What’s on in the North-West?

Considering a North West stay?

Leitrim, and the broader North West of Ireland, offers plenty of events for all throughout the year. Whether it’s Music, Art, Comedy, Sports or delicious Food and Drink that’s your cup of tea – there’s an event for you.

Check out what’s happening across the North West below, including in our very own ‘Wild Rose County’!

Festivals in Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon, Cavan and Monaghan can all be accessed from your cosy base at Carrick Family Breaks, Leitrim.

Muckno Mania Festival – Monaghan

  Castleblaney, County Monaghan, gives host to the Muckno Mania Festival every summer – a lively festival, full of family fun and games since 1999. The festival keeps things fresh with different themes every year, recent themes included a ‘Circus’ theme and a ‘Country & Western’ theme. You’ll find all sorts at this festival, from Guinness World record-breaking attempts to phenomenal Fire Displays. There’ll be dancing, street performers, live music, arts and crafts, sports, raft building and of course lots…
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Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival – Donegal

  If it’s Irish folk and traditional music you’re after, the Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Festival is the one for you. The festival has hosted many of the great Irish folk and trad names across the decades since it’s birth in the late 1970s, making it the longest-running Folk and Trad festival in the world. You’ll find music acts at the Marquee Concerts as well as at pub sessions, busking competitions, a showcase competition and much, much more. The Ballyshannon…
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Sligo Summer Festival

  A relatively new festival to the town, Sligo Summer Festival has successfully hosted some impressive past music acts such as Example, The Riptide Movement, Mundy, Paddy Casey, Scouting for Girls, Blizzards and Aslan. With only 3 Euro admission and children under eight going free, we reckon you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value music festival across the country! The festival has quickly become one of the biggest festivals in the Northwest of Ireland. However, it’s not all open-air…
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Tubbercurry Old Fair Festival – Sligo

  The small town Tubbercurry Old Fair Festival is held on the second Wednesday in August and has been touted as one of the leading Fair Days in Ireland. The main event of the festival is usually the Crafts and Heritage displays, with plenty of traditional and handmade products on sale including food, artwork, crafts and fashion. You’ll also get to relive olden day Ireland with live demonstrations of a huge number of traditional crafts across Tubbercurry town, including pottery,…
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Yeats Winter School – Sligo

  For an event on the more indulgent and intellectual side, travel no further than to County Sligo to the Yeats Winter School. The festival is held annually at the luxurious four-star Sligo Park hotel and immerses participants in knowledge about W.B Yeats and his family. Here, where Yeats spent many a summer, you will read, explore his poetry and the surroundings where much of his inspiration was likely found. The Winter School is held in late January but there…
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Twin Fest – Sligo

  Can you imagine the country’s twins, triplets and quadruplets all together in one place for one day of the year? Well, you don’t have to imagine! In Ballymote, Sligo, Twin Fest brings together all of the above whether they are identical, fraternal, young or old. There are many competitions to be entered on the day including the twin wheelbarrow race, most alike competitions, oldest twins, twins got talent and quizzes. The fun doesn’t stop there, the festival also has…
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Warrior of the Sea – Sligo

  Warrior of the Sea (or WOTS) is a 6km swim from Rosses Point to Strandhill, County Sligo. The event takes place on the second Saturday in July and is always a sell-out. The start line is at Sligo Yacht Club and competitors must be 18 years or older to swim. Swimmers can choose between a Skins or Wetsuit categories. For experienced swimmers, this adventurous and exhilarating event is not to be missed. Fancy yourself as the next Warrior of…
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The Allingham Festival – Donegal

  A celebration of the life and work of William and Helen Allingham, the Allingham Festival takes place in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. The couple are one of the town’s most famous ancestors. William was a writer and a poet, while Helen was an artist. This festival encompasses storytelling, arts and crafts, poetry, drama, comedy, workshops, book launches and plenty more. The Allingham Festival is located across several venues in the town and is usually held over 5 days in the…
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Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival – Donegal

  The best weekend in Bundoran, Donegal, is surely the buzzing and busy Sea Sessions Festival. This festival combines a love of the sea and water sports with some superb music acts. Undeniably one of the top music festivals in Ireland, the festival has hosted some of the biggest artists worldwide, including Paul Weller, Dizzee Rascal, Sigrid, Bastille and Tinie Tempeh. You won’t find another festival with global acts, surfing, BMX, graffiti art and skateboarding all rolled into one event.…
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Rory Gallagher International Tribute festival – Donegal

