Féilte | Festivals
Festivals
Joyce Country Walking Festival
Joyce Country - March
The festival takes place against the backdrop of the breathtaking mountains and mystical valleys that are found in North County Galway & South Mayo.
T: 087 1521 716
E: info@joycecountry.com | turasds@gmail.com
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Countywide - March
Seachtain na Gaeilge is a festival which celebrates the Irish language and culture. It doesn't matter if you are a fluent speaker or just beginning to learn the language, give it a go!
T: 01 4757401
W: www.snag.ie
Féile John McGrath
Westport - April
Centred around the figure of John McGrath from Erris, the famous composer, fiddle player and teacher of Irish music. Organised by Cathair na Mart branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
T: 094 9256745
Féile na bPáistí
Béal an Mhuirthead - Easter Holidays
A 3-day festival with lots of fun activities for children, art, drama, puppetry...all in Áras Inis Gluaire
T: 097 81079
R: r.mangan@arasinisgluaire.ie
Féile Chois Cuain
Louisburgh - May Bank Holiday Weekend
The little town of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, comes alive with traditional music, song, dance and craic every May Bank Holiday weekend. The Louisburgh area has a rich heritage in the traditional arts. Buntings "Collector" Patrick Lynch had a fruitful sojourn in the Louisburgh area in 1802 and collected several songs. Among others, he found blind Piper Billy O'Maily who had the greatest variety of Irish songs and collected over 30 songs in the area. Bunting himself collected several "airs" in the area.
E: feilechoiscuain@yahoo.com
Achill Walks Festival
Achill Island - May Bank Holiday Weekend
Established in 2002, Achill's Walks Festival has quickly become a fixture in the Irish walks calendar. The guided walks are punctuated by informative and entertaining talks from the guide, highlighting the points of interest, local history, and geographical or archaeological detail.
T: 098 47081
Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend
Achill Island - April / May
The itinerary consists of literary, artistic, musical and archaeological events which endeavour to celebrate the landscape of Achill and the ethos of Heinrich Böll.
W: www.heinrichboellcottage.com
Erris Beo
Béal an Mhuirthead, An Fód Dubh and Dumha Thuama: 14-19 June
Erris Beo invites you to visit Ireland's newest outdoor and activity destination, with the world class Carne Golf Links Course, amazing scenery, friendly locals in a traditional Gaeltacht setting.
T: 097 82292
Snas ar do Bhlas on Clare Island
Clare Island: 24-26 June
A weekend of fun lots of music, dance, gaelic football, and an island-wide treasure hunt for the more adventurous...If you have only 2 words of Irish and would like to increase that to 4 then this is the weekend for you.
T: 098 26525
Summer Music Series
Countywide: July
Mayo County Council Arts Office is delighted to present an exciting programme of diverse musical events throughout Mayo during July.
T: 094 904 7558
I: www.mayococo.ie/en/Services/ArtsOffice/
Clare Island Regatta
Clare Island - 10 July
The Clare Island Regatta is a feastival of currach and yawl racing, with sports on the beach for children and parents.
T: 098 26525
Achill Yawl Festival (Cruinniú Bádóirí Acla)
Achill Island: July - September
The Achill Yawl Festival (Cruinniú Bádóirí Acla) is an annual series of races involving traditional Achill yawl sailing boats, running from July to September each year, with races taking place at weekends and in the evenings (when tides allow). An exciting spectator sport, the races are keenly contested by local teams from the Achill and Mulranny areas
T: 098 20705
Féile Iorrais
Iorras: 15-24 July
16th Year of the International Folk Arts Festival, 15th July - 24th July. Performers, artists & films from around the world, including: Ireland, England, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, Cuba, New Zealand & the USA.
Croí Chaisleán an Bharraigh Street Festival
Castlebar: 21-23 July
Live entertainment, craic agus ceol will take centre stage at Castlebar from 21 to 23 July coinciding with the official opening of the beautiful new street scape in "downtown" Castlebar. A fantastic line up of artists, markets and entertainers including an exciting live Samba band, puppeteers and many others will take to the streets of Mayo's first town.
