West Coast

Ireland’s Wonderful West

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With so many great travel offers plus direct flights to Shannon from major U.S. cities, Ireland's Wonderful West is nearer than you thought

  • Killarney National Park, Co Kerry

    Why the West?

    The West Coast exudes a romance like nowhere else in Ireland. It boasts an unsurpassable beauty and wild drama that is inextricably linked to the region’s culture, traditions and people. From the towering sea cliffs in Donegal and Clare, which are mercilessly beaten by the Atlantic Ocean, to the serene beauty of the Killarney National Park and the Beara Way. Ablaze with color, the West Coast offers a chance to really get away from it all, to stand on the edge and face nature in all its glory. Here, you can climb mountains, travel to remote islands, explore quiet bays or discover ancient limestone landscapes. Most important, though, in the West Coast you can experience authentically Irish culture and traditions, from the vibrant Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region and its lively céilÍs (Irish dancing) to the multitude of festivals that celebrate the history and heritage of this fascinating region. This is also a place where relaxation comes easily. How about some downtime in a colorful fishing village with friendly locals or a weekend enjoying exceptional seafood in Ireland’s gourmet capital – Kinsale? Whatever you want to do, you can do it in the West Coast.

    The West Coast region consists of all or parts of the following counties: Sligo, Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Southwest Offaly, Tipperary North, West Cork, Cork City, Kerry, Clare and Limerick.

    Take a peek at that great things you can do in each county, or get inspiration from our itineraries. Check out the West Coast Tour, Shannon to Galway, the West and North West Tour, Shannon to Londonderry or the South West Tour, Cork to Kerry and back again.

Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal

Traditional Culture

See a different side to the country with a glimpse of traditional culture alive throughout the vibrant regions of the West Coast.

Listowel Fair, County Kerry

What to see and do

Get out there, feel the fresh air and experience incredibly beautiful sights and attractions.

The Cliffs of Slieve League, County Donegal

Stunning scenery

Follow in the paths of Ireland’s literary giants and explore stunning scenery from dramatic coastal cliffs to quiet bogland.

What's on in the West Region

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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...

Kilkee Maritime Festival

19 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

The Kilkee Maritime Festival promises plenty of maritime activities to look forward to. Highlight is Currach Regatta on Sunday...

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...

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...

The Gleneagle Run Killarney Marathon - 10K, Half & Full

20 Jul 2013 - 20 Jul 2013

Killarney will play host to a festival of running with 3 great races on the same day to suit all levels of fitness - Full...

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...

Irish Chamber Orchestra - Feet First

20 Jul 2013 - 20 Jul 2013

The Irish Chamber Orchestra, directed by Katherine Hunka and with dancer Colin Dunne, present their Feet First Tour (in...

CH Marine 2013 Glandore Classic Regatta

20 Jul 2013 - 26 Jul 2013

Glandore Harbour is the perfect place to come and watch or take part in a regatta as it has a fantastic picturesque amphitheatre...

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!...

Cloughjordan Ecovillage Experience Days

20 Jul 2013 - 20 Jul 2013

Experience the rich taste of sustainable living in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Ireland's leading green community in Co. Tipperary....

Connacht Pet Show

21 Jul 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

The Connacht Pet Show is a brand new event taking place in the West of Ireland this summer! An event for families and pet lovers,...

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...

Clare Island Tall Ship Celebrations

23 Jul 2013 - 23 Jul 2013

The Tall Ship Thalassa will arrive on Clare Island for one night only. A great old session of fun and festivities will take place...

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,...

Seaweed Days in Sligo

25 Jul 2013 - 27 Jul 2013

Seaweed Days in Sligo combines the expertise of internationally acclaimed seaweed expert Dr. Prannie Rhatigan, (from Sligo), with...

Tread Softly

25 Jul 2013 - 09 Aug 2013

Tread Softly returns to Sligo for its second year. The stories of Nobel Prize winning poet, William Butler, painter Jack B. Yeats,...

Twilight Racing at Limerick Racecourse

25 Jul 2013 - 25 Jul 2013

A great evening of horse racing action, great live bands and great entertainment. Enjoy the craic, the atmosphere, the tips, the...

