Paint the town green: 12 of the best festivals on the island of Ireland
To mark St Patrick’s Day on 17 March, we’ve rounded up a dozen exciting festivals taking place across the island of Ireland, with tips on how you can sell them to clients.
Celebrating St Patrick’s Day on the island of Ireland is like going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnival in Rio de Janeiro – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! All across Ireland towns and villages come alive with energy, celebration and events that range from artistic to eccentric.
But festivals don’t just happen on 17 March, as in Ireland they’re a year-round affair. Halloween fright nights, delicious food festivals and lively music events are just some of the highlights in store. Here are 12 fantastic festivals in Ireland your clients won’t want to miss:
Dalkey Book Festival
15-18 June
Famed author Salman Rushdie called the Dalkey Book Festival “the best little festival in the world”, and it’s easy to see why. Now in its 13th year, it showcases the best of Irish and international literary talent, with performances, debates and events taking place in venues across the town of Dalkey, outside Dublin. It’s previously welcomed Booker prize winners, global thought leaders, Oscar winners and Nobel Prize laureates.
Sea Sessions
16-18 June
As the the only surf and music festival in Ireland, Sea Sessions brings music, beach games, skating, BMX, graffiti artists and more to Bundoran in County DonegaI on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Previous acts have included Dizzee Rascal, Paul Weller, Tinie Tempah, Seasick Steve and Primal Scream.
Cork Midsummer Festival
June
Cork Midsummer Festival is an annual multi-disciplinary arts festival, with performances by local and national artists. Cork is used as both a backdrop for performances and inspiration, so expect to find acts in forts, churches and on the streets.
Belfast Tradfest
23-29 July
The week-long Belfast Tradfest features traditional music, song and dance, with a programme of concerts, talks, lectures, sessions, ceilidhs and a festival club, bringing together both the Irish and the Ulster-Scots musical traditions.
Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
6-14 August
Offering eight days of traditional Irish tunes, song and dance, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann takes place every summer, celebrating the very best of traditional music talent. This year the host town is Mullingar in County Westmeath, which will welcome musicians, dancers and performers from across the globe. It’s the world’s largest annual festival of Irish music, so expect intimate concerts, big-name acts and showcase competitions.
Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival
22-24 September
This is the oldest oyster festival in the world and is billed as the most internationally recognised Irish festival after St Patrick’s Day. The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to try the famed Galway oysters and watch the Irish and World Oyster Opening or “shucking” Championships. There’s also entertainment, street parades and seafood trails.
Armagh Food and Cider Weekend
7-10 September
The Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is the biggest foodie event of the season in the heart of the Orchard County, giving visitors a taste of one of Ireland’s best culinary destinations.
Belfast International Arts Festival
Provisional dates: 12-29 October
Belfast has welcomed the Belfast International Arts Festival for more than 60 years, and each time visitors to the Unesco City of Music are entertained with an unforgettable visual experience. More than 320 alternative events are hosted in some of the city’s most iconic venues, ranging from dance and literature to folk music and outdoor spectacles.
Wexford Festival Opera
24 October-5 November
Centred around the National Opera House – Ireland’s first custom-built opera house – the Wexford Festival Opera is a huge draw for opera lovers. Visitors can enjoy small concerts known as Opera Beag (Pocket Opera), performed by the world’s finest singers and conductors.
Derry Halloween
28-31 October
Derry~Londonderry celebrates 31 October in style, with Europe’s biggest Halloween festival. Derry Halloween takes place across the Walled City and beyond, into nearby Donegal and Strabane. Expect folklore, feasting, and festivities.
Puca Festival
28-31 October
Ireland is known as the birthplace of Halloween and Puca Festival in County Meath focuses on the origins of this ancient celebration, showcasing traditions, myths, mischief and mysterious spirits. Visitors can enjoy folklore, food, music comedy and performing arts.
New Year’s Festival Dublin
31 December-1 January
See in 2024 at the New Year’s Festival Dublin. This two-day event will see a choreographed visual and musical display, and the show is expected to attract a number of popular performers.
Further information
Website: trade.ireland.com
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