Top 5 Irish Festivals of the year 2019

On your tour of Ireland, you will quickly come to the conclusion we Irish have an insatiable appetite for excitement and craic. This appetite has made way for some of the greatest festivals in the world. We have everything from food and music to red head festivals and the crowning of a goat as King! During your small group tour, you might be lucky enough to stumble upon some of these magical festivals popping up the length and breadth of Ireland. Below is a list of some of the best our lovely little country has to offer.

1. Galway International Arts Festival 2019 (GIAF) 15^th– 28^thJuly

We waved good bye to the 42^ndGalway International Arts Festival on Sunday 29^thJuly. It was over two weeks with over 200 events, and to no surprise this year was record breaking with attendance. Over a quarter of a million people came to see spectacular participating artists from all four corners of the globe. The streets were alive and people embraced the electric energy of the festival. From young to old there was a show suited for every age group. There was so much to choose from including performances, talks, concerts, street events and exhibitions. 37% of people had travelled to see the festival from overseas. The culture of Galway is at its peak during this festival and streets are filled with smiling faces and people enjoying all the artsy displays. It truly is a festival that delivers and amazes visitors. Plans are unfolding already for the 2019 International Festival, which will no doubt capture the city’s heart and imagination again. Our Overland guests were lucky enough to soak in the amazing atmosphere in the city this year.

2. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 11^th– 18^thAugust

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the biggest traditional Irish music festival on the planet, a week-long jamboree of music, song and dance, not to mention late nights and family fun! This year it takes place on the East Coast of Ireland in Drogheda. It’s one of the leading lights of multiscreen viewing with 1 million video views last year.

This is an academy of mighty musicians and people clap and dance and sing along to authentic traditional Irish music. The talent is plentiful and the ‘craic’ is optimum!

3. Rose of Tralee 14^th– 22^ndAugust

This is one of Ireland’s oldest and largest festivals in Kerry (The Kingdom).  It celebrates 60 years this year and is an International platform for Irish females, with Irish ancestry. It is not a beauty pageant but participants (Roses) are judged on their personality and suitability to serve as ambassadors for the festival. Millions of people tune in every year to celebrate the aspirations and social responsibility of modern young women. 32 counties select a Rose and one of which is crowned the Rose of Tralee.

Music, parades and fireworks and great atmosphere surrounds this 4 day festival. An inner beauty of Kerry shines on all its visitors.

4. Matchmaking Festival Lisdoonvarna 31^stAugust – 30^thSeptember

This is Europe’s biggest singles festival and takes place every September in the small village of Lisdoonvarna on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. The festival is over 160 years old and there is a match maker called Willie Daly, and legend has it if you touch his lucky book you will be married within 6 months! So if you are looking for love and disillusioned by online dating apps – this may very well be your answer. In love and in life there are no impossibilities!! Music, fun and laughter start each morning from 11am. A festival where two hearts may become one. This might be your chance to finally become Irish J

5. The Dingle Food Festival 4^th– 6^thOctober

The Dingle Food Festival takes place on the first weekend in October every yearin the beautiful fishing town of Dingleon the Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way. Dingle is one of our favourite stops on all Overland Small Group Tours. The town comes alive with locals and tourists alike. Everyone comes home for the Dingle Food Festival and tourists come from far and wide across the globe that weekend.

Highlights of the festival include cookery demonstrations, over 50 market stalls,workshops,street entertainment,children’s events, wine tastings,whiskey tastingsand much more. The most popular part of the festival is ‘The Taste Trail‘. Festival goers purchase a book of taste trail tickets and can then visit over 70 venues around the town offering tastings of the best food and drink the Peninsula has to offer. Time to taste and embrace our culinary senses

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