- St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny (typically mid-March): A vibrant celebration of Ireland’s patron saint with a grand parade, live music, walking tours, family entertainment, and cultural events blending Irish heritage and community spirit in the medieval city.
- Kilkenny Tradfest (typically mid-March, often alongside St. Patrick’s Festival): A lively traditional Irish music festival featuring concerts, céilís, sessions, workshops, and a free music trail across historic venues, immersing visitors in authentic Irish culture.
- Kilkenny Roots Festival (1–4 May 2026): An acclaimed Americana and roots music festival with over 80 intimate gigs across pubs and venues, showcasing international and Irish acts in genres from blues and folk to Cajun and bluegrass.
- The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival (typically June bank holiday weekend): One of the world’s top comedy festivals, featuring standout Irish and international comedians in relaxed, intimate settings for days of laughter and craic in Kilkenny’s charming venues.
- Kilkenny Arts Festival (6–16 August 2026): A prestigious multidisciplinary event with world-class music, theatre, dance, visual arts, street spectacles, and collaborations in iconic medieval spaces like Kilkenny Castle and cathedrals.
- Savour Kilkenny Food Festival (typically October bank holiday weekend): A major culinary celebration highlighting local producers with markets, chef demonstrations, tastings, street food, workshops, and gourmet dining experiences in the heart of the city.
- Yulefest Kilkenny (typically late November to December): Kilkenny’s magical Christmas festival with markets, festive lights, Santa visits, live music, family entertainment, and seasonal events transforming the medieval streets into a winter wonderland.
- Kilkenomics (typically November): A unique festival blending economics and comedy with hilarious talks, debates, and performances by economists, journalists, and comedians tackling global issues with wit and insight.
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
Related posts:
FOOTSTEPPING – Saint Ciara of Tipperary: Places associated with the saint and her feast day (January 5)
‘In the BUSH that I love best’ – St Stephen’s day in Ireland and the wren boys
‘Belief in Santa Claus seems to be dying out’ – a letter from the children of Ireland of 1938
A solstice tale: How Newgrange became a rocks star (ahem) of archaeology
