National Ploughing Championship Tullamore 19th -21st September 2017
Ardmore Country House B&B just 20 minutes from Screggan Tullamore Co Offaly. Off road free parking. Early Breakfast. No traffic delays. http://www.kinnitty.com
www.npa.ie
March 2017
Shake Fest March 4th & 5th 2017
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 2017
For an alternative to the big Dublin Parade join one of the local parades in Offaly or Tullamore or Kilcormac. www.stpaticksdaytullamore.com
April 2017
JCB Dancing Diggers Show 21st -22nd April
The event features two hundred exhibitors, two large live demonstration zones and a new machinery launch zone with the latest technology.
Kilbeggan Races Friday April 21st 2017 First Race 4.40pm
Offaly Fleadh Cheoil April 28th-30th 2017
Offaly Fleadh Cheoil 2017, taking place in Tubber www.offalyfleadh.com
May 2017
23rd Annual Slieve Bloom Walking Festival Saturday April 29th– Monday 1st May 2017
A weekend of great walks and mighty fun. Choice of 9 walks from 6k – 13k over 3 days. In the evenings enjoy candlelit dinners, traditional Irish music sessions. Walkers BBQ Saturday April 29th 2017. www.slievebloom.ie
Annual Half Door Club International Set Dancing Festival April 28th- May 1st 2017
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 12th May First Race 5.20pm
June 2017
Bare in the Woods 9th-11th June Garryhinch Woods Portarlington
Ireland’s fastest growing boutique festival BARE in the Woods is set to expand in 2017, evolving into a three-day event, bursting at the seams with new features at one of this country’s most amazing festival sites. www.goldenplec.com/festivals/bare-in-the-woods-2017
Clareen Traditional Festival June 2017
An action packed programme of music, heritage & traditional games
Kilbeggan Races Sunday June 4th 2017 at 2.45pm
Gordon Bennett Annual Classic Car Rally 3rd-6th June 2017
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 26th June 2017 6.00pm
July 2017
Laois Walks Festival 1st -31st July 2017.
Slieve Bloom Eco Walking Weekend. 8th & 9th July 2017
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 2017
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 2017 with Dr John Feehan
French Festival Portarlington July 2017
A weekend for all the family to celebrate the connection between Portarlington and the Hugenot connection.
Kilbeggan Races Friday 21st July May First Race 6.00pm
Midlands National & Best Dressed Lady Competition
August
49th Annual Birr Vintage week & Arts Festival 4th -11th August 2017
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 12th August 2017 First Race 5.30pm
First Race at 5.30 p.m. Best Dressed Lady Competition www.kilbegganraces.com
Tullamore Show Sunday 14th August 2017
Culture, tradition, competition, entertainment, exhibitions all rolled in to one. Great event for all the family.
Kilbeggan Races Friday 25th August May First Race 5.00pm
Heritage Week 19th-26th August 2017 www.heritageweek.ie
Irish Game & Country Fair Birr Castle 26th-27th August 2017
Birr Castle Demense
The Irish Game & Country Fair Fine Food Festival is part of the Great Game Fairs of Ireland.
www.irishgameandcountryfair.com
September
Kilbeggan Races Friday September 8th 2017 May First Race 4.30pm
Electric Picnic Stradbally September 1st-3rd 2017
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.
Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival October 11th -14th 2107
A weekend of storytelling in castles and great houses in the Slieve Blooms.
National Ploughing Championship 2017 September 19th-23rd 2017 This national ploughing event in Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show www.npa.ie
Offline Film Festival Birr 11th-14th September 2017
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
Ballinasloe International October Horse Fair & Festival 1st 9th October 2017
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
Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival October 11th-14th 2017
4 days of tall Tales magic and myth and legends with local and International Storytellers in Rural Country Pubs,Castles & Great Houses of the Slieve Blooms
“After sunset is storytelling time” www.slievebloom.ie
Offline Film Festival Birr Co Offaly 11th -14th August 2017
November
Queen of the Land Festival. November 2017.
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