Ireland is a buzz with festivals especially in the Summer months and lots of towns will have the Culture Night taking place. The St Patricks Day Festival in March is held in every town in Ireland, and is renowned throughout the world. A wonderful sight of colour, culture, humour, music and community groups taking part in a parade through Irelands many towns. Galway is the place to be for Race Week in July. Waterford hosts the Sparoi Arts Festival at the end of July, and May is the Dunmore East Rambling Weekend. Wexford is renowned for the Wexford Opera Festival in October and June its Strawberry Festival and in July the Bannow & Rathangan Society's annual show. Cork is a great favourite for Jazz buffs in October for the Cork Jazz Festival, the Choral Festival in April, Live at the Marquee in June sees a large number of international music artists decend on Munster. November is the month also to visit Cork for the Cork Film Festival.
Dublin the captial of Ireland is a big host for the annual March St Patricks Day Parade and is always a wonderful and memorable display. In the county of Cavan has the May, Cavan Walking Festival, the Belturbet Festival of The Erne in July along with the October, Virginia Pumpkin Festival. In Louth you will find the Drogheda Arts Festival. County Meath has the Navan Choral Festival in May. Meath see's the annual music festival event at Slane Castle and October is the month for the Spirits of Meath Halloween festival. Antrim hosts in August The Ould Lammas Fair also in August is the walking festival in Atrim the Heart of the Glens. Sligo in October is Ireland's Folk, Root & Indie Festival, August is Sligo's Summer Festival and July the Enniscrone Black Pig Festival along with the May Sligo Walking Festival. Wicklow's Hollywood Fair in August is a great event and August also in when the Tinahely Show is held.
Tipperary sees the a busy Easter Festival, Tipperary Vintage Rally and Clonmel's Juntion Festival in July. Laois is where to be for the annual music event, The Electic Picnic in August and the Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Car run in May, in July the Ossory Agricultural Show is held and August for the National Steam Rally in Stradbally. For those of all ages seeking love the annual Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is held each year in September in the county of Clare, in April the Kilfenora Trad Festival. Kerry has racing meetings through out the year in Killarney, Killorglin is where you will find the King Puck Fair in August, one of Ireland's oldest running Fair, Dingle Walking Festival in February along with the Wild West Run Kenmare, Killarney's Rally of the Lakes in May and the world renowned Rose of Tralee Festival in August. In Donegal there is the Bundoran's Sea Sessions Surf & Music festival in June, the Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in May in Ballyshannon, The Laghey Blast Festiva in May and the Earagail Arts Festival in July and also the Lennon Festival Ramelton in July. Derry in May plays host to the International North West 200 motorsporting event and in October Derry City International Choral Festival and August City of Derry Guitar Festival. This is small sample of what Festivals take place in Ireland but to find out more choose the county you are visiting for more details.
Ireland is blessed with a very mild temperate climate and hence agriculture plays a large part in our culture, so throughout the weekends in nearly every town and good size village you will find a farmers market, well worth exploring. Try some wonderful locally produced cheeses, locally reared meats, poultry, eggs and dairy and home baking at its best.
