Mar 2012

• DINGLE FILM FESTIVAL ___ 15 - 18 March ___ 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.
  
  
• ST. PATRICK'S FESTIVAL, DUBLIN CITY ___ 16 March - 19 March ___ Dublin
  One of the biggest annual events in the country providing entertainment for all interests and ages. Music, theatre, family carnivals, comedy, street arts, visual arts, dance, a treasure hunt, symposium, cavalcades of vintage cars….. 4000 performers – 1.5 million spectators and 5 days of fantastic festival fun for everyone.
  
  

Apr 2012

• ALL IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL ___ April 20 - April 28 ___ Athlone, Westmeath
  One of Europe's largest amateur theatre festivals sees competition between drama groups from all over Ireland. Some of them are not far off what you would see from any group of professionals.
  
  

May 2012

• LISTOWEL WRITER'S WEEK ___ May 30 - June 3 ___ Listowel, Kerry
  This is Ireland's longest established literary event with a programme that attracts visitors year after year. It is an array of workshops on subjects such as poetry, journalism, play writing and book writing. There will be readings, interviews with writers, art exhibitions, theatre, literary tours, book launces, film and that is just the official events. Unofficial events take place everywhere in Listowel, where the town goes en fete for the weekend, with musical entertainment and impromtu sessions taking place in pretty much all pubs, and fringe exhibitions and events in abundance.
  
  
• LIMERICK RIVERFEST ___ 4 - 7 May ___ Limerick
  Limerick will host a spectacular party on the banks of the River Shannon over the May Bank Holiday weekend as the Riverside City hosts its annual Riverfest Summer Festival! Ireland’s largest BBQ, a FREE live open air rock concert, a water sports extravaganza and a huge fireworks display over the Shannon are just some of the highlights of the four day event. The festival aims to showcase all that is great about Limerick city, from the best resource of the river Shannon to the music, sporting, artistic and food communities.
  
  
• NORTH WEST 200 MOTORCYCLE RACES ___ 13 - 19 May ___ Coleraine
  The biggest sports biking event in Ireland is set amidst some of Northern Ireland's most stunning scenery.
  
  
• BALMORAL SHOW ___ May 16 - 18 ___ Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast
  The biggest agricultural and equestrian event in Northern Ireland held annually at the Balmoral Showgrounds. It lasts 3 days and has something for all the family. Show jumping, cattle, sheep, pig & poultry shows and a large exhibition of agricultural machinery are all on the menu.
  
  
• GARDEN SHOW IRELAND ___ May 18 - 20 ___ Hillsborough, County Down
  Hillsborough Castle hosts this event and it really has something for everyone, but for the enthusiast it is absolute heaven. It's location in the castle's walled garden is perfect and if the weather is ok, you can relax in the 'village green' sipping champagne, eating strwberries and listening to the music. There are several show gardens and design clinics to help you to emulate the gardens. The grower's pavilion has exhibits by specialists from all over the UK and 'Gardener's Question Time' will supply a team of well known and respected gardeners who can provide answers to your problems.
  
  
• RACING AT THE CURRAGH (IRISH GUINEAS MEETING) ___ May 26 - 27 ___ Kildare
  The Curragh is Irelands major racecourse and this event attracts some of the best of Europe's thoroughbred horses to contest the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas.
  
  
• BLOOM GARDEN SHOW ___ May 31 - 4 June ___ Phoenix Park, Dublin
  This is Irelands answer to the Chelsea and Hamton Court flower shows. The location, Phoenix Park, is one of Europe's larger enclosed parks and this provides an abundance of space for participating gardeners to showcase their talents.
  
  
• CAT LAUGHS COMEDY FESTIVAL ___ May 31 - June 4 ___ Kilkenny
  This is just about one of the most popular festivals you will find in this part of the world where each year, Irish comedians are joined by a huge international line-up. The unique Cat Laughs International Improv is a big draw, as is the Comedy Cats, a show which includes the best comedians playing the Irish comedy circuit. This has grown into one of Europes best comedy festivals - the fact that no shows are recorded and there are no competitions means the performers are relaxed, there for the fun and usually on top form.
  
