Arts and cultural events

Arts and cultural events

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No matter what the time of year, the cities, towns and villages of Ireland come alive with arts and cultural events…

  • Lord Mayor's Show Belfast

    Arts and Cultural Events

    What’s it all about?

    Ireland is an island enraptured with the arts. The country’s cultural scene flourishes right throughout the year from the twinkle of Christmas festivals to the electric carnival atmosphere of the summer arts festivals. Whether you’re after an event that’s sophisticated, vibrant, progressive, edgy or just downright entertaining, you’ll be spoiled for choice whatever the season.

Mount Usher Gardens County Wicklow

Summer

Ireland is an idyll in summer. Culturally the country is in full bloom, while the warm weather and laid-back vibe bring living outdoors to parks and public spaces. Let the sun shine in...

Glitter and Sparkle Halloween Ball in Belfast

Autumn

As Summer fades into Autumn and the Irish landscape takes on a russet-coloured hue, Ireland’s arts and culture scene moves indoors. From the hilarity of the Comedy Festival to Ireland’s largest international arts festival in Belfast, autumn is a perfect time to get cultural...

Thomas Reid's in Dublin

Winter

A magical atmosphere envelops Ireland during the festive season. Friends snuggle down in cosy pubs while Christmas markets bring a touch of sparkle to crisp winter days. And creatively, Ireland remains just as vibrant as ever with excellent theatrical, literary and arts events…

St Patrick's Day Parade Dublin

Spring

Spring in Ireland is picture perfect. The grass is greener than you could ever imagine, the days are bright and an enthusiasm grips the locals as summer creeps in. The arts scene is in full bloom with some vibrant festivals that buzz with atmosphere.

What's on

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The Unwanted at The Steeple Sessions

18 Jul 2013 - 18 Jul 2013

The Unwanted is Cathy Jordan, Rick Epping and Seamie O'Dowd. Between them, they encompass a vast range of the music of Ireland,...

St. Barrahane's Church Festival of Music

18 Jul 2013 - 15 Aug 2013

St. Barrahane's Church Festival of Music is a classical music festival in a beautiful historic village. The church has stained...

Arklow Seabreeze Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

Top class free entertainment for all the family at the Arklow Seabreeze Festival with something to suit all tastes. In the lead up...

Hilltown New Music Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

The Hilltown New Music Festival, Castlepollard, in its landmark sixth year, showcases Irish and international contemporary music,...

Féile Bia na Mara 2013 - Achill Seafood Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

Féile Bia na Mara is a culinary celebration of Achill Island's rich heritage with the sea, and it showcases the bountiful harvest...

The Ag Seinm Gathering Concert 2013

19 Jul 2013 - 19 Jul 2013

The Ag Seinm Concert will feature a feast of Irish music, highlighting the different genres of Irish music and featuring artists...

Random Acts of Kindness Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

In 2012 the town of Clonakilty, held the world's first Random Acts of Kindness Festival. This unique event brought both locals and...

Bowen/Trevor Literary Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

The Bowen/Trevor Literary Festival 2013 is a consideration of the works of William Trevor and Elizabeth Bowen. In the wider...

Flavours of the Foyle

20 Jul 2013 - 22 Jul 2013

Derry City Council will be hosting the Flavours of the Foyle, a major 2 day Seafood Festival on Saturday 20th July and Sunday 21st...

Joe Mooney Summer School of Traditional Music Song and Dance

20 Jul 2013 - 27 Jul 2013

The Joe Mooney Summer School of Traditional Music, Song and Dance is a weeklong celebration of Leitrim's traditional culture...

Candy Music Festival

20 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

Candy Music Festival is a festival combining international names with the best of new Irish talent, engaging the LBGT community...

Cork Cycling Festival

20 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013

Cork Cycling Festival is entirely free to the public, welcoming all ages and walks of life with a special focus on family-friendly...

Laya Healthcare Street Performance World Championship

20 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

Hold onto your socks and get ready for an action packed festival full to the brim with the weird, the wacky and the wonderful!...

Fiddler's Green International Festival

21 Jul 2013 - 29 Jul 2013

Based in the scenic village of Rostrevor, preparations for the 26th festival are well in hand. There will be free outdoor ceilis,...

