August 2025

The 2025 Geesala Festival will run from Sunday, August 10th to Sunday, August 17th, in the charming village of Geesala.

At the heart of the festival are the annual horse and greyhound races, held on the stunning Doolough Beach. This beautiful location is famous for inspiring John Millington Synge’s iconic play The Playboy of the Western World. Stretching over three miles, Doolough Beach is renowned for its exceptional turf, considered the best in Ireland by the Horse Racing Association.

Visitors can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere on race day with a bar, live music, and delicious local food to keep everyone entertained. The festival is perfect for families, offering a range of traditional activities for both children and adults.

Throughout the week, a variety of heritage and cultural events will take place, including the Traditional Heritage and Sports Day and the Traditional Boat Racing Regatta. Other highlights include the Jonathan Cuffe Memorial Walk and the Festival Fittest Family competition.

There will also be plenty of fun for children, with activities like Paint and Glow, Flutter by Bop and for adults such as arm wrestling, angling competitions, live music, and more to round off the exciting programme.