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The Connemara festival season is under way
 Connemara
Mussel Festival May 4-6
A celebration of Killary mussels takes place on the glorious Renvyle Peninsula
in North Connemara.
This is the second year of the festival and promises that more mussels
will be eaten here this weekend than in any other part of the country.
Last year over a ton of mussels were eaten and organisers are set to
harvest three tonnes of Killary mussels for this year’s celebrations
which also includes music, craic, mussel cooking competitions, children’s
treasure hunts and set dancing.
All weekend long Tully Cross, Tully and Renvyle villages will host local
musicians and on Saturday evening visitors will have the opportunity to
join and learn real Irish set dancing.
Mussels will be served all day, every day throughout the weekend.
Féile Chomortha Joe Éinniú (Joe Heaney Commemorative
Festival)
May 4-6
Féile Chomórtha Joe Éinniú is an annual weekend
event held in Carna in Connemara since 1985.
The festival celebrates the life and achievements of the renowned sean
nós singer Joe Heaney.
Pride of place at the festival is given to traditional singing and the
programme also includes instrumental music, sean nós dancing, workshops,
sessions, a children’s singing competition, talks and lectures,
céilí and set dancing.
Registered accommodation is available in the village.
Inishbofin Arts Festival
May 11-13
A wide and varied list of events with music, visual arts, workshops, arts
and crafts, exhibitions and much more.
Connemara Bog Week
May 25-June 4
A 10-day multi-layered festival celebrating Connemara’s landscape.
Includes Connemara walkabout, a fun run, traditional music with the Kane
sisters, Mick Kinsella, Dessie O’Halloran, Mary Staunton and Tola
Custy and dance workshops. An art exhibition and schools programme are
also part of the week.
The Connemara walkabout is the feature event of the Whit weekend.
This event consists of three gentle days of walking in a magical landscape
in the company of scientists, musicians, poets and artists.
Clifden Open Boat Competition June 15-17
A three-day international fishing competition with an expected 80 competitors
fishing mixed species. Many prizes on offer with a first prize of ?5,000.
Clifden Irish Nights
June 21-August 31
Held every Tuesday and Thursday night from June 21 to the end of August.
Performances take place from 9-11pm.
The music is provided by local musicians with occasional guests and dancers.
The dancing involves local school children. It is a very interactive show
and visitors in the audience are most welcome to take part.
Inishbofin Summer School
July 2 — July 6
A week-long exploration of the wonderful island of Inishbofin.
Great music and singing on the island.
Experts including marine biologists, ecologists, zoologists and archaeologists
give an insight into the island.
Roundstone Regatta
July 21
one of the oldest traditional sea festivals in the West the Roundstone
Regatta dates back to the 1890s.
It incorporates both sailing of Galway hookers, leath bháid and
gleoiteógs and currach racing from the traditional timber currachs
to the canvas racing currachs and naomhoga.
The regatta caters for all ages and standards.
The Roundstone Regatta attracts competitors from across Ireland and any
visiting onlooker who wishes to participate.
Along with all the sea-based competitions, traditional music and dancing
attract a big audience over the course of the two-day festival.
Claddaghduff Pony Show
July 22
The Claddaghduff Pony Show begins early in the morning with in-hand Connemara
Pony classes, ridden classes and some open ridden classes.
The numbers of entries have grown steadily over the years and 2007 is
expected to be the best yet. |
