Festivals for all the family

Festivals for all the family


The Achill Half-Marathon is only one of many annual events which take place on Achill Island, including a number of family-friendly festivals.
Three walking festivals were scheduled for 2011, two of which have already taken place – over Valentine’s weekend and the May Bank Holiday weekend – and were very successful. The third takes place from August 26 to 29. A choice of walks is offered for all abilities.
A new initiative offered in 2011 is the “Give It A Go Weekend”, for the visitor who has often said they’d love to give something new and different a try. All the activity providers on the island are offering taster sessions of their activities free of charge over the weekend of June 18 and 19, and further details can be found on www.achilltourism.com.
Following on from the excitement of the Achill Half-Marathon on July 2, Féile Bia Na Mara/Achill’s Seafood Festival takes place from July 14 to 17. This festival celebrates Achill’s maritime culture with a full programme of events suitable for all the family. This year’s guest celebrity chef is Ross Lewis, from Chapter One Restaurant, one of only six Michelin-starred chefs in Ireland.
Among the highlights of this popular weekend are the Gala Seafood Buffet, Seaweed Safari, Cookery Demonstrations, Achill’s Got Talent and Buachaill and Cailín Óg Competitions. All details are available on www.feilebianamara.com
For those interested in celebrating Irish culture and language, or in learning to play an instrument, Scoil Acla Summer School from July 25 to 31 is the place to be.
The Heinrich Boll Association celebrates the life of the Nobel Prize-winning author with an Annual Arts and Cultural weekend held over the May Bank holiday, while the Achill Yawl Festival takes place every weekend from June to the end of August.
For queries on any of the above, please contact the Achill Tourism office on 098 20705.