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…

4th August 2024 After the SOLD OUT success of 2022 & 2023, FUSION Music Festival BASH returns with a bang on Sunday 4th Aug 2024. Another fantastic line-up complete with Rory & The Island, The Minertones, Darren Boot Burke and The Flashbacks making a return, joined by the brilliant youth of Colm Hargan, Stingin' Rogers and new kids on the block The Debonairs. Join us in beautiful South West…

4th August 2024 @ 7:30pm “Grampian Concert Orchestra under its long-time conductor Tim Tricker, is a community-based, amateur chamber orchestra based in Aberdeen, Scotland. Formed 25 years ago, its purpose has always been to bring the joy and thrill of live music into the local community and occasionally further afield, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to enjoy and play music. …

4th - 11th August 2024, Clonmany Once again this family event is a week of summer fun for all ages. This is Ireland's longest running and best known family festival and is situated in the beautiful village of Clonmany in the Inishowen Peninsula. Year after year thousands of holiday makers and locals alike enjoy the many events, live music, natural beauty and facilities which go hand in hand…

8th - 11th August 2024 Greencastle Regatta Festival is one of the longest running Maritime Festivals in Ireland Fri 9th: Melodica & My Generation Band Sat 10th: The Lads, The Two Bucks, The Cavanagh Brothers Sun 11th: Keltic Knights, All Folk'd Up

15th - 18th August 2024 Ireland's most celebrated and talked about Challenge, It’s not just a race, it’s an adventure experience with lifelong memories. 4 Marathons over 4 days across the stunning Inishowen Peninsula. You can choose Half or Full Marathon over 1 to 4 days, with a separate route on each of the days. The stunning location is surpassed only by the camaraderie and hospitality t…

16th - 17th August 2024, Donegal Town The Donegal Dragon annual regatta weekend is an enjoyable weekend of community spirit, competition, dancing, music, local food, and activities for the dragon boating community both local and international. The event is a change for breast cancer survivors to come together and celebrate. It is a chance for teams to showcase their training against other t…

16th August 2024 Padraig Jack was born into a musical family from the Aran islands. His dad is the songwriter Barry Ronan and he is the nephew of the Irish poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley. A native of Aran which has produced writers Liam O Flaithearta, Máirtín Ó Direáin and Breandán Ó hEithir, Padraig is proudly bilingual both as a conversationalist and a songwriter. A songwriter and c…

17th August 2024 Traditional Irish music titans Altan return home with their new album Donegal. Irish-language songs and dynamic twin-fiddling, both hallmarks of Altan's sound, framework the new music which tributes the band's native County Donegal and its rich musical heritage, breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. Recorded by Manus Lunny at Stiúidió na Mara (Seafront Studio”) in Cou…

18th August 2024 Ballyshannon Agricultural Show The Event shows the best of Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Ponies, Poultry and The Home Industries Marquee which shows the best of Home Baking and Crafts etc. The Afternoon programme has lots of entertainment for the Family making it a great day out for all the family. Entries Close on Friday 2nd August 2024, Schedules available to download online …

18th August 2024 Annual Spanish Armada re-enactment walk and 16th century historical encampment (in Ardara) is back this August. The walk commemorated the march of the 900 survivors of La Duquesa Santa Ana, which was shipwrecked off Tramore beach near Rosbeg, to Killybegs.

18th August 2024 Tullan Strand Swim Tullan Strand to the Pier, Bundoran Start 2pm at Tullan Strand This is the old traditional swim and is 2.4 km. This is a fundraiser swim and not a timed race event. There will be kayak and boat coverage the whole way. There will also be a line of markers that will guide the swimmers in. This swim starts at 2pm from Tullan Strand. Please note …

23rd - 28th August 2024 The Killaghtee Festival will once again be taking place in Dunkineely, Bruckless and St. John's Point. Join us for heritage talks, sports, yoga, craft stalls, a treasure hunt, singing and much, much more. Featuring a coach trip to Glenveagh, a boat trip around St. John's Point and Kelane Brown free and live in Dunkineely Main Street. See website for timetable of…

24th - 25th August 2024, Arranmore Island Donegal's Original Island Country Music Festival with 20 Hours of Music and Dancing to Ireland's Top Country Acts. Featuring: Derek Ryan & Band Patrick Feeney & Band David Craig & Band Sean Corrigan Kelan Browne Conor O Donnell Ronan McGinty Jordan McPolin The McConnells 20 Hours of Music and Dancing to Ireland's Top Country Acts. Annual…

