Festivals

Reviving romance: the magic of matchmaking in County Clare In an age of digital dating, one Irish town is dedicated to finding love the old-fashioned way, with a matchmaking festival that’s been bringing people together for more than 165 years Each September, as the silage is cut and the summer crowds drift home, something unique happens near the Burren region of...

The Masters of Tradition festival is a lens through which travellers can see into the musical soul of Ireland. Curated by world-famous fiddler Martin Hayes, Masters of Tradition (20–24 August) is a unique festival experience that combines music, history, storytelling and place. At its heart is authenticity and connection through a celebration of the masters of traditional Irish music who...

Ireland’s equine excellence showcased in new immersive Horse Country experiences. Discover the passion and skills that have made Ireland a world leader in thoroughbred breeding and racing through 15 unique equine experiences. Ireland is an island of horse lovers, and its extraordinary equine heritage is internationally recognised. Irish-bred thoroughbred horses, racehorse trainers and jockeys are among the most accomplished on...

Trad mad? Beat a path to Wexford for the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. The world’s biggest celebration of traditional Irish music and culture is an unforgettable experience for musicians and spectators alike. Wexford town in Ireland’s Ancient East is tuning up for the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which will welcome over 650,000 people to a sensational...

With UNESCO celebrating its 80th birthday this year, we look at some of Ireland’s next great heritage sites in waiting, from lunar landscapes to astronomical treasures This year marks 80 years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was established in 1945. One of UNESCO’s most celebrated initiatives is the World Heritage Sites programme, which recognises and...

Ireland’s arts festivals offer an electrifying range of events showcasing outstanding creative talent from around the world. Ireland has a year-long calendar of top-notch arts festivals and some of the biggest and best are lined up for the summer months. Here’s a peek at what’s on offer at three of the island’s most dynamic and distinctive arts festivals. Galway International Arts...

Sip and savour some of the best whiskeys in the world at Belfast’s week-long celebration of uisce beatha – the water of life. Whiskey has been made in Ireland for more than 700 years and over the centuries the process has been developed, fine-tuned and, some say, perfected. It’s part of the character of the island and of the people....

Belfast Tradfest is an authentic celebration of Irish music and culture in a week-long party that welcomes the world to the city. Belfast, UNESCO City of Music, will live up to its name this summer when Belfast TradFest (27 July to 3 August) returns with a rousing programme of top-name concerts, expert-led masterclasses and spirited pub sessions. The city has a...

Listen up, it’s time to enjoy all things musical on the island of Ireland as the island gears up to celebrate World Music Day 2025 When it comes to music, Ireland hits all the right notes. The island boasts a proud musical pedigree, and you don’t have to look far to find music being enjoyed in all its forms, whether...

Get into the spirit of things and join a Pride celebration in Ireland this summer, from Belfast to Dublin, we’ve got the lowdown… Eddie McGuinness is a veteran organiser of the annual Pride celebrations of diversity in communities across Ireland, and a stalwart LGBTQ+ activist who has seen remarkable changes in the last three decades. “My first ever Pride was 1993,...