The Northwest –

Festivals & Events 2009

Traditional music is a big part of Northwest events

World Rally Championship in the North & Northwest

When: 29 January – 1 February

Where: Counties Donegal, Sligo, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan and Antrim.

What: A world-class car rally traversing six counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. TV coverage will beam the action to millions of viewers in over 180 countries and at least 250,000 spectators are expected to see it first-hand.

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.

Pan Celtic Festival – Féile Pan Cheilteach 2009
When: 14 - 19 April.
Where: Donegal Town, Co Donegal.
What: Cultural displays, music, song, dance and drama from the Celtic nations.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 919-4277; Web: www.panceltic.ie

Cup of Tae Festival
When: 1 - 4 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: 28 - 31 May.
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: 28 May – 1 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.antostalfestival.ie

Wise Woman Festival
When: 8 - 10 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

48th Annual Killybegs International Sea Angling Festival
When: 4 & 5 July.
Where: Killybegs, Co Donegal.
What: Two days of Open Boat Competitions in Donegal Bay.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 973-1137 or 74 873-1004.

Earagail Arts Festival
When: 9 – 19 July.
Where: Various venues in North and West Donegal.
What: Music, theatre, family outdoor spectacles and visual.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 916-8800; Web: www.eaf.ie

Féile an Fhalcarraig – Falcarragh Festival
When: 19 - 21 July.
Where: Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.
What: Cultural events including games, fun and live music.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 74 916-5650; Web: www.falcarraghfestival.com

50th Anniversary Yeats International Summer School and Yeats Festival
When: 25 July – 7 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: 31 July – 3 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) 71 985-1088; Web: www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com

Clonmany Festival
When: 2 - 10 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: 5 - 9 August.
Where: Carrick-on-Shannon
What: Musical events in the riverside setting of Carrick-on-Shannon.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 71 962-2243; Web: www.carrickwatermusic.com

Sligo International Choral Festival
When: 14 – 18 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) 86 259-2290; Web: www.sligochoralfest.org

Sligo Live

When: 22 – 26 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: 14 – 18 November.
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: 27 - 29 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