Skibbereen Children's Festival

22 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013

Skibbereen Children's Festival provides an action packed week for children of all ages in Skibbereen. There will be workshops in...

Space Camp - Training Kids to be Astronauts since 2007!

22 Jul 2013 - 26 Jul 2013

The 6th Annual BCO Space Camp is going to have an even bigger intergalactic twist! This year the sessions are longer. Students...

John & Tim Lyons at The Steeple Sessions

23 Jul 2013 - 23 Jul 2013

John and Tim Lyons are brothers born in the 1930s in Cork and were reared in North Cork very near Sliabh Luachra (The Rushy...

Mayo North Heritage Centre Family History Open Afternoon

23 Jul 2013 - 23 Jul 2013

The Mayo North Heritage Centre will host the family history open afternoon in conjunction with the Crossmolina Community Festival,...

Boyle Arts Festival

25 Jul 2013 - 03 Aug 2013

Boyle Arts Festival is a magnificent festival gem with an emphasis on small, intimate events in historically an d architecturally...

East Kerry Roots Festival

25 Jul 2013 - 28 Aug 2013

The East Kerry Roots Festival will be a celebration of the unique culture and heritage of the greater Sliabh Luachra area. People...

Mick and Michelle Mulcahy at The Steeple Sessions

25 Jul 2013 - 25 Jul 2013

Mick and his daughter Michelle Mulcahy of Abbeyfeale, West Limerick play a dazzling array of instruments between them including...

Halycon Days at The Lime Tree Theatre

26 Jul 2013 - 27 Jul 2013

It took a while. But they found each other. Seán sits alone in a nursing-home, abandoned to his memories, when in storms Patricia,...

Skibbereen Arts Festival

26 Jul 2013 - 03 Aug 2013

Skibbereen Arts Festival pays homage to the vibrant fabric of the Skibbereen community that is the arts with an excellent...

Killarney Summerfest

26 Jul 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Killarney Summerfest 2013 will be bustling with a myriad of activities for all the family from the 27th July to the 5th August....

Éigse Eatharlaí

26 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013

Éigse Eatharlaí is a traditional Irish music, song, and dance summer school. The school will run over three days with concerts,...

Scoil Acla - Traditional Music and Cultural Summer School

27 Jul 2013 - 03 Aug 2013

Scoil Acla is Ireland's oldest summer school which was originally founded in 1910 and re-launched in 1985. Scoil Acla continually...

Carlow Garden Festival

27 Jul 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

From bulbs to borders and woodland to wildlife, Carlow’s Floral Festival Trail is a great opportunity for budding and experienced...

Abhainn Rí Festival of Participation and Inclusion

28 Jul 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

The Abhainn Ri Festival 2013 will bring a burst of energy to the streets of Callan this summer. An exciting visual street...

St. Colmans Garden Fete

28 Jul 2013 - 29 Jul 2013

St. Colman's Care Centre's annual garden fête promises an afternoon of fun and entertainment for all the family. The programme...

Art in the Open 2013 International Plein Air Painting Festival

29 Jul 2013 - 06 Aug 2013

The 6th Art in the Open festival will be Europe's largest annual plein air painting event. Over 120 artists from more than 12...

The Annual Donegal Fiddle Summer School with Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí

29 Jul 2013 - 03 Aug 2013

The 28th Annual Donegal Fiddle Summer School with Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí is a paradise for fiddle players from aspiring to...

O'Carolan Harp and Traditional Music Festival and Summer School

29 Jul 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Starting out as a three day festival in 1978 to commemorate Turlough O'Carolan, harper and composer, who is buried in Kilronan...

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas at The Steeple Sessions

30 Jul 2013 - 30 Jul 2013

Scotland's premier fiddle ambassador Alasdair Fraser and the sizzlingly-talented young California cellist Natalie Haas drop in...

Spirit of Mother Jones Festival

30 Jul 2013 - 01 Aug 2013

A festival celebrating the spirit of Mother Jones; the 'most dangerous woman in America'. This 3 day festival will include a range...

Féile 25

01 Aug 2013 - 12 Aug 2013

Ireland's largest community festival returns this year to celebrate its 25th Birthday with a fantastic line up of music, comedy,...

Old Days Old Ways Longford Heritage Festival 1st 31st Aug

01 Aug 2013 - 31 Aug 2013

The theme for the Festival is" everyone has a story-lets explore yours". Overseas visitors will be invited todiscover Longford's...

