer bash. Artists include Penny Arcade, Company SJ and the RTÉ Contempo Quartet, while homegrown Cork talent will be represented by the work of choregrapher Laura Murphy and theatre from Makeshift Ensemble and Brokencrow.
Carlow Arts Festival June 10-19
The 37th Carlow Arts Festival features three festivals in one — everything from comedy to discussions of ideas and writings in Borris House.
Hay Festival Kells June 19-26
An adjunct to the redoubtable and internationally famous Hay Festival held in Wales, the Kells counterpart follows much the same literary template — readings, workshops, book launches, and political and environmental discussions.
The Westport Food Festival June 24-26
Banquets, pop-up street food, celebrity chefs, music and craic in Westport.
Loughcrew Opera Festival July 2-3
Loughcrew House, near Oldcastle, Co. Meath is a fittingly grand venue for a spot of bel canto and the odd aria. This year’s special performances are Pigalle – Chansons de Paris and An Operatic Evening of Love, Lust and Intrigue. Dressing up in historical threads is wholly encouraged.
Clonmel Junction Festival July 4-10
Featuring six days of events in the town centre, everything from street theatre, comedy and free live music events will be on show in the Tipperary town. An attractive feature are the festival cafes, with artists converting the town’s disused shops and offices into a range of vibrant workshop spaces.
Valentia Island Festival July 10-12
It’s billed as “an incredible party on the edge of the world” and that’s not a bad description. Europe’s most westerly community, a green morsel of land off the coast of Kerry, is playing host to Daddy G, Norman Jay, Jerry Dammers (The Specials DJ set), The Correspondents and many more.
Galway Arts Festival July 11-24
Galway Arts Festival is one of Ireland's largest and most prestigious annual arts celebrations. This year’s event features over 400 writers, artists, performers and musicians from across the globe. Highlights include Imelda May and Damien Dempsey, Elvis Costello, Suede and The Villagers.
Earagail Arts Festival July 14-28
A bilingual arts festival which aims to create unique cultural experiences in a variety of off-beat venues, from theatres and galleries to village halls, forests and beaches. The festival incorporates Donegal International Folk and Roots Festival from July 14-17, featuring current Irish folk brand leaders Lynched and Stick In The Wheel.
Mary from Dungloe International Festival July 23 -August 1
Music, sport, beauty contests, carnival parades, dancing, céilís and of course the crowning of Mary from Dungloe are all part of the proceedings at this long-running Donegal festival.
The Galway Races July 25-31
A week of soaking up the atmosphere, studying form, and hurling torn-up betting slips into the bin. Racing tips and tipple, fairground amusements and music, nags and naggins, plus busking, hawking and a knees-up of gigantic proportions.
Feakle Music Festival August 3-8
Feakle, in Co. Clare, is a traditional music superpower, so expect the very cream of Irish music at this festival
Waterford Spraoi Festival August 2-4
Waterford’s international street festival erupts in a riot of colour, music and craic. One of the centerpieces of the festival is the Spraoi parade featuring hundreds of performers, flamboyant costumes, spectacular floats, incredible puppets, original live music and special effects. All events are free, so all you have to do is get there.
Fair's fair at Killorglin's Puck Fair. Picture: Photocall IrelandPuck Fair August 10-12
Puck Fair in Killorglin, Kerry, has been going strong for over 400 years. It’s a pretty much traditional affair, with hours of free family street entertainment.
Kilkenny Arts Festival August 3-8
Kilkenny Arts Festival will this year stage Ireland’s largest-ever celebration of the music of Mozart. Plenty of other stuff to divert you including traditional music, street theatre, talks and exhibitions.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann August 14-22
Probably the biggest celebration of Irish culture anywhere in the world, this is a must for anyone with an interest in Irish traditional music. Ennis, which has proved itself an ideal place for the fleadh — this is its sixth visit here. Expect competitions, impromptu sessions, workshops and concerts.
One of Ireland's biggest festivals — the Rose of Tralee. Picture: Photocall IrelandThe Rose of Tralee August 17-23
The annual Kerry bash, when Tralee plays host to the world. The centrepiece is Rose Competition, now in its 57th year, where ‘The Rose’ from Ireland or the Diaspora is chosen. The Festival is themed on the love song The Rose of Tralee, by William Mulchinock, a 19th century wealthy merchant in love with Mary O’Connor, his family’s maid.
All the fun of the fair. Picture: Photocall IrelandThe Ould Lammas Fair August 29-30
Ballycastle has been holding this event for almost 400 years. A cross between a large village fete, a country fair and a gigantic car boot sale, the narrow streets of the Co. Antrim seaside town are crammed with stalls selling everything from farm produce to toys and bric-a-brac.
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival September 2-October 9
The festival of romance takes place in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. Matchmaking maestro Willie Daly, presides over all matters matrimonial: he’ll tell you the, er, rules of engagement. Even if you’re not looking for a life partner, the entertainment is top class, this year featuring country singer Nathan Carter.
Clarenbridge Oyster Festival September 9-11
The Clarenbridge Oyster Festival first began in 1954. Beginning on September 9, the event promises an extravaganza of seafood and culinary treats, as well as art exhibitions, yacht races, fine wine and gourmet evenings, traditional music and dancing.
Clifden Arts Week September 15-25
The cosy little town of Clifden in Co. Galway seems to be just about the perfect place to hold a festival, particularly one that includes literary, musical and visual-arts happenings.
National Ploughing Championships September 20-22
In Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, this is the very pinnacle event of the farming year in Ireland – a sort of Glastonbury/Tour de France rolled into one. More than 280,000 people attended last year’s competition. This year’s agricultural shindig will feature a tented trade village, a food fair, a motor show, livestock, fashion shows, sheepdog trials, the latest agricultural machinery and the national brown-bread baking competition.
Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival September 23-25
A feast of fine food, stout and Guinness awaits those who make the journey to Galway for the oyster season — and not forgetting the World Oyster Opening Championships, a masquerade ball, live cooking demos and much more.
Belfast International Arts Festival October 9 – November 1
Featuring everything from film to world music, and from experimental theatre to folk, this is a major event in the international arts calendar, held mostly in the environs of Queen’s University.
www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway October 18-24
Irish and international stars such as Dylan Moran, Nina Conti, Ardal O’Hanlon, Rich Hall and Phill Jupitus will be tickling the ribs in Galway.
Sligo Live October 26-31
Folk, roots and indie festival with more than 100 performances from folk, roots and indie musicians. Over six days the cafes, pubs, hotels, clubs, shopping centres and theatres of Sligo stage intimate performances by top Irish and international acts.
Wexford Opera Festival October 26 – November 6
Since the 1950s the annual Wexford Opera Festival has been a fixture in the international opera calendar. Long forgotten masterpieces have received the kiss of life here: this year’s festival feature operas from Samuel Barber, Gaetano Donizetti and Felicien David. Even if you haven’t got tickets for the main events, there’s street opera, stand-up opera, pub opera, and even operaoke — a type of operatic karaoke, if you hadn’t guessed.
Bram Stoker Festival October 28-31
Just in time for Halloween, Dublin has a weekend devoted to the life and legacy of the creator of the world’s favourite extravagantly-fanged count, Dracula.
Cork Guinness Jazz Festival October 28-31
Ireland’s longest-established jazz festival held in a variety of venues throughout the city now attracts names of huge international stature.
