Foot-tapping, merry making good time - Top 10 2014 Festivals in Ireland

From opera to oysters - festivals in Ireland cover a multitude of activities, from literary pursuits at the Dublin Book Festival to the gems of the silver screen at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. Many of our clients prefer to travel to Ireland when there is something special going on, so they can partake in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Join in the festivities on your self-drive vacation to Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations or bring your friends and family on a group vacation to Ireland for a foot-tapping, merry-making good time!

Here are just a few of the festivals going on in Ireland in 2014!

January

Temple Bar Tradfest - Dublin
January 22-26, 2014
The festival takes place over 5 days and 5 nights with over 200 events. The festival has been recognized for its contribution to Irish traditional music and culture with several awards including Best Traditional Music Festival in the 2008 and 2009 Festival Awards.

February

Jameson Dublin International Film Festival - Dublin
 February 13-23, 2014
Jameson Dublin International Film Festival continues its commitment to celebrating film as an art form by presenting over 120 films from the four corners of the globe to the Irish Audience. The festival is a citywide event that takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre Cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield. The majority of films shown at the film festival are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland.

March

St. Patrick's Day - Ireland
March 17, 2014
On St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland is virtually bursting at the seams with street theater, Irish music, dance, street spectacles, comedy, film, a treasure hunt, Irish language events, family fun and of course the best St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world.

April

Waterford Festival and Food
April 10-13, 2014
This annual festival has become synonymous with fabulous food, fantastic family fun, magical music and much more!

May

Connemara Bog Festival
May 23 - June 2, 2014
An authentic, award-winning festival celebrating 30 years. A space for walking, talking and fun in the company of a multi-disciplinary team of poets, painters and musicians in the wondrous Conamara landscape.

June

Carlow Arts Festival (Eigse 2014), Carlow
June 6 - 15, 2014
Visual art, theatre, music, literature, street carnival, & cultural diversions of all shapes make up this 35-year-old festival which brings creativity to the towns, villages, mountain and riverbanks of Carlow.

July

Galway Arts Festival, Galway
July 14 - 27, 2014
Regarded as one of Europe's key cultural events, Galway Arts Festival is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts. Each year over 100,000 people attend the Galway Arts Festival, with hundreds of writers, artists, performers and musicians creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music to produce a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration. Galway Arts Festival is the defining cultural expression of Galway and is at the heart of all aspects life in the city.

August

Waterford Spraoi Festival
August 1-3, 2014
Spraoi, pronounced spree, is the Irish word for fun, exuberance and celebration. The Spraoi International Street Arts Festival has been staged in Waterford, Ireland, since 1993. For three days each year residents of this medieval city take to the streets and enjoy an international programme of street arts and spectacle. The festival is staged on August Bank Holiday Weekend, always marked by the first Monday in August. Waterford’s narrow medieval streets, squares, quays and historic buildings provide an atmospheric backdrop to Spraoi’s celebration of contemporary performance culture. The majority of the events are free and suitable for all ages. Performers and musicians from around the world feature in the Spraoi programme each year. The festival programme features the Irish Premeiers of International work. Spraoi also produces its own work for the festival, including The Spraoi Parade.

September

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, Co Clare
August 29 - October 5, 2014
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is Europe's largest singles event, with a whole month of dancing and craic starting at 12 noon til late into the night. The festival is Europe's largest singles event. There are five big weekends of dancing and craic. The dancing also starts at the town hall at 12 noon every day during the month of September and continues all over town til late. You can see Willie Daly one of Ireland’s oldest matchmakers at the matchmaker bar every weekend. If its craic and dancing you want Lisdoonaarna is not to be missed.

Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, Galway
September 25 - 28, 2014
Each September, Galway City comes alive with seafood & oysters as it celebrates the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, the most internationally recognised food festival in Ireland and the world's longest running International Oyster Festival. Throughout the festival, a host of tantalising events to whet your appetite will take place, including; a seafood trail in some of Galway city’s finest restaurants, Taste of the Sea/Blas na Mara - showcasing Galway's seafood heroes, the National Oyster Opening Championship, The Food village at The Festival Marquee, the World Oyster Opening Championship, a Mardi Gras event through the streets of Galway and the Festival Finale with family activities, kids fancy dress, live music, cooking demonstrations, Best Hot Oyster Dish challenge, Irish Coffee making and jive & jazz.

October

Beamish Cork Folk Festival, Co Cork
October, 2014
The Cork Folk Festival has been taking place annually since 1979 at 45 locations throughout the City of Cork. Throughout the five day festival, many of the events are free and audiences can sample everything from set to sean nós dancing, bluegrass to cajun music and singers' club to singer songwriters. The highlight of the festival takes place on Grand Parade, where up to 10,000 dancers gather to take part in Ireland’s largest open air céilí.

November

Dublin Book Festival, Dublin
November, 2014
Dublin Book Festival brings together the best of Irish publishing, offering a chance for the voices of both established and up and coming authors to be heard. Our poets and authors will gather to celebrate Dublin’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. The Dublin Book Festival promises a great line-up within a relaxed and fun environment with something for everyone.

2014 is almost here! Let this be the year you find your perfect festival. See that amazing performance, run up that mountain, learn something new or round up your pals for a city break with a difference. Go on! Catch some festival fever!

Simply call Celtic Tours World Vacations today at 1-800-833-4373 and our reservation team will be happy to assist you with the best travel arrangements to take advantage of these and other special events.