Lifestyle & Sports
14 Jul 26

County Clare: A Festival For Every Season

Clare has long welcomed culture and craic in equal measure. These days, the county runs a diverse and busy calendar. Whether you’re a trad musician or looking for a fun family day out, Clare’s events programme gives plenty of reasons to spin down to the Mid-West.

Fleadh Nua Festival, May 23 - June 1
An exciting mix of concerts, céilis, music & singing sessions, recitals, Irish dance competitions and street entertainment in the county town that has been running since 1974.

Doonbeg International Jazz Festival, May 29 - June 1
A lively - and free - jazz festival that brings together performers from Europe, the UK, and Ireland, with events offering something to suit all tastes.

Mountshannon Arts Festival, May 30 - June 1
Marking 30 years of creativity with a special anniversary programme in 2026, Mountshannon becomes the place to be for a diverse blend of music, literature, performance, stories, visual art, and happy celebration.

Tour De Burren, June 20
Over 2,000 cyclists, from beginners to experienced riders, take part in a recreational challenge across the unique Karst landscape. Also Check Out: Junior Tour of Ireland (July 8 - July 13), over 100 cyclists between the ages of 16-18 compete across just under 600km.

Kilrush Summer Festival, June 26 -28
Set in the beautiful walled garden of Vandeleur, just outside Kilrush, the programme spans music, comedy, dancing and family entertainment.

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, July 5 - 12
Running each year since the ‘70s in honour of the legendary Miltown Malbay piper, the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy - featuring Concerts, recitals, workshops and informal sessions - has become a Mecca for traditional musicians.

Walker Cup, September 5 - September 6
Lahinch Golf Club hosts this highly competitive amateur team event, which sees Team USA face Great Britain & Ireland in a match-play format on the beautiful Clare coast. Also check out: The Amgen Irish Open in Doonbeg (September 10 - 13).

Kilrush Genealogy Conference 2026, October 9 - October 11
An event that welcomes the Irish diaspora for a landmark public release of the 1926 Irish census on 18 April 2026, the first new census records to become available in 65 years.

Kilrush Traditional Music & Set Dancing Festival, July 30 - August 3
Five days of workshops, open-air céilís, concerts and sessions take over Teach Ceoil and the town square from the last Thursday of July into the first days of August.

Kilmihil Festival of Fun, August Bank Holiday Weekend
A popular weekend for families rooted in the local community, highlights include the Marty Coen football tournament, the St. Pats soccer tournament, and the Dan O’Halloran 5k fun run/walk, as well as the ever-popular kids’ tractor run at Kilmihil National School, plus plenty more.

National Heritage Week, August 15 - 23
Ireland’s national Heritage Week finds a natural home in Clare, where heritage centres, community groups, museums and individuals host events covering guided walks, craft demonstrations, talks, exhibitions and family activities.

Feakle Festival, August 5-10
Another one of the leading traditional music festivals in the country, dedicated to the musical heritage of East Clare with six days of workshops, concerts, céilís and more.

Dan Furey Weekend of Set Dancing, August 21 - August 23
A weekend of set dancing to the best céilí bands in Labasheeda, Co. Clare on the banks of the Shannon Estuary.

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, September 1-30
Better than any dating app you could download, the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival has been running for over 165 years and draws 60,000 visitors from around the world across the month of September.

Russell Festival, Feb 26 - March 1, 2027
This festival runs sessions from morning to evening across all four days, with workshops in the town’s pubs and hotels and a storytelling evening at the Russell Centre featuring the Doolin Folklore Project.

• For more, visit visitclare.ie/events