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...

The Love Hungry Farmer at The Lime Tree Theatre

26 Jul 2013 - 27 Jul 2013

Des Keogh, one of Ireland's foremost actors and entertainers, returns with his hugely successful and award winning show The Love...

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....

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...

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...

Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim

27 Jul 2013 - 27 Jul 2013

Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim is a 13km swim across Galway Bay from Aughinish in Co. Clare, to Blackrock tower in...

Mirror Worlds Sailing Championship

27 Jul 2013 - 02 Aug 2013

This is the first World Sailing event ever to be held in Irish inland waterways. As well as welcoming Mirror dinghy sailors from...

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...

Schull Agricultural Show

28 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013

Schull Agricultural Show and Farmers' Market provide attractions for everyone - horse and pony classes, fun dog show, vegetables,...

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...

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...

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...

Scariff Harbour Festival

01 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

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

Fermoy International Poetry Festival

01 Aug 2013 - 01 Aug 2013

A gathering of Poets from far and wide to share their poetry on open mic sessions, workshops and the ever popular 'Poetry Bus'....

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...

Cavanaghs of Carrowhugh Re-union

02 Aug 2013 - 09 Aug 2013

The Cavanagh family of Carrowhugh has branches in America, Britain, Ireland and Australia. This event is open to all the...

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...

National Songwriter Contest

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The National Songwriters Contest will take place in the idyllic, picturesque town of Moville and the neighbouring fishing village...

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...

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...

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...

Féile Siúlóidí Acla

02 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Please note dates to be confirmed. Explore the breath-taking beauty of Achill Island at the walking festival this August with some...

Irish Festival of Speed

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

The Irish Festival of Speed is the largest celebration of car culture in Ireland, a five star mix of all things automotive; Racing...

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...

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...

The Beast of Ballyhoura

02 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

The Beast of Ballyhoura Adventure Race is a uniquely Irish 36 hour non-stop race across the ancient & magical surroundings of...

Guided Tour of South Sligo's Local Heritage Sites

03 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Surrounded by stunning scenery of the beautiful Ox Mountains or Slieve Gamph, the Ox Mountain Development Company Ltd., will be...

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...

Muck Off

04 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Muck Off is a new cross country challenge taking place on a scenic 150 acre parkland estate just outside Nenagh in North...

Lughnasa at Craggaunowen

04 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

‘Lughnasa’, honoured the Celtic god Lugh of the Tuatha de Danann, god of arts and crafts, and ushered in the harvest season....

Craggaunowen - The Living Past Experience

04 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Craggaunowen, the Living Past Experience, interprets Ireland’s pre-historic and early Christian eras. Ancient homesteads and...

Cashel Pony Show

04 Aug 2013 - 04 Aug 2013

Cashel Connemara Pony Show is held on the first Sunday of August every year. There will be in-hand showing of Connemara Ponies, a...

North Tipperary Agricultural Show

05 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

North Tipperary Agricultural Show 2013 will be the most exciting show yet! In addition to the core attractions (cattle, sheep,...

Kilcar Fleadh - Féile Ceoil Chill Chartha

05 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

Kilcar Fleadh - Féile Ceol Cill Chartha is a week long festival of traditional music, songs and dance, celebrating the living...

O'Donnell Clan Gathering 2013

05 Aug 2013 - 09 Aug 2013

This O'Donnell Clan Gathering is for all O' Donnells and friends to come together for 5 days to enjoy and experience O'Donnell...

Bonniconlon Show & Gymkhana

05 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

Bonniconlon Show & Gymkhana provides entertainment for the whole family with music, song and dance, showing classes for horses,...

Ballyshannon 400

05 Aug 2013 - 11 Aug 2013

In 2013, Ballyshannon, the oldest town in Ireland, will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the signing of the Royal Charter. Down...

Roundstone All-Ireland Dog Show

05 Aug 2013 - 05 Aug 2013

The 6th Annual Roundstone All Ireland Dog Show features 20 dog classes with the best in the show and reserve. Registration takes...

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