The Northwest –

Festivals & Events 2008

Traditional music is a big part of Northwest events

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
When: 17th March
Where: Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
What: Vintage cars, colourful floats, marching bands, community groups and cartoon characters are just some of the sights to be seen along the parade route.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9124866.

St. Patrick’s Day Pageant
When: 17th March.
Where: Sligo.
What: Street jesters, face-painters, and masked impersonators join with of Irish compatriots from all over the world.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 9160041.

Pan Celtic Festival – Féile Pan Cheilteach 2008
When: 25th –30th March.
Where: Donegal Town, Co Donegal.
What: Cultural displays, music, song, dance and drama from the Celtic nations.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9194277; Web: www.panceltic.ie

Cup of Tae Festival
When: 2nd - 5th May.
Where: Ardara, Co. Donegal.
What: Classes and workshops on playing the fiddle and flute - where the folklore of each tune is passed on as well as the music.
More Info: Tel. +353 (0) 87 2424590; Web: www.cupoftaefestival.com

Dunfanaghy Seafood Festival
When: Last weekend of May.
Where: Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal.
What: Fresh caught seafood, barbecues, live music and a carnival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9136548.

Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
When: 29th May – 1st June.
Where: Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
What: Ireland’s biggest rock ‘n’ blues music festival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 9858180; Web: www.goingtomyhometown.com

Carrickmacross Festival
When: 29th May – 2nd June.
Where: Carrickmacross, Co.Monaghan.
What: Music, dancing, competitions and street entertainers in this lace-making town.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 42 9661618; Web: www.carrickmacross.ie/festival

An Tostal
When: First weekend of June.
Where: Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim.
What: A traditional festival presenting the finest in Irish music, song and dance.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 9641069; Web: www.antostalfestival.ie

Wise Woman Festival
When: 6 - 8 June
Where: Lough Gill, Co. Sligo
What: A weekend of learning, discovery, celebration and fun for women of all ages including a speaker’s corner and sisterspace.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0)71 913-9213
Web: www.wisewomanireland.com

Killybegs International Sea Angling Festival
When: 5th - 7th July.
Where: Killybegs, Co Donegal.
What: Two days of Open Boat Competitions in Donegal Bay.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9731137 or 74 8731004.

Earagail Arts Festival
When: 10th – 20th July.
Where: Various venues in North and West Donegal.
What: Music, theatre, family outdoor spectacles and visual.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9168800; Web: www.eaf.ie

Féile an Fhalcarraig – Falcarragh Festival
When: Mid-July.
Where: Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.
What: Cultural events including games, fun and live music.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 91 65650; Web: www.falcarraghfestival.com

Yeats International Summer School and Yeats Festival
When: 26th July – 29th August.
Where: Yeats Memorial Building, Hyde Bridge, Sligo.
What: Scholarly event in honor of William Butler Yeats, one of Ireland’s Nobel Prize winners, who wrote extensively about the Sligo area.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 91 62693; Web: www.yeats-sligo.com

Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival
When: 1st – 4th August.
Where: Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
What: The longest running folk festival in Ireland, hosting top artists in traditional and folk music.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 9851088; Web: www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com

Clonmany Festival
When: 1st - 4th August.
Where: Clonmany, Co. Donegal.
What: Annual event spotlighting local traditions and cultures of the Inishowen Peninsula. More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 9376477 or (0) 86 3427373 ; Web: www.clonmany.com

Carrick Water Music Festival
When: 13th – 17th August.
Where: Carrick-on-Shannon
What: Musical events in the riverside setting of Carrick-on-Shannon.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 96 22243; Web: www.carrickwatermusic.com

Coleman Traditional Festival
When: Last weekend of August.
Where: Gurteen, Co. Sligo.
What: A celebration of Irish music, culture and heritage in the tradition of local musician, Michael Coleman.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 9182599; Web: www.colemanirishmusic.com

Sligo International Choral Festival 2008 - 21st Anniversary
When: 15th – 19th October.
Where: Various venues in Sligo.
What: Competitions for mixed, male and female voice for concerts, cabaret, gospel, barbershop, folksong, youth and sacred music.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 2592290; Web: www.sligochoralfest.org

Samhain International Poetry Festival
When: 15th – 19th November.
Where: Gortahork, Co. Donegal.
What: 4th Annual Smurfit International Poetry Festival with a €6,000 prize for best poem.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 1088397; Web: www.samhainpoetry.com

Annual Kavanagh Weekend
When: Last Weekend of November.
Where: Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan
What: A celebration of one of Ireland’s greatest poets, Patrick Kavanagh through music, poetry, theatre and song.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 42 9378560; Web: www.patrickkavanaghcountry.com