What's on in Clifden (Connemara), Ireland through the year

Busy — Christmas break in Ireland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Atlantic gale season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)), Winter shutdown (1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — February mid-term break in Ireland, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Atlantic gale season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)), Winter shutdown (1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — St Patrick's Day, Easter break in Ireland

• Holiday

  St Patrick's Day

  16–18 MarNational holidayCrowded

  17 March is a public holiday with a parade in almost every town, followed by music sessions in packed pubs from midday. Hotels fill and rates rise, above all when it makes a long weekend, and visitors arrive from abroad for it. Source ↗

Still on: Atlantic gale season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)), Winter shutdown (1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — Easter break in Ireland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Connemara walking season

  15 Apr – 10 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  Diamond Hill in the national park, the Sky Road and the Twelve Bens are at their most reliable from mid-spring to early autumn. Outside that the bog paths hold water and the light runs out mid-afternoon. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Midge season

  25 May – 15 Sep · usuallyInsects & disease

  Still evenings near bog and water are the problem, not the days. Anything with an Atlantic breeze on it stays clear, which is most of the coast road and none of the inland lakes. Source ↗

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Ireland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Ireland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Connemara Pony Show, Summer holidays in Ireland

• Festival

  Connemara Pony Show

  15–24 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The world's main gathering of Connemara ponies takes over the showgrounds and the town for the best part of a week each August. Every bed in Clifden is gone months ahead of it. Source ↗

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Clifden Arts Festival

  17–27 Sep

  Ireland's longest-running community arts festival: ten days of poetry, trad and theatre in the town's halls, pubs and church. It keeps Clifden open a fortnight later than it would otherwise be. Source ↗

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually)), Midge season (25 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — October mid-term break in Ireland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Atlantic gale season

  15 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallyStorm season

  Named storms come in off the ocean with nothing between here and Newfoundland to slow them. Power goes out in the townlands, and the coast road at Streamstown takes spray across it. Source ↗

Still on: Connemara walking season (15 Apr – 10 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Winter shutdown

  1 Nov – 15 Mar · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

  Most of the guesthouses, the boat trips and a fair share of the restaurants close after October, leaving a handful of pubs and one hotel. The landscape is unchanged and there is nobody in it. Source ↗

Still on: Atlantic gale season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas Day shutdown, Christmas break in Ireland

• Holiday

  Christmas Day shutdown

  24–26 DecChristmas & New YearClosures

  Ireland comes closest to a full stop on 25 December: pubs, shops and most restaurants close and there are no trains or buses anywhere in the country. St Stephen's Day on the 26th is also a public holiday, though pubs reopen and there are races and walks. Source ↗

Still on: Atlantic gale season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)), Winter shutdown (1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))