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Ciaran Connolly
Ciaran Connolly
The arts scene in Ireland has thrived in recent decades, so it is no wonder that we can celebrate so many great Irish festivals each year. This article will explore some of the most popular annual Irish festivals.
We have divided our festivals into three distinct categories:
- Irish Music Festivals
- Irish Arts Festivals
- Traditional Irish Festivals
Each category is ordered by the month it takes place, so you can easily make festival plans for the year!
Table of Contents
Irish Music Festivals
#1. Forbidden Fruit – Irish music festivals
When:
The Forbidden Fruit Festival takes place on the bank holiday weekend (first weekend) in June.
Where:
Forbidden Fruit takes place on the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
Website:
See more on Forbidden Fruit’s official website
Forbidden Fruit Festival is the first and longest-running city-centre festival in the heart of Dublin. If you’re in the capital city in June, why not check out the setlist?
One thing that sets this Irish festival apart is how easy it is to get to the site. Located just off the city centre, you won’t have to stress about long bus journeys or confusing directions if you are already in the city. There are also after-party celebrations in Dublin after the festival ends!
With a combination of music, art, fashion and good food, your weekend in Dublin is sorted! From Electronic DJ duo BICEP to the reflective music of none other than Lorde and the king of alternative/indie folk, Bon Iver, Forbidden Fruit Festival has its fair share of in-demand artists.
The lineup varies, ranging from Irish musicians to established international talent, newcomers and everything in between. Forbidden Fruit will surely be an interesting experience with a soundtrack of familiar tunes and exciting new songs.
#2. Belsonic – Irish music festivals
When:
Belsonic kicks off from mid-June and continues until the end of the month.
Where:
Ormeau Park, Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 3GG
Website:
Find out more on Belsonic’s website
Belsonic is another outdoor festival celebrating the best of international talent. Located in Ormeau Park in Belfast, attendees have enjoyed the likes of Dermot Kennedy, Paolo Nutini, Sam Fender and Liam Gallagher.
With a focus on Pop, Rock and Indie/folk music, Belsonic differentiates itself from other festivals by organising individual shows. You can buy a ticket for the acts you want to see individually instead of being forced to buy a weekend ticket just to see one of your favourite artists.
Personally, I really like this individual concert setup, as it is a great way to get a number of bigger artists to perform in Belfast over the summer. You can go to as many or as few concerts as you like, and your experience will range from a night out in the city to a week exploring everything that Belfast has to offer.
Not all of us can or want to spend a weekend at a festival; Belsonic allows you to enjoy music your way.
#3. Longitude – Irish music festivals
When:
Longitude usually takes place during the first weekend in July
Where:
Marlay Park, Dublin
Website:
Find out more on Longitude’s official website.
Lovers of hip hop, rap music and the UK grime scene will be queuing up to buy tickets for Longitude, with artists such as Dave, Tyler the Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, Aitch and Stormzy featuring in recent years.
Global stars, such as The Weeknd, Post Malone, J Cole, and Travis Scott, have appeared on the stage.
The rise of Longitude coincided with the ending of Oxygen. Ireland’s former most popular music festival was held from 2004 to 2011 and focused on pop and rock music. Nowadays, rap and hip hop have become some of the most popular genres in Ireland, and this festival delivers what the people want.
Longitude also gives Irish talent a platform, with the likes of Denise Chaila, Kojaque, Wild Youth and Versatile appearing over the years.
#4. Indiependence Festival – Irish music festivals
When:
This Irish festival usually takes place on the first weekend in August
Where:
Mitchelstown Co. Cork
Why not get your tent and camping equipment ready for our next festival? A combination of up-and-coming international musicians, a few big names and a lot of Irish talent make the lineup of Independence.
Some of the best Irish acts, including Kodaline, Hudson Taylor, Bell X1, Hozier, and the Coronas, have performed in Mitchelstown over the last few years. Fellow Irish stars such as Hermitage Green, Walking on Cars, Ham Sandwich, and The Academic have also stolen the show with their performances.
The Academics were only two years into their music career and fresh out of secondary school when they performed at this Irish festival. They have only gone from strength to strength since then, and it highlights the importance of celebrating Irish musicians and giving them a chance to show us their talent.
The campsite also offers a glamping option, a nice change from traditional festival campsites. A glamping ticket gives access to a VIP Bar in the main arena, which means you will spend less time standing in line for drinks and more time in front of the stage.
#5. Electric Picnic – Irish music festivals
When:
EP takes place during the first week of September
Where:
Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois.
