National Ploughing Championship Ballintrane co Carlow 17th -19th September 2019
Ardmore Country House B&B les than an hour from the site. Off road free parking. Early Breakfast. https://www.kinnitty.com
www.npa.ie
March 2019
Shake Fest March 2019
The festival of world culture taking place in Charleville Castle Offaly, Shake Fest is dedicated to promote international dance & culture www.fb.com/shakefest
St Patrick’s Festival March 16th- 19th 2019
For an alternative to the big Dublin Parade join one of the local parades in Offaly or Tullamore or Kilcormac. www.stpaticksdaytullamore.com
April 2019
Tullamore Trad Fest 2th-14th April 2019
Kilbeggan Races Friday April 26st 2019 First Race 5.00pm
Offaly Fleadh Cheoil April 28th-30th 2019
May 2019
25th Annual Slieve Bloom Walking Festival Friday May 3rd– Monday 6th May 2019
A weekend of great walks and mighty fun art exhibition, walking with Alpachas, photography walk Geology Walk-( prepare for wet feet.) Choice of 9 walks from 6k – 13k over 3 days.In the evenings enjoy candlelit dinners, traditional Irish music sessions. Walkers BBQ Sunday May 5th 2019. www.slievebloom.ie
Annual Half Door Club International Set Dancing Festival May 3rd- May 6th 2019
Nightly Ceilis, Set Dancing and Sean Nos Dancing Workshops Castletown Co Laois Contact 086 3440388 www.halfdoorclub.org, michael.lalor@gmail.com
Hill of Uisneach
The lighting of the Uisneach beacon fire was the signal for igniting fires on many hills across the whole island creating a unique ‘fire eye’ with Uisneach being the pupil. This heralded the coming of summer. Details www.uisneach.ie.
Kilbeggan Races Friday 17th May First Race 5.15pm
June 2019
Bare in the Woods June Garryhinch Woods Portarlington
Ireland’s fastest growing boutique festival BARE in the Woods is set to expand in 2019, evolving into a three-day event, bursting at the seams with new features at one of this country’s most amazing festival sites. No news yet for 2019 www.goldenplec.com/festivals/bare-in-the-woods-2019
Clareen Traditional Festival June 2019
An action packed programme of music, heritage & traditional games
Kilbeggan Races Sunday June 2nd 2019 at 2.45pm
Gordon Bennett Annual Classic Car Rally 1st-3rd June 2019
The Gordon Bennett Classic Road Festival is open to all vintage, veteran and classic cars, motorcycles and commercials registered prior to 1980.
Kilbeggan Races Monday 17th June 2017 5.45pm
July 2019
Laois Walks Festival 1st -31st July 2019.
Slieve Bloom Eco Walking Weekend. 8th & 9th July 2019
A sociable walking weekend exploring the flora and fauna of the Midlands while walking in the company of local walking guides. Suitable for families. For details and accommodation E-mail info@kinnitty.com
Scripts Irelands Playwriting Festival
For seven days in July, the picturesque heritage town of Birr, Co. Offaly, a haven of Georgian elegance, will play host to an ensemble of playwrights, producers, actors and directors, all working towards one goal – to produce outstanding new Irish plays in seven fun-filled days.Check out their website www.scriptsireland.com for updates and programme.
Castle Palooza Festival 2019
Castle Palooza is an annual Irish independent boutique music festival & Arts Festival, held at Charleville Castle in Tullamore. www.castlepalooza.com
Offaly Biodiversity Summer School 4th-8th July 2019 with Dr John Feehan
Kilbeggan Races Friday 19th July May First Race 5.45pm
Midlands National & Best Dressed Lady Competition
August
51st Annual Birr Vintage week & Arts Festival 4th -11th August 2019
A wide variety of vintage themed events & modern entertainment throughout the festival Street Theatre
Visual Arts, Antique & Fine Art Fair, Theatre, Children’s Events and lots more for all the family
Kilbeggan Races Saturday 10th August 2019 First Race 5.30pm
First Race at 5.30 p.m. Best Dressed Lady Competition www.kilbegganraces.com
Tullamore Show Sunday 11th August 2019
Culture, tradition, competition, entertainment, exhibitions all rolled in to one. Great event for all the family.
Kilbeggan Races Saturday 24th August 2019 First Race 4.45pm
Heritage Week 19th-26th August 2019 www.heritageweek.ie
September
Kilbeggan Races Friday September 6th 2019 May First Race 4.30pm
Electric Picnic Stradbally August 30th- September 3rd 2019
The rolling lawns of Stradbally Hall provide the perfect setting for a feast of eclectic music, entertainment and food. The ancestral home of the Cosby family is a picturesque 600 acre estate with its own lake, surrounded by ancient oak and chestnut trees. Situated just an hour from Dublin it is nonetheless in the heart of the country in the quaint little town of Stradbally Co Laois.
National Ploughing Championship 2019 September 17th-19th. Ballintrance Carlow This national ploughing event in Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show www.npa.ie
Hullabaloo!Offaly Children’s Art Festival
A full week of art mayhem in Clara, Birr and Edenderry during half term break. The festival introduces children to a range of different art forms. Check out www.hullabaloofestival.ie for all the events and booking
October 2019
Ballinasloe International October Horse Fair & Festival 1st 9th October 2019
It is one of Europe’s oldest and largest Horse Fairs, dating back to the 18th century. This annual event attracts up to 80,000 visitors from all over the world, with many returning to the town year after year.
www.ballinasloeoctoberfair.com
Offline Film Festival Birr 9th -13th October 2019
November
Queen of the Land Festival. November 2019.
Competition to pick out winner of National title of Queen Of The Land. Weekend full of entertainment with live bands and DJ.
www.queenofthelandfestival.com