Top 10 Most Famous Festivals in Ireland
One thing about Ireland is for sure, and that’s its festivals. Ireland is plenty of gorgeous places, events, festivals, and fairs to meet a variety of ... read more...interests. There's something for everyone, from arts and traditional music to some of the best local food you'll ever taste. And, as an added benefit, the enjoyment doesn't end throughout the wintertime! Here are the 10 most famous festivals in Ireland that Toplist recommends.
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Puck Fair, which takes place from the 10th to the 12th of August, is an annual three-day family-friendly street festival unlike any other! Every year, a wild mountain goat is crowned king of Killorglin, Co Kerry, by the Queen of Puck, who is traditionally a young local schoolgirl. There is a coronation parade, and King Puck reigns over the town until his dethronement on the final day of the festival. It's an unusual festival concept, but it never fails to provide excellent entertainment and create a buzz around Killorglin.
The coronation of the goat is just the beginning of what Puck Fair has to offer its visitors. From horse and cattle fairs to trade stalls and family events, there is something for everyone. There is never a dull moment during the three days of the festival because it is jam-packed with various forms of entertainment. Music and circus workshops, traditional Irish music and dancing, night-time concerts, and pipe bands, to name a few! Children are also entertained with a variety of fun activities such as face painting, clowns, puppet shows, and fancy dress.
Every year, the end of Puck Fair is celebrated by a stunning fireworks display, the ideal climax to a wonderful festival. It is the ideal occasion for the entire family to spend time together and have a wonderful time. Killorglin is a wonderfully lovely town with plenty to do and see.
Time: August
Location: Killorglin, Ireland
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Every year, over 20,000 people attend the world-famous Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which takes place over the month of September. They come in search of love, dancing, music, racing, and a good time, and they are not disappointed! Matchmaking is an ancient Irish tradition, and much of it has taken place at Lisdoonvarna between September and early October.
The town became a tourist destination in the 18th century after a well-known Limerick surgeon discovered the beneficial properties of its mineral waters. People came from all across Ireland to bathe and drink in the mineral waters. The iron, sulfur, and magnesium-rich water alleviated the symptoms of disorders such as rheumatism and glandular fever. The Lisdoonvarna "matchmaking tradition" arose as a result of the attractiveness of these natural springs and the large number of individuals who visited them.
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival has evolved into Europe's largest singles event. It's not just that they're seeking a spouse; they're also looking for a good time. Throughout the month of September, dances are held on a daily basis and continue until the early hours of the morning. Set dancing exhibitions are also a staple of the celebration, as is live Irish music in most bars, however getting to the bar can be a challenge, but don't panic or hurry for the music continues into the early hours!
Time: September-October
Location: Lisdoonvarna, Ireland
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In the past, Saint Patrick's Day was observed as a religious holiday in Ireland. In 1931, Dublin hosted the first St. Patrick's Day parade in Ireland. Despite the existence of secular celebrations, the holiday remains a religious observance in Ireland for both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Irish government launched a push to promote Ireland and its culture on Saint Patrick's Day in the mid-1990s. In 1996, the first Saint Patrick's Day festival was conducted as a one-day event. Since then, it has expanded to a five-day celebration with many events and activities, with over a million people attending the festival and 675,000 attending the parade alone in 2009.
The world's largest and best St. Patrick's Day Parade is a spectacular exhibition of artistic skill. The Parade itself flows through the city centre and features Irish street theatre companies, ceremonial organizations, and marching bands from all over the world, creating a thrilling carnival atmosphere.
Time: March
Location: Ireland
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Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is Ireland's oldest and most important traditional music competition. The festival, which has been running since 1951, promises tons of craic agus ceol (meaning fun) for its 250,000-400,000 visitors. There will be tons of fiddles and flutes, as well as Irish dances and other activities.
In the 1950s, several of the biggest names in Irish music agreed to organize an event to promote traditional Irish music and reverse the decadent trends that were prevalent in Irish culture at the time. It was recommended that the best traditional musicians from all over Ireland gather in Mullingar to compete in a music competition. This is how Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann came to be. There were thousands of traditional bands in Ireland at the time, but many thought their music was completely disregarded by the elite.
The festival provided a stage for traditional artists as well as an appreciative audience. It has now evolved into a genuinely global event, with participation from all around the world.
Time: August
Location: Drogheda, Ireland
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The Galway Festival is an annual horse racing festival in Ireland that takes place on the final Monday of July. It is the longest race meet in Ireland, lasting seven days at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway, Ireland.
The Galway Festival features 51 races, with total prize money exceeding €2 million for the first time this year. The renowned Galway Plate, which is so important in the history of Galway racing, is the Blue Riband race. It takes place on Wednesday, the third day of the meeting, and it will be the race that garners the greatest media attention and, no doubt, the majority of Galway Festival betting.
Wednesday, when the Galway Plate is held, and Thursday, when the Galway Hurdle and Ladies' Day are staged, are the busiest days of the festival. Ladies' Day is held on the fourth day of the Galway Festival and is one of the most colorful. The Galway Handicap Hurdle, another race that attracts great betting interest, is the main event of the day. Before betting on the race, punters should check out our Galway Festival Free Bet Offers.
Time: July
Location: Galway, Ireland
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The Irish Redhead Convention, one of the most famous festivals in Ireland, draws thousands of redheads to the Irish village of Crosshaven to celebrate "all things to do with having fabulous red hair, the rarest hair colour in the world."
