Thursday 19 December, 2024

Your guide to the strangest summer festivals in Ireland

Fancy doing something a bit different? Then check out these seven summer fests…

STARTING TO plan your summer holidays or weekend trips?

Looking to do a something bit different?

Then check out our guide to some of the more unusual festivals in Ireland.

Among the hundreds of festivals which are planned around the country between now and November, some events stood out as being particularly against the grain, such as the Stone Skimming Championships or a pirate weekend:

Your guide to the strangest summer festivals in Ireland

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1. Drogheda Samba Festival
Where? Drogheda, Co. Louth When? 22 to 24 June What's on? The festival organisers promise a weekend of Samba, Latin and African music and dance with a range of indoor and outdoor gigs, concerts, workshops, and a carnival parade. www.droghedasamba.com (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
2. Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival
Where? Tullamore, Co Offaly When? 20 to 23 September What's on? A range of outdoor and indoor gigs celebrating Irish traditional, American bluegrass and folk music, as well as workshops and sessions. www.johnnykeenan.com (Image: plenty.r. on Flickr/Creative Commons)
3. O'Driscoll Clan Gathering
Where? Baltimore, Co Cork When? 21 to 24 June What's on? A gathering of O'Driscolls from around the world, with live music, socialising, and heritage talks to help visiting O'Driscolls discover their roots. (Organisers say you don't actually have to be an O'Driscoll to join the festivities.) A new O'Driscoll clan chieftain will be inaugurated at the end of the festival. www.odriscoll.ie (Photocall Ireland)
4. Baltimore Pirate Weekend
Where? Baltimore, Co Cork When? 29 June to 1 July What's on? Baltimore is transformed into a pirate village for the festival and will host a treasure hunt, pirate ship, fancy dress events, trips to the islands, and games. www.baltimore.ie/festivals (Image: fdecomite on Flickr/Creative Commons)
5. Twin Fest Ireland
Saturday 18 August 2012 Where? Ballymote, Co. Sligo When? 18 August What's on? The festival is open to all multiples of any age, their friends and families, with prizes for the twin quiz, three-legged race, 'twins got talent' and twins that have travelled the furthest. www.twinfest.ie (AP Photo/Michel Euler/PA)
6. Duncannon Fort Annual Military Vehicle Re-enactment
Where? Duncannon Fort, New Ross, Wexford When? 2 to 3 June What's on? Re-enactments of military events from the middle ages through to the present times including the United Irishmen, the American War of Independent, the London Irish Rifles, and the WW2 German Army of Battle Group South. The festival also festures military vehicles from different eras. http://duncannonfort.com/military-re-enactment/ (Image: Don Wright on Flickr/Creative Commons)
7. Fenit Seabreeze Festival
Where? Fenit, Co Kerry When? 9 to 10 June What's on? The All-Ireland Stone Skimming Championships, the aqua golf Irish open, a tug of war, donkey derby, and maritime and heritage talks. www.fenitseabreeze.com (Image: CraigMoulding on Flickr/Creative Commons)

Are you planning to host or attend any strange festivals in Ireland not mentioned above? Add your info in the comments section below.

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Susan Ryan

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