The Top 10 2018 Music Festivals In Ireland

There’s rarely a weekend in the year when there isn’t a music festival somewhere on the island of Ireland.  Use our top picks to plan your sounds for the year.

City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival 3–7 May Belfast superstar Van Morrison takes top billing at this year’s celebration of jazz and big bands which presents 350 gigs in over 70 venues in the historic walled city of Derry~Londonderry. Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival 8–10 June An international line-up of top artists will pick, strum, bow, slap and slide their way through classic and new folk and bluegrass music over a weekend of gigs, sessions, workshops and masterclasses in the gorgeous setting of Atlantic-washed Westport, County Mayo. Belsonic 15–24 June Music legends Nile Rodgers & Chic, The Script, Liam Gallagher and Carl Cox and a host of supporting acts will take to the stage in Belfast in this week-long summer festival which is set to rock the city. Sea Sessions 22–24 June Bundoran, County Donegal’s surf music festival will feature top artists Dizzee Rascal, Walking on Cars and Rudimental along with wave-riding, beach partying and beach sports. Longitude 13–15 July Hip hop hero J Cole, rapper Travis Scott and Beyoncé’s little sis Solange are the headline acts at Dublin’s big summer beatfest, which also features Tyler The Creator. Castlepalooza 3–5 August Charleville Castle in County Offaly provides the stunning location for this boutique music and arts festival which combines an eclectic programme with the goal of becoming Ireland’s most environmentally friendly festival. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 12–19 August Expect concerts, competitions, pub sessions and impromptu street performances as Drogheda, County Louth becomes trad central for a week. Attracting hundreds of thousands, the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance. Electric Picnic 31 August – 2 September Over 40 top artists will perform at this year’s Electric Picnic in County Laois, one of the biggest music festivals of the year. Kendrick Lamar, Massive Attack and N.E.R.D. headline, and supporting acts include Dua Lipa and George Ezra. Cork Jazz Festival 26–29 October The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz events on the international arts calendar, and attracts musicians and music fans from all over the world. Wexford Festival Opera 19 October – 4 November Seventeen days of operas, concerts, recitals, theatre and talks including rarely seen opera for which the festival is famous. This year’s main performances include Mala Vita (Umberto Giordano) and Dinner at Eight (William Bolcom).