  The 4-day Rory Gallagher Festival is a popular festival usually taking place in late May, and is a celebratory event of, you guessed it, all things Rory Gallagher! The festival takes place in Ballyshannon, the birth-place of the late Rock Star. This Rock and Blues music festival attracts an impressive international line-up with over 25 acts over 15 stages, free open-air gigs and pub sessions. There is a warm community vibe at this one and a must if you’re…
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Sligo Jazz Festival & Summer School

  Another musical feat hosted in Sligo is the internationally renowned Sligo Jazz Festival and Summer School. Here you’ll find worldwide respected jazz artists (over 120!) performing in local cafes, pubs and hotels across the town. The festival is well regarded as one of the best jazz festivals in Europe. Part of the festival is its educational component – The Summer School. Booking a place on this programme means you get access to workshops, masterclasses, admission to all concerts, the…
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Sligo Festival of Baroque Music

  This is the festival for chamber music lovers with performances of the highest calibre! The spectacular atmosphere at Sligo Festival of Baroque Music Festival keeps visitors returning year after year. The festival usually takes place in late September in the Model Arts centre. Musical offerings vary from established performers with international recognition to those just discovered and has many opportunities for young people to also perform. To stay tuned for more on this festival see http://www.sligobaroquefestival.com/
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Charles Macklin Festival – Donegal

  The Charles Mackinlin festival is a celebratory feat of the life and work of Charles Macklin, held in Culdaff, Inishowen, County Donegal. The October festival is one of arts and heritage and honours the late actor and playwright through theatre, music, art, poetry and heritage events. Charles Macklin was born in 1690 and lived to the impressive age of 107. The community spirit is strong with this one and Culdaff “welcomes all to come and enjoy the event”. For…
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Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Weekend – Monaghan

  The rural landscape of Monaghan has been an inspiration to many. Here, in the town of Inniskeen, the home of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre and Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Weekend attracts visitors from all over the country and abroad to commemorate the life and work of the poet. This is truly one of Irelands favourite literary weekends of poetry and workshops. The Patrick Kavanagh Weekend runs over three days with daily workshops designed for poetry lovers with little to no…
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Clonmany Festival – Donegal

  The charming village of Clonmany is flocked by thousands of visitors on an annual basis for the ever-popular family event that is Clonmany Festival. The festival has been running for over half a century and is the longest-running family festival in Ireland. Day-time events include all sorts of family activities including family cycles in the beautiful surrounding countryside, pet shows, treasure hunts and raft races. While into the night you can be entertained by performances from some of Ireland’s…
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Boyle Arts Festival – Roscommon

  The 10-day Boyle Arts Festival in Roscommon is renowned for making art accessible for all. The event covers many genres, with visual art from Ireland’s most accomplished painters and sculptures. There is also music (including jazz, world and traditional), local art exhibitions, pop-up galleries, literature, drama, comedy, craft trails and both adult and children’s workshops. The festival has many group events held with small numbers for an intimate experience. While some events are free, tickets for the headline events…
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Clones Canal Festival – Monaghan

  The novel Clones Canal Festival brings much fun and silliness to the small Monaghan town of Clones. The family festival runs annually from a Friday to Sunday with events such as Car Treasure Hunts, a duathlon, Family fun Day, Drive-In movies, trips along the canal, farmers markets and a huge charity truck show. It also hosts Ireland’s largest gathering of the Mini Cooper car. Yet the main feature of the festival is the exhilarating soapbox race on the final…
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Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues Festival – Donegal

  The Northwest is spoilt for choice when it comes to music festivals, with the Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues festival being another great option for music lovers. Held in the Seaside town of Dunfanaghy, this event attracts people from all over the country with its quality music, beautiful location and high spirits. The festival can boast of over 70 gigs featuring through the five-day September event. Gigs are held in venues across the town with performers both local and from…
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Earagail Arts Festival – Donegal

  The Donegal town of Letterkenny is at the centre of this annual festival of art, with venues including An Crianan Theatre and Donegal County Museum. There are also events in other Donegal towns, such as Inishown and Ballybofey. The Eargail Arts Festival celebrates art in all of its forms: theatre, music, dance, paint, workshops, poetry, writing, parades, street performance, comedy and children’s events. The event makes the most of Donegal’s finest tourist attractions with additional events like the unique…
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Roscommon Lamb Festival

  For all things wool and farming head over to Roscommon Lamb Festival held in Roscommon Town. The festival aims to showcase the premium quality local food and celebrates the fact that Roscommon has the highest lamb output per acre in Ireland. The festival has a packed line-up with activities for all the family. For many, the highlight is the Best of Roscommon Food & Drink event “Real Roscommon Food” or the Roscommon Lamb BBQ. Other activities include a wide…
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