Jul 2010

• SHANNON INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL ___ Jul 7 - 11 ___ Limerick
  Limerick hosts a festival for classical music lovers visiting Ireland during this time. This event is now regarded as one of Ireland’s leading music festivals and one of the main summer arts events in the mid-west. It's a national and international platform not only for the Irish Chamber Orchestra, but also for world-renowned artists and young Irish talent.
  
  
• OXEGEN FESTIVAL ___ 9th - 11th Jul ___ Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare
  A weekend-long event which is enormously popular amongst young music fans, who come from all over Europe to camp out for the weekend and take in the best of the international indie scene.
  
  
• GALWAY ARTS FESTIVAL ___ 12th - 25th Jul ___ Galway
  A very popular Arts Festivals and always a fun event, with an international programme of theatre, dance, visual arts, music, poetry, literature and comedy.
  
  
• TWELFTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS ___ 12th Jul ___ throughout Northern Ireland
  The Twelfth of July Celebrations sees members of a Protestant fraternity known as the Orange Order march through the streets of various towns throughout Ulster.
  
  
• BOYLE ARTS FESTIVAL ___ Jul 21 - 31 ___ Boyle, Roscommon
  A feast of classical, jazz and traditional music together with poetry, drama, literature and storytelling, but mainly a visual arts programme, which combines exhibitions by the famous plus some up and coming artists.
  
  
• GALWAY RACES ___ 26th Jul - 1st Aug ___ Galway
  This is a must for racing fans and those that fancy a flutter - a six day party with late nights, card games and the streets of Galway will be thronged with not just race goers but also their families - many of whom come to Galway for this event every year. The racing may not be classic standard but every race is very hotly contested with a high level of betting.
  
  
• IRISH OPEN GOLF KILLARNEY ___ 29th July - 1st Aug ___ Killeen Course Killarney
  Killarney Welcomes the return of the Irish Open to the Killeen Course an ideal venue for the Irish Open in 2010 with its beautiful backdrop
  
  
• CALVES WEEK ___ July 30 - 8 August ___ Cork
  A yachting event with a 'tounge in cheek' title to take after the famed Cowes Week, this is an event for lovers of sailing but can also be enjoyed by everyone.
  
  

Aug 2010

• IRISH OPEN GOLF KILLARNEY ___ 29th July - 1st Aug ___ Killeen Course Killarney
  Killarney Welcomes the return of the Irish Open to the Killeen Course an ideal venue for the Irish Open in 2010 with its beautiful backdrop
  
  
• GALWAY RACES ___ 26th Jul - 1st Aug ___ Galway
  This is a must for racing fans and those that fancy a flutter - a six day party with late nights, card games and the streets of Galway will be thronged with not just race goers but also their families - many of whom come to Galway for this event every year. The racing may not be classic standard but every race is very hotly contested with a high level of betting.
  
  
• SPRAOI FESTIVAL ___ Aug 1 - Aug 3 ___ Waterford
  This is all about live street performances and world music. All parts of Waterford are involved and the whole place becomes a huge street party, with something around every corner. It is just a fun event with Irish and international performers and almost everything is free and safe for the kids to watch.
  
  
• CALVES WEEK ___ 30 July - 8 August ___ Cork
  A yachting event with a 'tounge in cheek' title to take after the famed Cowes Week, this is an event for lovers of sailing but can also be enjoyed by everyone.
  
  
• DUBLIN HORSE SHOW ___ Aug 4th -8th ___ Dublin
  Ireland's premier showjumping event, with some of the world's best showjumpers competing for large prizes thoughout the week, the final day of which sees the Nations Cup competition for the Aga Khan Trophy. This is as much a social as an equestrian event, with competition during the day and partying at night. It includes national jumping competitions for both horses and ponies, International show jumping, side saddle competitions and also includes cobs, Connemara ponies, show ponies and donkeys.
  
  
• THE KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL ___ 6th - 15th Aug ___ Kilkenny
  This Arts Festival is one of Ireland’s oldest and largest international arts festivals which takes place annually in August and is an event that has grown from strength to strength each year and it takes place against the beautiful medieval backdrop of Kilkenny. Started in 1974 by a group of classical music enthusiasts, the festival now presents a rich programme of classical, jazz, world and traditional music, theatre, dance, visual art, literature, film, young people's events and there is an extensive street programme.
  
  
• PUCK FAIR ___ 9 - 11 Aug ___ Kilorglin Co Kerry
  This is one of Europes oldest fairs and where a wild mountain goat is crowned King and placed on a high perch where he overlooks the three day celebration. It is of a pagan origin and the activities adhere to that theme with a distinctly pagan feel to them. There is music, dancing, street theatre, fireworks, a traditional horse fair and much family entertainment during the day. But at night it is probably wise to keep the kids indoors as it can get just a wee bit wild.
  
