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

26th September - 13th October 2024 The 24th Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival Festival events will take place in a variety of towns and villages in the South and South West of the county, including Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal Town, Leghowney, Glenties and Glencolmcille, as well as in Ballybofey and Stranorlar. One Night at Glenlough Among the highlights will be Balor Arts Centr…

Saturday 28th September - Sunday 13th October, 2024. 10 am - 5.30pm (Daily) Between Land and Sea, Reflections on the North West Coast Curated by Shannon Carroll. Featuring works by Jonathan Ball, Concepta Boyce, Lisa Callaghan, Aisling Clarke, Vicky Crawford, Gavin McCrea, Rory Gill, Darragh Gorman, Christine Harrison and Kevin Lowery. Artists from around the North West explore the deep c…

Drama Cast - Online A study aid for second level students Produced by An Grianán Theatre in co-production with Workhouse Theatre Co, DramaCast presents scenes from three exam texts: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Philadelphia, Here I Come. Two key scenes from each play are performed by local actors and are accompanied by commentary from Michael Kelly, St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, hig…

Thursday 10th October, 2024. 8pm Nora Gallagher & The Drumshee Play Actors Written and Performed by Maura Logue Maura Logue’s lovable 1960s Donegal country girl is back in the third instalment of her Drumshee Series and this time it’s all about the art of performance. The year is 1961 and Drumshee dry dancehall is about to host its first ever drama production. As ever, Nora Gallagher, Cloak…

10th October 2024, 8pm Experience the magic of Daniel O’Donnell live in concert… almost! Starring Aoife Sweeney O’Connor Join Aoife for an absurdist autobiographical cabaret as they celebrate quare identity, growing up in Donegal, and their unironic obsession with wee Daniel. From their first meeting with Daniel as a baby, to his surprise appearance at their mother’s funeral. This is no…

10th - 13th October 2024 A weekend of concerts, workshops, films, family sessions and exhibitions. Friday - Concert featuring Jack Houston fiddle and support acts. Sat daytime - music workshops. Sat night - Blazin Fiddles (Scotland) in concert. Sun - Exhibitions, film show 'Forest to Fiddle' followed by family session. Sun Evening - Final session. Pub sessions every night.

10th - 13th October 2024, Ballybofey/Stranorlar The Annual Frances Browne Literary Festival celebrates the legacy and spirit of Frances Browne. We work to bring not only Frances's writing and astonishing life story to new generations but to celebrate the works of contemporary and modern writers who continue in her tradition. The festival is held in October of each year and is unique in featu…

11th - 13th October 2024 Concerts, sessions, workshops, film showing and more. Venues and sessions for all levels & ages. Friday 11th - Fiddle concert featuring Jack Houston. Sat 12th am - music instrument workshops for all ages. Sat pm - Grand Concert featuring from Scotland 'Blazin Fiddles'. Sun 13th - Film show 'From Forest to Fiddle' Family session in Markethouse. Pub sessions Fri…

Friday 11th October, 2024. 8pm Donegal Voices - Ballyshannon With a growing reputation for excellence, The Donegal Voices, under their Conductor and Musical Director Evan McGarrigle, perform a selection of choral works to gladden the heart and indeed, raise passions! Handel’s Messiah is undoubtedly one of the favourite works in the classical choral canon, Part III of which is included in th…

11th - 13th October 2024, Donegal Town Mark Your Calendars! Donegal Town's 550th Weekend of Celebrations! 🎉 Join us for a weekend of festivities as we celebrate Donegal Town's 550th anniversary! From October 11th to 13th, enjoy a variety of activities including cooking demonstrations, live music, children's entertainment, and street performances. The Grand Finale will be a weekend of str…

Friday 11th October & Saturday 12th October, 2024 Soilse Festival of Light. Illuminated Sculpture Trail and Carnival Parade The Soilse Festival of Light is a highlight of the Donegal Town 550 programme. A weekend of community celebration and outdoor spectacle on a theme of the River Eske and the sea. Illuminated Sculpture Trail Friday -Saturday 7.00pm – 10.00pm The illuminated Sculpture…

Friday 11th October, 2024. 8pm TRAMP With support, Final Girl TRAMP are a border-hopping, indie quartet with members from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone. Winners of the BBC Introducing Artist of the Year Award in 2023, the band’s recently released single, The Birds (Lowered Suspension), quickens the already high levels of anticipation for their forthcoming debut EP, The Bird-Cat-Dog Metaphor, due …

Saturday October 12th, 1:00pm Treat yourself and your little ones to a free family lunchtime concert from the Donegal Junior String Orchestra in our foyer at 1pm. Enjoy popular classical pieces, performed by young string players from the Donegal Music Education Partnership under their conductor Victor Yélamo. And the DJS are bringing along some guest performers specially for the occasion! …

12th - 13th October 2024 Donegal Town's 550th Weekend of Celebrations 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 - The Cool Food School 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎𝐚𝐦 - 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎𝐩𝐦 & 𝟐.𝟎𝟎𝐩𝐦 - 𝟑.𝟎𝟎𝐩𝐦 The Cool Food School’s aim is to introduce children to healthy eating through fun activities and hands on workshops. They teach children in school settings from the a…

12th October, 2024 A night of lively modern folk/trad band hailing from Ireland, not to be missed!!

17th - 20th October 2024 The Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival is the flagship event in our Cultural Programme and is held on the third weekend in October. Established in 2016, this innovative dynamic festival celebrates our area's unique links with Jane Austen and Brendan Behan whilst promoting the best in local talent. In the lead-up to the festival, tune into our podcast ser…

18th - 20th October 2024 This event is organised by Canoeing Ireland and is set to be held in Buncrana, with the Lake of Shadows Hotel serving as the event's base. Cranafest is a well-established event in the paddling community, offering various activities, including head-to-head Kayak Cross racing on the Crana River. The event also includes social gatherings, such as a Saturday night party …