Upcoming Events

Please let us know if you have any events planned - we would be happy to publicise them here

17 February 2012 - The Hills of Donegal Set Dancing Weekend (Donegal)

Friday 17th February 7.00pm Jiving Workshop by Diane Cannon 8.00pm Music in Oscars Bar by Diane Cannon & John 10.00pm Céilí with Copperplate Céilí Band 1.00am Late Session in Oscars Bar by Brian Kerrigan Saturday 18th February 10.00 Set Dancing Workshop by Mick Mulkerrin 2.30pm 2 Hand Dancing Workshop by Edith Bradley 8.00pm Music in Oscars Bar Pat McClean 10.00pm Céilí Dance with Swallows Tail 1.00am Late Session in Oscars Bar by “The Stones Throw” Sunday 19th February 10.30am Set, Sean Nós Workshop by Mick Mulkerrin 2.30pm Afternoon Céilí Dance with Swallows Tail

17 February 2012 - Tradfest on the Lough (Donegal)

TradFest on the Lough features the finest of traditional music by warm hearths including Rosatos, the Sunday World Pub Spy's Best Irish Pub of 2010. There will be music during the day and at night in the town's pubs in a picturesque setting. For more information, email info@craicon.com or call +353 74 9382973.

24 February 2012 - Russell Memorial Weekend (Clare)

The Russell Memorial Weekend is a traditional festival held in Doolin on the the last full weekend in February each year. Enjoy a weekend of traditional music, song and dance with workshops in several instruments.

27 February 2012 - Corofin Trad Festival (Clare)

Traditional Music with various sessions in the local pubs and a Concert nightly in Teach Ceoil. For a full programme of events visit the festival website at www.corofintradfest.com

02 March 2012 - Ennis Book Club Festival (Clare)

The Ennis Book Club Festival is a wonderful social and literary gathering bringing together book club members and readers from all over Ireland and beyond. Here you can share your reading passions, meet your favourite writers and have a weekend break with friends in one of Ireland’s most picturesque towns.

17 March 2012 - Trail Blazers Series (Galway)

Gaelforce Events are bringing a new series of shorter events around the country for 2012, with the first event-taking place in Connemara on the 17th March. The day will include a 15km Trail run, a sea kayaking challenge with a choice of courses and also family activities throughout that day at a greatly reduced price. Come and take part in one event, both or just the family activities. Make an adventurous Paddys day out of it! For full details and to enter check out the website at www.gaelforceevents.com/trailblazer

22 March 2012 - Siarsceal Festival (Roscommon)

Siarscéal Festival is a historical, literary, bilingual and rambling festival hosted annually in different venues, inspired by the culture and heritage of Roscommon's River Basins. For more information, email siarsceal@live.ie or call +353 94 9651867.

13 April 2012 - Rathcroghan Archaeological Conference (Roscommon)

The inaugural Rathcroghan Archaeological Conference, Tulsk, Co, Roscommon, will take place from the 13th-15th April 2012. The Conference will draw together experts in the field of archaeology to discuss the advances in archaeological technology and interpretation over the last ten year. The topic of the conference is Rathcroghan: An Enigmatic Landscape.

13 April 2012 - Clifden Traditional Music Festival (Galway)

Clifden Traditional Music Festival is a weekend of the very best of Irish music, song and dance with concerts, sessions, workshops and outdoor entertainment. In its third year in 2011, it was a great success with the town filled with music and excitement throughout the whole weekend. With a host of local and visiting musicians, singers and dancers, its one for the diaries!For more information, email clifdentradfest@yahoo.ie or call +353 86 4015342.

24 April 2012 - Cúirt International Festival of Literature (Galway)

Cúirt International Festival of Literature is an annual celebration of the very best of contemporary writing in poetry, fiction and memoir. There is much to celebrate at this year’s festival – visit Galway in April and celebrate Cúirt and the written word. As well as events being held in the City, events will also be held in Co Galway this year.

04 May 2012 - Music in Drumcliffe (Sligo)

The Vogler Quartet, Music in Drumcliffe’s festival ensemble-in-residence, are joined by artists of international standing from Ireland, various parts of Europe and beyond. Music lovers can look forward to this annual May Bank Holiday weekend of inspiring chamber music in the friendly, intimate and evocative setting of Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo.

04 May 2012 - Leenane Mountain Walking Festival (Galway)

Leenane Development Association is pleased to announce that plans are in place for the 2012 Leenane Mountain Walking Festival. Enjoy a unique combination of mountain and sea as Leenane is situated on the edge of Killary Harbour and surrounded by mountains in all directions. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/wb2ley

05 May 2012 - South Sligo Walking Festival (Sligo)

The Annual South Sligo Walking Festival will take place over the May Bank Holiday Weekend. Registration will take place at Joe Dan Mullarkey’s Pub each morning. (R294 road Tubbercurry to Ballina Road) There will be 3 Guided walks each day. Beautiful scenery speckled with high altitude lakes & streams, giving participants a chance to experience at first hand the splendid isolation that is the Ox Mountains.

