Something for everyone at the nine-day 2024 Ballinrobe Festival

Ballinrobe is gearing up for one of the most anticipated social events of the year for what promises to be another amazing 9-day festival in the south Mayo town. The 2024 Ballinrobe Festival is starting on Saturday, July 20, with a family fun day in Abbey Street car park, followed on Saturday night with an Open Air concert in the same location with the fantastic Qween Tribute Band. The festival runs until July 28 when it ends on a high with the always fabulous Queen of the Lakes night, when the new Queen will be crowned followed by fireworks and an after party with DJ Fergal D’Arcy.

Each year the festival is getting better and better and now with a new rejuvenated committee on board, Monica Horan, the Chairperson has said: “It’s always great to get new people on board, with fresh ideas and to change things up.”

The Ballinrobe Race Dance on Tuesday, July 23, welcomes the ever popular Mike Denver, tickets are €15 and that includes entry into the Races which the committee say this is 'the deal of the year, a not to be missed evening out’.

On Friday, July 26, the festival is delighted to bring the amazing Tumbling Paddies to Ballinrobe for the first time. Tickets are selling fast so make sure not to miss out on seeing this hugely popular band, who have been playing sold out gigs all around the country all summer long.

On Saturday, July 27, attendees can roll back the years with an amazing ‘80’s Classic hits Band’ singing all the unforgettable tunes from the 80s from Abba to Reggae to Classic Rock. Get out your neon gear, as there will be a Fancy Dress competition on the night.

Activities for all

Throughout the week there will be a host of other activities for all, which includes a Traditional Heritage Day on Sunday, July 21 from 2pm in Cornmarket. This will include a wonderful day of traditional music dance, a Ceili dance workshop, vintage car and farming displays, woodland crafts and games for children plus much more. Ballinrobe Historical Society will also launch its new website along with Phase 2 of 'The Women of Ballinrobe Exhibition'. During the week there will also be an amazing Family Day at the Ballinrobe Races on Monday, July 22; a Monster Festival Bingo on Wednesday, July 24; a Teddy Bears Picnic, holistic events, kids dance workshops, movie day, magic shows, pizza making, sports events plus much more. A special sensory garden will be open in the CBS garden from Sunday, July 21 to Saturday, July 27 from 12 noon to 3pm each day.

Without sponsors, the festival would not be possible, and the organising committee wish to thank sincerely the loyal main sponsors: main event sponsors JJ Burke Car Sales; St Colmans Credit Union; Cummins HomeValue and SuperValu; Supermacs and OCL Laundry Services and each and everyone of other sponsors and patrons.

Lastly, a huge thanks to the very hard working committee who put in unseen hours of voluntary work which culminates in this Festival, providing a wonderful opportunity for the community to reconnect, a time when families can come together, share experiences, and create lasting memories, It is great to hear of many expats arranging their holidays around the festival.

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See Ballinrobe festival on Instagram and FB for more details. Tickets for concerts in the Racecourse Pavillion are available on Ballinrobe.eventbrite.com and from Martin Murphy’s Newsagents