Brought to you by Tourism Ireland
Ireland's festival season is now entering its autumn mode, with everything from theatre, film, jazz, rock and much more on offer...
SLIGO LIVE
Folk, roots and indie festival with more than 100 performances from folk, roots and indie musicians. Over six days the cafes, pubs, hotels, clubs, shopping centres and theatres of Sligo stage intimate performances by top Irish and international acts.
BRAM STOKER FESTIVAL
Just in time for Halloween, Dublin has a weekend devoted to the life and legacy of the creator of the world’s favourite, extravagantly-fanged count, Dracula. It’s billed as four days of deadly adventures, celebrating the gothic, the mysterious, the after-dark and the thrill of Halloween.
RICHARD HARRIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Richard Harris International Film Festival is based in Limerick City, home of one of Ireland’s Hollywood legends and most famous sons.
BELFAST INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Currently — until November 3
One of the biggest arts festivals on the island of Ireland.
WEXFORD OPERA FESTIVAL
Since the 1950s the annual Wexford Opera Festival has been a fixture in the international opera calendar, renowned as one of the world’s finest. This year’s festival features operas from Massenet, Vivaldi, and Rossini. Even if you haven’t got tickets for the main events, there’s street opera, stand-up opera, pub opera, and even operaoke – a type of operatic karaoke, if you hadn’t guessed.
WHISKEY LIVE, DUBLIN
With over 60 exhibitors, the festival explores all aspects of whiskey over. Tastings, demonstrations, information about new distilleries and some history of whiskey-making on the island of Ireland are all included in this festival.
LISTOWEL FOOD FAIR, KERRY
The Listowel Food Fair, which started
back in 1994, showcases the best food producers that Kerry has to offer. Demonstrations, tastings and workshops are all on offer in the festival which is being run in conjunction with Taste the Island.
IMAGINE ARTS FESTIVAL
Theatre, dance, music, visual art, discussion and debate, with a strong focus on homegrown works are all part of proceedings in Waterford.
CORK GUINNESS JAZZ FESTIVAL
Ireland’s longest-established jazz festival, held in a variety of venues throughout the city, now attracts names of huge international stature. Headliners this year include Big Brass Band Explosion, Dr Linley Hamilton, Fred Hersch Trio, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Mica Paris sings Ella Fitzgerald.
CRAFT BEER & SEAFOOD TRAIL
Taste some of the best seafood Dublin has to offer as you tour the picturesque fishing village of Howth, stopping off at locations along the route to sample its culinary delights.
Along the way you’ll hear tales of Howth’s ancient past – Viking & Norman invasions, the history of the 700-year-old castle, Kings landing and many many more. This unique experience will excite all of your senses – offering some of the best views in Ireland, magical sea smells, sounds of the wide variety of wildlife
and unrivalled food and drink.
More information at www.hiddenhowthexperiences.com
DERRY HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL
Reckoned to be the biggest Halloween festival in the world, the city’s Spooktacular knees-up takes place against Derry-Londonderry’s dramatic backdrop of ancient walls and buildings. This extravagant celebration of the supernatural, features fireworks, light shows, dramatic music, storytelling, a Carnival Parade and the famous Samhain Traditional Sessions.
CARLINGFORD OYSTER FESTIVAL
Situated on the southern shore of the Carlingford Lough in Co. Louth, the Carlingford Oyster Festival claims to be one of the most relaxing seafood festivals in Ireland. Offering music, family activities and those all-important oysters there is plenty to keep you busy at this festival, or you could take it all in your stride and sample some of the country’s finest seafood while enjoying the views across the lough to the quaint old streets of Carlingford.
GALWAY INTERNATIONAL OYSTER AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Being an island means you can always guarantee you will find great seafood in Ireland - which means even greater seafood festivals. One that is certainly worth a visit is the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival – which honours “the first man bold enough to eat an oyster”, according to satirist Jonathan Swift. See www.galwayoysterfestival.com for the full line up for 2020.
ARMAGH FOOD AND CIDER FESTIVAL
The Armagh Food and Cider Festival takes place every September, boasting food and cider markets, banquet events and orchard walks among its bustling lineup.
Famed for its food quality, artisan ciders and a band of inventive enthusiastic chefs the festival highlights the region’s reputation for great food, unique events and distinctive experiences.
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