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…

17 - 25 August 2019, Countywide National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council & Local Authority Heritage Officers with support from Fáilte Ireland. County Donegal has become one of the places to be during ‘Heritage Week’.Over 120 events are taking place for National Heritage Week in County Donegal from Saturday, August 17 to Sunday, August 25, 2019 and most of them are free. …

31st of August 2019 - Ardara - Beautiful scenery and breathtaking views, spectacular coastlines and some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Registration and bus pickup at the Heritage Centre, Ardara on Saturday August 31st at 9.00am. Duration approximately 8 hours. Good hiking gear, waterproof jackets, boots, packed lunch, water etc. a must. Let us know if you intend to take part …

7th - 8th September 2019, Donegal Town The 28th Infantry Battalion Association are pushing the boundaries for their Annual Day in September. This will be a great family day out in Donegal Town on 7th & 8th September 2019 with Veteran Associations attending also various military vehicle groups and reenactment organisations. The lineup will be particularly good. Be sure to be there!

7 September 2019, Killybegs Killybegs Community Council, in conjunction with Killybegs Tourism college (LYIT) and BIM are holding our Second Fish Fest. Hooked! Killybegs 2019 is a family friendly event which invites you to experience the many sides of the fishing industry in Ireland’s premier fishing port. Discover the fascinating history of the boats, factories and people of the town or meet t…

12th to 16th September 2019 - One of the best loved live music festivals in the land. This is the 12th year of Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues and we look forward to seeing you all from Thursday September 12 to Monday 16th, 2019. More blues than you can use and all that jazz!

12th - 15th September 2019 - Glenties Harvest Fair Festival – The Glenties Harvest Fair Festival is one of the highlights of the Donegal calendar every year and is normally held over a long weekend in early September. This traditional Irish event has been held for more than two hundred years and is a real living celebration of Donegal’s rich heritage. The fair always proves a big hit with local…

20 September 2019, Letterkenny This extraordinary night of cultural festivities has grown each year since its inception in 2006, with inspiring commitment from local authorities, cultural organisations and community collaborators throughout the country. This will be Letterkenny’s 10th occasion to take part in Culture Night, providing a terrific opportunity for families to sample aspects of I…

23rd - 29th September 2019, Gweedore A week-long, creative writing holiday with a difference – scenic walks, fascinating talks and daily practical writing and editing workshops – all in a land that time forgot, in probably the most scenic part of Ireland, along the famous Wild Atlantic Way. Plus lively, traditional Irish music concerts; island and castle tours of an awe-inspiring lands…

27th September 2019 - Buncrana, 7pm The Gala Tip ONeill Irish Diaspora awards Ceremony will be held in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana on the 27th September 2019. Donegal County Council will be recognising 4 members of the Diaspora at the awards ceremony this year. This prestigious award, which was first established in 2012 to mark the centenary of the great American politician Tip O’N…

27 - 29 September 2019, Ardara The Johnny Doherty Festival is a traditional music festival in memory of the late John Doherty, a local fiddle legend. Held in the scenic heritage town of Ardara in Co Donegal, The Johnny Doherty Festival aims to promote the music and dance traditions of the area. John Doherty was a world renowned traditional musician who was born in and spent much time in Ard…

27 September - 06 October 2019, Letterkenny ​ Donegal Connect is a collaborative project between the private and public sector in Donegal aimed at creating new opportunities for our county. Through the project we want to engage with our Diaspora, both overseas and within Ireland, and anyone considering coming to Ireland , to entice them to make the journey to Donegal to explore the county and …

10:30am 27th September 2019 - 4:30pm 6th of October 2019 - THE SALDANHA SUITE, FORT DUNREE, LINSFORT, BUNCRANA Entitled ‘A Long Farewell’ this exhibition documents the Emigration of Donegal Women from 1845 to 1950. It is a joint Donegal County Museum/Archives exhibition. Please note that a later closing time of 6pm may apply on Saturdays and Sundays.

28th of September 2019 - Lifford Old Courthouse, Lifford Co. Donegal - Experience the incredible true story of Ireland’s 1798 Rebellion through song, imagery and storytelling in the capable hands of historical entertainer and musician Paddy Cullivan. Inspired by the American and French Revolutions of late-18th Century, the ’10 Dark Secrets of 1798′ is a historical drama of ‘Game of Throne…

11th - 13th October 2019 - Clonmany Local traditional musicians, singers and dancers will warmly welcome special guests onto the stage to give you an unforgettable weekend. There will be opportunities to attend workshops and join the musicians in some of our open sessions throughout the weekend

11 - 13 October 2019, Ardara We are delighted to announce the theme of the Warp & Weft of Heritage Weekend 2019 is Donegal Folklore, Fact and Fiction. The festival will take place from the 11th – 13th of October in Ardara, Co. Donegal and will celebrate our rich music and storytelling traditions, and the 60th anniversary of Darby O’Gill & the Little People’s Ardara connection. Today marks…

25th - 28th October 2019, Glencolmcille Are you learning Irish for the first time or do you already speak Irish? Oideas Gael language courses are specially designed to cater for the needs of adults at all learning stages, including those who are more advanced but in need of practice. Each course contains three or more levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

18th to the 22nd of January 2020 - Bundoran - The Northwest of Ireland has long been celebrated for its unique Atlantic culture and history. Now there is a festival which takes place on that Wild Atlantic Way, making the most of the cosy winter atmosphere, with the best of live music, cultural talks about the history of Ireland, outdoor activities along the spectacular coastline, and plenty of …

20th - 23rd March 2020, Clonmany The 31st Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle works to foster and promote the singing tradition of the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal Full programme of events available online at: www.inishowensinging.ie