- Castleblayney Music Festival (FOG Fest) (31 July–2 August, St Mary’s Park, Castleblayney): A lively bank holiday weekend music festival with live performances (including The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Mike Denver, and others), creating a vibrant atmosphere in the town.
- Taste of Monaghan Street Food Fest (14–15 August, Monaghan Town): A celebration of local food and drink with artisan producers, street food stalls, live music, and community gatherings in Church Square.
- Monaghan Plein Air Festival (around 8 August, Lough Muckno, Castleblayney): An outdoor painting festival in scenic surroundings, open to all abilities with prizes, workshops, and artistic inspiration by the lake.
- National Heritage Week in Monaghan (15–23 August) features walks, talks, exhibitions, and local heritage activities across the county. Smaller music sessions and markets also take place. Check monaghantourism.com for updates.
Annual & recurring festivals
County Monaghan is known for its strong literary links to Patrick Kavanagh and its vibrant traditional and country music scenes. Here are the recurring and annual festivals in County Monaghan:
- Monaghan Drama Festival (March): A competitive amateur drama festival held at the Garage Theatre featuring top-tier theatrical groups from across Ireland.
- St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March): Large community celebrations and parades held in Monaghan Town, Castleblayney, and Clones.
- Cavan-Monaghan Science Festival (November): A regional celebration of STEM featuring workshops, demonstrations, and talks across various local venues.
- Monaghan County Agricultural Show (July): A traditional rural showcase featuring livestock competitions, home industries, and family entertainment.
- Castleblayney Agricultural Show (August): One of the region’s largest one-day shows, focusing on equestrian events, cattle, and local artisan food.
- Castleblayney Music Festival (July): A popular outdoor festival showcasing the best of Irish country and contemporary music.
- Muckno Mania Festival (July): A four-day family festival in Castleblayney featuring street theatre, sporting events, and water-based activities on Lough Muckno.
- Flat Lake Festival (August): An eclectic arts, music, and literary festival held at Hilton Park, known for its quirky atmosphere and diverse line-up.
- National Heritage Week in Monaghan (third week in August) features walks, talks, exhibitions, and activities across the county.
- Harvest Time Blues Festival (September): A major international blues festival that turns Monaghan Town into a hub for world-class guitarists and performers.
- Patrick Kavanagh Weekend (September): An annual literary festival and keynote event in Inniskeen celebrating the life and works of the famous poet.
- Clones Canal Festival (October): A community heritage event celebrating the town’s history and the Ulster Canal with music and family fun.
- Winter Wonderland Monaghan (December): A festive celebration in the town centre featuring an ice rink, Christmas markets, and a Santa grotto.
Festivals
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