Mount Brandon Hostel

On the last weekend in July, the festival of Lughnasa is held, with a wide variety of entertainment available. The highlight of this weekend is the ascent of Mt Brandon, with music and poetry reading and a picnic at its peak with the world at your feet — never to be forgotten. On the Sunday, the Cloghane Pattern is celebrated with the festivities moving to Brandon on the Monday night. Sheep shearing, dog trials, traditional meat pies, face painting, street entertainers, open air dancing, and music and poetry readings are just some of what is on offer. Of course, pints of Guinness and traditional sessions can be found in all the local pubs over the weekend, and indeed, throughout the year.

Painting by Roy Lyndsay

The Brandon Regatta is held on one of the last Sundays in August every year. This is a series of curragh (boat) races with many different categories. Contesting boat teams travel right up the west coast, and winners and losers alike celebrate with music and song afterwards.

Some of the local festivals held in County Kerry

Féile Na Bealtaine- May 3rd - 7th

Féile na Bealtaine is an arts festival that takes place on the Dingle peninsula every year, this year we are celebrating our 18th festival. Féile na Bealtaine aspires to build on the rich cultural heritage that exists in Corca Dhuibhne (the Dingle peninsula), it aims to extend and broaden our artistic horizons – above all to entertain and to invigorate.

Rally Of The Lakes - May 4th - 6th

The official programme for the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2012 is available at Rally HQ, the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney, and from the majority of newsagents in the region.

Killarney SUMMERFEST - July 27th - 5th August

Killarney Summerfest 2012 is bustling with a myriad of activities for all the family.  The Festival programme offers a fantastic range of outdoor activities set amongst the breathtaking Lakes, Hills, Valleys and Mountains of Killarney.  An abundance of childrens activities throughout the day await with dozens of Arts and Creativity Work shops and fun summercamps.  In the Evening families will throng the Town Centre as the streets of Killarney come to life like never before as some of the worlds leading street musicians, performers, puppeteers, comedians and magicians entertain all the family.  Full programme details will be announced here shortly.

Puck Fair - August 10th - 12th

Killorglin, in the geographical heart of Kerry, is the venue for one of Ireland's most unusual street festivals - Puck Fair. The fair is one of Ireland's oldest and longest celebrated and is held without fail on 10th, 11th and 12th August every year with 12 hours of free family street entertainment.

Rose of Tralee - August 17th - 21st

The Rose of Tralee International Festival is one of Ireland's largest and longest running festivals, celebrating 50 years in 2009. The heart of the festival is the selection of the Rose of Tralee which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world to County Kerry, Ireland for a global celebration of Irish culture. The festival also includes street entertainment, carnival, live concerts, theatre, circus, markets, funfair, fireworks and our internationally renowned Rose Parade.