Festivals and Events Ireland in 2012

Dates: March 16th - 19th 2012

St. Patrick’s Festival is now by far the biggest annual event in the country providing entertainment for all interests and ages. The Festival programme has music, theatre, family carnivals, comedy, street arts, visual arts, dance, a treasure hunt, symposium, cavalcades of vintage cars... 4000 performers – 1.5 million spectators and 6 days of fantastic festival fun for all! St. Patrick would be very proud!

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Dates: May 31st - 4th June 2012

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival was founded in 1994 in response to the burgeoning wealth of Irish comic talent with no clear national outlet for expression.

The festival has grown from a small event comprising a handful of shows to an internationally acclaimed festival which showcases the very best in Irish and international comedy acts, attracting visitors to Kilkenny city and its surrounding regions through the unusual combination of professionally-managed world class entertainment in the atmospheric setting of our charming and intimate medieval city.

The world-class programme blends the top Irish and international talent in shows featuring globally renowned comic stars as well as newcomers and break-through acts.

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Dates: July 9th - 22nd 2012

Galway Arts Festival, Ireland's largest and most prestigious annual arts festival. Galway has long been considered a centre of cultural excellence with Galway Arts Festival the defining cultural expression of Galway. At the heart of all aspects of life in the city, Galway Arts Festival always promises a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration.

This years festival features over 400 writers, artists, performers and musicians from Canada, England, France, Scotland and the USA joining those from Ireland creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music.

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Dates: August 17th - 21st 2012

The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrated 52 years in 2011, and is one of Ireland's longest running festivals. It is based around the selection of the Rose of Tralee, an international event that encompasses young women of Irish descent from Ireland and around the world.

Every year more than 30 International Roses come to Tralee, supported by friends and family. The Festival comprises Rose Selection, family carnival, fashion show and live concerts, in addition to welcoming visitors and delegates from regions worldwide represented by each Rose. During this time the town's streets are transformed into a feast of parades, music, circus, funfair, markets and live performance.

All eyes are on the Roses, who travel from the UK, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East to compete for the coveted title of Rose of Tralee (the essence of which is based on the popular song of the same name). The Roses take time to visit various attractions in Tralee and meet Festival goers in the town centre, and can also be seen at any of the three parades that take place during the week of Festival. The Midnight Madness parade on the final night is led by the newly crowned Rose of Tralee, and followed by a fireworks extravaganza.

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