Website:
Find out more info on Electricpicnic.ie
Primarily a music and arts festival, EP has everything you could want, including your favourite musicians and artists, podcasts, poetry, theatre, comedy, food, and holistic health. There is a focus on quality festival services (namely food and camping) and creating a relaxed, eco-friendly atmosphere.
From Tame Impala to the Arctic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine, Dermot Kennedy, Hozier and The Killers, EP has had its fair share of modern music legends grace its stage.
Whoever picks the line-up is doing a great job of recognising talent. Global superstars Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish played at the gig before their careers skyrocketed to amazing heights. It is hard to believe that they were not even the headline acts during the years they performed.
Electric picnic combines the thrill of seeing your favourite musicians live with the joys of camping with your friends. It will surely be a weekend to remember, especially considering the weather can be hit or miss in September, which may make your camping more eventful (and if we’re being honest, it is part of the festival charm in the UK and Ireland)!
#6. Guinness Cork Jazz Festival – Irish music festivals
When:
The Jazz Fest takes place on the October bank holiday weekend.
Where:
Cork City
Website:
See more information, including specific venues and acts, on the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival’s website.
The Jazz Fest has been held for over 40 years and takes place throughout Cork City. Throughout the weekend, iconic jazz bands and jazz renditions of popular music are common. Jazz-infused hip-hop, funk, and soul create a varied experience that brings people together to enjoy the magic of good music.
Irish Arts Festivals
Outside of music festivals, there are plenty of things to do throughout Ireland. Here are a few festivals we think deserve a spot on this list.
#7. Waterford Walls – Irish Arts Festivals
When:
The Waterford Walls festival takes place in mid-August each year and usually lasts 10 days.
Where:
Waterford City
Website:
Check out the latest news at Waterford Walls’ official website.
Waterford Walls is Ireland’s most significant international street art festival. Over 30 Irish and international artists come together to create large-scale murals in Waterford City and the surrounding area. The festival includes live art, music workshops, guided tours and more.
There is also an artistic exchange and collaboration programme to encourage young people to create under the guidance of experienced mural artists in three countries: Ireland, Germany, and France.
People can sign up as professional artists or students who would like to be mentored. This is probably my favourite event on this list. The art scene in Ireland is growing tremendously, and events like the Waterford Walls encourage people to be creative. The love and care in each mural are appreciated, and the whole town looks fantastic!
#8. Galway International Arts Festival – Irish Arts Festivals
When:
The Galway International Arts Festival lasts two weeks, usually starting in mid-July.
Where:
Galway City
Website:
Find out more information on listings and events on the Giaf official website.
The Galway International Arts Festival is a great time to visit the city of the tribes. From the street spectacle of giant giraffes parading through the town to arts, theatre, comedy and music events, Galway lights up during this festival.
The arts festival sees the return of the Heineken Big Top tent to Galway’s skyline. If you want to experience world-class talent in the heart of the West of Ireland, the Galway International Arts Festival should be on your list.
Galway Oyster Festival
You will likely plan a return trip after visiting Galway during its arts festival. So why not return at the end of September for Galway’s International Oyster Festival? There are so many great restaurants in Galway City, and during this weekend, seafood is the highlight of every menu. World-class seafood chefs cook fresh and local produce for your enjoyment.
#9. International Film Festivals in Ireland – Irish Arts Festivals
There are many international film festivals in Ireland, including the Dublin International Film Festival, Dingle International Film Festival, Kerry International Film Festival, Galway Film Festival and Cork International Film Festival.
Ireland has a wealth of film and acting talent. We have produced masterful films and talented directors and producers for such a small country. We also have our fair share of famous Irish actors who have performed performances rival Hollywood’s A-listers.
Traditional Irish Festivals
#10. Saint Patrick Day’s Festival – Traditional Irish Festivals
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout Ireland in all of the major towns and cities across the island of Ireland.
Traditionally, people would begin on 17 March by attending mass for St. Patrick. It was customary to wear shamrock and green clothing for the day. After mass, a parade would take place on the main street. Marching bands, Irish dancers, humorous floats and even an appearance from Saint Patrick formed the usual parade activities.
The evening would be spent celebrating in the pub with friends and family, listening to traditional Irish music and drinking a few pints of Guinness. It was tradition to ‘wet the shamrock’, which meant getting a drink in the pub.
Most of these Saint Patrick’s Day traditions are still celebrated worldwide today.