24th - 31st August 2024 World Championships Boat Angling Juniors (16 to 21 years) 2024 IRELAND - 23rd World Championship Juniors from August 24th to 31st, Rathmullan/Downings The Boat Angling Junior World Championships, for ages 16 to 21 years, is scheduled to take place in Ireland in 2024. The 23rd edition of this championship will be held from August 24th to 31st in Rathmullan/Downings.…

1st - 7th September 2024 Donegal Camino in aid of Cancer Care West. Guided by Award Winning and Donegal based guide John Mc Groary of John’s Walking Ireland and his team of guides Joe Coyle, Denis Sheridan and Michael Devaney, the Donegal Camino is also supported by many of Donegal’s high profile personalities who take to the highways and bi ways of their beloved Donegal with vigour. Fam…

7th - 8th September 2024, Oakfield Park, Raphoe OAKFEST 2024 Donegal’s much anticipated family friendly festival, Oakfest, is back again for 2024 for 2 days with 2 very different line ups, across 2 stages, to rock and entertain you! This year we are making the event even bigger & better than ever before with an exciting musical line-up and promising the very best in food, drink, and ente…

7th September 2024 The Monte Challenge is a run, cycle and off road mountain climb adventure in the wilds of Donegal. Explore the Wild Atlantic Way and the Bluestack Mountains by foot and by bike with three route options to choose from; The Full Monte, The Half Monte and The Little Monte family run/walk. You can enter as an individual or share the journey as a team. Races start from th…

11th - 15th September 2024 Glenties Harvest Fair Festival – The Glenties Harvest Fair Festival is one of the highlights of the the Donegal calendar every year (11th-15th 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 locals and tourists alike. There’s ple…

12th September 2024 🌟 Join Us for a Night of Glamour and Giving! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce a special charity fashion show taking place at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel on September 12th in memory of Rachel Connolly. This event will be a celebration of style and solidarity, all in aid of Pieta House, a fantastic organization providing free, professional services to people in suicidal d…

13th September 2024 Darren Doherty has been an active recording and performing artist for the last 20 plus years. Despite being the primary songwriter in a variety of successful projects, it’s only now as he moves to produce, record and release music under his own name that he feels this is the most authentic representation and expression of himself. This can be felt in every choice of lyric, c…

14th September 2024 Proud Mary & Her City Limits band are Ireland's no 1 Tribute to the Queen of Rock,Tina Turner All your favourite hits: Private Dancer, Nutbush, The Best to name a few. Amanda Lane with her powerhouse vocals celebrates Tina's music together with her 6 piece live band City Limits engaging every audience with a full packed night of entertainment Touring Ireland, This is a…

September 21st 2024 Excel Sports’ Seven Sisters Skyline 55km, 30km & 16km event has become Ireland’s premier mountain running event. It is also Ireland’s largest with its 500 participants. The event is run on a world class route which featured in the World Mountain Running World Cup in 2022. The event race route runs along the top of all of the Seven Sisters in the Derryveagh mountains from …

21st September 2024 Dune Run Bundoran: Conquer the Coastal Challenge Join us for an exhilarating coastal adventure along the stunning shores of Bundoran, Co. Donegal, where sand, sea, and determination converge in the ultimate test of endurance and spirit. The Dune Run Bundoran is not just a race; it's an experience like no other, where participants traverse the picturesque landscape of s…

21st - 22nd September 2024, Arranmore Island Presents: Begley, Buckley & Friends Country Music Weekend on Arranmore Island Featuring: Jimmy Buckley & Band Philomena Begley Paul Kelly & Band Aidan Quinn Jack Keogh Conor O Donnell Shaun McMonagle Jordan McPolin Accommodation, Return ferry (foot passenger) and entry to all music from €160pps (Additional night accommodation availabl…

22nd September 2024 The Fall Equinox — the inaugural day of autumn. Unlock the Universe. This day stands out as both hemispheres bask in an equal amount of daylight and darkness, symbolising a perfect celestial balance. It's a moment when the sun crosses the equator at a precise right angle, heralding a time of equal day and night around the globe. A truly unique and harmonious occurren…

27th September - 5th October 2024 9 days/nights of dancing and romancing at the Allingham Arms Hotel The Northwest Matchmaking Festival will take place at the Allingham Arms Hotel in Bundoran from Friday 27th September 2024 until Saturday 5th October 2024. They will be hosting 9 days/nights of dancing and romancing with country stars including Derek Ryan, Jimmy Buckley, Mike Denver, Tumbling…

4th October 2024 StrawMan returns to Lifford Old Courthouse this Autumn!! Ballybofey native and alt-rock singer songwriter Tom Bonner (AKA StrawMan) returns to the Courthouse with his fantastic band to play a selection of tracks from his 3 albums including the singles 'Wither', 'Cycle the Volcano', 'Drop Tools', 'I can hear Dan Grimaldi weeping' 'My Capital' & 'Krakatoa'. You can check him o…

5th October 2024 Absolute Eagles are Europe’s premier tribute to American rock band, Eagles. Playing all their hits from 1972 right up to the modern day classics, Absolute Eagles are devout Eagles fans and have worked to reproduce every nuance of the original records. From tight five part vocals to intricate guitar harmonies, Absolute Eagles will take you on a musical journey through the hit…

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.

