Arts, Culture & Festivals

From the fire of the festival to the lure of literature, the island of Ireland boasts a rich tapestry of arts and cultural activities

Events and activities

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In Handel’s Day

13 Apr 2010 - 13 Apr 2010

A celebration of music, history and Handel rooted in the anniversary of the 1742 world premiere of Messiah in Temple Bar!...

Belfast Film Festival

15 Apr 2010 - 30 Apr 2010

The Film Festival will take place across the city including a series of premiere screenings, so cinephiles get ready for a...

Féile Átha Dá Chab

16 Apr 2010 - 18 Apr 2010

This is the fourth year of Féile Átha Dá Chab, the small traditional music festival with the big heart, which takes place every...

Waterford Festival of Food

16 Apr 2010 - 18 Apr 2010

Waterford Festival of Food is a weekend celebrating all that is good about gastronomy in Co Waterford.Events include cookery demos...

Patrick Kavanagh Annual Poetry Weekend

17 Apr 2010 - 18 Apr 2010

This weekend course is suitable for both beginners and those who have written some poetry. Participants will work towards...

Ballymoney Irish Dancing Festival

20 Apr 2010 - 24 Apr 2010

Enjoy the Irish music and the dancing competition, with three sessions open to the public each day.

Lough Lively

24 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

A celebration of everything that is unique to Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula featuring music, exhibitions, children's...

Cork International Choral Festival

28 Apr 2010 - 02 May 2010

Cork International Choral Festival is a world-class annual festival celebrating the very best of choral and vocal music. One of...

Fleadh by the Feale

29 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

Fleadh in the town of Abbeyfeale in Co. Limerick on the May Bank Holiday This Fleadh just gets bigger and better. It is a weekend...

Annual Slieve Bloom Walking Festival

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

Slieve Bloom is full of hidden, magic places for walking, especially perhaps along the streams and rivers that radiate from the...

Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival.

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

Since 1998, the Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival has attracted some of the finest names in the Americana/Roots music world to...

Bray Jazz Festival

30 Apr 2010 - 02 May 2010

Bray Jazz Festival is a contemporary festival showcase for international and Irish jazz, and related improvised music, that takes...

Cup of Tae Festival

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

The Festival has been in existence since 2000 and is regarded as one of the most popular festivals on the calander of everts. Many...

Drogheda Arts Festival

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

Innovative, stimulating, and welcoming, Drogheda Arts Festival has a growing reputation for quality arts performances and...

Country Music Festival

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

Our 2010 Festivals include artists such as: Jimmy Buckley, Declan Nerney, Gary Gamble, Robert Mizzell, Mike Denver & more. The...

Limerick River Fest

30 Apr 2010 - 03 May 2010

This festival is designed to showcase and celebrate all that’s great about Limerick City – highlighting and revelling in art,...

Ballyhoura International Walking Festival

01 May 2010 - 03 May 2010

Ballyhoura’s International Walking Festival takes place annually over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Straddling parts of counties...

Mountain Walking Festival

01 May 2010 - 02 May 2010

The third Mountain Walking Festival takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend in 2010. Enjoy a unique combination of mountain...

ABSOLUT Gay Theatre Festival Dublin

03 May 2010 - 16 May 2010

The ABSOLUT Gay Theatre Festival Dublin will specialise in presenting theatre never before seen or rarely seen in Ireland to...

International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival

03 May 2010 - 16 May 2010

The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival is an annual event, celebrating contribution of gay people to theatre, past and...

Baltimore Fiddle Fair

06 May 2010 - 09 May 2010

The Baltimore Fiddle Fair - small festival, big reputation. Baltimore Fiddle Fair is regarded as one of Ireland's best small music...

Cos Cos Sean Nos Festival

07 May 2010 - 09 May 2010

Friday: Festival Concert: Johnny Connolly, Meaití Jó Shéamuis O Fátharta, Colm O'Donnell, Tommy Hayes, Junior Davey, Brian...

Armagh Apple Blossom Festival

07 May 2010 - 08 May 2010

Celebrate the beautiful Apple Blossom season in the Orchard County with a range of events based in Armagh City and the surrounding...

