- The Ballyhoura Walking Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary from 8-11 October 2026
- The festival coincides with 40 years of Ballyhoura Fáilte and 20 years of mountain bike trails
- The programme features more than 40 guided walks and experiences
- The Joyce Brothers Music Festival runs alongside the walking festival
- Highlights include the Dawn Chorus Walk, marathon routes and heritage tours
The Ballyhoura region will come alive this October as Ireland’s longest-running community-led walking festival celebrates its 30th anniversary, bringing together walkers, musicians, artists, food producers, local businesses and communities.
Taking place from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th October 2026, the Ballyhoura Walking Festival returns alongside the acclaimed Joyce Brothers Music Festival, creating a unique celebration of outdoor adventure, traditional arts, heritage, food, music and community spirit across Ballyhoura Country. The celebrations also coincide with two other major milestones for the region: 30 years of the Ballyhoura Walking Festival, 40 years of Ballyhoura Fáilte and community tourism, and 20 years of the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails. Together, these anniversaries celebrate decades of communities working together to shape Ballyhoura Country into one of Ireland’s leading destinations for outdoor recreation, heritage, culture and authentic rural experiences.
Rooted in community since its beginnings, the Ballyhoura Walking Festival has always been about more than walking. It is a celebration of place, bringing together the people, landscapes and traditions that define Ballyhoura Country. While the festival provides the backdrop, visitors are invited to discover the wider destination through a diverse programme of more than 40 guided walks and experiences, from mountain adventures and heritage trails to local food, creativity, traditional music and cultural events. Highlights include the return of the iconic Dawn Chorus Walk to Seefin, Marathon & Half-Marathons across the Ballyhouras, the Autumn Migration Walk at Griston Bog, guided heritage walks through Kilmallock, Lough Gur, Doneraile and Ardpatrick, and a wonderfully diverse selection of Galtee mountain walks led by the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club.
Amanda Slattery shared: “This is a very special year for Ballyhoura Country. At Ballyhoura Development, we’re delighted to showcase many of our projects and programmes through the theme of walking.”
Jim Gallivan shared: “The Ballyhoura Walking Festival has always been about sharing the places we love with others.”