  
• ALL-IRELAND FLEADH ___ Aug 15th - 22 ___ Cavan
  One of Ireland’s biggest Celtic music festivals. Features many Irish traditional, contemporary and Celtic music performers.
  
  
• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 27th Aug - 3 Oct ___ Lisdoonvarna County Clare
  This is one of Ireland's oldest traditions and takes place in Lisdoonvarna County Clare. Traditionally, it was mostly the farming community who instigated this practice to find wives for their sons but today many single men and women of all backgrounds flock to Lisdoonvarna every year with the intention of finding a perfect mate. There is music and dancing and even a horse race meeting.
  
  
• THE IRISH GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR ___ 28 - 29th August ___ Birr Castle, Co Offaly
  Birr Castle, situated in the centre of Ireland was the location of some of the most successful game and country fairs in Ireland. This event has a premier position in the market place and is fully justified with being branded as one of “The Great Game Fairs of Ireland”.
  
  

Sep 2010

• CAPE CLEAR INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL ___ September ___ Cape Clear Island, Co Cork
  Cape Clear Island off the coast of Co Cork is the setting for this unique event celebrating the art of storytelling. There are formal and informal storytelling sessions, workshops, musical events and discussions.
  
  
• DINGLE FILM FESTIVAL ___ September ___ Dingle
  Dingle, a great region to visit, puts on a Film Festival during the month of September which combines screenings and related events with hotly contested competitions. It is aimed not just at the film industry, but at a general audience also. This brand new festival (previously the Kerry International Film Festival) will showcase the best of Irish and International talent by means of a short film competition.
  
  
• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 27th Aug - 3 Oct ___ Lisdoonvarna County Clare
  This is one of Ireland's oldest traditions and takes place in Lisdoonvarna County Clare. Traditionally, it was mostly the farming community who instigated this practice to find wives for their sons but today many single men and women of all backgrounds flock to Lisdoonvarna every year with the intention of finding a perfect mate. There is music and dancing and even a horse race meeting.
  
  
• THE ELECTRIC PICNIC ___ Sept 3 - 5th ___ Stradbally Hall, County Laois
  Featuring another selection of stellar artists from Ireland and abroad, this boutique festival has a lot more to offer than just music plus it has a Powder Room and Pamper Palace onsite.
  
  
• NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS ___ Sep 21 - 23 ___ Athy, Athy Co Kildare
  Referred to as "the Ploughing Match" or simply "the Ploughing" this is rural Ireland's biggest annual event by far. Not only is it an international ploughmens competition but it is also a massive trade show, with machinery exhibitions, trade stalls, craft stalls, vintage cars, fashion shows, home entertainment, interior design and art exhibitions.
  
  

Oct 2010

• CORK FILM FESTIVAL ___ October ___ Cork
  Held in high regard, this international festival was created to celebrate the art of film making. It has developed an ever-increasing and enthusiastic audience of film makers and lovers over the years and for the city of Cork, it is one of the most important events on the social and cultural calendar.
  
  
• CORK JAZZ FESTIVAL ___ October ___ Cork
  This is Ireland's longest running Jazz festival and certainly one of the very best. The variety of music on offer during the four days is mind-boggling and this is an opportunity to see acts rarely seen in Ireland.
  
  
• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 27th Aug - 3 Oct ___ Lisdoonvarna County Clare
  This is one of Ireland's oldest traditions and takes place in Lisdoonvarna County Clare. Traditionally, it was mostly the farming community who instigated this practice to find wives for their sons but today many single men and women of all backgrounds flock to Lisdoonvarna every year with the intention of finding a perfect mate. There is music and dancing and even a horse race meeting.
  
  
• BALLINASLOE OCTOBER FAIR ___ 2 -10 Oct ___ Galway
  One of Europe's, oldest traditional fairs - the horse sales and watching the many dealers gathered with their stock and doing business on the Fair Green is a highlight of the week. It offers more than horse trading though, with music, and especially traditional music everywhere. There are tug-of-war competitions, bareback riding, show jumping, a carnival and many street traders. It's a chaotic disorganised sort of event but at the same time, great fun!
  
  
• IDEAL HOMES EXHIBITION ___ 21 - 25 Oct ___ Ballsbridge Dublin
  The Ideal Homes Exhibition has been a fixture here for many years, but with the housing boom in Ireland, it has grown to become a massive event, with something of interest to anyone who owns a property.
  
  

Dec 2010

• BALMORAL WINTER FAIR ___ 9th Dec 2009 ___ Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast
  The Fair is open for one day and is primarily dairy orientated, featuring Showing Classes for four breeds of cattle with accommodation for 200 cattle. The biggest event in the agricultural winter calendar, this one-day fair attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see the many trade stands and prize-winning cattle. The main event of the day is the judging of Dairy Shorthorn, Jersey, Ayrshire and Holstein Breeds of cattle, with the winners announced in the afternoon