Dublin Dance Festival

08 May 2010 - 23 May 2010

The centrepiece of the 2010 festival will be by influential German choreographer Raimund Hoghe, whose work, Young People, Old...

Dublin City Soul Festival ~ a celebration of peace, unity & love!

20 May 2010 - 23 May 2010

Dublin City Soul Festival - a celebration of peace, unity and love! This unique four day festival, now celebrating its 4th year,...

Burren Slow Food Festival

21 May 2010 - 23 May 2010

Celebrate Slow Food in Clare with cookery demonstrations, talks, dinners, farmer's market, BBQ, children's workshops. A day out...

Féile na Tuaithe - Turlough Park - A Celebration of Country Life Today

22 May 2010 - 23 May 2010

Here comes the Summer and families countrywide are looking for day trips and places to go. Féile na Tuaithe - Turlough Park at the...

Clare County Fleadh

23 May 2010 - 31 May 2010

Music, Song and Dance. Competitions, informal sessions and open air music

Fleadh Nua Ennis

23 May 2010 - 31 May 2010

Fleadh Nua is a week long festival of traditional music, dancing & singing, featuring concerts, sessions, céilís, workshops & open...

Carnivale of Colours 2010

24 May 2010 - 30 May 2010

A seven day event centered around 2 circus tents featuring an exciting programme of performance, spectacle and education in a...

Birr Hot Air Balloon Festival

27 May 2010 - 30 May 2010

Enjoy the spectacular sight of Hot Air Balloons flying over the beautiful countryside surrounding Birr. During the Balloon...

Wicklow Arts Festival

27 May 2010 - 30 May 2010

The Wicklow Arts Festival is a Multi-Disciplinary Arts event that offers a wide range of entertainment to all age groups. You’ll...

12th Annual International Guinness Blues on the Bay Festival

27 May 2010 - 31 May 2010

A fantastic five day blues music festival extravaganza, featuring world class international jazz and blues performers. The events...

Galway Early Music Festival

28 May 2010 - 30 May 2010

Based in the medieval City of Galway, the Galway Early Music Festival features medieval, renaissance and baroque music and dance....

Taste of Carlingford

29 May 2010 - 30 May 2010

Set in the idyllic surroundings of the Mediaeval village of Carlingford, all the restaurants, bars and cafés will provide visitors...

Summer in Dublin

01 Jun 2010 - 30 Sep 2010

The City Council has again assembled a fantastic array of events for the ‘Summer In Dublin Festival’ in the City’s parks and...

Ballet in Botanic

01 Jun 2010 - 30 Jun 2010

This event grows in popularlity each year and is great entertainment in one of the City’s grandest parks.

Listowel Writers' Week

02 Jun 2010 - 06 Jun 2010

Writers' Week is a literary festival devoted to the cause of the writer. It aims to guide, direct and enthuse the emerging writer,...

Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2010

02 Jun 2010 - 06 Jun 2010

The highlights of the Rory Gallagher Festival 2010 include the unveiling of the Rory Gallagher Statue on Wednesday 2nd June in...

Carlsberg Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

03 Jun 2010 - 07 Jun 2010

The 16th annual Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival will run for five days over the Bank holiday weekend Thursday 3 – Monday 7 June,...

Riverstown Vintage Festival

04 Jun 2010 - 06 Jun 2010

The Riverstown Vintage Festival provides a great opportunity to see working agricultural equipment and rural craft demonstrations...

Doonbeg International Jazz Festival

04 Jun 2010 - 07 Jun 2010

The International Jazz Festival attracts visitors from all over to enjoy a weekend of swing, dixie and jazz and will feature bands...

Fleadh Cheoil an Chabhain

04 Jun 2010 - 07 Jun 2010

Traditional music festival incorporating competitions in music, song, dance and language. Following the success of last year's...

An Tostal

04 Jun 2010 - 13 Jun 2010

An Tostal has been running in Drumshanbo since 1954. Over the years the festival has diversified from its traditional music...

World Bodhrán Championships

04 Jun 2010 - 07 Jun 2010

The World Bodhrán Championships is an exciting world percussion festival. The event which promotes and showcases the Irish frame...

