Festivals

Belfast’s Continental Christmas Market is one of the best on the island of Ireland and is sure to fill you with Christmas cheer. Until 22 December, the grounds of Belfast’s imposing City Hall will be transformed into a sparkling Christmas market, which will welcome over a million visitors. Famous for its extensive range of international cuisine, the market is a wonderful spot...

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival continues to surprise with a 'CorkJazz AllStars'XCLSV23 collab show just announced!  We’re on the final countdown to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival (26th-30th Oct) and festival organisers have just announced a live club jazz jam - 'The CorkJazz AllStars'presents XCLSV23 - at Cork Opera House on Saturday 28th October from 11.30pm – 2.30am. Curated by Mas Exodus/ ChoiceCuts,...

In August there is a wealth of wonderful events to enjoy across the island of Ireland from festivals and fairs to top sporting shows. Féile an Phobail 3–13 AugustThis is the biggest community arts festival in Ireland. It’s packed with over 300 eclectic events ranging from concerts, lively discussions, comedy and art exhibitions to massive community and sporting events showcasing...

Fill your heart with festive cheer at the island of Ireland’s magical Christmas markets. The appearance of colourful Christmas markets across the length and breadth of the island of Ireland signals that the festive season has well and truly begun. And with many opening in mid-November this year, there isn’t long to wait. Galway, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, will open...

The New Year means that a fresh and fabulous new programme of festivals and events gets underway right across the island of Ireland. With something big going on in any month of the year, Ireland is renowned for the good times that can be had at its festivals. So why not jump into the 2023 programme straight away with Out to...

Book lovers and travellers seeking a unique cultural experience will find plenty of literary festivals to enjoy on the island of Ireland. As World Book Day again puts the focus on the joy of reading, lovers of literature should consider planning a visit to Ireland, which has a rich literary history stretching back to its seventh-century illuminated manuscripts. Irish writers...

Looking for a festival to attend in 2025? You’re in luck. In Ireland, it feels like there’s an event happening practically every weekend, from huge St Patrick’s Day celebrations to intimate literary gatherings. Our calendar begins on 1st February, also known as the major Celtic festival Imbolc, which marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox....

That’s a wrap! The hugely successful 2024 Waterford Festival of Food has come to a triumphant close!   More than 75,000 people attended this year’s Waterford Festival of Food, the largest attendance in its 15 year history Over 80 food events and activities over three days took centre stage around Dungarvan, wider Waterford. Waterford Festival of Food 2024 has launched the Irish festival...

Summer festival fun on Northern Ireland’s stunning coast   Fabulous food, fireworks and festival fun will light up Northern Ireland’s prettiest seaside towns and villages this August and September. Northern Ireland offers visitors a host of fun events over the summer and into autumn and in its picturesque coastal villages there will be a focus on fabulous local food and family friendly...

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,...