Festivals and Events in Ireland.

We have contacted many of the businesses listed on this page and those it links to and have received few responses, we can only assume that unfortunately some of these businesses no longer exist. Click the link below to visit our sister site eads4u.com where you will be sure to find more up to date information on festivals in Ireland.

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The Irish people possess an innate love of music and social gatherings, this stems from pre Christian times when tribal groups met to conduct their business and celebrate the progression of the seasons, many of the events witnessed today owe their origin directly to these long past days.

Until comparatively recently Ireland was almost exclusively an agricultural country, many of the larger towns held a fair two or three times a year, where farmers could trade their produce and hire labour. These fairs are still to be found in a few rural areas, many are weekly affairs although the goods on offer have little in common with those of the past.

Throughout the length and breadth of the country during the summer months there are literally hundreds of festival's to be found. Some of these are world famous such as the Rose of Tralee in County
County Kerry
, or the Waterford Opera Festival, others possibly not so well known although worthy of a visit celebrate a famous person of the locality, one such is the O'Carolin Harp Festival in Kedue County Roscommon, where a harp playing competition is held, and of course there is the world famous Lisdoonvarna Fair in County
County Clare
.

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

Puck Fair is one of Ireland's oldest festivals. It takes place over 3 days in Killorglin every year, from August 10th - August 12th.

The festival includes traditional cattle and horse fairs, as well as the coronation and dethronement of a mountain goat.

The Festival of the Connemara Pony is a celebration of the Connemara Pony breed with week-long activities including a visit to the Connemara National Park, culminating in the famous Connemara Pony Show.

The festival begins on Sunday, 16th August, with the Show Queen Competition. Education Day is on Monday, 17th August, where the Societies herd of ponies will be on display in the Connemara National Park in Letterfrack. Tuesday is International Day where ICCPS delegates will meet in the Station House Hotel for a meeting; Wednesday is Performance Day.

There are three walks organised for the Suck Valley Walking Festival. The walks are varied to suit different abilities from the 29km walk for the serious walker to the 8km walk for the less experienced.

The walks are fully supervised, winding along the beautiful and tranquil Suck Valley Way. The 8km walk is from Athleague to Castlecoote. This is for children and the less experienced, and perhaps the less inclined!. The 13km walk is from Athleague to Donamon, and this is for intermediate walkers.

The 29km walk is from Athleague to Ballintober - this is for the experienced walkers, many of whom are coming from afar. All the background information you will require is contained in the excellent booklet 'The Suck Valley Way' by Joss Lynam, and is available free from the Suck Valley Angling Centre. Tea/coffee will be provided in the morning, with light refreshments available later.

Maps of the walks are provided, and transport to and from the walks is arranged.

Clifden Community Arts Week is celebrating its 32nd anniversary in 2009, and is a great celebration of the Arts which includes poetry reading, lectures, recitals, traditional music, all enjoyed in a wonderful relaxed atmosphere in one of the most beautiful places on the West Coast.

The 168th Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival is a 9-day event to cater for equestrian lovers, family entertainment, music and fun.

There is something at this Fair & Festival to suit all tastes. Horse and pony events, showjumping, street stalls, fireworks, tug-o-war, street & vintage parade, music and children's events. The Show begins with family fun and street theatre on Saturday, 3rd October; Gullane's Hotel carnival parade; announcement of 2009 King of the Fair.

Every breed of horse and pony is on display in the fairgreen on the Sunday and Monday, 4th and 5th October. Included are the famous Connemara ponies, eventers, hunters, stallions, mares with foals, trotting ponies, skewbalds and the Irish draught.

There will be displays of arts and crafts, street music and theatre. The following are the Equestrian days - Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 3rd, 4th and 5th October, Saturday 10th October is Country Fair Day - Horse & Foal Fair featuring All-Ireland Foal Competition in Shopwgrounds.

Today, Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is recognised as the leading Irish Arts Festival devoted exclusively to children. Over 60,000 children have attended shows and participated in workshops since Baboró began in 1997.

Baboró celebrates its 12th birthday in 2009, and will feature performances from countries as diverse as Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, England and Scotland, and will offer performances ranging across all the artforms, for young people of all ages.

The National Library of Ireland is a cultural institution under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Its mission is to collect, preserve and make available books, manuscripts and illustrative material of Irish interest.

Users of the Library have a wide variety of interests. They can include those engaged in long-term research with a view to a book or article and those with a specific once off need. The Library's Genealogy Service is designed to assist all of those who wish to research their family history in Ireland.

The Library does not lend books and reading is done in the various reading rooms. There is also a copying service and it is possible to get photocopies, photographs, slides, or microfilm of most items in the collections. The Library has an ongoing programme of exhibitions.

The National Library of Ireland has the largest collection of Yeats manuscripts in the world, and in addition, holds other fascinating Yeats material generously donated by Mrs George Yeats, wife of the poet, and Michael Yeats, the poet's son, over several years.