Festivals & Events

23 May - 30 October 2019, Countywide Welcome to the 13th season of the Donegal Garden Trail. We are delighted Brown’s Farm, a lovely spring cottage garden and well worth a visit, has re-joined the Trail after a short absence. We extend a very warm welcome to Castle Grove House Hotel which joins us both as a hospitality provider and as an interesting and historical garden to visit with specim…

1st June to 28th October 2019 - Oideas Gael has been recognised, on a number of occasions, as one of Ireland’s unique cultural education providers and was the 1997 winner of the National Rural Tourism Award sponsored by Bord Fáilte, The Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Allied Irish Banks. They also achieved the distinction of being the winner of the BARR 50 businesses in Irish, from the daily Ir…

Oct 18th- Oct 20th - Buncrana Crana Fest is a 2-day event for all disciplines of kayaking; sea, lough and river from Grade 2 to Grade 4. It is based in Buncrana, Inishowen, Co. Donegal and takes place in Lough Swilly and the Crana River. This exciting event is now in its 10th year, its open to all abilites and attracts participants from all over the world. Inish Adventures who organise Cran…

18th - 20th October 2019, Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Goes Literary! Following on from the success of its Literary Festival in recent years Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter is aiming for even bigger and better things this year when its fourth festival kicks off on Friday October 18. And the main organiser of the event, Donnan Harvey, has no hesitation in putting out there that there is som…

23rd - 24th October 2019, Buncrana ~ Greencastle 11th Annual Laurentic Forum (Sustaining Coastal Communities) This years Laurentic Forum is being Organized and Facilitated by the Inishowen Development Partnership in Conjunction with the Ulster Canada Initiative working in collaboration with all the regional stakeholders The Laurentic Forum - Sustaining Coastal Communities, that looks at sh…

25th - 27th October 2019, Ranafast This is a festival to celebrate the life and literary works of one of the most famous Irish writers of all time - Séamus Ó Grianna ‘Máire’. This is to commemorate 50 years of his death. Born into a family of poets and storytellers in Ranafast, County Donegal, he trained formally as a teacher in St. Patricks College, Dublin, 1912–14, and taught mostly in Cou…

26th & 27th October 2019, Donegal Town One of Donegal’s favourite annual Halloween events returns again this year with Donegal’s Railway Museum’s famous Halloween Fun Day. In light of the huge success of last year’s event, this year we have added another day with the family event now running from 2pm – 6pm each day over the weekend before Halloween. Come and check out our Spooky event which i…

27th October 2019, Ballyshannon Join us in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon for a ‘Halloween Night at the Movies’ on Sunday 27th October with two movies - 6pm family fun with The Addams Family and at 8.30pm – Rocky Horror Picture Show. The fun will continue afterwards in Dicey Reillys with music by the Showoffs – free Halloween Cocktail for all those in fancy dress! Please see poster…

Sunday 27th October - Glenties 5k Starts 12:30 Registration 11.30am at Glenties Comprehensive Funding towards track development

31st October 2019, Letterkenny The annual Letterkenny Halloween Fest returns this year on October 31st. Join us in town for a day of Halloween fun and activities. Head to the Letterkenny Halloween Fest hub at Market Centre from 12.30pm and take part in fancy dress competitions, our trick or treat trail, face painting, our scream room and lots of Halloween games. Families can also enjoy our st…

31st October 2019, Apartotel, Bundoran The annual Discover Bundoran pumpkin carving competition and pumpkin parade takes place on Thursday 31st October from 3:30pm to 5:30pm at the Atlantic Apartotel followed by the pumpkin parade between 5:30pm & 6pm to Bundoran Community Library. Come along with the whole family for an enjoyable and creative afternoon out, get your face painted and maybe w…

Fri 8th November - Sun 10th November 2019 The Matchmaking Festival - Ardara Love is in the air, with many novel matchmaking games and some of Irelands best matchmakers. With music by Gerry Guthrie, Jim Devine, and more. The most romantic weekend of the year! Stay tuned for more information.

10th November - Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town Starting at 10:30am - Registration from 9am Annual Remembrance 5k run. All proceeds to charity and club development

1st - 23rd December 2019, Oakfield Park, Raphoe Returning for 2019 is The Santa Express! This truly unique event books out very quickly every year and to avoid disappointment, we recommend booking your preferred date now to secure your family’s place at this extraordinary Christmas experience! Itinerary • Board the Santa Express at the station and enjoy an enchanting train ride through Oakf…

6th - 15th December 2019, Donegal Town Donegal Railway Museum is delighted to announce that its famous Christmas Santa event is back again bigger and better than ever before. After last year’s runaway success it has been extended by two extra days and is now also running in the evening! This year’s event for children includes not only a visit to Santa and a gift (and even a Selfie with Santa),…

26th December 2019, Stranorlar. Start 12 noon The continuing tradition of the Finn Valley AC St Stephen’s Day 5k will take place once again this year. It is the longest successive road event in the North West beginning as it did in the early 70’s and despite weather challenges on a small number of occasions the event has always gone ahead. There have been over the years, many notable personal…

The Poor Farmers Auction Sat 28th December - Ardara - A night of fun and craic where everyone becomes a “poor farmer” for the night! Ardara Poor Farmers Association – Charity Auction 2019 The 14th Annual Poor Farmers Association (P.F.A.) Charity Auction takes place in Teague’s Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal on Saturday the 28th December 2019. The P.F.A. auction will be a great night’s crack as…

Fri 24th January - Sun 26th January 2020 - Ardara - The Country & Western Weekend. A weekend of fun and dance with Irelands top country bands. This year features Shawn Cuddy and Jim Devine with line dancing and jive classes as well as music in all the pubs! A must for all country music fans

3rd May 2020, Laghey The Laghey Blast Festival is a community ran day of festival fun. Laghey village comes alive with street music & events for all the family. We have bouncy castles, obstacle course, rodeo bull, games tent, paintball target shooting, street games, wheelbarrow races and various competitions on the day. We have a farm & sheep shearing and many more events to keep you entertaine…

04 - 08 June 2020, Dunfanaghy The festival is a Bluegrass And Nashville Dunfanaghy 3 day music event. The festival is a community initiative to promote the wonderful village of Dunfanaghy and the surrounding area as a great place to visit.