12 May 2012 - Connemara Adventure Challenge - May 12th 2012 (Galway)

Connemara Adventure Challenge - May 12th 2012 The race will take the format of 3 disciplines; trail/mountain running (walking and jogging also accepted!), Kayaking and cycling. The Connemara Adventure Challenge is 31km in total and it is open to racers of all levels. If you\'re not quite sure whether you are up to the level of completing Gaelforce West? Connemara Adventure Challenge is a great way of testing yourself and your ability! The event is run by Killary Adventure Co. and will be based at the companies accommodation base K2 which sits on the shores of Killary Fjord in Connemara, Co. Galway. This area of the country is stunning, rugged and provides the perfect playground for an adventure race. www.gaelforceevents.com/connemara

23 May 2012 - Traditional Music Session Cooley House (Clare)

Family run, old style traditional Irish pub with beautiful open fire. It exudes warmth, character and soul. Serving Irish Coffee & Guinness. For more information, call 065 7071712.

01 June 2012 - Havana Cultura Festival (Galway)

Havana Cultura (formerly Little Havana Festival) returns to Galway's Latin Quarter over the June Bank Holiday weekend, 1st-3rd June. From the evening of Friday, 1st June through to the Sunday, Galway's Latin Quarter will be alive with Latin music, dance, street entertainment, art and cultural events. Over 60 free events will be taking place over the weekend, courtesy of Havana Club, the Authentic Cuban Rum.

02 June 2012 - Lough Allen Water Festival (Leitrim)

Lough Allen Water Festival in conjunction with An Tostal Festival Committee - Saturday, 2nd June. Fun day for beginners sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing. Also competition in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing (Senior & Junior)

11 June 2012 - The Galway Sessions (Galway)

The 11th Galway Music Sessions Festival takes place in multiple venues in Galway City from the 11th-17th June, 2012. Full details of programme will be on The Galway Sessions website in due course, which can be downloaded.

23 June 2012 - Gaelforce North – June 23rd (Donegal)

Gaelforce North will see you discover some amazing parts of Donegal, including Glenveagh Nationl Park, Coillte Forest Tracks and the spectacular Mount Errigal. Both courses involve cycling, running/hill running and kayak. The longer course is 64km with the new sprint course being 42km. Due to logistics it will again be a solo race and we will not have provision for relay teams or teams.

30 June 2012 - Volvo Ocean Race (Galway)

The Volvo Ocean Race Grand Finale is set to enthral the city of Galway from the 30th June-8th July 2012. The Volvo Ocean Race fleet will arrive in from Lorient to Galway on the 3rd July to the biggest festival in Ireland, which will enhance all cultures from each of the race stopovers. The Volvo Ocean Race Grand Finale 2011-2012 will be an eight-day festival of marine, sport, culture and arts, entertainment and food. Event times each day will be from 10.00-22.00. More info available at info@volvooceanracegalway.com.

08 July 2012 - Ballina Salmon Festival (Mayo)

Ballina Salmon Festival is Ireland's premier family-orientated festival giving thousands of people, eight days of fun-filled artistic and cultural events catering for all age groups. View website for details of full festival programme.

10 July 2012 - Galway Film Fleadh (Galway)

The Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland's leading film festival, is a six-day international event, held every July and welcomes a diversity of films from around the world. The Fleadh is very much a filmmaker's festival and attracts directors, actors, cinematographers and artists of all generations and cultural backgrounds, who present their work before their peers.

18 July 2012 - Galway Arts Festival (Galway)

Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's largest annual arts festival, taking place each July in the city of Galway. Founded in 1978, the festival collaborates with artists and companies throughout the world to produce and present an international programme of theatre, spectacle, dance, visual arts, music, literature and comedy involving hundreds of artists and performers.

26 July 2012 - Boyle Arts Festival (Roscommon)

Boyle Arts Festival takes place from the 26th July to 4th August 2012. The festival programme will include events across all art forms, with the visual arts and music continuing to form the cornerstones on which the festival has established its reputation. Other events will include drama, literature, comedy and children’s events. For more information, contact info@boylearts.com

18 August 2012 - Gaelforce West - August 18th 2012 (Mayo)

The course of approximately 67km stretches from the stunning Glassilaun beach to Westport. En route there are some significant obstacles to cross, including Killary Harbour and the famous holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. It is important to note that you will get wet and dirty; you are running through bogs, along mountain paths and up Croagh Patrick! You are cycling along small country roads, a dirt track and on a small section of the N59. Gaelforce Extreme covers a course of 78km. It involves the same disciplines as Gaelforce West but with extras! For more details click here! These are not triathlons, marathons or a fun runs, they are adventure races! It will test you both physically and mentally but the elation you will feel at the end when you cross the finish line will make it all worth it! Please read everything carefully so there are no surprises on the day.

01 September 2012 - Bríd O Donohue Irish Music Classes (Clare)

Learn to play traditional Irish music in a relaxed atmosphere in Miltown Malbay. Bríd O Donohue learned her music by ear from playing with local musicians like Willie Clancy, J.C. Talty, Bobby Casey and Junio Crehan. Takes place from September to June with individual classes available outside these dates on request. Refreshments provided. There is a participation fee. The lessons are suited to different age groups.

03 November 2012 - Gaelforce Turf Guy - November 3rd 2012 (Galway)

Gaelforce Turf Guy 2012 November 3rd - It’s a lot more craic than just running in the mud!This is a Gaelforce event. We have invested heavily into our top class course using one of the UK’s top ropes course and sky frames builders. We are not just tyres and cargo nets.......come along and find out for yourself on November 5th! This event will be a mental and physical challenge but will also be lots of fun. The course is approximately 10km long but will involve cold November water temperatures, energy sapping obstacles, cliff jumps and much, much more. The Turf Guy takes place on the banks of Killary Fjord, Leenane, Co. Galway.