Blog Posts

Dates Announced for Ballyshannon Rory Gallagher Festival 2026

7/4/2025

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

Support the Rory Gallagher Festival - GoFundMe Support the Future

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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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Jimmie Vaughan performing at Rory Gallagher Festival 2025 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland

Band of Friends performing at Rory Gallagher Festival 2025 in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland

Rory's fans from all over the World attended Rory Gallagher Festival 2025 in Ballyshannon, Ireland

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STAR STUDDED PROGRAMME FOR 21ST RORY GALLAGHER FESTIVAL IN BALLYSHANNON

3/30/2025

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The 21st Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival will take place between 29th May - 1st June 2025 in the town where the world's greatest Guitarist was born - Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Its going to be a very Special Tribute in honour of Rory as the internationally acclaimed festival will mark the 30th Anniversary of Rory Gallagher's sad passing.

Born at the Rock Hospital in Ballyshannon in 1948 and since 2002 the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival has celebrated the Music & Life of Rory Gallagher in Ballyshannon. The Festival was founded by Barry O'Neill who has continued to promote the event every year since then. Fans attend the Festival annually in Ballyshannon from over 20 countries worldwide. It is a truly unique international gathering.

The Packed Programme offers a unique Music Festival experience with the vast majority of the 4 day Festival Free to View !!! Over 30 Acts on 15 Stages over 4 Days ... Not to be missed !!!

Festival Programme 2025