Boating Holidays across the canals and rivers of Europe from Le Boat
Local Festivals
Upcoming Festivals and Events
Below you will find a list of upcoming festivals and events around the Shannon and Erne regions which you can stop off at, on you Emerald Star cruising holiday this summer. There is a wide variety of events on offer, and something to suit everyone. For more information on any of these events, visit Discover Ireland or talk to the local Tourist Office in the region.
If you have any suggestions to add, please let us know: info@emeraldstar.ie
Region / Base | Town | Date | Title | Genre | Details |
| Carrick On Shannon | Carrick | 9 - 11 July | Carrick Water Music Festival | Classical, Jazz | Three day festival of classical, jazz, trad, opera and world music with art exhibitions, drama, book readings, and children’s events in beautiful surroundings by the banks of the River Shannon. |
| Carrick On Shannon | Drumshambo | 18-25 July | Joe Mooney Summer School | Traditional Irish Music | Workshops in traditional instruments, traditional and Séan Nós singing, set dancing and two hand dancing. Concerts, recitals and sessions |
| Carrick On Shannon | Carrick | 16 July | LiveTrad | Traditional Irish Music | Live webcast of traditional music from Andersons Pub. Tune in live or listen back LiveTrad. |
| Carrick On Shannon | Boyle | 21 - 31 July | Boyle Arts Festival | Arts and Cultural | Highly regarded for its exhibition of contemporary Irish art as well as its programme of classical music. Other events include drama, literature, comedy, children’s events and workshops. |
| Belturbet | Belturbet | 25 July - 2 August | Festival of the Erne | Arts and Cultural | 10 day action-packed festival based around annual international angling calendar - a wide variety of events and activities, great fun for all the family. |
| Portumna | Scariff | tbc | Scariff Harbour Festival | Arts and Cultural | Open-air, street-based event promoting the attractions of East Clare, Lough Derg and the inland waterways. Varied and familyfriendly programme of activities, arts, music & entertainment. |
| Portumna | Tipperary, Limerick, Cork | 30 July - 2 August | Beast of Ballhoura | Adventure Race | An adventure race featuring mountain running, mountain biking, kayaking, orienteering, abseiling, shooting and other surprise disciplines over a period of 30+ hours. |
| Portumna | Tullamore | 31 July - 1 August | Castlepalooza | Music Festival | One of Ireland’s most intimate, exclusive boutique music festivals with a great line up of alternative international & Irish acts! Set in the breathtaking surrounds of Charleville Castle it is now in its fourth year. |
| Portumna | Tullamore | 15 - 20 August | Scoil Eigse | Traditional Irish Music | A week long summer college of tuition in Irish traditional music, song and dance. The event will be held in Tullamore the week immediately receding Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. |
| Portumna | Tullamore | 17 - 23 Aug | Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann | Traditional Irish Music | The largest annual celebration of Irish culture, music, song and dance in the world, run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Over 10,000 musicians compete for the coveted All Ireland Titles in their field. The Fleadh is also a showcase for concerts, ceilithe, parades, pageants and impromptu street sessions. Check out the website |
| Portumna | Terryglass | 18 - 20 August | Terryglass Arts Festival | Arts and Cultural | The annual festival is a celebration of arts through concerts, workshops and performances. Something to suit everyone. |
| Portumna | Banagher | 14 September | Banagher Horse Fair | Horse | One of the oldest horse fairs in Europe, street entertainment the whole weekend, with horse showing classes on Saturday and traditional Horse Fair on Sunday. |
Carrick On Shannon | Carrick On Shannon | tbc | Carrick Fishing Festival | Fishing | Coarse fishing competition over 4 days with attractive prizes. |
| Portumna | Killaloe | 20 - 23 September | European Pike Angling Challenge | Fishing | Super three day pike fishing event on the rich waters of Shannon’s Lough Derg. |
| Belturbet | Enniskillen | 29 September - 3 October | Enniskillen Arts Festival | Arts and Music | Festival with all types of music from folk to classical, jazz to brass, as well as literary events, film, drama, dance and various workshops. |
| Portumna | Ballinasloe | 2 - 10 October | Ballinasloe Horse Fair | Horse | A nine-day extravaganza of all things equestrian, with entertainment, music and great family fun, the 168th Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival is held in the town of Ballinasloe, County Galway. |
