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…

12th October to 23rd November 2019 - Wild Strands, Malin Head - A Journey to experience a Wild Taste on the Edge - Malin Head, an adventure awaits you as you go on a slow adventure through the mythical landscape and seascape of Inishowen, Donegal, from Moville to Malin Head. A wild culinary tour traveling from Moville through stunning natural scenery where you will go on a food journey to arrive …

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…

Wednesday 23rd October - 8pm - National Museum of Ireland Come along to hear the intriguing story of Ireland’s and Donegal’s Bog Bodies. Bog bodies are the preserved remains of ancestors from earlier times. Because of the lack of oxygen in bog environment, organic material, including human bodies can be preserved to an exceptional degree with hair, skin, hands, internal organs and other soft t…

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.

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…

1st & 2nd November 2019 - Arnolds Hotel Dunfanaghy - Two nights Bed & Breakfast + 1 Dinner, Weekend Photography Tour and Expert Tuition. Donegal is a photographers paradise. From an abundance of nature and wildlife to the rugged coastline, charming islands, dramatic mountains and ancient mountains - Donegal has it all! Join award-winning photographers Trevor Cole & Ashley Kidd as they share their …

28th to 30th November 2019 - Donegal Town - As we are heading into the Christmas Season and to create a Christmassy Atmosphere, the Annual Christmas Lights Switch On will be part of Savour the Flavour of Donegal Town Festivities. There will be bargains and discounts galore during the weekend with the Annual Shopping Spree. Savour the Flavour of Donegal Town will create a distinctive experience by …

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

2nd to the 8th of April 2020 - Buncrana Irelands beautiful Lough Swilly in County Donegal, along the Wild Atlantic Way, was the setting for a dramatic story which changed the life of John Newton, a foul-mouthed slave trader who went on to pen one of the most famous and well loved songs of all time - Amazing Grace. Newton later mentored William Wilberforce in his long battle to abolish the Tra…

26 - 28 June 2020, Colgan Hall, Carndonagh A weekend of Talks, Walks, Exhibitions, Music , Photography, Cooking with Seaweed, Shirt making in Carndonagh, Schools and Heritage exhibitions all based on the theme “Living and working in Inishowen”

19 July 2020, Bundoran Bundoran Classic Car Show will take place on the 19th of July 2020, starting from 12 noon till 5 pm. Classic and Vintage Cars & Unusual vehicles very welcome. The Show has gone from strength to strength each year. Providing a vast range of makes and models, there’s something to interest everyone. The event takes place in Bundoran’s West End car park. Due to the prim…

30th July - 03rd August 2020, Ballyshannon The 43rd annual Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Fesitval is the place to be this August Bank Holiday Weekend (Thursday 30th July to Monday 3rd August 2020) as the sounds of traditional and folk music echo from the streets, pubs and Marquee concerts along Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way. This years Acts to be announced as well as plenty of pub ses…

04th August 2020, Clonmany The biggest and best agriculture show in Donegal enters its 53rd year and we would like you to join us at the annual show to make this year even more special. The Clonmany Agricultural Show has grown in popularity every year and now attracts thousands of visitors from across Ireland and the UK from farmers to young families. In addition to the agriculture, livestoc…

13 - 16 August 2020, Greencastle Greencastle Regatta is one of the longest running Maritime Festivals in Ireland, and its four days of fun packed festivities celebrating maritime heritage along the Foyle. There will be activities for all ages on the shore and on the water, plus live music each evening on the main stage with some of Ireland’s biggest headliners. If it’s anything like last ye…

15th - 23rd August 2020, 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 15 to Sunday, August 23, 2020 and most of them are free.…

2020 Clan Gathering Dates of Gathering: 9, 10, 11 & 12 September 2020 Location: Donegal, Ireland. Organised by: O’Donnell Clan Association Committee. ODonnell of Tyrconnell – Ó Domhnaill Tír Chonaill is the ruling clan of the ancient Kingdom of Tyrconnell who reigned until the completion of the English Conquest of Ireland in 1601. The clans seat today remains focused mostly around Coun…