Saturday 30 May
So Much to See....
So Much is Free with a Wristband
An Méid Sin le Feiceáil....
An Méid Sin Saor in Aisce le Banda Láimhe
Need help? Visit the Information Point for answers, and listen to our Town Crier, Peter Martin, for news.
Note: A free shuttle runs from Mountshannon entrance (Catholic Church) to the village centre at peak times on Saturday and Sunday.
Exhibitions
Various venues 11 to 6pm
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
For the Children
Various Venues
Facepainting with Kerry, Mime with A Box, Storytelling with Niall de Burca, Art table… See what we have to entertain young art lovers.
Forge with Reece Foster
Forge, 9.30 to 2pm
Artisan blacksmith working in the beautiful Lyons forge in Mountshannon, a 270-year-old forge still owned by the same family to this day. Reece has been focusing on traditional blacksmithing, by hand and without electricity, for three years, with a keen interest in biological sculpture, jewellery and traditional workman's tool making
Workshop
Masterclass with Colm Keegan
An Cupán Café, 10 to 12pm
Join poet Colm Keegan, an accomplished mentor and facilitator for an interactive masterclass. Focusing on close reading, sound and shape, to sharpen your skills and deepen your engagement with form. Prebooking is essential as spaces are limited. €22/ €20 with wristband
Community Market
Aistear Park 11 to 5.30pm
The market is rolling out a fabulous two-day extravaganza at this year's Festival! Picture a treasure trove of stalls offering everything from pottery to plants, rings to rugs, along with delicious food and drinks. Visit the clothes swap, the games tent, the alpacas and so much more.
Kayak tasting
Harbour - slots
East Clare Paddlers will be offering kayaking taster sessions in Mountshannon Harbour. This is a unique opportunity to experience Lough Derg and see Mountshannon from a different perspective!
€5 with WB
Belongings with Lisa Joyce
Aistear - 11 to 5.30pm
All are warmly invited to visit Belongings, an exhibition sharing the stories of people who have made a home in County Clare. In the years ahead, migration will become an ever more present part of our social landscape - bringing both enrichment and challenge… Free
Dress Up Tent
Aistear - 11 to 2pm
All are warmly invited to visit Belongings, an exhibition sharing the stories of people who have made a home in County Clare. In the years ahead, migration will become an ever more present part of our social landscape - bringing both enrichment and challenge… Free
Pop-up Gaeltacht
Anita’s 11am
Tá Pop-up Gaeltacht ar siúl i dTigh Anita i lár Bhaile Uí Bheoláin, Dé Sathairn 30 Bealtaine idir 11am - 1pm. Buail isteach chugainn don chomhrá agus don chomhluadar. Fáilte romhat! Free
Words in Flight
Aistear 12.30pm
Collaborative project for the 30th Mountshannon Arts Festival that brings together spoken word, community creativity and mural art. Free
Credit RichGilligan
Opening of the Galleries
Starting at Words in Flight in the Aistear
Curator and Arts Educator Patricia Moriarty will officially open Mountshannon Arts Galleries 2026 at 12.30pm
Galleries are open Saturday to Monday 11 to 6pm. Free
Taking Flight
Anita’s 2pm
In association with Poetry Ireland. This promises to be an exciting showcase of spoken word poetry by a veteran of the scene and a next generation poet: Colm Keegan and Lavie Olupona. €10/ €8 with wristband.
Workshop
Body Beats - Dance
Aistear park 2pm
Body Beats is an energetic and interactive workshop where people discover how rhythm lives inside their own bodies. Free with wristband.
Workshop
Smartphone Photo workshop
An Cupán Café 3 to 5pm
In this 2-hour hands-on workshop, Visual Artist CE Kraemer will guide you through the essentials of photography with your smartphone - from framing and lighting to simple yet powerful editing techniques. Free with wristband. Credit Photo CE Kraemer
Music in the Marquee
Aistear 3 to 7.15pm
In this 2-hour hands-on workshop, Visual Artist CE Kraemer will guide you through the essentials of photography with your smartphone - from framing and lighting to simple yet powerful editing techniques. Free with wristband. Credit Photo CE Kraemer
The Sky is Not Enough
Anita’s 4pm
June O'Sullivan's novel The Sky Is Not Enough is based on a real Irish woman, Sophie Peirce Evans, who became globally famous in 1928 after an epic, record-making solo flight from Cape Town to London. Free with wrisband.
Earl Okin
Hall 8pm
Earl Okin celebrates his Diamond Jubilee, this year.
60 years in music.
€18/ €15 with wristband