July 2014

02nd July - 06th July

Bard Summer School - Traditional Culture

The Bard Summer School takes place on Clare Island and it attracts participants from all over the world. The School explores all Irish myths handed down through Ireland's oral tradition and it also runs a parallel summer school for children: the Children's Bard where the young participants can experience art, weaving, sport, music, dancing and storytelling. During this three and a half days event people of Clare Island perform local music, poetry song and dance every evening. The festival concludes with an annual Bard Feasta, a Celtic feast.

03rd July 2014 - 06th July 2014

Castlebar International Four Days Walking Festival - Outdoor activities

The Castlebar International Four Days' Walks Festival, Ireland's oldest festival and most celebrated, is a very well known event since 1967. It attracts walkers from all over the world and it is an ideal opportunity for them to meet, talk, walk and discover bogs, rivers, mountains and unspoilt corners of the West of Ireland. All of the road walks are through the countryside around Castlebar and each day 10km, 20km and 40km road walks are organised.

Walkers can register via the website or on the Wednesday evening at the Welcome Inn Hotel, the headquarters of the festival, where all road walks start and finish.

04th July - 06th July

Heart of Castlebar Festival - Traditional Music and Dance

This year the county town of Castlebar is an unmissable destination for a great weekend in July. The Heart of Castlebar Street Festival coincides with Fleadh Cheoil Chonnacht 2014 as well as the Castlebar International Four Days Walking Festival. The town will host shopping promotions, great street entertainments, childrens' activities, delicious food and heritage events. Great traditional bands and musicians will perform on the streets of Castlebar all over the weekend.

Achill Island Half Marathon & 10k - Outdoor Activities

The Achill Half Marathon and 10k, run over the fantastic Wild Atlantic Way, attracts runners from all over the world and it is open to adults over 18 years of age. Prizes are offered to winners of all categories.

The charity for 2014 is the Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin.

06th July - 13th July

Ballina Salmon Festival - Food, Arts and Family Fun

Ballina, the Salmon Capital of Ireland, hosts this very popular and family friendly festival that this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The Ballina Salmon Festival includes on Wednesday 9th July the Heritage Day, where visitors can see craftspeople display their trades of tinsmiths, thatching, butter making, woodturning and blacksmithing and on Saturday 12th at 11 pm in Cathedral Road the best Fireworks Display in the West.

The Festival also offers different daily programmes of events and workshops especially for children, while all over the week delicious food stalls and traditional music make a fantastic atmosphere.

The Festival ends with the favourite for kids Teddy Bears Picnic on Sunday.

16th July - 20th July

Feile Iorrais - Folk Art Festival

The charming Erris Peninsula hosts this international folk arts festival where artists and groups from around the world will perform. Visitors will have a pleasant time attending concerts, workshops, poetry and theatre.

18th July - 20th July

Feile Bia na Mara - Achill Seafood Festival

The Achill Seafood festival celebrates the maritime culture and it takes place throughout Achill Island. The festival programme varies from the boats trips & jawl races to local fresh fish markets at the harbours. Freshly caught fish is always available on the menus of restaurants This festival is also a family friendly event: children can enjoy the sandcastle building competition while adults can have a look at the many arts & crafts and kite-flying demonstrations.

18th July - 21th July

Crossmolina Community Festival - Family fun

This Festival takes place in Crossmolina and it is a festival of fun for all the family. Some events from previous years include: Opening Parade, Keenagh Loop Walk, Arts & Crafts Display, Teddy Bears Picnic, Crossmolina Walk Cycle, Children's Fishing Competition, Teenage Drama Course (5 day participation), 6.5 km Run/Walk, Crossmolina Bat Walk, Open Sports & BBQ, Social Dance Night, Musical Theatre Dance Class, Enniscoe Walk, Pedal Go-Kart Race, Pub Quiz, Library Story Telling, Gardner's World, Kilmurry Youths Soccer, Agricultural Show, Closing Ceremony, Neiphin Climb, Ladies Fishing Competition, Clay Pigeon Shoot, Afternoon Tea Dance, Fun Bingo Session and Lots of Evening Entertainment Nightly in Local Public Houses.

July-August-September

Cruinniu Badoiri Acla - Achill Yawl Sailing Festival

The Cruinniu Badoiri Acla takes place at various locations along Achill Island and it runs from July to September each year at weekends and in the evenings when tides allow. Usually the teams involved come from Achill and Mulranny areas.

Friday 25th July, 2014

Royal Theatre Castlebar - JIMMY MACCARTHY

One of Ireland's foremost songwriters Jimmy MacCarthy returns to performing with his 'Prophecy / conspiracy?' tour. Having worked with major Irish artists and released four albums, this tour will pay homage to old favourites such as 'Neidin', while introducing more recent work such as ’Andalucian Gray’ and 'Children of Mile'.

Jimmy has written most of the well known songs in the Irish folk and contemporary repertoire - ’No Frontiers’, ‘Missing you’ ’Ride On’, ’Katie’, ‘The Bright Blue Rose’, ‘The Contender’, ’Mystic Lipstick’ and many more. Those that have recored his songs include Christy Moore, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming, Westlife, The Corrs, Celtic Tenors, Sean Keane, Paddy Reilly, Moving Hearts, Frances Black and The Furey.

Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. Tickets: €25

26th July - 2nd August

Scoil Acla Achill Traditional Summer School - Music

Scoil Acla is the annual Achill Island summer school, which has been fostering traditional Irish music, arts and culture for almost 30 years. The extensive range of traditional music classes available at Scoil Acla include tin whistle, concertina, harp, accordion, fiddle, banjo, uileann pipes and concert flute. This popular summer school also hosts a highly esteemed writers' workshop, poetry readings, drama performances, concerts and art exhibitions. There are also workshops in Traditional Irish Dance, classes in Irish Language and courses in Traditional Basket Weaving.

Thursday 31st July, 2014

Royal Theatre Castlebar -THE HIGH KINGS

Coming from accomplished Musical pedigrees, The High Kings grew up in households soaked in the Irish Musical tradition and each member of the band witnessed first hand the power of well crafted Irish music on an audience.

At each concert The High Kings showcase their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, playing 13 instruments between them bringing a rousing acoustic flavour to brand new songs as well as some old favourites.

The High Kings continue to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times and even the odd sing along. Ireland’s Folk Band of the year, The High Kings, are Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden.

Doors 8pm. Show 9pm. Tickets: €30