Festivals

The Admore Pattern Festival takes place annually in July. The Pattern Feastday of St. Declan is on the Sunday, which is the ideal climax to the weekend’s activities. The tradition of the ’Pattern’ of St. Declan, patron saint of Ardmore, goes back hundreds of years. Thousands of people from near and far made the annual trip to the small seaside village in West Waterford on the 24th July each year to venerate at the Holy Well and reputed grave of St. Declan. This annual pilgrimage involved doing the ‘rounds’ at the Holy Well, as well as other forms of revelry and celebration. The tradition of doing the ‘rounds’ and praying at the Holy Well is about reviving the old traditions, while having a modern, fun-filled festival for families and other visitors from the surrounding region to Ardmore.

The Festival of the Sea is an annual event designed to promote cultural, historic and community ties between Southeast Ireland and the Southern Avalon region of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. An alternating biennial festival with the Irish which launched in 2005, it aims to link County Waterford's Dunmore East, Passage East, Cheekpoint and Ring and County Wexford's Ballyhack, Duncannon, Kilmore Quay, Fethard-on-Sea & Hook Head with the different communities of the Cape Shore and Irish Loop on the island of Newfoundland. Every year the festival is held over two weekends in May and is designed to celebrate the cultures of coastal communities, in particular local sustainable coastal amenities, especially wildlife, heritage, tourism, and industry.

Imagine Arts Festival is a unique celebration of the arts in Waterford City. The festival showcases all forms of the arts, from film and theatre, to music and dance plus everything in between. It gives everyone an opportunity to experience and participate in a broad range of creative arts. Imagine features live performances and special workshops for all ages and interests. The festival also gives new local young talent a platform to exhibit their work along with established international artists. Events are held in a number of locations across the City with some free events. The festival takes place annually in late October.

The JFK Dunbrody Festival was established in 2001 to celebrate the two iconic tourist attractions in New Ross, The Dunbrody Famine Ship and the ancestral home of President John F. Kennedy. The festival is multifaceted, with live open air music, markets, arts and crafts and with a particular focus on international connections and the Irish Diaspora. The focal point of the festival is the Dunbrody Famine Ship, and the surrounding area which has international appeal. Taking place in late July. The Guinness Pub Music Trail features a variety of styles along with lots of other activities over the weekend. The vision for the future is to reach out to the Irish Diaspora throughout the world bringing them back home for a weekend of culture and enjoyment.

The Lismore Festival of Travel Writing takes place in June each year. The word 'Immram' derives from the Old Irish im ram meaning 'rowing about'. In Ireland, there is a long tradition of making journeys and of the ensuing descriptions. The Focus of the festival is on travel writing and literature with a different theme is explored at each year. The programme includes literary presentations by major national and international travel writers and bilingual workshops. The festival programme is packed with a variety of fringe events, including an International visual arts exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts, exhibition and events at Lismore Library. The primary aim is to deliver a high quality international literary festival driven by the long-term cultural benefits to the participants, the town of Lismore and the greater South East region. . This is the only festival dedicated to the medium of travel writing in Ireland. By bringing a host of top international and national authors the festival is giving both the presenters and participants a unique opportunity for interaction and exposure to this genre, while also catering for the mainstream literary area.

The Lismore Music festival is a unique Summer Music & Opera Festival in the scenic town of Lismore, standing on the Blackwater River. The Festival takes place each year on the June Bank Holiday weekend in the surrounds of the spectacular Lismore Castle. Attendees are urged to arrive early to enjoy a three course opera picnic with wine in the romantic castle gardens. A Prosecco and Wine Bar within the castle walls is present for the weekend. Tickets are available from Lismore Heritage Centre, Jonathan Ackroyd Jewellers, and online at www.lismoremusicfestival.com. Tickets and accommodation sell quickly so early booking is recommended.

The National Ploughing Championships will be held in Co Wexford from September 25th to 27th 2012. They will be held on a site at Heathpark, New Ross belonging to the O'Dwyer family, while part of the massive trade exhibition will also stretch across onto the neighbouring Kehoe family farm. The 2012 National Ploughing Championships will be held in Old Ross. The ploughing match will be held at Heathpark, a short distance from Ballinaboola on the N25. The National Ploughing Championships have an average attendance of 180,000 visitors and over 1,000 exhibitors. New Ross and the surrounding area is set to receive a €15 million boost by hosting the 2012 National Ploughing Championships event.

Spraoi International Street Arts Festival takes over the city centre of Waterford on the August Bank Holiday weekend and transforms the streets and squares of Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city into a series of giant stages. Street-theatre artists and musicians from around the world, mainly from Ireland, Netherlands, U.K., France, Italy, Catalonia, West Africa and U.S.A. create three days of stunning entertainment and virtually all events are free. The programme starts daily around lunchtime and runs late into the night. A highlight is the annual Spraoi Parade where hundreds of costumed performers, giant floats, live music and special effects combine to create a wonderful cultural experience. The event now attracts audiences in excess of 100,000 people to the city.

The Tramore Surf & Sea Festival, run by Oceanics Surf School, is a ladies surf weekend and sea festival held annually in September. The festival promises to be an adventure packed weekend with surf lessons, pilates & indian head message workshop, kite surfing, eco walks, beach volleyball, a barbecue, and much more! Booking is essential as limited places are available - call 051-390944

Waterford Film Festival showcases all forms of feature film and documentary film production including shorts, animation, experimental, student work, digital work. The brainchild of Stephen Byrne and his production manager Jamie Dower, the festival is well established with a strong focus on the short film genre. Running annually in November, the festival showcases a wide range of local and international talent over the course of a weekend. The Waterford Municipal Art Gallery at Greyfriars is transformed into a cinema for the duration of the festival.

Waterford Festival of Food is a delightful culinary weekend in Dungarvan celebrating best gastronomy in Ireland's South East. Internationally renowned chefs hold talks, food art exhititions, slow food events and workshops for kids. There is also a family picnic in the park, food trails, a farmers market and lots of other family entertainment. <b>Festival highlights include:</b> Tasting trails with meat, fish and vegetables. Seminars and Cookery demonstrations from top chefs A five dish demonstrationBord by Bia's Food Advisor A Picnic in the Park with live music Childrens workshops such as Cake decoration, mobile farm, butter making and much more

Waterford Harvest Festival is a fun filled festival celebrating the culinary heritage and culture of Waterford, the South East and Ireland as a whole. The festival aims to involve people in the appreciation of good, clean, fair food while showcasing all the gastronomic delights the region has to offer. Each year the festival gets bigger and better than before. Attractions include the return of the very popular ‘Picnic and Play’ in the People’s Park and the hugely successful all-island farmers and country market which took over the streets of Waterford City over two days last year. Takes place every year in Mid September.

Wexford Strawberry Festival in Enniscorthy County Wexford celebrates the strawberry. Events include the crowning of the Strawberry Queen, The Strawberry Ball, All Ireland Farmers Market Competition, food demonstrations, music and sporting events. Every year a Strawberry Queen is selected who is put forward to compete in the Waterford heat of the Rose of Tralee. Strawberries grown and picked in County Wexford are sold throughout the festival. Strawberry Fest takes place over the June Bank holiday weekend every year.