The Voice Squad at The Steeple Sessions

01 Aug 2013 - 01 Aug 2013

The Voice Squad's (Phil Callery, Fran McPhail and Gerry Cullen) style of singing in harmony does not form part of the Irish...

Scariff Harbour Festival

01 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Multi-disciplinary street festival combining music, entertainment, arts, children's activities, outdoor pursuits and cultural...

Patsy Farrell Festival

01 Aug 2013 - 07 Aug 2013

The Patsy Farrell Festival is a celebration of Irish music, song and dance in 15 towns throughout Longford Westmeath over the...

Sean McCarthy Weekend

01 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Sean McCarthy Weekend Festival is a weekend of dancing & traditional music. Events include the Tom Crean Lecture, cross road...

Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival

01 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival is in its 36th year and since it began has hosted the best Irish folk and...

Dan Paddy Andy Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The Dan Paddy Andy Festival promises a great weekend of music, open-air and marquee dancing, céilí, song, drama, storytelling, dog...

Colgan Hall Art Exhibition

02 Aug 2013 - 06 Aug 2013

This will be the 9th Annual Colgan Hall Art Exhibition, featuring international and local artists, including Sharon McDaid, James...

Indiependence Music & Arts Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Indiependence Music & Arts Festival takes place annually in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. The festival mixes top international & Irish...

Joe Dolan Mullingar Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Mention Mullingar and chances are the reply will be, Joe Dolan! The County Westmeath singer entertained his worldwide legion of...

Castlepalooza Music and Arts Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Castlepalooza Music and Arts Festival is held in Charleville Castle, on one of the most picturesque festival sites in Ireland. The...

Waterford Spraoi International Street Arts Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Spraoi Festival is Ireland's specialist street theatre and spectacle event. It presents over 200 street theatre and music...

Le Cheile Arts and Music Festival Gathering Night

02 Aug 2013 - 02 Aug 2013

The Gathering Night with KÍLA - Fri 2nd Aug Located in Oldcastle, Co Meath, the Le Chéile Arts & Music Festival welcome you to its...

Mullaghmore Sessions

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The first Mullaghmore Sessions music festival took place in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo in 2012. The bands featured included the best...

Cahersiveen Festival of Music & the Arts

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

The Cahersiveen Festival of Music & the Arts has attracted visitors from all over the world. Every year brings new events and this...

The Joe Dolan International Westmeath Bachelor Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Joe Dolan's Music has a worldwide audience. We are inviting his world Fanbase back to Mullingar, the town where he came from for a...

Americana and Roots Weekend

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The 4th annual Greystones Americana and Roots Weekend returns this year with all new acts from Ireland, Europe and the US. This...

45th Annual Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival

02 Aug 2013 - 10 Aug 2013

Turn back time in the beautiful Georgian heritage town of Birr and revel in its contemporary culture with a dynamic range of...

Week of Welcomes

02 Aug 2013 - 09 Aug 2013

Calling all North Kerry men & women home to the land of your forefathers. Come along on a magical journey through the towns and...

Western Ocean Walking Weekend

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The Western Ocean Walking Weekend is a 3-day guided walking weekend in northwest Mayo. Dominated by the North Atlantic, this...

Letterkenny Live

03 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Letterkenny Live 2013 is a live music festival over two days with headline bands playing on the gig rig in Letterkenny. The event...

Festival Cluain Meala

03 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

Festival Cluain Meala, as part of The Gathering 2013, will present a range of festivals & events taking place each weekend during...

The Heart of the Glens Festival, Cushendall

03 Aug 2013 - 12 Aug 2013

One of the most successful community festivals in Northern Ireland, the Heart of the Glens Festival caters for all age groups,...

Maiden City Festival

03 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

The Maiden City Festival is held annually between the first and second weekends of August, in Londonderry.

Big House Festival

03 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Big House Festival is an invitation to have a ball at Ireland's first ever site-specific festival in Ireland's only true palace -...

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Did you know?

One of the 19th-century’s greatest writers, Anthony Trollope, was Postmaster at Drumsna, County Leitrim. As well as using his experiences in the postal service in Ireland in many of his novels, Trollope also became famous for a rather non-literary achievement – he invented the post box!