The Northwest –

Festivals & Events 2011

Traditional music is a big part of Northwest events

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
When: 17 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) 74 912-4866.

St. Patrick’s Day Pageant
When: 17 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) 71 916-0041.

Cup of Tae Festival
When: 29 April - 2 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) 87 242-4590; Web: www.cupoftaefestival.com

Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
When: 2 - 5 June.
Where: Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
What: Ireland’s biggest rock ‘n’ blues music festival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 985-8180; Web: www.goingtomyhometown.com

Carrickmacross Festival
When: 2 - 6 June.
Where: Carrickmacross, Co.Monaghan.
What: Music, dancing, competitions and street entertainers in this lace-making town.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 42 966-1618; Web: www.carrickmacross.ie/festival

An Tostal
When: End-May - early-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.facebook.com/antostal

Wise Woman Festival
When: 13 - 15 May
Where: Dromahair, Co. Leitrim
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

Earagail Arts Festival
When: First two weeks of July.
Where: Various venues in North and West Donegal.
What: Music, theatre, family outdoor spectacles and visual.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 912-0777; Web: www.eaf.ie

Yeats International Summer School and Yeats Festival
When: 24 July – 5 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) 71 916-2693; Web: www.yeats-sligo.com

Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival
When: 29 - 31 July.
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) 71 985-1088; Web: www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com

Clonmany Festival
When: First week of August.
Where: Clonmany, Co. Donegal.
What: Annual event spotlighting local traditions and cultures of the Inishowen Peninsula. More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 937-6477 or (0) 86 342-7373 ; Web: www.clonmany.com

Carrick Water Music Festival
When: 8 - 10 July.
Where: Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
What: Musical events in the riverside setting of Carrick-on-Shannon.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 962-2243; Web: www.carrickwatermusic.com

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann

When: 13 – 22 August

Where: Cavan Town, Co. Cavan

What: The “Superbowl” of Irish traditional music, with competitors from all over Ireland and the world vying to be “All-Ireland” champions in music and song.

More Info: Tel. 353 (0) 49 433 7994; web: www.fleadh2011.ie

Sligo Live

When: 27 – 31 October

Where: Sligo Town

What: With a mix of Irish and international, traditional and contemporary music, this festival celebrates Sligo’s rich musical tradition including the fiddle masters.

Samhain International Poetry Festival
When: Mid-October.
Where: Gortahork, Co. Donegal.
What: Annual International Poetry Festival with a €6,000 prize for best poem.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 108-8397; Web: www.samhainpoetry.com

Annual Kavanagh Weekend
When: 25 - 28 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