Events

March

Mullagh St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mullagh

17th March

Traditional St. Patrick's Day Parade. Best float competition. Street entertainment, music, Irish dancing and line dancing.

Kells St Patrick's Day Festival

Kells

12 - 17 March

t: +353 (0)86 391 33 81
e: info@kellsfestivals.com
w: www.kellsfestivals.com

The Festival programme has music, comedy, family carnivals, street arts and workshops.

With lots of performers and thousands of people in Kells to enjoy the activities over the four days of the fantastic festival there will be fun for all!

June

Blue Jean Country Queen

Athboy,
Co Meath

4th - 7th June

t: +353 (0)87 2154729
w: www.bluejeanfest.com

The Blue Jean Festival organised by Meath Macra na Feirme. Music based festival culminating in the crowning of The Blue Jean Country Queen 2008. Day time activities for all the family with night time music from Irelands top bands.

Killinkere Whit Jamboree

Killinkere,
Virginia

4 - 7 June

t: Breffni Clarke 087 1225465
e: secretary.killinkere.cavan@gaa.ie
w : www.jamboree.ie

Fashion show, parachuting, hot air balloon display, kids entertainment; face painting, playmaking, bouncy castle, live music.

Farmfest 2010

Causey Farm, Girley,
Fordstown, Navan
Co Meath.

June 12

t: +353 (0)46 9434135
m: Deirdre +353 87 239 1354
m: Matt +353 87 918 1180
e: info@causey.ie
web: www.causey.ie

4 venues, bands, ceili, comedians, acoustic session, fire twirlers, gourmet BBQ, Crepes, BYO Bands ---Tuna Fish Mafia, Stormy Mondays, Queens of Sheba (8 piece, all girls soul band)
Comedian, Colm O Regan
Ceili Bands

Admission 15 euro. All money raised goinig to charity-Uganda-Kitovu Hospital Nutrition Unit and community projects in Equador, where Celine Smyth will be volunteering.
Gates open 7.30 til late. Comedians begining at 8 pm Bands: 9 pm Choirs at 9 pm Ceili 10 o clock to 1 am Free camping Hostel accomodation in Drewstown house 15 euro

Advance booking is required

Loughcrew Garden Opera

Loughcrew Estate,
Oldcastle

5 -6 June

e: info@loughcrew.com
w : www.loughcrew.com

The opera is set in a fully decorated marquee located in the beautiful gardens. The Pavillion Cafe offers a two course dinner during the interval which can be enjoyed in the cafe or outside on picnic tables. The cast and crew are decked in period dress and the audience are encouraged to do like-wise.
Advance booking is required

Body & Soul festival

Ballinlough Castle and Gardens
Clonmellon
Co.Westmeath.

June 20

t: 353 46 94 33234
m: 353 86 833 5295
e: castle@ballinloughcastle.ie
web:www.ballinloughcastle.ie

The festival will feature Four Tet, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Jape, Tunng, Alex Paterson, Crystal Fighters, Voice of Seven Thunders & more as well as wood-fired hot tubs, holistic arts, a masquerade ball with a moonlit orchestra, and bonfires under the stars.

Virginia Street Fair

Virginia,
Co. Cavan.

27 June

The annual Virginia Street Fair, held on the last Sunday of June every year, is a reconstruction of Virginia's original 'Fairday' with animals, trading on the street, craft demonstration and entertainment. Visitors can see Cavan's largest display of vintage vehicles and participate in traditional Irish music and dancing.

July

Kells Heritage Festival

Kells

1 - 4 July

t: +353 (0)86 391 33 81
e: info@kellsfestivals.com
w: www.kellsfestivals.com

This fun filled festival week takes place over the first week of July. Every day sees new and exciting events for both adults and children. At night for the seven days the town is alive with people enjoying the wide range of different entertainment available in all the pubs of the town. The festival play staged in the courthouse runs for the week and is always one of the most popular events. The festival also includes:- fireworks display, pavements art, mini marathon and a fancy dress parade and competitionof the children.

Kells Road Race

Crossakiel
Kells

15 - 18 July

Adelaide International
Kells Road Races


t: +353 (0)46 924 0972
e: kellsroadraces@hotmail.com
w: www.kellsroadraces.com

Kells Road Race has some of the most spectacular jumps of any road race in Ireland. Superbly run event which is popular with competitors and spectators alike. A great family event with great racing from start to finish. The circuit is 2.2 miles and has many exciting spectator viewing points.

August

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2010

16 - 22 August

Cavan
Co Cavan.

t: +353 (0)87 936 5059

e: info@fleadh2010.ie
w: www.fleadh2010.ie

The Fleadh now an 7 day event will officially open on Sunday August 16 until Sunday August 22 incorporating the Scoil Éigse (the Comhaltas Summer school) running for the full week before the event and Seachtain na hÉigse. The Fleadh will be a feast of competitions, events and concerts such as the awarding of the Fleadh Ard Olamh, the overseas concert and the excitement of the All Ireland Senior Ceili Band competition.

Kells Market Day

Kells

4 July

t: +353 (0)46 924 0081
e: info@kellschamber.ie
w: www.kellschamber.ie

The Market Town of Kells has a long tradition of fairs and markets stretching back to pre-Norman times. The last Fair Day in Kells occurred in the 1950's, and Kells Chamber is excited to re-enact this tradition. The Market Day is to showcase Kells, its facilities, accommodation, arts & crafts, tourist attractions, restaurants and entertainment and the North Meath area. There will be a pageant on the life of St. Colmcille, and the Book of Kells, matchmakers, a mock wedding, Ceoltas from Rathcairn, set dancing, modern bands, food artisans, craft workers, artists, a fair and much more.

