The Best 6 Annual Summer Festivals in Ireland

Updated On: November 07, 2023 by   Ciaran Connolly

Summertime is fast approaching and this means an amazing selection of summer festivals in Ireland to enjoy!

As the weather starts to get nicer (we hope but the Irish weather can be very temperamental at times), you’ll want to spend your evenings having fun, drinking, dancing and enjoying the best of festivals in Ireland.

Every year in Ireland there are many exciting annual summer festivals taking place, so if you don’t get the chance to check out these festivals this summer, you know you can come back any year and enjoy the best annual Irish festivals.

Festivals in Ireland offer something for everyone whether you want to enjoy art, music, literature or history; you bet you’ll find a festival that does just that on the Emerald Island.

Keep reading to check out ConnollyCove’s unmissable Irish summertime festivals to enjoy!

Best Annual Summer Festivals in Ireland

• Galway International Arts Festival

Up first is one of the top summer festivals in Ireland and one of the most highly acclaimed arts festivals in all of Europe. From the 15th of July to the 28th of July, the Galway International Arts Festival brings together artists and creative minds to the splendid County Galway.

This Irish art festival offers you a chance to fill yourself up with a tremendous variety of programmes through visual arts, theatre, street art, music and more. If you’re an art fan, in any way, then this is one festival you’ll seriously regret not making time to check out this summer.

For over 42 years, Galway International Art Festival has played a fundamental role in promoting the ever-growing Irish art scene, along with encouraging international artists to visit Ireland.

This is a festival to get creative and you’ll be inspired by all the wonderful talent that surrounds you. After all, Galway is considered the cultural capital of Ireland, so nowhere better suits to be the host of a magnificent arts festival.

• Sea Session

The exciting Sea Sessions Festival will again take over the seaside town of Bundoran at the end of June for its 11th annual year. A spellbinding three-day music festival that will see some of the most exciting up and coming talent and renown musicians take to the stage along the alluring Atlantic Coast.

The Irish summer festival is known among the summer festivals in Ireland for its surfing competitions that will see some of the worlds most incredible surfers take to the feisty Irish waves, in hopes of winning a cash prize.

If you’re looking for a weekend filled with music, partying, lots of fun, surfing and an atmosphere like no other, then this is for you. Bundoran is also a great seaside town to visit all year round, perfect for a family trip where you can enjoy all the beauty that County Donegal has to offer.

•  West Cork Literary Festival

A week-long celebration of everything that’s great about Irish Literature takes place from the 12th of July until the 19th of July. This Irish festival is perfect for all ages who are interested in writing with a great range of creative writing workshops on offer as well as talks from some noteworthy Irish writers to help inspire you.

West Cork Literary Festival was first held in 1997 and has since grown into one of Ireland’s most anticipated literary events.

Not only will there be well known Irish writers in attendance but you’ll get to know some of the best international writers as they come to Ireland to share their love of story writing with you. At the many workshops, you can enjoy scriptwriting, travel writing, poetry and more for both beginners and experienced writers of all ages.

• Beatyard Festival

Looking for a great Irish festival that children and adults can both have fun and enjoy? Well the Beatyard Festival in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin will be perfect for all. This family-friendly festival takes place in early August offering a variety of musical performances, with mainstream acts like the Jackson and The Wailers hitting the stage but you’ll also find some cool chic acts offering a collection of high-end music including Little Dragon and Bad Bones.

But this is so much more than just a music festival, there is also ‘Studioyard’ where you can enjoy art and design activities that will be sure to be a hit with children. You can also check out ‘Eatyard’, where you’ll be in foodie heaven with over 50 different food and drink stalls to savour up. Also not forgetting ‘Gamesyard’ filled with fun sports and games for all ages.

Did we mention Beatyard has an area that’s dedicated to just children? Well, it does; they can participate in family music raves, get cool face paints, have fun with neon crafts, balloons and parachute games.

This is one of the great summer festivals in Ireland to enjoy with the family and make new memories.

• Dalriada Festival

In Northern Ireland, you must check out one of its biggest and well-established family festivals with the main focus on food and music. The Dalriada festival takes place in the iconic Glenarm Castle in July each year. Around 25,000 people attend this festival offering an action-packed event that both young and old will find something to enjoy.

There will be a mixture of music and dance performances, a great selection of fine foods, chef demonstrations and drink stalls. As well as craft and trade stalls, exciting exhibitions and much-loved children entertainers from their favourite television shows. This is an Irish festival created by families for families.

• Culture Night

Last on ConnollyCove’s guide to the best summer festivals in Ireland is the unmissable Culture night that takes place all around Ireland on 20th September. Culture Night is one of the leading annual Irish festivals celebrating the arts, heritage, creativity and culture in Ireland.

The biggest culture events will take place in Belfast and Dublin as the two capital cities come alive with magnificent workshops, unique performances and electric atmosphere that sees over 400,00 people take to the streets and to cultural centres around Ireland.

The festival is all about capturing your imagination as world artists and cultural events come to Ireland with inspiring shows and entertainment for all. Culture night is one festival you don’t want to miss this summer, a place where you’ll be encouraged to try new things and to appreciate the amazing culture in Ireland.

Have you been to any of these summer festivals in Ireland? Share your experiences with us in the comment below!

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