7 Small But Mighty Irish Festivals That You May Not Have Heard Of

Festival season is about to kick off in earnest, with Body & Soul, Longitude and Electric Picnic all on the horizon.

However, you don’t have to wait until then to kick off the fun as there’s a whole host of deadly festivals taking place across the country in April.

Among your options are a Good Friday party in Wicklow, surfing in Sligo or a cultural gathering in Galway – here’s everything you need to know.

BD Festival

This one may have crossed your path already as it’s celebrating 10 years in action this April. If you’ve yet to make the trip to Glendalough House, this is the year to do it, as the line-up features everyone from Dax J and Nightmares On Wax to Orchid Collective and R.S.A.G.

Shore Shots Irish Surf Festival

This surfing festival takes place in Sligo, with a focus on “surf films, art, photography and inspiring talks”. There’s also workshops, yoga and tons of other fun stuff. Check it out.

MusicTown 2017

This festival aims to highlight the amazing wealth of musical talent across Dublin and will run over 10 days, with concerts, master classes, collaborations, workshops and much more.

West Waterford Food Festival

In our humble opinion, the only thing better than a music festival is a food festival. This one takes place in beautiful Dungarvan and celebrates local food producers and eateries. There are walking trails in the nearby countryside, food markets, a health hub and kids events, so it’s a great one for the whole family.

Riverfest

Limerick is one of the most underrated cities in the country when it comes to pure craic and this festival is even more reason to visit. Taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, there’s fashion events, a BBQ competition, fireworks, food stalls and tons of spectacles on the River Shannon – hence the name.

Bray Jazz Festival

Jazz has really made a comeback in recent years and where better to continue your education than at the brilliant Bray Jazz Fest? There’ll be performances from artists like Magnus Ostrum and the Kenny Werner Trio, as well as free gigs and a Music Trail.

Kilkenny Roots Festival

If you love roots and Americana, this festival will be right up your street. Headliners this year include John Blek, The Handsome Family, Marah, David Kitt and Holly Macve. It’s been on the go since 1998 and has attracted some big names so it’s definitely worth the trip.

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