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…

18th October 2024 Join us for a relaxed atmosphere of songs and story, As Gaeilge and in English as Brí Carr agus Cairde takes to the stage once again in Lifford Old Courthouse on friday the 18th of October. Bri Carr ran Blue Ribbon Arts for over 26 years and in 2017 was approached to record her own songs. Her first release, ‘Arainn Mhór’ featured on TG4 Nuacht as it was the first Irish lang…

19th October 2024 Springsteen - A Tribute is Europe’s biggest and best Bruce Springsteen tribute act. Based in Ireland this six piece band is comprised of top Irish session musicians and fronted by veteran American singer and guitarist Monte Thompson. Having toured Ireland and the UK extensively since 2011 the band, lead by Monte Thompson and Manager/Drummer Stephen Quinn, rebranded as Sp…

1st - 3rd November 2024 Donegal Bridge Congress is a competitive Bridge event and is seen as Ireland’s paramount bridge congress. Bridge being the anchor event of the weekend wherein competitions are ongoing over the 3 days, we also facilitate fashion shows, golf outings, scenic tours and sampling of locally sourced food and drink, presentations to highlight the region’s unique resources, …

2nd November 2024 The King - Jim Brown returns to Lifford Old Courthouse on Saturday the 2nd of November. Regarded as the quintessential Elvis tribute act, Jim Brown takes to the stage for the third time at Lifford Old Courthouse for what promises to be a special show. The King’s own story is as steeped in legend as the good lord Elvis himself. Born in Belfast and married with five children…

6th - 10th November Ballyshannon The Allingham Festival is an annual literary and community-arts festival celebrating the lives and legacies of poet and author William Allingham and artist Helen Allingham. Celebrating the 200th birthday of William Allingham, vibrant events confirmed for the 2024 Allingham Festival include: • A concert by delta-blues prodigy Muireann Bradley • A lec…

6th November - 10th november 2024 The Allingham Festival is an Arts Festival with broad appeal. It includes events to appeal to families and individuals. Key event types are Drama, Music, Topical Lectures, Book Readings, Writing Competitions, History, Music and general entertainment. The festival takes place in early November which is normally a quiet time and we have built up a solid and …

22nd November 2024 Echo Harte performing Live at Lifford Old Courthouse. Support on the night from Jim 'Farmer' Harte “The artist’s new single is unlike anything out at the moment. Unique isn’t a unique enough word for what Echo Harte brings to the table.” - Hot PressImpressive debut album - Finbar Hoban Presents Unique - We Write About Music It is a beautiful piece - TG4 on 'Illuminatio…

23rd November 2024 Dolly Parton & Shania Twain Back by popular demand!! Returning after a sold out show here last year, Dolly Parton & Shania Twain take to the stage once again in Lifford Old Courthouse on Saturday the 23rd of November. This powerful duo of Kirsty Coard & Trisha McCluney will perform hits such as 9 to 5, Man I Feel Like A Woman, Jolene, That Don't Impress Me Much & mor…

2nd December - 22nd December Capture the Magic of Christmas at Santa's Grotto Donegal! Santa's exclusive photo studio is getting ready to open in the heart of Ireland's winter wonderland! ✨ Professional photos with Santa Claus ✨ Enchanting North Pole-inspired sets ✨ Instant high quality mounted 12 x 8 prints to take home ✨ Christmas mini photo shoots with digital images supplied. Make t…

18th - 22nd January 2025 Enjoy incredible local Irish music on the Wild Atlantic Way in January 2025! 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…

18th - 20th January 2025 A fantastic Irish-Music festival taking place in Bundoran Atlantic Irish Fest will take place in Donegal in January 2025. What we have for you is a cracking line-up of Irish musicians - sessions, gigs, concerts, - we have some cobweb (hangover)-clearing hikes and cultural activities, we have the dramatic Wild Atlantic Way to explore, gorgeous local restaurants, and l…

31st January - 3rd February 2025 Donegal's Brigid’s Day February Bank Holiday festival is back for 2025! Taking place in Bundoran, Co. Donegal, 'Féile na mBan' returns for its third year. Dedicated to showcasing women in all walks of life, the festival will once again provide a showcase of the best of Irish women in history, arts, music, activism and many other areas. Joan Crawford, Fái…