Festivals & Events in Donegal

15 March - 31st December 2024, Donegal Town. In 2024, Donegal Town will mark its 550th Birthday. Its origins can be traced back to 1474, when Lady Nuala O'Donnell established a Franciscan Abbey on the shores of Donegal Bay. Around the same time, her husband Red Hugh O'Donnell the First, Lord of Tir Chonaill founded Donegal Castle. The Town of Donegal grew up around these two great buildings an…

15th March - 28th October 2024 Join us as Oideas Gael celebrates 40 years of Irish language courses and cultural activity holidays for adults in the Donegal Gaeltacht! Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille, County Donegal, offers highly-acclaimed cultural programmes and Irish language courses for adults, catering for all levels from beginners to experienced speakers. Every year, participants fro…

2024 Donegal Garden Trail Our beautiful parks and gardens offer visitors a delightful and unique experience of the magical Donegal environment. At 17 locations throughout the County you are welcome to explore parks and gardens, some open to visitors all year round, others with regular spring, summer and autumn opening . Check garden profiles for opening times. See links below

1st May - 1st October 2024 Embark on an unforgettable journey through Donegal's diverse wonders with our Wildlife and Music Trails! Discover the hidden treasures of the marine world as you explore pristine coastlines and observe diverse sea life. Then, immerse yourself in the rich musical tapestry of Donegal, connecting with local artists and traditions. Let the sights and sounds of Ireland…

7th July - 15th September 2024 Mcintyre's Bar has a long history of trad Music , which has been regenerated by Kevin o Donnell with O Donnell School of Music up and coming Musicians which has already won Ulster and major titles, so come along, join in, make friends and make beautiful music.

21st June - 6th September 2024 Traditional Irish Music Session, Every Friday night starting from 9.30pm This lively open session, hosted by a mix of local and visiting musicians, is a celebration of traditional Irish music. Whether you're a regular attendee or a first-time visitor, you'll enjoy the dynamic and spirited atmosphere that brings together musicians and music lovers alike.

13th July - 31st August 2024 Join every Saturday At The Mews. Located in the front & rear courtyards of the beautiful listed building that is Mill Court Mews in the heart of Donegal Town. We are delighted to offer an array of the very finest Crafts & Irish Design stalls amongst our Artisan Shops here at Mill Court Mews.

16 days of music, theatre, visual arts, film, literature, circus & carnival on Ireland’s North West Atlantic seaboard with Donegal’s premier summer event, Earagail Arts Festival. Earagail Arts Festival is a bilingual (Irish and English language), multidisciplinary summer festival which takes place each July throughout County Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way on the north-west coast of Ireland. …

Donegal Wild Atlantic Tour - July 2024 Tuesday – July 16th - 10am Wednesday – July 17th - 10am Saturday – July 20th - 10am Your Local Qualified Guide - John, will take you on the tour visiting: Killybegs, Slieve League, Glencolmcille, Silver Strand and much more. Meeting Point – Tourist Office, Donegal Town. - Duration: 5 hours approx. NOTE: Min. of 4 people required

17th July - 28th August 2024 Experience the Magic in Small Groups: Biddy’s O’Barnes offers a unique storytelling experience. Unlike crowded events, we focus on intimate groups (minimum of 5 attendees) to ensure a truly immersive experience. This allows you to connect with the stories, the storyteller, and your fellow adventurers on a deeper level. Note: Special events with larger capacities…

19th - 27th July 2024 A week-long family festival now in its 48th year. A week of nightly outdoor music as well as children's events throughout the day. There will also be heritage walks, sporting events and novelty events.

21st - 28th July 2024 Seven days of guided walking from Dungloe to Gartan including Tory Island Co. Donegal. Be inspired by the life, the trails, and places of Clomcile

27th July - 8th August 2024 Experience the magic of Donegal's most enchanting festival as the Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival brings together music, culture, arts and community in a vibrant celebration of tradition and talent. The Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival is a community based festival which has been held annually since 1967 in Dungloe, County Donegal. It is fa…

30th July - 3rd August 2024 Letterkenny Pride is an event that celebrates diversity, inclusion and community. It is part of a larger movement of Pride events that happen all around the world; the aim of which is to champion the LGBTQ+ community, breaking down barriers and to enact social change on a regional and global scale. The festival will begin with a “Pride Special” of an already esta…

1st - 5th August 2024 A new & exciting Arts festival to look forward to in Glenties from 1st to 5th of August, celebrating the old Festival of Lughnasa. Glenties as we know has strong ties with Lughnasa & Brian Friel & it’s a natural way to tie in the old pagan Celtic festival to Glenties & with Dancing at Lughnasa in its native Ballybeg (Glenties) Thursday August 1st- 5th Displays in the M…

1st - 4th August 2024 47th Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival Get ready to tap your feet to the sounds of talented musicians from Ireland and beyond. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and heritage of folk and traditional music in a beautiful setting. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the magic of live music in the heart of Ballyshannon. See you …

2nd - 8th August 2024 A weekend of family fun with parades, amusements, arts, crafts, sports and more. A family friendly festival soaking up village life with all things community and fun. From the opening parade, talent showcase, art and crafts, bake-off, painting ponies, family sports day, car treasure hunt and many more activities throughout the weekend. The village of Muff will be aw…

2nd - 5th August 2024 A weekend of family activity and fun for everyone, bringing people together to celebrate village life and showing the importance of community. Beginning with the Opening Parade on Friday night and then leading into the weekend with a hive of activities for everyone. From sports, children's fun activities, drama workshops, amusements, fun walk/run, cycling, gaming arcade…

3rd August 2024 Run walk or cycle through 3 provinces to raise money for cancer charities. To date the event has raised over €1 million for cancer organisations! This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the event and aims to be bigger than ever, bringing our participants through the 3 Provinces of Ulster, Connaught and Leinster. The Breffni 3 Province Challenge 2024 will take place on Sat…

3rd August 2024 Over 2 hours of non-stop RHCP hits performed authentically by Europe's Premier RHCP Tribute Band-Red Hot Funky Peppers! Over 42 years of hits and deeper cuts crammed into one epic night at Seaview Tavern, Malin Head! With hits including Scar Tissue, Zephyr song, Universally Speaking, Can't Stop, By the way, Aeroplane, Under the bridge, Give it away, Dani California, Californi…