A Calendar of Major Irish Events
Created | Updated Feb 8, 2005
Ireland has a number of rituals each year - events and occasions that occupy columns of press-inches, invade the national psyche, and in some way, define the country as a nation. Some of these events are not even held in Ireland. For example, one of the big festivals of the Irish calendar takes place in Cheltenham in England.
January
* Young Scientists Exhibition
February
* Start of Six Nations Rugby season
* St. Valentine's Day
* Dublin Film Festival
* Ash Wednesday (*)
March
* Cheltenham Racing Festival
* Saint Patrick's Day
April
* The Aintree Grand National
* Easter Sunday (*)
* The Irish Grand National (*)
May
* The Eurovision Song Contest
* The Irish Open Golf Championship(*)
June
* The Kilkenny Comedy Festival
* The Junior and Leaving Cert Exams
July
* Galway Arts Festival
* July 12th Commemoration (Northern Ireland)
* Galway Races
August
* The Rose of Tralee
* Apprentice Boys Parade (Northern Ireland)
* The Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage
* The West Belfast Festival
September
* First day back at school
* The All Ireland Hurling Final
* The All Ireland Football Final
* The Leaving Cert Results
* The Galway Oyster Festival
October
* The Wexford Opera Festival
* The Cork Jazz Festival
* Halloween
November
* Christmas
* Leopardstown Races
December
* The Budget
* Christmas Day
(*) Dates are subject to change.
January
* Young Scientists Exhibition
February
* Start of Six Nations Rugby season
* St. Valentine's Day
* Dublin Film Festival
* Ash Wednesday (*)
March
* Cheltenham Racing Festival
* Saint Patrick's Day
April
* The Aintree Grand National
* Easter Sunday (*)
* The Irish Grand National (*)
May
* The Eurovision Song Contest
* The Irish Open Golf Championship(*)
June
* The Kilkenny Comedy Festival
* The Junior and Leaving Cert Exams
July
* Galway Arts Festival
* July 12th Commemoration (Northern Ireland)
* Galway Races
August
* The Rose of Tralee
* Apprentice Boys Parade (Northern Ireland)
* The Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage
* The West Belfast Festival
September
* First day back at school
* The All Ireland Hurling Final
* The All Ireland Football Final
* The Leaving Cert Results
* The Galway Oyster Festival
October
* The Wexford Opera Festival
* The Cork Jazz Festival
* Halloween
November
* Christmas
* Leopardstown Races
December
* The Budget
* Christmas Day
(*) Dates are subject to change.
