The Irish love to party and festivals in Ireland are some of the best in the world. They have a unique flare with diversified events to suit all ages and interests.

Saint Patrick's Festival 
The jovial Saint Patrick's Festival is the celebration of Ireland's national holiday. Although now celebrated in various places around the world, there is still nothing better than partaking in the revels of Saint Patrick's Week in Ireland itself. Usually held in mid-March with a flurry of activities, from fireworks, funfairs and treasure hunts in Dublin, plus a spectacular Saint Patrick's Day Parade, to food markets and street theatre in Cork.

Listowel Writers' Week 
Writers' Week takes place for five days in the end of May through June. From the country that produced Oscar Wilde and Bram Stroker, Writers' Week is devoted to the writer. It essentially aims to guide, direct and enthuse the emerging writer, to befriend the established writer and provide a practical platform for their artistic output. This ideal is achieved through competitions, publication of authors' work, workshops, seminars, lectures, readings etc.

The Cat Laughs Festival
Held in Kilkenny for five days in the beginning of June, the Cat Laughs Festival is one of Ireland's favourite festivals because it makes people laugh. This festival has rapidly established itself as one of the best comedy festivals in the world. Attracting a host of the best national and international stand-up comedians and comedy improvisers, the comedy festival provides for simple fun and exhilaration. Fun and laughter are guaranteed with over 85 live performances in the relaxing surrounds of 14 of Kilkenny's best loved venues.

The Clonmel Junction Festival
The Clonmel Junction Festival is one of the most exciting and fastest growing festivals in Ireland. For nine days and nights in the beginning of June, the town of Tipperary in County Clonmel is transformed and animated by hand painted banners bedecking the town centre, daily street theatre and free live music events. However the real heart of the festival is in the theatres and music venues which host over 50 performances of top class Irish and International acts.

Galway Arts Festival
Described by the Irish Times as 'the biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has', the Galway Arts Festival is a truly international two week celebration of the performing and visual arts.

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

Festival of World Cultures
The Irish Times describes this festival as “Ireland's most family-friendly festival; an urban Glastonbury”. Carving a special groove on the global world music circuit this festival is Ireland's foremost intercultural event. With more than 160 events in 40 venues and featuring artists from 50 countries, the festival entertains thousands with its diverse and expanding programme of music, circus, theatre, dance, club nights, markets, exhibitions, workshops and activities for children. Held over the last weekend in August.

Galway Oyster Festival 
This unique and delicious festival is about friends, fun, and fabulous seafood combined with world class non-stop entertainment in the charming medieval city of Galway. There are always a few pleasant surprises at the Galway Oyster Festival. Held for four days in the end of September.

Dublin Theatre Festival
Each year the Dublin Theatre Festival presents the best of Irish and international work on the Dublin stage. The festival promotes Irish theatre through international tours of its finest new creations, collaborates with leading and international artists and companies to create exciting new work and hosts a variety of the most prestigious theatre companies and artists from around the world. Held for two weeks from September through October.

Cork Jazz Festival
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is Ireland's biggest and most prestigious jazz event and is one of the most important events on Ireland's arts and cultural calendar. During the last weekend in October, some 1,000 musicians from around 25 countries will entertain the fans in over 75 venues citywide.

Wexford Opera Festival
For over 50 years the Irish coastal town has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of rare opera as part of a unique festival. The warm and vivacious festival takes place among the ancient Viking streets and the tiny, atmospheric Theatre Royal. During two weeks, over forty daytime events as well as eighteen evening performances entertain opera and non-opera fans alike.

Belfast Festival at Queens
Every year the largest festival of its kind in Ireland brings the best of international art to Belfast and brings international attention to the city's dynamic artists. The Festival covers all art forms including theatre, dance, classical music, literature, jazz, comedy, visual arts, folk music and popular music, attracting over 50,000 visitors over the course of 17 days from mid-October through the beginning of July.