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Ireland is a land known for its affinity towards arts and festivals. Irish People involve in cultural activities with great passion and spread the enthusiasm to all without any difficulty. A quick look at the most important festivals that happen in Ireland will enable you to understand the cultural extravaganza of the nation and definitely help you make a decision to visit Ireland and experience the excitement and fun of these festivals.
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Listowel Writers week
Writers' Week is first and foremost a festival devoted to the cause of the writer. It essentially aims to guide, direct and motivate the emerging writers. This ideal is achieved through competitions, publication of authors’ work, workshops, seminars, lectures, readings etc. Writers' Week wishes to make the Arts accessible to everyone.
The concept of the Literary Workshop was first introduced at Writers’ Week in 1971 by Bryan MacMahon. Since it’s inception in 1970 Listowel Writers’ Week has been recognized as the primary event in Ireland’s literary calendar. Prominent Irish writers have shared their skills in poetry, fiction, theatre, screen, writing for radio and children’s literature. This year the event will start on 30th May and conclude on 3rd June 2007
The Cats Laugh Festival
The Smithwick’s Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, Ireland’s favourite festival has rapidly established itself as one of the best comedy festivals in the world, attracting a host of the best national and international stand-up comedians and comedy improvisers. Five days of fun and laughter are guaranteed with over 85 live performances in the relaxing surrounds of 14 of Kilkenny’s best loved venues. Simple fun and exhilaration is the motto of this Festival. This year the Smithwicks Cat Laughs Comedy Festival runs from 31st of May till the 4th of June 2007
The Clonmel Junction Festival
The Clonmel Junction festival is one of the most exciting festivals in Ireland. For nine days and nights Clonmel, is transformed and animated by hand painted banners, with flags bedecking the town centre, daily street theatre and free live music events. However the real heart of the festival is in the theatres and music venues which host over 50 performances of top class Irish and International acts CLONMEL JUNCTION FESTIVAL, now in its seventh year, is unique in its ability to bring people onto the streets of Clonmel to celebrate the wealth of cultural activity taking place, and indeed, to celebrate the town itself.
Now established as a key calendar event, not only for Clonmel but on the national festival circuit, it is planned to recreate Junction’s special atmosphere in 2007 with an exciting week that includes world-class spectacle, theatre, dance, music, street entertainment and much more daytime activity, turning the town into a dynamic centre of creative activity for eight days in July.
Puck Fair
Killorglin in the geographical heart of Kerry is the venue for one of Ireland's most unusual street festivals - Puck Fair. The fair is one of Ireland's oldest and longest celebrated and is held without fail on 10th, 11th and 12th August every year with 12 hours of free family street entertainment.
The main events of the festival include the traditional horse fair, parade and coronation ceremony of King Puck, open air night concerts, fireworks display, children's competitions, street entertainers and dancing displays. It is estimated that the Fair is worth in excess of €6,000,000 to the local economy as over 100,000 people pass through Killorglin during the three days of Puck Fair. These visitors to the town are of varying nationalities - local people mix with Europeans and Americans to create a truly international atmosphere.
Kilkenny arts Festival
Kilkenny Arts Festival is one of Ireland’s oldest and largest international arts festivals which take place annually in August against the beautiful medieval backdrop of Kilkenny Ireland. Founded 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 an extensive street programme. Kilkenny Arts Festival is committed to the presentation of leading Irish and international artists and has secured a reputation for innovation and excellence over the years. The festival starts on August 10th and runs for nine days.
Rose of Tralee Festival
This is Ireland’s largest ´bash ‘the astonishing Rose of Tralee festival, when the town plays host to the world. The centerpiece is the Rose Competition itself, in which young women of Irish birth or ancestry take part in a unique selection contest for the coveted title of ´Rose of Tralee.
This year's International Festival is bursting with entertainment, including events such as the International Gala Rose Ball, the Rose Parade, the Newbridge Silverware Fashion Show, and live television Selection Nights hosted by Ray D'Arcy from the Festival Dome, plus magnificent firework displays and marching bands. Rose of Tralee festival will begin on 18th August and will finish on 22nd August 2007
The Festival of World Cultures
The Festival of World Cultures is an annual international arts and culture festival that celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of artistic traditions. The Festival programme focuses on the representation of innovative and developing artistic practice from around the world. It aims to develop both national and non-national audiences’ experience of the arts, challenging perceptions of international artistic culture through a dynamic programme of concerts & club nights, theatre and dance performances, fairs, markets & exhibitions, circus, workshops and master classes. The festival starts from August 25th to 27th 2007.
Galway International Oyster Festival
The Claddagh Galway is home of the Guinness world oyster Championship. Voted one of the 12 greatest shows on earth, this unique event is about friends, fun, fabulous seafood combined with World class non-stop entertainment in the charming medieval city of Galway. There are always a few pleasant surprises at the Galway Oyster Festival
Dublin Theatre Festival
Each year the Dublin Theatre Festival presents the best of Irish and international work on the Dublin stage. The festival promotes Irish theatre through international tours of its finest new creations, collaborates with leading and international artists and companies to create exciting new work and hosts a variety of the most prestigious theatre companies and artists from around the world.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007 is the oldest English-speaking theatre festival in the world will commence on October 27th and conclude on 30th 2007.
Cork Jass Festival
The Guinness Jazz Festival is, by far, Ireland's biggest and most prestigious jazz event and is one of the most important festivals on Ireland's arts and cultural calendar. This year Guinness celebrates 26 years of hugely successful sponsorship of this flagship festival. Some 1,000 musicians from over 30 countries will entertain the fans this year in over 80 venues citywide - and there's a host of fringe events as well. The festival starts on 2 7th of October and ends on 30th October.
Belfast Festival at Queen's
Every year, the largest festival of its kind in Ireland brings the best of international art to Belfast and brings international attention to the city's dynamic arts practitioners. The Festival covers all art forms including theatre, dance, classical music, literature, jazz, comedy, visual arts, folk music and popular music, attracting over 50,000 visitors. The 45th Belfast Festival at Queen's will open on Friday 19 October with an action packed 17 days and nights of world class entertainment.
Wexford Opera Festival
For over fifty years the Irish coastal town has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of rare opera presented as part of a unique festival. The warm and vivacious welcome, the narrow and ancient Viking streets and the tiny, atmospheric Theatre Royal add to pleasures which include over forty daytime events as well as the eighteen evening performances of three major productions. Opening on October 20th and concluding on November 06th 2007, the festival will be one of the most memorable festivals.
St. Patrick's Festival
St. Patrick's Festival is Ireland's official celebration for national holiday; Irish people celebrate with parties and parades. Patrick’s Festival boasts its 10th Anniversary this year with an exciting programme of events highlighting some of the best artistry and flair the country has to offer. From the 16th to the 20th March, audiences can look forward to music, street theatre, fireworks and dance. There’s also a treasure hunt, visual art exhibitions, family fun and of course the best and most eagerly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the worl
