Arts and cultural events

Arts & Cultural events

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

Fall

As Summer fades into Fall and the Irish landscape takes on a russet-colored 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, Fall 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 cozy 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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Rose Week at Altamont Gardens

24 Jun 2013 - 28 Jun 2013

Rose Week at Altamont Gardens showcases the wonderful variety, colour patterns and scents of this magnificent rose collection....

Leinster Way Gathering The Carlow Show

24 Jun 2013 - 25 Aug 2013

A Carlow Show, providing a high quality evening's entertainment with a distinctive Irish and Carlow experience focusing on...

Carrick on Shannon Water Music Festival

25 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

The week long Carrick-on-Shannon Water Music Festival features the Lakelands Gala Proms as one of its highlight events. Directed...

Brú Ború Summer Show

25 Jun 2013 - 10 Aug 2013

During the summer months from June right through until late August enjoy traditional Irish entertainment nights at the Brú Ború...

Mick Conneely & David Munnelly at The Steeple Sessions

25 Jun 2013 - 25 Jun 2013

Fiddle and Bouzouki player Mick Conneely joins virtuoso box player Dave Munnelly to celebrate their recent duet album 'Tis What It...

Mick McAuley, Winifred Horan & Colm O' Caoimh at The Steeple Sessions

27 Jun 2013 - 27 Jun 2013

SOLAS has long been heralded as one of the most innovative and exciting bands to emerge on the Irish music scene over the last two...

Newmarket Summer Festival

28 Jun 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

What better way to kick-start the kids' summer holidays than at Newmarket Summer Festival. The festival has marked the arrival of...

Hay Festival Kells

28 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

The inaugural Hay Festival Kells will take place over three days in June in Kells, Co. Meath. Some programme highlights so far...

Celtic Fusion International Music and Arts Festival

28 Jun 2013 - 01 Jul 2013

This year the main event is launched on Friday 18th May at 8pm by a Celtic Fusion Showcase concert in the fabulous Lodge Cultural...

Deireadh Seachtain na Gaeilge

28 Jun 2013 - 29 Jun 2013

Deireadh Seachtain na Gaeilge is a festival promoting Irish language and culture. Festival events are held in Irish and include a...

Éigse Shéamais Ui Mhaolchataigh

28 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

Éigse Shéamais Ui Mhaolchataigh is a celebration of the Irish language, traditions and culture as written and spoken in the Deise...

Drogheda Samba Festival

28 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

Drogheda Samba Festival is a three day celebration of the Samba music, dance and costume with workshops, open air and pub gigs and...

Strawberry Festival

28 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

The Strawberry Festival is one of Ireland's oldest and most diverse of festivals. There is music from local and national artists,...

Craic In The Granite

28 Jun 2013 - 30 Jun 2013

Craic In The Granite is a major new music and arts festival being held in Aughrim, Wicklow which will appeal to families, children...

Belfast Pride

28 Jun 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Belfast Pride is Ireland's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans festival appealing to audiences of over 15,000 people each...

Seosamh MacGabhann Summer School

30 Jun 2013 - 05 Jul 2013

The Seosamh MacGabhann Summer School provides a week of classes with some of the best tutors in traditional Irish music, song,...

Hup! Festival and Connacht Fleadh Cheoil

30 Jun 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The Hup! Festival is an exciting new, weeklong celebration of all that is good about traditional Irish music, song, dance and...

Annual International Festival for Irish Harp - An Chúirt Chruitireachta

30 Jun 2013 - 05 Jul 2013

The 28th International Harp Festival - An Chúirt Chruitireachta will feature evening concerts, workshops and a harp exhibition. A...

Coleman Bodhrán School

01 Jul 2013 - 05 Jul 2013

The Coleman Bodhrán School is the only summer school on mainland Ireland entirely dedicated to learning and playing the bodhrán....

12th Annual Laois Walks Festival

01 Jul 2013 - 31 Jul 2013

The 12th Annual Laois Walks Festival features 23 walks at 21 locations in woodlands, mountains, bogs, canals and minor roads.

Clare Island Art Exhibition: A Tri-Island Art Exhibition

01 Jul 2013 - 31 Aug 2013

Clare Island Art Exhibition: A Tri-Island Art Exhibition will run throughout July and August in the community centre. Works from...

Matt Cranitch & Jackie Daly at The Steeple Sessions

02 Jul 2013 - 02 Jul 2013

De Danann's original box player, the popular Jackie Daly joins renowned fiddler Matt Cranitch for some distinctive Sliabh Luacra...

Clare Island Comhaltas Seisuns

02 Jul 2013 - 27 Aug 2013

Comhaltas Seisuns of traditional Irish music take place every Tuesday evening during July and August. The sessions are presented...

Traditional Music Sessions in Ceoláras Coleman

03 Jul 2013 - 31 Aug 2013

This is a unique opportunity to enjoy the traditional music of south Sligo. Summer sessions are held on Wednesday and Saturday...

10 Days in Dublin

03 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

10 Days in Dublin is a unique event that has grown hugely year on year. It is Ireland's largest open-format, multidisciplinary...

Bard Summer School

03 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Please note dates to be confirmed. Bard Summer School explores the Irish myths and goes on a unique journey of discovery for their...

Roundstone Traditional Irish Nights

03 Jul 2013 - 28 Aug 2013

Roundstone Traditional Irish Nights are nights of music, song & dance performed in the Roundstone community centre every Wednesday...

Galway Cathedral Recitals - Summer Concerts 2013

04 Jul 2013 - 08 Aug 2013

Galway Cathedral Recitals is a series of summer evening concerts, held in the inspirational setting of Galway's stone cathedral,...