The festival includes a variety of events "The Best Ginger Awards," which include "the most freckles per square inch," "Best Wannabe Redhead," and "the world's greatest ginger beard." The event featured over 40 ginger-themed events. The Irish Redhead Convention has raised approximately €30,000 ($33,887) for its charity partner, the Irish Cancer Society, to date. Because redheads are predisposed to melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, the festival aims to raise awareness about the importance of being "SunSmart."
In a news statement, event founder Joleen Cronin stated, "Through social media, the redhead community is truly worldwide, and it is fantastic that the festival attracts people from as far away as Australia, Europe, and the United States." Among other things, festival-goers participated in the "ginger jig," which set a world record for the largest redhead traditional ceili dance.
Time: August
Location: Crosshaven, Ireland
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Kilkenny Arts Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Ireland, known for its effortless marriage of tradition and innovation, as well as its exhilarating choice of activities held in some of the country's most beautiful sites. Kilkenny Arts Festival has brought together many of the world's finest musicians, performers, writers, and artists since its inception in 1974 in Ireland's ancient capital. Every August, the city's medieval churches, castles, courtyards, townhouses, and gardens provide a magical environment for one-of-a-kind partnerships and personal meetings between audiences and artists.
From outdoor theatre to contemporary dance, the Festival is committed to putting on activities of the greatest calibre that will captivate audiences of all ages. Classical music has been at the heart of the Festival since its inception, with performances by internationally known musicians such as Victoria de Los Angeles, Alfred Brendel, Jordi Savall, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Nigel Kennedy, and Joshua Bell, among many others.
Kilkenny is blessed with some of Ireland's most magnificent historic spaces, including St. Canice's Cathedral and the Black Abbey, both of which have hosted countless breathtaking concerts, and the Castle Yard, which has hosted dazzling theatrical productions by Rough Magic, Shakespeare's Globe, and Druid Theatre. Few festivals can offer such a variety of venues, from St John's Priory to the Set Theatre, and the Kilkenny Arts Festival is continuously creating one-of-a-kind events for the city's hidden gems.
Time: August
Location: Kilkenny, Ireland
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The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival is an annual event hosted in Galway City on the last weekend of September. It is the world's longest-running Oyster Festival and one of the most internationally recognized Irish events, and it is a highlight in the west of Ireland's festival calendar.
Since 1954, the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival has welcomed over 500,000 guests and enjoyed over 3 million oysters, all washed down with champagne and stout while listening to some of Ireland's top musicians overlooking the famed Claddagh area by the sea in Galway City.
During this popular food festival, you can expect to enjoy a wide range of tantalizing events, such as seafood trails, oyster hot spots, oyster opening championships such as the Oyster Olympics' or World Oyster Opening Championship, foodie talks & tasting events in some of Galway's finest restaurants, food provenance tours, and sample delights at the food village at The Festival Marquee.
The World Oyster Opening Championship, an annual beauty contest to select the Festival Pearl, a Mardi Gras Party with Champagne, Guinness, and Oyster reception and an electrifying line up of top-class artists, an afternoon Marquee Reception (with more Guinness and Oysters), and the grand finale, the Gala Ball are all held over the three days of the festival.
Time: September
Location: Galway, Ireland
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Every August, the Rose of Tralee is held in Tralee, Co. Kerry, and has evolved into much more than a basic beauty contest. From its modest origins in 1959, when the festival budget was only £750, the Rose Of Tralee has grown to become one of the most prominent occasions in the Irish social calendar, second only to St Patrick's Day in terms of colour, fervour, and popularity.
To give it its formal name The Rose of Tralee International Festival is a five-day event that draws 200,000 people from all across Ireland and the world. Contestants compete for the title of The Rose of Tralee from every county in Ireland, as well as females of Irish origin from as far away as New York, Boston, and Australia. It's similar to a Miss World pageant but far more wholesome. The celebration is broadcast on prime time television in Ireland and is watched by approximately a million people, while a carnival atmosphere prevails in the Rose of Tralee are paraded through the streets on floats, followed by open-air concerts.
Since 1959, the event has been hosted in Tralee every year. It wasn't until the 1970s, however, that organizers chose to name the festival after the town's famed hymn, the Rose of Tralee.
Time: August
Location: Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland
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The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Ireland. The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is held in the picturesque seaside fishing village of Howth in north Dublin. Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has a huge reputation both at home and abroad for not just providing a spectacular culinary village but also highlighting all of the cultural, historical, and adventurous activities that make Howth such a terrific destination.
The festival food village has a beautiful view of Howth Harbour. Thousands of happy punters sit in the sunlight and take up the coastal scene at Howth's many award-winning restaurants, which feature famous prawn dishes and other seafood specialities.
However, it's not just about finding the perfect prawn; this is a celebration of all things seafood. To mention a few, expect to see a lot of Fish & Chips, Oysters, Fish Cakes, Stir-Fries, Paella, and Smoked Salmon. After all, variety is the spice of life. This lovely peninsula is a breath of fresh air from the hectic city, only a short boat ride away.
There's always something to do in the authentic fishing village, no matter what time of year it is. From breathtaking walks around the harbour to coastal adventures on the cliffs, to learning about the village's rich maritime heritage and, of course, eating the freshest seafood. The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has a lot of family fun, music, entertainment, activities, and more.
Time: May
Location: Howth, Ireland