10 great Festivals to take in during July

Whether you are planning your annual family holiday or a few days or weekend away with your friends, there is a lot happening around the country during the month of July. Music festivals, Arts Festivals, Air Show, Scarecrow festival they are all happening in July. Why not visit some of these great events and make a holiday of it. Pack up your tent, hook up your caravan, experience all that Ireland has to offer. With over 100 great caravan & camping parks around Ireland, all inspected and quality approved you will find plenty of places to pitch up for a few nights.

Here is a list of my top 10 festivals for July. These are suitable for all the family, young and old. For information on all these events and other festivals go to www.discoverireland.ie

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Co. Tipperary 1^st to ? 7^th July

A celebration of touring theatre and live music. It?s where you can see all sorts of events from theatre (comedy, drama, puppets) to music (folk, classical, trad, rock, and cabaret. The theme celebrates the beautiful setting of Clonmel, nestled in the valley of Slievenamon with hilly views on all sides of Comeraghs, Galtees, Knockmealdowns.

Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare 6^th ? 14^th July

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is a week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance held annually at Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. The first and biggest of such events, it commemorates the town’s best-known uilleann piper, Willie Clancy

Cairde Sligo Arts Festival 6^th ? 13^th July

Inspired by the creative energy of the Northwest, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival is an eight day cultural adventure, featuring a diverse programme of events to ignite the imagination. At the heart of the programme lies a varied music strand featuring unique collaborations in special locations. Highlights include Meascan: Music Across Cultures a new cross-cultural collaborative work featuring Claudia Schwab (fiddle, drone vocals), Cathy Jordan (vocals and percussion), Irene Buckley (electronics, vocal), Raphael Decoster (accordion and visuals), Bodek Janke (percussion) and Soof Nikritin (bass).

Ballina Street Festival, Mayo 7^th ? 14^th July

Ballina Street Festival will welcome family, friends and diaspora for a week-long celebration of the town, its heritage, culture and its magnificent River Moy. With a packed programme of events over the week, the festival aims to provide visitors with opportunities to enjoy new experiences and make memories along the banks of the River Moy. The festival programme includes indoor and outdoor live music events covering all genres from rock to showband, traditional to contemporary, comedy,

art exhibitions and classes, talks, workshops, sports events, heritage walking tours, as well as some traditional festival favourites such as Heritage Day, the Fireworks Display and Picnic in the Park.

Earagail Irish Festival, Donegal 10^th ? 28^th July

Earagail Arts Festival is a bilingual (Irish and English language), multidisciplinary summer festival which takes place each July throughout County Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way on the north-west coast of Ireland. From the 10th ? 28th July 2019 this iconic festival will be on the road from West to North Donegal, with a host of new productions from award-winning local and international artists.

West Cork Literary Festival, Bantry, Co. Cork 12^th ? 19^th July

The West Cork Literary Festival is a renowned destination for booklovers. A week-long series of workshops, readings, family and young adult events, this year?s line-up includes Mary Robinson, Graham Norton, Tracey Thorn, Kevin Barry, Anne Carson, Tana French, Sinéad Gleeson, Esi Edugyan, and many, many more.

Laya City Spectacular Marrion Square Dublin 12^th ? 14^th July and Fitzgerald Park, Cork City 20^th – 21^st July.

A free event for all the family to enjoy offering an array of street performers and other entertainment. Expect to experience breathtaking international street and circus performances.

Galway International Arts Festival 15^th ? 28^th July

Galway International Arts Festival is a fabulous arts festival that includes music, theatre, street, dance, opera, visual arts and talks and is a must for all the family. Visitors to the festival will come face-to-face with everything from fire breathing dragons to giant, soprano singing divas, ‘watch the curtain rise and fall on international theatre productions, catch new theatre before it goes on to tour the globe, see world class dance acts, genre bending opera, top international music acts, traditional musicians and exhibitions by internationally renowned and emerging visual artists.

Durrow Scarecrow Festival, Co. Laois 28^th July to 5^th August

?Hay fever? hits the peaceful Georgian village of Durrow as the place goes scarecrow crazy. People come from all corners of Ireland and further afield to take part in the Durrow Scarecrow Festival and see who has got what it takes to win the All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship. The festival has so much to offer with fantastic events, music, shows, workshops, Art and Craft Exhibition, Food and Craft Fair, Old World Farm Machinery Exhibit and wonderful areas, each with their own individual character

Bray Air Display, Co. Wicklow 27^th & 28^th July

Head to Bray this summer and catch some of the best display teams and vintage aircraft in the world as they showcase their incredible aerobatic skills. This is a fantastic free weekend for the whole family to enjoy! There are 2-days of action and entertainment in the air and on the ground. Enjoy the thrills and spills of the Seafront Funfair, dine alfresco at our Food Village, treat yourself and the family to a meal at one of the many restaurants throughout the town or simply bring your own picnic. You can even experience a breath-taking helicopter ride over Bray Head which all kick off from noon each day.

For information on caravan & camping sites in Ireland visit www.campingireland.ie With over 100 Caravan & Camping Parks offering safe and quality overnight stops throughout Ireland you will find plenty of places to pitch whether it is just for one night for a few nights.. Enjoy the independence and flexibility that only caravan & camping can offer in only quality approved sites. Our gates are open and looking forward to welcoming you to outdoor living.