Events and festivals

22 questions, answered plainly.

Which Irish festival is worth building a trip around in each season?

Build around one per season and the trip shapes itself.

When is St Patrick's Festival in Dublin, and how early do I need to plan?

The festival runs five days around 17 March, with the parade through the city centre on the day itself: 13 to 17 March in 2027.

How do I plan for Galway Races, and what should I book first?

Book the bed before anything else.

What is the Fleadh Cheoil, and how does it change the town hosting it?

The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the All Ireland festival of traditional music, song and dance, organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann each August.

Which festivals are best for traditional music rather than large concerts?

Choose teaching and session festivals over headline stages.

What happens at Bloomsday in Dublin, and do I need to have read Ulysses?

You do not need to have read Ulysses.

How far ahead do Electric Picnic tickets and local accommodation sell out?

Plan on the scale of hours for tickets, and months for beds.

What should I know before going to the National Ploughing Championships?

Go expecting a small town built in fields for three days each September.

What is the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival actually like for a visitor?

It runs for the whole of September in a small Clare spa town, and the centre of it is social rather than staged.

How do I plan a trip around the Cork Jazz Festival?

Build the weekend around one or two ticketed concerts and let the rest stay loose.

What makes Wexford Festival Opera different, and how do tickets work?

Wexford does the operas other houses pass over.

When is the Galway International Arts Festival, and how do I choose events?

It takes over Galway for two weeks each July, with the 2027 edition confirmed on the Irish Escapes events page for 12 to 25 July.

What should horse racing visitors know about raceday tickets, dress and transport?

Start with the fixture list on Horse Racing Ireland, then book on the racecourse's own site.

How do I find live events in a county during my exact travel dates?

Start on the Irish Escapes events page.

Why do some Irish Escapes festival dates say to be confirmed?

Because the organiser has not published the date yet, and we will not guess it.

What is the Ryder Cup 2027 at Adare Manor, and how will it affect a Limerick trip?

The Ryder Cup is the team match between Europe and the United States, and in 2027 it comes to Adare Manor in County Limerick for its centenary edition.

Which events are best for visitors who want Irish culture without huge crowds?

Pick the second tier of the calendar and the edges of the day.

How do town festivals affect road closures, parking and accommodation prices?

A festival redraws its town for the weekend.

Can I attend a local agricultural show, regatta or harbour festival without knowing anyone?

Yes.

What should I pack and plan for an outdoor Irish festival if rain is forecast?

Pack for the ground as much as the sky.

What festivals and events happen in County Kildare through the year?

The year starts with Brigid: Féile Bhríde fills Kildare town around 1 February, the feast of St Brigid, which is now marked by a public holiday on the first Monday of the month.

When is the Irish Derby, and how do I go racing at the Curragh?

The Irish Derby is run at the Curragh in late June, the centrepiece of the summer meeting and the biggest day in Irish Flat racing.

Useful pages: Events in Ireland · Festivals and events guide · Irish sport · Irish festivals to experience

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