Latest Festival News 2026

Countdown To The Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend 2025

9/16/2025

Guinness Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend 2025 at the Home of Irish Blues Rock on 24th, 25th & 26th October 2025 promises to be another brilliant Blues experience in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Now in its fourth year the event boasts over 20 Acts at 10 venues over 3 days with over 60 Free Gigs with a brilliant line-up of acts both established and new to Ballyshannon. The Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend has non-stop venue based Blues gigs all-day every day for one great Irish Bank Holiday Weekend with Late Night Bar Extensions. There is also the headline ticketed show on Sunday 26th October 2025 at the Rory Gallagher Theatre featuring the legendary "DR. FEELGOOD" with support acts "The Savage Hearts" and "The Shlacks" - Advanced Tickets HERE

We are delighted to welcome so many great acts including Johnny Gallagher & His Blues Band, the Pat McManus Band, "Mr. Castle Blues" led by Venezuelan guitar virtuoso Hector Castillo, the legendary "Seamie O'Dowd Blues Band", the unmissable "Gerry Quigley & The Mystic Blues Band". We are always pleased to bring back young talent to the table and with that are delighted to welcome back to Irish shores for the second time, UK Young Blues Band Finalists 2025 "Jack Austin Despy & His Band" (UK). Then there are the Blues guys that put the B in Blues !!! Lonesome Pete, Mark Black, Stephen Brennan and our great friend Mr. Peter Price ... Then there are the acts that want to pack power blues into your weekend "Heavy Duty", "Juke Joint Blues" always a Big Blues favourite in Ballyshannon, the fantastic "Banshee" from Belfast led by the fabulous Rosie McGinn, "Happy Inc Blues" with huge experience, class and another great young Blues Rock act in "Buzzed" who are a must see, electrifying young Blues Rock trio from County Leitrim.

"Ciaran Hodgins & His Band" have been going great, performing at many Festivals at home and abroad, Ciaran is one superb Blues player with a gra for Rory, Elvis and American Blues, "Coldshot" make a triumphant return a must see act and from County Tyrone another hard working band on the Irish Blues Festival scene, "The Rusty Jacks", a great great live band.

There are loads of Accommodation options available in the Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Rossnowlagh locality - Click here for options and this weekend has a particular welcome for the Festival Campervans in Town Centre areas - Click HERE for more details

Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend 2025 supported by Guinness Brand - Rockshore Irish Lager and the Pubs of Ballyshannon - Get your overnight bag ready and make plans to get to Ballyshannon for the 24th, 25th & 26th October 2025 - You are in for a superb Weekend in the Best of Irish and International Blues - Full Weekend Programme and All Details - HERE

Advice on Accommodation

Campervan Parking

Print / Download - Full Weekend Programme 2025
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Dates Announced for Ballyshannon Rory Gallagher Festival 2026

7/4/2025

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The 22nd Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival will take place in Rory's birthplace of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland from Thursday 28th May to Sunday 31st May 2026. This is not just a music festival, it is 4 days of non-stop gigs on the streets and venues of the town that are all free to view. The streets of Ballyshannon come alive to the strains of guitars being eloquently played by superb musicians from everywhere. The Festival street gigs are pretty special in an enjoyable relaxed atmosphere with many at the towns celebrated Rory Gallagher sites such as at the Rory Gallagher life sized statue, at Rory Gallagher Place (on the street where a young Rory resided) at the Rock Hospital (where Rory was born) at the Rory Gallagher Theatre, at Allingham Park, at the Rory Gallagher Mural and at The Gables in the town centre that resembles a natural amphitheatre. If you speak to annual attendees, they will always tell you, "go once, experience Ballyshannon, and you want to go back". In what will be a Special Festival for everybody in Rory's birthplace of Ballyshannon, it will also be the 30th Anniversary since Rory's sad passing.

We would like to Thank all the Festival Supporters, attendees, followers who have generously donated to the Rory Gallagher Festival Go Fund Me Campaign securing the future staging of the iconic 4 day event into 2026 and hopefully beyond - Join us for the 2026 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland.

The Festival Headline acts for the 2026 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival will be announced in the coming months, these renowned acts will be perform at the hugely popular Rory Gallagher Festival Big Top that is located in the heart of the town. It's the 22nd staging of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon with thanks to the support of the Gallagher Family, funders Failte Ireland and sponsors Diageo / Guinness Ireland. Huge credit to the Founder and Chairperson Barry O'Neill who leads the Festival Team and who works tirelessly in ensuring the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival continues for another year.

All details for the 2026 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival are available on the Official Festival website and Early Bird Big Top Tickets for all 3 Nights at the Festival Venue for those Headline Shows are now available - www.rorygallagherfestival.com/tickets.html

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Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival - Thank You

6/12/2025

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THANK YOU ALL - It's time to say a Big Thank you to everybody who attended the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2025 - It was a Superb 21st Tribute to Rory in Ballyshannon. Thank you to the Rory Fest Voluntary Crew who worked so hard throughout the week in keeping Ballyshannon so clean, volunteer stewards and security, the team done an amazing job in building the sites and ensuring everything was presented splendidly. I also want to thank all our Production team in Sound, lighting, backline and staging for doing a wonderful professional job on all our stages. To our Festival Office and Merch Shops voluntary teams on giving all our Festival attendees a great Irish welcome and advice throughout, our voluntary back stage catering crew on keeping the operation smooth throughout and our Volunteer Stewards and Volunteer Security for giving their time and assistance.

I would like to thank every musician, band, acts that took to all stages across the weekend for the wonderful music and entertainment. To all our local business sponsors and supporters in Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Rossnowlagh. To the support services at An Garda Siochana, HSE Ambulance & Paramedic Service, Members of Ballyshannon Fire Service, the Local Authority Donegal County Council and Environment Services at DCC.

To our key funding partners Failte Ireland / Tourism Ireland our main corporate sponsors Diageo / Guinness Ireland, our associated Sponsors Silke Whiskey & MCM Brands and Bus Éireann / Expressway and Donegal Tourism much appreciated for your continued support. Finally a Special word of thanks to the Gallagher Family - Donal, Eoin and Daniel who have approved and supported the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival from its inception 23 years ago.

The future of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is unknown, we hope everybody local, national and international can support our Fundraising / Crowdfunding efforts in the coming weeks and hope that the long running event can continue in 2026 - Donate Here

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