The West –

Festivals & Events 2008

Street music from many lands during Galway Arts Festival

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
When: 17th March.
Where: Galway City.
What: Pipe bands, dance groups and performance artists from all over the world gather fort his parade, regarded as the best in the West.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 536829; Web: www.stpatricksgalway.com

St. Patrick’s Day Parades
When: 17th March.
Where: Athlone, Kiltimagh, Longford, Mullingar
What: Colourful floats, bands and clowns will entertain both young and old.
More Info: (Athlone) Tel. +353 (0) 90 649 4555 ; (Kiltimagh) Tel: +353 (0) 94 9381494; (Longford) Tel: +353 (0) 43 47455.; and (Mullingar) Tel: +353 (0) 86 8052609

Achill Island Walking Festival (Féile Siúlóidi Acla)
When: 16th - 19th March.
Where: Achill Island, Co. Mayo.
What: Walking via guided and self-guided walks in a very scenic area.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 98 47353; Web: www.achilltourism.com

Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival
When: Last weekend of March.
Where: Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.
What: A literary festival comprising of readings, poetry, music, workshops and children’s entertainment.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 43 71801. Web: www.edgeworthliteraryfestival.com

Connemara International Marathon
When: 6th April.
Where: Connemara, Co. Galway.
What: Three runs - a marathon, half-marathon, and ultra-marathon - through Co. Galway’s most scenic area.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 91 565 154; Web: www.connemarathon.com

22nd Cúirt International Festival of Literature
When: 22nd – 27th April.
Where: Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
What: A literary festival, now in its 21st year.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 565886; Web: www.galwayartscentre.ie

Strokestown International Poetry Festival
When: Early May.
Where: Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
What: Poetry readings, competitions and performances.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 963-3759. Web: www.strokestownpoetry.org

Fleadh na gCuach – The Cuckoo Festival
When: First weekend of May.
Where: Kinvara, Co. Galway.
What: Traditional music and community festival which features poetry, drama, art and children’s events.
More Info: Web: www.kinvara.com

The Galway Sessions
When: 13th – 16th June.
Where: Galway City, Co. Galway.
What: A celebration of traditional music, with 150 musicians playing in 80 sessions at 9 different pubs.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0 )87 243 2644; Web: www.galwaysessions.com

Galway Early Music Festival
When: 15th – 18th May.
Where: Galway City.
What: Spotlighting early music of long ago.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 87 9305506. Web: www.galwayearlymusic.com

Guinness Castlebar Blues Festival
When: 30 May – 2nd June.
Where: Various Venues, Castlebar Town, Co Mayo.
What: International blues festival with free entertainment.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0)9 4 902 3111. Web: www.castlebarblues.com

Castlebar International 4 Days’ Walks
When: 3rd - 7th July.
Where: Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
What: Four days of walking, talking, rambling, music, song and dance.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 94 9024102; Web: www.castlebar4dayswalks.com

11th Annual Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School of Traditional Irish Music
When: 5th - 12th July.
Where: Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.
What: Traditional Irish music, sean nos singing, and Irish language speaking.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 94 9860013; Web: www.douglashyde.com

Ballina Street and Arts Festival
When: 11th – 19th July.
Where: Ballina Town, Co. Mayo.
What: Ten days of family fun and entertainment with music, song, crafts, and more.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 96 79815; Web: www.ballinastreetfestival.ie

An tSuca Fiáin – River and Arts Festival
When: Mid-July.
Where: Ballinasloe.
What: Floating theatre, live music, visual arts, etc.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0)87 2788402; Web: www.ballinasloe-arts.com

Galway Film Fleadh
When: 8th – 13th July.
Where: Galway.
What: A showcase of the best in new and classic Irish and world cinema.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 751 655; Web: www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

Galway Cathedral Recitals
When: mid-July – mid-August.
Where: Galway.
What: Evening concerts in Galway’s magnificent stone cathedral.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 563577; Web: www.galwaycathedral.org/recitals

Galway Arts Festival
When: 14th – 27th July.
Where: Galway City and County.
What: A program of theatre, dance, music, visual art, literature, comedy and parades.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 509700; Web: www.galwayartsfestival.ie

Boyle Arts Festival
When: 25th July – 1st August.
Where: Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
What: Music, visual arts, drama, reading, children’s events and workshops.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 71 9663085; Web: www.boylearts.com

Féile Iorras
When: 18th - 27th July.
Where: Belmullet, Co. Mayo.
What: An international folk arts festival in the Gaeltacht of the Erris Peninsula.
More Info: Tel: + 353 (0) 97 81418; Web: www.feileiorras.org

Síamsa Sráide Street Festival
When: First weekend of August.
Where: Main Street, Swinford, Co. Mayo.
What: A street festival of traditional music with open-air ceilís and an international busking competition.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 8059172.

O’Carolan Summer School & Festival in Traditional Irish Music Song and Dance
When: First weekend of August.
Where: Keadue, Co. Roscommon.
What: A gathering in honor of Ireland’s legendary harper, Turlough O’Carolan, with classes for playing the harp, flute, tin whistle, button accordion, concertina, bodhran, bango and fiddle, sean nos singing and set dancing. It is followed by a three-day traditional music festival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 96 47204; Web: www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie

Galway Races
When: 28th July – 3rd August.
Where: Racecourse, Galway.
What: The west of Ireland’s most popular summer horse racing festival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 753870; Web: www.galwayraces.com

Connemara Pony Show
When: 21st August.
Where: The Showgrounds, Clifden, Co. Galway.
What: The largest national and international show for Connemara ponies with up to 500 ponies on show.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 95 21863; Web: www.cpbs.ie

Roundstone Summerfest
When: Third weekend of August.
Where: Roundstone, Connemara, Co. Galway.
What: Traditional Irish music festival set on the scenic Connemara coast.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 87 9962424; Web: www.roundstonesummerfest.com

Clarenbridge International Oyster Festival
When: 5th - 8th September.
Where: Clarenbridge, Galway.
What: A celebration of the start of the oyster season.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 226153; Web: www.clarenbridge.com

Galway International Oyster Festival
When: 25th - 28th September.
Where: Oyster Festival Marquee, Nimmo’s Pier, The Claddagh, Galway City.
What: A world class festival featuring the Guinness world oyster opening championship. More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 587992; Web: www.galwayoysterfest.com

Ballinasloe Great October Fair
When: End of September - Early October.
Where: Ballinasloe.
What: Horses and pony events, show jumping, street stalls, fireworks, tug-o-war and much more.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0)909 643453; Web: www.ballinasloe.com

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
When: 13th – 19th October.
Where: Galway City.
What: If you are traveling with kids, plan to bring them to this junior arts festival.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 562667; Web: www.baboro.ie

Baffle Festival of Poetry and Craic
When: 26th – 28th October.
Where: Loughrea, Co. Galway.
What: A unique mix of poetry by established and aspiring poets who compose on a given theme. “Baffler of The Year 2006” is the ultimate prize.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 86 3956921; Web: www.baffle.ie

Maam Cross Big October Fair
When: 31st October.
Where: The Crossroads, Maam Cross, Connemara, Co. Galway.
What: Connemara ponies are bought and sold, in traditional way with lots of local color.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 91 552306.

Last Sunset in Europe 2008 – Achill Island
When: 31st December.
Where: Minaun Heights on Achill
What: Europe’s most westerly point provides the venue for this spectacle.
More Info: Tel: +353 (0) 98 47353; Web: www.achilltourism.com