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh Agricultural Show
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh: 24 July
The Annual Tuar Mhic Éadaigh agricultural show featuring - Sheep/Connemara Ponies/Donkeys/Dogs, Vegetables/Home Baking/Crafts, Trade Stands, Sports and Events for children, Irish Music & Sean Nós Dancing, Photography/Art and Barbeque, application forms are available here.
T: 094 9544 278
Scoil Acla
Achill Island: 25-31 July
Traditional Music and Cultural Summer School - Cúrsa i nGaeilig' Acla, Traditional Music Workshops, Writers' Workshops, Music Recitals, Sean Nós Singing, Readings, Basket Weaving, Dance Workshop.
T: 098 43107
Siamsa Sráide
Swinford: 29 July - 3 Aug
Siamsa Sráide Swinford is a summer street festival with open-air Céilí, Dancing, Heritage Day and International Busking Competitions. There are also history walks talks and poetry recital.
T: 086 805 9172
Lá Oidhreachta Chathair na Mart
Westport: 7 August
Come along and join us on this year’s Heritage Day, Lá Oidhreachta Chathair na Mart on the 7th August, while we take a look back in time on life in Ireland fadó. This day is full of activities for all the family with a huge variety of Musical, Poetry and Drama entertainers on the day. The Mall in Westport will be full of tradesmen and women selling their produce and demonstrating showing how things were done generations before the Ipod!!! The mall will be vibrant engrossing you for hours with spinners, butter makers, wood turners, potters, a tin maker, basket makers, bee-keepers and jewellery makers.
T: 098 27375 | 098 26555
E: westportheritageday@gmail.com
W: www.westportmusicfestival.com
Ceol na Locha
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh: 8-12 August
School of Music, Culture and Language with a music session every night, a country market and lots of other activities. The school is run through Irish, beginners are welcome and are given every help and encouragement.
The application form is available here.
T: 094 9544 079
Geesala Festival
Gaoth Sáile: 7-14 August
Family fun festival events for young & old, day & night entertainment, including 2 super days of horse & greyhound racing on beach with all facilities & fun fair on beach front. With the famous Dollough Horse racing on the 14th August.
September Sessions
Louisburgh: 9-11 September
The September Sessions is an annual family weekend of Irish Traditional Music which takes place in An Bhun Abhainn pub, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo.
Culture Night
Countywide: 23 September
A night of entertainment, discovery and adventure. Arts and cultural organisations open their doors until late with hundreds of free events, tours, talks and performances for you, your family and friends to enjoy.
E: mayoarts@mayococo.ie
W: www.culturenight.ie or www.mayococo.ie
Féile an Fhómhair
Erris: 23-25 September
The Erris branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Craobh Chlann Lir, are holding 'Féile an Fhómhair' a weekend of traditional music, featuring sessions, workshops and a concert.
T: 097 81710
Sonas
Louisburgh – October
Children’s Book Festival
Countywide - October
The Children’s Book Festival is one of Ireland’s biggest arts festivals, with hundreds of free events celebrating children’s book happenings nationwide in bookshops, libraries, schools, community and arts centres.
T: +353 (0)94 9047922
W: www.mayolibrary.ie/en/KidsScene/ChildrensBookFestival/
Samhain Abhainn
Ballina - 29 & 30 October
Magic, mystery and myth on the Moy - practiced in Celtic Ireland in 100AD, perfected in Ballina in 2011.
T: 096 72800
Croí na Nollag Castlebar
Castlebar: 2- 4 December
T: 098 26555
Shop 'n Spraoi na Nollag
Westport: 9-11 December
Westport's Christmas market with craft and artisan food stands, Santa Claus, Puppetry & Storytelling for children, Electric Picnic's Puball Gaeilge, workshops, exhibitions, Christmas Carols, dance and lots, lots more!
T: 098 26555
Oifig na Gaeilge
Áras an Chontae
An Meal
Caisleán an Bharraigh
Co. Mhaigh Eo
Phone: 094 904 7541
Email: gaeilge@mayococo.ie
Open:
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