  

Jun 2012

• BLOOM GARDEN SHOW ___ May 31 - 4 June ___ Phoenix Park, Dublin
  This is Irelands answer to the Chelsea and Hamton Court flower shows. The location, Phoenix Park, is one of Europe's larger enclosed parks and this provides an abundance of space for participating gardeners to showcase their talents.
  
  
• LISTOWEL WRITER'S WEEK ___ May 30 - June 3 ___ Listowel, Kerry
  This is Ireland's longest established literary event with a programme that attracts visitors year after year. It is an array of workshops on subjects such as poetry, journalism, play writing and book writing. There will be readings, interviews with writers, art exhibitions, theatre, literary tours, book launces, film and that is just the official events. Unofficial events take place everywhere in Listowel, where the town goes en fete for the weekend, with musical entertainment and impromtu sessions taking place in pretty much all pubs, and fringe exhibitions and events in abundance.
  
  
• CAT LAUGHS COMEDY FESTIVAL ___ May 31 - June 4 ___ Kilkenny
  This is just about one of the most popular festivals you will find in this part of the world where each year, Irish comedians are joined by a huge international line-up. The unique Cat Laughs International Improv is a big draw, as is the Comedy Cats, a show which includes the best comedians playing the Irish comedy circuit. This has grown into one of Europes best comedy festivals - the fact that no shows are recorded and there are no competitions means the performers are relaxed, there for the fun and usually on top form.
  
  
• LIMAVADY JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL ___ 7 -10 June ___ Various venues throughout Limavady Town Centre, Derry
  A very relaxed and friendly festival which has grown to become a significant date in the Irish Blues calendar, and with some great jazz thrown in too.
  
  
• BLOOOMSDAY FESTIVAL ___ 16-19 June ___ Dublin
  Bloomsday is a commemoration observed annually in Dublin and elsewhere to celebrate the life and work of James Joyce, and in particular of his novel Ulysses. It is not just for one day, it actually lasts for a whole week and although it pimarily takes place in the city of Dublin, events also taking place in Dundrum and Dun Laoghaire. The name derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses and the Bloomsday Breakfast which nowdays consists of bacon and sausage washed down by Guinness and served to the accompaniement of readings from Joyce - has now been spread over three days, with two sittings each morning. Originally the breakfast enjoyed by Leopold Bloom consisted of roast heart, liver and mutton kidneys.
  
  
• CORK MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL ___ 21 June - 1 Jul ___ Cork
  TheCork Midsummer Festival which includes dancing, theatrics, different types of music, visual arts and circus gets underway with the Lord Mayor’s Picnic in the Park on its opening day.
  
  
• IRISH OPEN GOLF ___ 28 June - 1 July ___ Royal Portrush
  The Irish Open golf championship will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club this summer, it has been confirmed. The tournament will start in the last week of June and finish on 1 July.
  
  

Jul 2012

• THE IRISH GAME FAIR & COUNTRY LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL ___ 7 - 8 July ___ Shanes Castle, Co Antrim
  One of the biggest events in the country with subjects that range from ferret displays to shooting competitions. It also includes historical battle re-enactments, jousting and archery competitions and a big medieval barbecue.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• GALWAY ARTS FESTIVAL ___ 16 - 29 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.
  
  
• BOYLE ARTS FESTIVAL ___ Jul 25 - Aug 4 ___ 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 ___ 30 Jul - 5 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.
  
  

Aug 2012

• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 31 Aug - 7 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.
  
  
• BOYLE ARTS FESTIVAL ___ Jul 25 - Aug 4 ___ 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 ___ Jul 30 - Aug 5 ___ 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 2 - 5 ___ 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.
  
  
• ALL-IRELAND FLEADH ___ Aug 10 - 20 ___ Cavan
  One of Ireland’s biggest Celtic music festivals. Features many Irish traditional, contemporary and Celtic music performers.
  
  
• DUBLIN HORSE SHOW ___ Aug 15 - 19 ___ 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.
  
  

Sep 2012

• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 31 Aug - 7 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 ___ 29 Sep - 6 Oct ___ Ballinasloe
  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!
  
  

Oct 2012

• LISDOONVARNA MATCHMAKING FESTIVAL ___ 31 Aug - 7 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 ___ 29 Sep - 6 Oct ___ Ballinasloe
  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.