National Country Fair

Ballinlough Castle,
Clonmellon

31 July - 1 August

t: +44 (0) 28 44 832775
e: info@nationalcountryfair.ie
w: www.nationalcountryfair.ie

two-day event hosting shooting, fishing and gundog competitions as well as a rural life show featuring crafts, related trade-stands and true family entertainment such as birds of prey and the crack aerobatic team, the Yakovlevs.

Kieran's Well

Carnaross
Co Meath

1 August

t: + 353 (0) 46 924 4390
e: crocawella@eircom.net
w: www.moynaltysteamthreshing.ie

The patron day at this well near Carnaross, Kells, is held on the first Sunday of August. Legend is that the well was formed at St Kieran's command. Several pools there have supposed healing powers. It is likely that the well was a place of worship in pagan times.

Virginia Agricultural Show

Virginia
Co. Cavan1 July

t:+353 (0)49 8547197
f: +353 (0)49 8548308
e: virginiashow@eircom.net
w: www.virginiashow.com

Regarded as one of the leading agricultural shows, Virginia Show is in its 66th year growing in stature and importance. There are over 450 classes with over EUR50,000 prize money. The Show promises to be an outstanding event showcasing Ireland's finest livestock. In addition, there are classes for garden produce, home industries, fruit and flowers, photography, handwriting, dogs and pets. Many producers will offer home produced food so visitors can savour the flavour and bring home fresh high quality food.
The highlight of the day is the crowning of the 24th Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow.

Moynalty Steam Treshing Festival

Moynalty

8 August 2010

t: + 353 (0) 46 924 4390
e: crocawella@eircom.net
web: www.moynaltysteamthreshing.ie

A celebration of days gone by, of horse and steam power, vintage cars, tractors, horse drawn machinery, oil engines, trading stalls, crafts, funfair, sideshows, music and dancing. Fun for all the family.

Le Cheile - Art and Music Festival

29 July 2 August

Oldcastle,
Co Cavan.

t: +353 (0)49 85 41356
w: www.lecheile.com

For the last thirteen years, Le Chéile has been renowned as Meath's top Independent music festival, so it's easy to forget that it has played host to some legendary performers and had its fair share of memorable nights.
Advance booking is required

September

Mullagh Fair Day

12 September

Mullagh,
Co.Cavan

t: 087 969 0072 or 087 289 8707

The Mullagh Fair Day has grown to one of the largest one day events in the North East with something for everyone. As well as the usual trading of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and foul, there will be plenty of street entertainment for young and old. Read More >>

Cootehill Fishing Festival

Cootehill
20 - 24 September

t: Michael or Eileen Smith +353 (0)49 555 3039

For further information contact Michael or Eileen Smith t: +353 (0)49 555 3039

October

O'Carolan Harp Cultural & Heritage Festival

Nobber,
Co.Louth

1 - 3 October

t: +353 (0)49 85 41356
e: info@carolanfestival.com
w: www.carolanfestival.com

Celebrates Turlough O'Carolan, the blind Harpist, Composer and Poet, born in Nobber in 1670. Features seminars, lectures, traditional, music concert, harp and instrumental workshops, harp competitions & historical tours, art & craft exhibitions and Ceili.

Navan SummerFest

Navan
Co Meath

1 August

t: +353 (0)87 9671173
w: www.navansummerfest.ie

Navan Summerfest is a family fun-day that has something for everyone. The events will include a fishing competition and fly fishing demonstration, wellington boot throwing competition, river raft race, teddy bear's picnic, including colouring competition, fancy dress, bouncy castles, fun dance activities and disco, street markets, carnival side shows, pedal car races, dog show, live music and fish cooking demonstration.

Virginia Pumpkin Festival

Virginia
Co. Cavan

22 - 25 October

t: Rita Martin +353 (0)49 854 9940 or +353 (0)87 697 9853
e : pumpkin@virginia.ie
w: www.virginia.ie

This unique autumn festival brings great colour to the region. The blackened out lakeside town is lit up with carved and lighted pumpkins as the street carnival fills the town with excitement. The children dress in fancy dress for their party. The artisan food and crafts fair on the church grounds features a wide variety of products for sale ranging from home made jewellery to designer wellies and all types of home-made foods. The first class pumpkin marquee plays host to top international music acts.

Sprits of Meath

Meath

22 - 31 October

t: + 353 (0) 46 9097060
e: pumpkin@virginia.ie
w: www.meath.ie
newsletter: Programme of Events 2009

Halloween - or Samhain - is the second biggest festival in the Western world. It marks the turning of the Celtic Year and originated at Tlachtga (the Hill of Ward) just outside Athboy, Co. Meath. All fires in the country would be put out until the New Year fire would be lit on the hill of Tlachtga. Torches were lit from this fire and carried to seven other hills around the county, including Tara and Loughcrew, and then on to light up the whole countryside.

National Heritage week

Nationwide

21 - 29 August

t: +353 56 7770777
f: +353 56 777 0788
e : heritageweek@heritagecouncil.ie
w: www.heritageweek.ie

Each year many national and hundreds of local community organisations participate by organising events throughout the country. Many of the events that take place during the week are free and the programme highlights the abundance of great work that is carried out in all communities in Ireland to preserve and promote our natural, built and cultural heritage.