- Kilkenny Arts Festival (6–16 August, Kilkenny City and various venues): One of Ireland’s leading multi-disciplinary arts festivals (53rd edition) transforms the medieval city with over 100 events. It features theatre, dance, classical, contemporary and folk music, literature, visual arts, crafts, street performances, family programmes, and unique site-specific works in historic locations like Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral, and gardens. Highlights include new productions, international artists, and immersive experiences.
- Graiguefest (7–9 August, Graiguenamanagh): A lively weekend festival with music, camping, and community craic. It includes 80s hits, folk music, DJs, and events in The Meadows and The Hub.
- Kilkenny Beer Festival (dates in August, Sullivan’s Taproom area): A celebration of Irish craft beer with tastings from multiple brewers, live DJs, garden games, and a relaxed summer atmosphere.
- National Heritage Week in Kilkenny (August 15-22) features walks, talks, exhibitions, and activities across the county.
Annual & recurring festivals
County Kilkenny is widely regarded as the medieval and craft capital of Ireland, hosting world-class festivals focused on comedy, music, and heritage.
- Kilkenny Animated (February): A festival celebrating the art of animation, featuring exhibitions, workshops, and screenings from world-renowned studios like Cartoon Saloon.
- Kilkenomics (March/November): A unique festival that brings together world-leading economists and famous comedians to discuss global affairs in a lighthearted, accessible way.
- St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny (March): A multi-day celebration featuring a large carnival parade through the medieval city, street performances, and traditional music.
- Tradfest Kilkenny (March): Held over the St. Patrick’s weekend, this festival showcases the best of Irish traditional music with sessions in the city’s historic pubs and venues.
- Kilkenny Roots Festival (May): A premier Americana and roots music festival featuring international acts performing in venues across the city over the bank holiday weekend.
- Cat Laughs Comedy Festival (June): One of Ireland’s most famous comedy festivals, attracting top-tier international and Irish stand-up comedians to Kilkenny City.
- Kilkenny Arts Festival (August): A prestigious ten-day event featuring classical music, theatre, contemporary dance, and visual arts in historic spaces like St. Canice’s Cathedral.
- National Heritage Week (August): A series of events across the county celebrating Kilkenny’s medieval history, including guided tours of castles, abbeys, and ancient walls.
- Iverk Show (August): Ireland’s oldest agricultural show, held in Piltown, featuring livestock competitions, local food, and family entertainment.
- National Heritage Week in Kilkenny (third week in August) features walks, talks, exhibitions, and activities across the county.
- Savour Kilkenny Food Festival (October): A massive bank holiday celebration of local gastronomy featuring a giant food market, celebrity chef demos, and dining events.
- Subtitle European Film Festival (November): A unique film festival focusing on popular European cinema, bringing international actors and directors to Kilkenny for screenings and awards.
- Yulefest Kilkenny (December): A month-long Christmas festival featuring festive markets, light installations, an ice rink, and seasonal workshops across the city and county.
Festivals
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Kilkenny:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