Swift Satire Festival

04 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The Swift Satire Festival is unique, no other festival in the world is dedicated to satire in all its forms (apart from one in...

Castlebar International Four Days Walking Festival

04 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Come and meet walkers from more than 21 countries to walk, talk and discover the bogs, rivers, mountains, flora and fauna and the...

4th of July Limerick 2013

04 Jul 2013 - 04 Jul 2013

The 4th of July Limerick is a volunteer driven festival created by the people of Limerick to celebrate American Independence whist...

Féile Brian Ború Festival

04 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The beauty of the picturesque twin towns of Killaloe & Ballina awaits you during the 20th annual Féile Brian Ború. As it is the...

James Kelly & John Blake at The Steeple Sessions

04 Jul 2013 - 04 Jul 2013

James Kelly, regarded as one of the greatest Irish traditional fiddlers alive today, is joined by highly sought after guitarist...

Open Mike Nights on Clare Island

04 Jul 2013 - 29 Aug 2013

Every Thursday evening at Sailor's Bar there is an open mic night which John Hoban MC's. John Hoban is a talented composer,...

Castlebar International Four Days Walking Festival

04 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Come and meet walkers from more than 21 countries to walk, talk and discover the bogs, rivers, mountains, flora and fauna and the...

American Independence Celebrations at the Folk Park

04 Jul 2013 - 08 Jul 2013

Where better to celebrate the 4th of July than in Frontier America? Be transported back in time to the 1770s as the British...

Robert Boyle Summer School

04 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The Robert Boyle Summer School which will run over four days from 15th -18th July 10.am -10.pm each day, it is will be devoted to...

Clonmel Junction Festival

05 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

This annual arts festival takes place for ten days each July. The festival hosts international theatre, emerging theatre,...

Traidphicnic

05 Jul 2013 - 06 Jul 2013

Blaisín d'ár gceol, ealaíon agus cultúr traidisiúnta. A taste of traditional music, arts and culture. The first Traidphicnic was...

Ennis Street Festival

05 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The 8th edition of Ennis Street Festival will bring all the local community out onto the streets of Ennis town to celebrate the...

Armada Set Dancing Week

05 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

During July 2013, the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point will host an exciting week of set dancing. Don't miss it! There will be set...

Galway Garden Festival

06 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

The unique Galway Garden Festival held in Claregalway Castle attracts speakers and visitors from France, Scotland, England &...

68th All Ireland Pipe Band Championship

06 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Come along to a superb family day out and watch the best Pipe Bands and Drum Majors in the World compete for the coveted title of...

Kinsale Arts Festival

06 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

Kinsale is one of Ireland's most beautiful harbour towns, and Kinsale Arts Festival is the time to visit. Art events pop up all...

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy / Willie Clancy Summer School

06 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

The annual Willie Clancy Summer School is now in its 41st year. It was established to promote the study and practice of Irish...

The Lovely Girls at The Steeple Sessions

06 Jul 2013 - 06 Jul 2013

The Lovely Girls are Caoimhe Hogarty (vocals, percussion, mandolin), Pauline Burke (vocals, bodhran, banjo) and Sonja Krzyzanowski...

South of Ireland Band Championships

06 Jul 2013 - 06 Jul 2013

The not-to-be-missed 34th annual competition attracts the top brass and concert bands providing a complimentary feast of own...

Groove Music Festival

06 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

Groove is a new and unique two day afternoon/evening music festival taking place on the doorstep of Dublin on 6th and 7th July....

Leinster Fleadh

07 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

Fáilte chuig an Fleadh! The Leinster Fleadh is a cultural festival with a wide range of activities, entertainment and competitions...

West Cork Literary Festival

07 Jul 2013 - 13 Jul 2013

The West Cork Literary Festival centres on an extensive schedule of workshops which run for 3 and 5 days. Poet Ruth Padel will...

Ballina Salmon Festival

07 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

For one week in July, the bustling town of Ballina, Co. Mayo set on the idyllic banks of the River Moy, comes alive with the...

July Summer Barbeques at Wells House

07 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013

What better way to spend a Sunday over the Summer than at a barbeque in Wells House & Gardens? Enjoy the gardens and grounds of...

Space Camp - Training Kids to be Astronauts since 2007!

08 Jul 2013 - 12 Jul 2013

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

Alyth McCormack and Triona Marshall at The Steeple Sessions

09 Jul 2013 - 09 Jul 2013

Ályth McCormack and Triona Marshall are the voice and harp of the Grammy Award Winning Chieftans. Together they perform a timeless...

Galway Film Fleadh

09 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

The Galway Film Fleadh is Ireland's leading international film festival. Each July it welcomes to Galway City a diversity of...

We Banjo 3 at The Steeple Sessions

11 Jul 2013 - 11 Jul 2013

Featuring 3 tenor banjos, fiddle, mandolins, tenor guitars, guitars, banjolin and vocals WeBanjo3 combine Irish music with...

Spike Island Flag Raising Commemoration

11 Jul 2013 - 11 Jul 2013

Spike Island Flag Raising Commemoration is a short ceremony to commemorate the first time that the Irish Tricolour was flown over...

Kenmare Food Carnival

12 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

Kenmare Food Carnival is a fun three day event celebrating food in a carnival atmosphere in one of Ireland's top tourist...

The Danny Webster Ceili, Sets and Barndance Weekend

12 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

The Danny Webster Sets Ceili and Barndance Weekend is a weekend of set, ceili and two hand dancing. Music by Danny Webster and...

John Cassidy Exhibition

12 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013

Forty framed images of Cassidy's works taken by a professional photographer in their exact location in Great Britain and Ireland...

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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!