Arcadia Ireland

As the days continue to get shorter and the temperatures continue to drop, it can be so easy to find ourselves staying at home more often than not in Ireland. However, this time of year is filled with cultural activities and festivals that are worth heading out of the house for! These festivals aren’t limited to just one point in Ireland, but rather can be found throughout the entire country. 

Belfast International Arts Festival

October 15 - November 3 

The Belfast International Arts Festival will feature art and performances from both home and abroad for a program consisting of theatre, performance art, visual art, dance, and music. The Belfast International Arts Festival is the longest running international arts event in the city and was originally established in 1962. To see the full program for the 2019 festival, click here. 

Puca Festival 

October 21 - November 2

The Puca Festival will take place across three locations in Athboy, Drogheda, and Trim in counties Meath and Louth. The festival will take attendees back to the authentic origins of Halloween in Ireland. The time was also known as Feile na Marbh (or Feast of the Dead) as the separation between worlds thinned and all spirits could roam the earth. To learn more about the traditions of Halloween or the festival please click here. 

Savour Kilkenny

October 22 - 28

2019 will mark the 13th year of the Savour Kilkenny festival which is one of the leading food festivals in Ireland. The event welcomes visitors into the medieval city of Kilkenny for a celebration of local food and produce. To check out a list of vendors and events that are available in this year’s program, please click here. 

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

October 24 - 28

Any fans of jazz out there? Ireland’s biggest jazz event will be taking place in Cork at the end of October for a celebration of jazz music. The festival began in 1978 and hosts some of the best jazz artists from all over the world. Check out the list of events for the festival here to ensure that you get a ticket before they sell out! 

Bram Stoker Festival 

October 25 - 28 

The Bram Stoker Festival will take place in Dublin to celbrate the gothic, mysterious, and the supernatural. The festival will also celebrate one of Ireland’s most treasured authors, Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. The festival will host a number of haunting events around Dublin and the festival program can be found here. 

The festivals and events occurring around the island of Ireland this time of year are not only limited to the five above. For a list of events taking place in Ireland in the near future, check out this website. Do you plan on attending any of these events? If so, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @ArcadiaIreland so that we can see all of your study abroad adventures!