Dingle Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Dingle, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland)

Dingle puts on one or two intriguing festivals and events throughout the tourist season which are unique to the peninsula. The ever-popular Film Festival in March is a must for moviegoers, while the Féile na Bealtaine in April sees performing arts shows all over Dingle Peninsula.

For things to do, you could attend the Irish Open in July, enjoy the August Puck Fair in nearby Killorglin, or maybe pig-out at the Food and Wine Festival in October. Christmas it perhaps not the best time to visit the town, since it is usually very cold and many hotels shut up shop for the season.

Dingle Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day (Lá Caille or Lá Bliana Nua) - January 1st, a chilly, yet fun day for visitors who can enjoy the first day of the new year with a hearty lunch in a John Street pub

February

• Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh - a traditional musical event in nearby Ballyferriter, with the local music school laying on five days' worth of traditional County Kerry songs

March

• Dingle Film Festival - mid-March, an annual event featuring both local and international films in various venues around the town, such as the Cinemobile, Dick Macks, John Benny Moriarty's, Lord Bakers and the Phoenix Cinema
• St. Patrick's Festival - mid-March, this five-day event culminates with St. Patrick's Day (Lá Fhéile Pádraig) on March 17th, Ireland's main national holiday. With music, carnivals, street performances and various other events in town

April

• Easter Monday - early April, a public holiday Ireland-wide with religious events
• Dingle Arts Festival (Féile na Bealtaine) - late April, a whole week of arts all over the peninsula, with cultural shows, exhibitions, activities for children, film screenings and live music
• Pan Celtic Festival - late April to early May, dating back more than 40 years and featuring a programme of musical performances, marching bands and competitions, as well as lots of mouthwatering Irish dishes

May

• Labour Day (Lá an Lucht Oibre) - first Monday in May, a national holiday
• Camp Walking Festival - mid-May, in the nearby Camp area of Corca Dhuibhne, with trails offering breathtaking views of Brandon Bay, the Maharee Islands and Tralee Bay
• Killarney Races / Spring Festival - mid-May, three-day horse racing alongside the surrounding mountains and lakes, featuring a popular steeplechase course. Similar horse racing events are also staged in July and August

June

• Kerry Festival of Music - held in the small town of Kenmare, located to the south-east, near to the Killarney National Park

July

• Irish Open - late July, a favourite with golfers and now the biggest golfing event in Ireland, held at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club
• Castlegregory Summer Festival - mid-July, first held more than 60 years ago and including carnival processions, dancing, swimming galas and football tournaments, at the neighbouring seaside village of Castlegregory

August

• Ballintaggart Horse Racing - early August, held in the suburb of Ballintaggart, attracting horse racing enthusiasts from throughout Ireland and beyond
• Dingle Regatta - mid-August, a racing event staged over two days, with traditional 'naomhóg' / 'currach' canoes
• Rose of Tralee International Festival - late August, a beauty contest in nearby Tralee, with contestants from all over the world competing to be the 'Rose'
• Puck Fair - an annual family festivity held in nearby Killorglin, with a horse fair, children's activities and the parade of King Puck

September

• Dingle Marathon - early September, a yearly sporting event with prizes awarded for the first three places (men and women). Cheering crowds line the streets of the town centre to support the numerous runners

October

• Dingle Food and Wine Festival - early October, a three-day event featuring a food market, cookery workshops and demonstrations, wine seminars and culinary trails. A good one for foodies

November

• Listowel Food Fair - early November, with well-known chefs descending on the town of Listowel. The Food Fair features restaurant competitions, children's cookery workshops, cake decorating and information about organic farming, as well as plenty of tasty Irish dishes to sample
• Tralee Circus Festival - first held in the year 2000 as a convention for juggling and now incorporating many other elements of the modern circus scene, held at the Siamsa Tire Theatre in nearby Tralee, approximately 48 km / 30 miles to the north-east

December

• Christmas Food and Craft Market - mid-December, an interesting craft fair at the Wren's Nest along Dykegate Lane, with a craft market stocked with traders from across the Dingle Peninsula
• St. Stephen's Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) - December 26th, the feast day of St. Stephen (also known as Wren's Day), with processions, live music and much merriment
• New Year's Eve (Oiche Chinn Bliana) - December 31st, many parties are staged over town to celebrate the arrival of the New Year