#11. Puck Fair – Traditional Irish Festivals
When
The Puck Fair is held each year on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August.
Where
Killorglin, County Kerry
Website
Check out the Puck Fair festival for more information
The Puck Fair is known as ‘Aonach a Phoic’ in Irish. This means the festival of the goat. The Puck Fair is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals and offers daily free, family-friendly street entertainment.
Every year, a group of people go into the mountains and catch a wild goat. The goat is brought back into town, and the ‘Queen of Puck,’ usually a young school girl, crowns it ‘King of Puck’.
The festival is believed to date back to ancient Ireland, but the first official Puck Fair was recorded in 1613 when the pre-existing fair was given legal status.
Another legend goes that a flock of goats saw an army of pillagers and headed for the mountains during the 17th century. One goat broke away from the flock and headed into the town, alerting inhabitants that danger was nearby.
Another theory states that the festival is tied to the pagan festival of Lughnasa, which symbolises the beginning of the harvest season. The goat, a symbol of fertility, also supports this. Some speculate that the goat is tied to the horned Celtic god of nature called Cerrunos, though most historians have rejected this.
The ethics of the fair have come into dispute in recent years due to the nature of the festival. The goat is held in a small cage for three days, and on the third day, he is led back into the mountains. He is fed and watered under veterinary supervision, but many animal rights activists are campaigning to keep this tradition in the past. What do you think about the issue of goat welfare during the festival?
Due to the unprecedented heat of 29 degrees in 2022, the goat was removed from the cage on the festival’s first day.
During the Puck fair, pubs stay open until 3 am, a legal exception in Ireland as 2 am is the usual closing time. The festival is celebrated with plenty of entertainment in the arts, and there is plenty to enjoy over the 3-day event.
#12. The Rose of Tralee – Traditional Irish Festivals
When:
Late August
Where:
Tralee, Co. Kerry
Website:
You can learn more on the Rose of Tralee website.
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is based on a 19th-century ballad of the same name about a woman called the ‘Rose of Tralee’ because of her beauty. It has been running for over 60 years.
While a beauty pageant-esque festival may sound outdated, the Rose of Tralee festival brings Irish communities together. The festival is not a beauty pageant; contestants, or roses as they are called, are judged by their personalities, focusing on contestants’ stories, skills, careers, achievements, and talents.
While initially only open to people from Kerry, first, second, and third-generation Irish people can now represent their country or city wherever they are. The festival also gives people a chance to return home to Ireland, and for some, it may be their first chance to visit the home of their ancestors. In recent years, the festival has become more diverse, and traditional entry requirements have been eased.
There is also an escort of the year. The escort is the male companion of the rose, who helps them during the festival.
The winning rose receives a lot of prizes, including jewellery and hotel stays. They are expected to be an ambassador for the festival for the next year and attend public events.
#13. Fleadh Cheoil – Traditional Irish Festivals
When:
Early-Mid August
Where:
Mullingar
Website:
Visit Fleadh Cheoil for more information!
The Fleadh Cheoil (music festival) brings the best traditional Irish music to Mullingar. Enjoy expert Irish musicians in various locations and a generally good atmosphere in the city.
#14. Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival – Traditional Irish Festivals
When:
The month of September
Where:
Lisdoonvarna, county Clare.
Website:
Check out the Lisdoonvarna match-making festival website for more information.
Over 160 years old, the small village of Lisdoonvarna is located along the Wild Atlantic Way and hosts one of Europe’s biggest singles festivals. People arrive from all over the world looking for love and more commonly a ‘bit of craic’ or fun.
All can enjoy a month of live music and dancing. Ireland’s only traditional matchmaker is present at the festival to help singles.
#15. The National Ploughing Championship Festival – Traditional Irish Festivals
When:
September
Where:
Ireland’s location can change each year.
Website:
Find the details for the next ploughing championship at the official website.
It may not surprise you that ploughing is one of the main activities held at the national ploughing championship. An agriculture show at heart, ploughing also showcases livestock, machinery, and vintage tractors. There are also cookery demonstrations and fashion and craft shows.
Final Thoughts on the Best Festivals in Ireland:
We hope you have enjoyed our article about Irish festivals. Are you planning to go to any festivals this year? What is your favourite Irish festival memory? Let us know in the comments below!
While you are here, why not check other articles on our blog, including:
The Irish Humour: 25 of the best Irish Comedians of all time | Traditional Irish Food | 15 of the most successful Irish athletes of all time | 20 of the best Irish movies filmed in Ireland