The Docklands Maritime Festival

04 Jun 2010 - 07 Jun 2010

This year’s event has been extended to both sides of the Liffey offering even more attractions for all ages. Once again a...

Taste of Dublin

10 Jun 2010 - 13 Jun 2010

'Taste of Dublin' is a four-day celebration of fine food and drink. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Dublin's Iveagh Gardens,...

Clancy Brothers Music and Arts Festival

11 Jun 2010 - 13 Jun 2010

This is the third International Clancy Brothers Festival that is expected to attract in the region of 15,000 people from the USA,...

Castleconnell Summer Festival

11 Jun 2010 - 13 Jun 2010

A variety of events for all the family including drama, singing, historical walks, historical river boat ride, family BBQ, clowns,...

Guth Gafa Documentary Film Festival

11 Jun 2010 - 13 Jun 2010

Guth Gafa is a totally unique event. Over the course of 3 days in mid-June, the peaceful Irish-speaking village of Gortahork is...

Bloomsday Festival

12 Jun 2010 - 16 Jun 2010

The Bloomsday Festival celebrates Leopold Bloom's wanderings around Dublin in Joyce's novel Ulysses--set entriely on 16 June 1904....

Cork Midsummer Festival of the Senses

12 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2010

Cork Midsummer Festival of the Senses is an annual 16 day summer celebration of contemporary arts & culture, combining local,...

Monaghan Town Comedy Festival

17 Jun 2010 - 19 Jun 2010

This March, the Monaghan comedy festival brings over 20 top Irish and overseas Comedians for a weekend to remember. Along with top...

The AIB Street Performance World Championship

18 Jun 2010 - 20 Jun 2010

The AIB Street Performance World Championship is back and it is universally agreed that it is time for some serious free fun! this...

Midsummer Concert at Mussenden Temple

18 Jun 2010 - 19 Jun 2010

Under the auspices of the National Trust North Coast Association.

Carrick Water Music Festival

23 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2010

2010 is our 6th Annual Carrick Water Music Festival in Leitrim's premier town, Carrick-on-Shannon. A well-known tourist...

Shannonbridge & Clonmacnoise Midsummer Music Festival

24 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2010

Intimate Music Festival set in wonderful indoor and outdoor locations. Lots of concerts, kids workshops, and great entertainment....

Cathal Bui Arts & Heritage Festival

24 Jun 2010 - 28 Jun 2010

The Cathal Bui Community Arts and Heritage Festival will take place in Blacklion. A comprehensive programme of events will be...

Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival 2010

25 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2010

The most perfectly formed of all the summer music festivals, Sea Sessions takes place right on the sea front. It's eclectic mix of...

West Cork Chamber Music Festival

25 Jun 2010 - 03 Jul 2010

The 15th West Cork Chamber Music Festival will be celebrating theworld of the string quartet with top international ensembles...

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Festivals of culture

As the Irish people have a genuine sense of fun, they invented a festival to celebrate all sorts of occasions – the least you can do is join in…

Find out more about Festivals of Culture

Musical traditions

From impromptu sessions in your local bar to the thrilling beat of U2, Ireland has always been home to the best sounds of music

Find out more about Musical Traditions

Literature

Proving the pen is mightier than the sword, the Irish have a unique way with words that can be enjoyed through the ages

Find out more about Literature

Museums & Galleries

Ireland boasts some of Europe’s most intriguing museums and art galleries

Find out more about Museums & Galleries

Free cultural discount pass

Discover some amazing things to see and do around Ireland and save some money, too

Find out more about the discount pass

Listings

In Handel’s Day
In Handel’s Day

A celebration of music, history and Handel rooted in the anniversary...

Belfast Film Festival
Belfast Film Festival

The Film Festival will take place across the city including a series...

See all listings

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Cahernane House Hotel - Spring Break Special

Cahernane House Hotel - Spring Break Special

Two Nights Bed and Breakfast and one Evening meal on the evening of your choice in our award winning Herbert Room Restaurant

Did you know?

The harp that can be seen on passports and stamps in the Republic of Ireland is based on a 14th-century harp, which is now kept in Trinity College Dublin and known popularly as the Brian Boru harp.