Festivals in Ireland Around the Year

Visitors to Ireland might find the best memories come from attending Irish Festivals. Every year, Ireland throws countless events where everyone can enjoy music, dancing and parties of all kinds in many cities and counties. Holidays are also celebrated with gusto.

Summer Festivals

During the summer months, there are dozens of festivals that take place annually. The festivals, and when they take place, include:

*Cork Midsummer Festival: June
*Kilarney Summerfest: first half of July
*Festival of World Cultures: late July
*Galways Arts Festival and Galway Races: Mid-July Through Early August
*Puck Fair: August 10-12
*Rose of Tralee: late August
*Kilkenny Arts Festival: August
*Dublin Horse Show: August

Autumn Festivals

Fall has fewer festivals than summer, but some annual autumn festivals include:

*Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival: takes place in September
*Galway International Oyster Festival: late September
*Belfast Festival at Queens: end of October
*Wexford Opera Festival: end of October
*Cork Jazz Festival: end of October
*Féile An Fhomhair Autumn Festival: mid-october
*Swords Heritage Festival: Ends in November (but starts in April)

Irish Winter Festivals

Despite the winter chill, the Irish still know how to hold some amazing celebration. Some popular Irish festivals that take place during the winter months include:

*Darklight Film Festival: December
*Goff’s Bloodstock Sales: mid-December
*Winter Solstice: December 21st (shortest day)
*Christmas
*St. Stephens Day: December 26th
*Cumann Merriman Festival: February

Spring Festivals in Ireland

As the snow melts away and warmth fills the air, all kinds of festivals celebrating rebirth, growth and plain old fun take place in Ireland. These include:

*Adare Jazz Festival: March
*St. Patrick's Festival: March 17
*Waterford International Festival of Light Opera: April
*Fairyhouse Easter Racing Festival: Easter weekend
*Fleadh Nuo: May
*Belfast Civic Festival: May
*Murphy's International Mussel Fair: May
*Bloomsday: June
*Galway Early Music Festival: June
*Smithwick's Cat Laughs Festival: Early June