The Irish love any excuse to celebrate and meet people. That’s why you are never far away from one of thousands of festivals held every year . Food, music, heritage and all that's great about Ireland are showcased. But beware – many festivals are held in muddy fields, so pack your boots!
St Patrick’s Day FestivalAs the one national holiday that is celebrated in more countries around the world than any other, on St. Patrick’s Day everyone wants to be Irish! From March 14 to 18 we’ll be painting the town green, with 100s of events, parades and celebrations all around Ireland. |  |
Over 290 Music festivals
For contemporary music, check out Oxegen – Ireland’s biggest music festival, voted the best Major European Festival for two years running – and other hot contenders, including The Electric Picnic and Castlepalooza.
For traditional music, there’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, TradFest in Dublin and Cork, TradPicnic in Galway, the Willie Clancy Summer School in Clare and tonnes more festivals around the country.
Jazz-heads and anyone looking for a taste of Ireland’s great county should head to Cork Jazz Festival. Or for high culture, get to experience some of the quirkiest opera and a great feast of fringe events at Wexford Festival Opera.
Culture
Ireland’s traditions of writing, theatre and art are celebrated in a host of events that include Dublin Theatre Festival, Cork World Book Festival, Spraoi International Street Art Festival, Dublin Book Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Galway Arts Week, Lismore Immrama Festival Of Travel Writing, Graiguenamanagh Town of Books, The Children’s Book Festival, Writers Week Listowel, Corona Cork Film Festival and The Dingle International Film Festival.
Laughter and the Good Life
For all the best things in life, make sure to get to a few of the following: Cat Laughs, Bulmer’s Comedy Festival, Galway International Oyster Festival, Kinsale Gourmet Festival, Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, Bloom, Galway Comedy Festival, A Taste of West Cork, Vodafone Comedy Festival, Dublin Food Fair and Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival.