Summer in Ireland: Festivals, Fun, and Fabulous Camping Adventures this July

If you?ve ever dreamed of experiencing Ireland at its liveliest, July is the perfect time to take a holiday. All across the country, towns and villages burst into celebration with festivals that showcase Ireland?s rich cultural heritage, incredible music, vibrant arts scene, and warm community spirit.

From foot-tapping traditional music sessions to inspiring literary gatherings and colourful arts festivals, there?s something happening every week. Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or just looking for a unique way to spend a few summer days, July in Ireland offers an unforgettable mix of entertainment and atmosphere.

Camping and Caravanning in Ireland

Camping Ireland is home to over 100 top-quality caravan and camping parks, all inspected and approved. These parks are dotted across the country, close to some of the best festival locations, scenic landscapes, and local attractions. Whether you prefer the charm of a coastal pitch or the serenity of the countryside, you?ll find the perfect base for your festival trip.

So pack your tent, load up the camper, or hook up the caravan?July is calling! Explore Ireland?s vibrant summer festival scene and enjoy the freedom, fun, and fresh air of a camping holiday.

Festivals + Camping – The Ultimate Irish Summer Experience

There?s truly no better way to experience the heart and soul of Ireland than by joining in the celebrations and staying close to nature. With so much going on around the country, you can easily plan a route that takes in multiple events and scenic camping spots.

Here is our guide to some of the top festivals taking place in July.

Starting off the festival season you have 3 great family festivals taking place in the south east.

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is a 10-day multi-disciplinary arts festival from 4^th to 13^th July. With a diverse programme and community engagement at its centre, Clonmel Junction Arts Festival has something for everyone from theatre to music, literature, art exhibitions, dance performances, street spectacle, family-friendly events and workshops.  The theme for this year?s festival is ?Encounters?.  There will be interactive workshops for all the family to enjoy, live music as well as a family fun day on Saturday 5^th July from 11am to 4pm.

In the seaside town of Tramore the Legends and Lore Summer Festival takes place in the Japenese Gardens Tramore from 4^th to 18^th July and is perfect for all the family.  You can enjoy the Japenese Gardens magical summer trail and the fairy trails and storytelling.  Step into a world of cultural traditions, with captivating stories from Tramore to Tokyo, creative and crafty workshops, and a children?s woodland trail that transports visitors to a realm where nature, history and imagination intertwine.  Wander through the tranquil gardens, explore the magic of Japanese myths, and connect with the spirit of legends passed down through generations.

Comeraghs Wild Festival from 10^th to 13^th July brings together the joys of walking, storytelling, music and food, set in the picturesque Comeragh Mountains.  Visitors can take part in scenic walking trails that offering both leisurely strolls and invigorating hikes. There will be outdoor concerts as well a full programme of children and family events, adventure, guided mountain hikes, yoga and wellness retreats.

Book a few nights in one of the top caravan & camping spots in Tipperary, Waterford or Kilkenny and take a trip to into Clonmel and Tramore to see the magic.

Planning a few nights away in the stunning south west you will find loads of great places to explore.  Cork and Kerry has a great selection of caravan & camping sites to pitch up for a few nights with a host of onsite activities for all the family to enjoy.  There are also 2 events taking place which I think you will love.

On Saturday 5^th July Clonakilty Old Time Fair takes place and will be a celebration of cultures and traditions with lots of activities, music, dancing and crafts.  There will be display of vintage cars and agricultural antiques and everyone is invited to join in by wearing vintage style clothing.  There will also be a Fair Parade as well as stalls with homemade and local crafts.

In Kerry, Sneem Summer Festival is a five day event from 16^th to 20^th July.  The village will be bustling with activities from cultural events, music, wellness, markets and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. A festival not to be missed!  Enjoy live music, a bustling summer market, yoga, sound bath meditation and a magical forest school for little adventurers.

Moving up the West into Clare, Galway and Mayo, the perfect locations for a family holiday with great caravan & camping spots.

Gaelforce Lake Fest, a celebration of open-water swimming takes place on 11^th and 12^th July on the shores of Lough Derg in Moutshannon, Co. Clare.  On Friday enjoy evening kayaking on Lough Derg followed on Saturday by the main event, the Gaelforce Great Lake Swim.  There will also be music and entertainment throughout the day as well as a family fun area.  Whether you’re an avid swimmer or just after a grand day out, the Gaelforce Lake Fest offers something for everyone

The 53^rd Willie Clancy Summer School takes place in Miltown Malbay from 5^th to 13^th July.  This is a week long summer school in traditional music and set dancing.  The summer school and classes are the main focus of the Willie Clancy week however the reason many people flock to Miltown Malbay is to experience the extraordinary quality of the spontaneous sessions that continue all day and night on the streets and in the pubs.

Galway plays host to 2 top festivals.  First up is the 37^th Galway Film Fleadh from 8^th to 13^th July.  It will screen a programme of feature films in strands that include Irish films, world cinema, architecture on film, artist on film and music on film with attention to presenting diverse film artists and content. The festival will present films in the Irish language and a short film programme will screen over 100 new short films with three Academy Award qualifying categories.

At the same time, the Galway International Arts Festival runs from 14^th to 27^th July and includes a diverse programme of events, music, theatre, visual art, street spectacles and many more.  The festival will feature artists from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and of course Ireland and Galway.

The Northwest is an ideal holiday location with some great caravan & camping sites in Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim.  There are 2 great festivals taking place in the region during July

From 5^th to 12^th July Cairde Sligo Arts Festival is the coming together of artists and audiences.  The festival presents an exceptional music line-up, featuring some of the most exciting voices in traditional, contemporary and world music.  On Sunday 6^th there is a family fun day.  A joyful day of music, circus, wellness, interactive games and food in Sligo?s beautiful Peace Park

The Earagail Arts Festival takes place from 12^th to 26^th July and is a must for all ages.  It is a bilingual (Irish and English language), multidisciplinary summer festival with 15 days of music, theatre, visual arts, film, literature, circus and carnival.

Northern Ireland is a great holiday location and also has a number of top events and festivals taking place in July.

Fiddler’s Green International Festival takes place in Rostrevor, Co. Down from 16th to 20th July.  With up to 200 events the festival caters for music fanatics, families who wish to enjoy a safe, child focused festival, and those who come just to soak up the scenery, the friendliness and the free outdoor music.  The festival includes a number of highlights each year including: The Festival Folk Club hosts a line-up of internationally acclaimed artists , The Acoustic Stage every afternoon features a mixture of local up and coming performers and major established artists and The Lunchtime Folk Club is a small intimate venue with top quality singers and musicians. The Open Air Stage offers free entertainment throughout the week including concerts, workshops, a daily open-air session for all musicians and Ceili dancing. There is a Traditional Music School with top players offering classes on various instruments.

All these festivals provide a wonderful opportunity to experience Irish culture, music, arts, and community spirit.

Camping Ireland has so much information to help you plan your caravan & camping trip away.  The website is very user-friendly and has a number of great features which makes it very easy to navigate.  You can add filters to your selection.  This will allow you to get information on parks that are specific to your needs.

You can filter for sites as follows:

Camping type ? camping, glamping, mobile home hire, etc.

Holiday type ? beach holiday, countryside, family-friendly, dog friendly, etc.

Facilities ? beach nearby, playground, games room, shop, etc.

County

Region ? Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland?s Ancient East, Ireland?s Hidden Heartlands, Dublin or Northern Ireland

Also, many sites are now offering online booking which will help you secure your pitch at the click of a button.

Whatever you want Camping Ireland has something to suit everyone.  Enjoy the independence and flexibility that camping in Ireland can offer in quality approved sites.  We look forward to welcoming you to Ireland?s outdoor living.