Festivals

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,...

Ireland’s motorcycle and music extravaganza, Ireland BikeFest, is an experience bike enthusiasts should not miss. Taking place 30 May to 1 June in the stunning setting of Killarney on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland BikeFest is a unique blend of events that attracts thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world. Now a flagship fixture in the motorcycle calendar,...

Cork City will be transformed into a theatre for midsummer magic during its 10-day multi-disciplinary arts festival.   Running 13–22 June, the Cork Midsummer Festival uses the city as its backdrop and inspiration, providing a platform for exciting new artists and performances and engaging the public in an eclectic range of events. With theatre, music, dance, visual arts and immersive outdoor...

Bloomsday is a festival like no other, celebrating the genius of James Joyce and his beloved city of Dublin. Step into the Dublin of James Joyce through the eclectic mix of over 100 events that make up the world-famous Bloomsday Festival (11–16 June), a highlight of Dublin’s cultural calendar. Named after Leopold Bloom, the lead character in Joyce’s seminal novel...

Dance through summer in Northern Ireland where you’ll find a superb line-up of festivals featuring top international acts.   Whether you are a fan of jazz or folk, or you prefer to rock out, music lovers of all kinds can look forward to a fantastic line-up of festivals and events taking place this year in Northern Ireland. Here’s the pick...