Burren Tolkien Society Festival
(May 9th-May 16th)
The inaugural Tolkien Burren Festival, which takes place in the Burren region close to our Burren Hostel
This unique gathering is a celebration of the eerie beauty of the Burren area, which is believed to have been a considerable influence on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic novel The Lord of the Rings. The untamed, rugged local landscape, including a cave known as Poll na gColm (pronounced ‘Pole na Gollum’), as well as elements of Irish mythology, may have provided inspiration for Tolkien’s creation of Middle Earth.
(03 May 2013)
May 3rd-6th 2013 - Fleadh na gCuach (The Cuckoo Fleadh), a hugely enjoyable and successful traditional music and community based arts festival, now in its 18th year, takes place this May bank holiday weekend in the beautiful, scenic village of Kinvara, Co. Galway. A well-established and richly deserved reputation has ensured that the Fleadh has become a showcase for the best in traditional music, attracting musicians from all over the country and beyond
(01 May 2013)
Month of May 2013 - the villages of The Burren are the perfect location for discovering the botanical riches of this unique limestone landscape. The month of May reveals an abundance of flowers throughout The Burren, with spring gentians, mountain avens, turlough violets, spring sandworth and a profusion of orchids, among them early purple orchids, bee orchids, spotted orchids.
(18 May 2013)
A weekend festival celebrating the food and culture of Co. Clare. Markets, demonstrations, BBQs, kids cooking, talks and lots of food and fun for all! From Friday to Sunday you can sample the very best of what Co. Clare has to offer in food and culture. Including indoor and outdoor farmer's markets, cookery demonstrations by local and well known celebrity chefs, gala dinner, talks and information sessions, "LocalSource" helping you source local foods, exhibitions, food activities for children, BBQs with local produce and a huge variety of other local, artisan and organic foods for sale.
(25 May 2013)
May 25th 2013 - the Clare Burren Marathon Challenge is a road, green road and trail challenge. Enjoy some of Europe's most unique landscapes and see the riches of the Burren in Bloom. Each participant has a choice of a full, half or mini marathon on the day.
(01 Jun 2013)
June 1st-4th 2013 (TBC) - a weekend of jazz, dixie, swing and latin dancing, held in the village of Doonbeg.
(23 Jun 2012)
June 23rd 2012 - the Tour de Burren is now entering its eighth year of running and numbers are continuing to grow as word spreads of the fantastic route and the detailed level of organising and planning that goes into the event.
(07 Jul 2012)
July 7th-15th 2012 - the Willie Clancy Summer School promotes the study, practice and appreciation of Irish traditional music, song and dance. The school was established in 1973 to commemorate the Miltown Malbay uilleann piper, Willie Clancy, and `to promote the study, practice and appreciation of Irish traditional music song and dance.
(01 Aug 2012)
TBC - Craggaunowen, the Living Past Experience, is Ireland’s original, award winning prehistoric park. Situated on 50 acres of wooded grounds, the park interprets Ireland’s prehistoric and early Christian eras. It features a stunning recreation of some of the homesteads, animals and artefacts which existed in Ireland over 1,000 years ago.
(17 Aug 2012)
August 17th-19th 2012 - up to 100 unique Irish boats, the Galway Hookers, once the workhorses of the coast of Connemara and North Clare, gather for the annual weekend of racing and celebration at Cruinniú na mBád (Gathering of the Boats) festival in Kinvara, Co. Galway.
(25 Aug 2012)
August 26th 2012 - Sky, the UK and Ireland’s leading entertainment company, is the title sponsor of the Sky Ride Étape Hibernia. This is their 3rd closed road cycling event, following the success of the Étape Caledonia. The inaugural Sky Ride Étape Hibernia will take place on the breathtaking West Coast of Ireland in County Clare. If you are keen for a new challenge, or enjoy the unique experience of cycling on closed roads, then this is the perfect event for you! You will experience 84 miles of fantastic road cycling along one of Ireland's most beautiful coastlines. Click-through to download a copy of the route map.