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family · Thursday 9 July 2026 · 12:30pm 
Beat on the Peat Festival
At Moystown, Belmont · Moystown, Belmont, Co. Offaly
At Moystown, Belmont · Moystown, Belmont, Co. Offaly
Beat on the Peat is a summer music festival on the Moystown GAA pitch outside Belmont in west Offaly, drawing crowds from across the Midlands for a full afternoon of trad, folk and pop music. It is a community-run event with a proper festival feel - live bands on stage from 1pm through to early evening, a food court, a bar, and a children’s entertainment area that runs in parallel so parents can actually enjoy themselves. If you want an unpretentious day out in the fresh air with good music and no need to worry about what to do with the kids, this fits the bill.
The music is the heart of it. Previous editions have brought acts like the Whistlin Donkeys, Ruaile Buaile, Tradstone and The Porter Bellys to the stage - a mix of energetic trad bands and crowd-pleasing folk pop that keeps people on their feet. The 2026 edition follows the same format: gates open at 12:30pm and music runs from 1pm. On the family side, there are drumming workshops, face painting, soccer, and carnival games keeping younger visitors occupied. A craft village gives local makers a platform alongside the stage. Food options are proper festival fare - expect catering vans with hot food, and there is a fully stocked bar and a tea and coffee area on site. Free parking is available adjacent to the pitch.
Belmont is a small village in west Offaly, roughly 10 kilometres from Birr and about 12 kilometres from Ferbane. The most practical approach is by car: take the N62 and follow local signage for Belmont and Moystown. From Tullamore, allow around 35 minutes via Ferbane. From Athlone, it is a similar distance heading south-east. There is no reliable public transport to this part of Offaly on a Sunday, so plan to drive or arrange a lift. Free parking is on site.
The west Offaly boglands give the festival its name and its setting - the flat, wide landscape is distinctive and unhurried in a way that feels genuinely away from things. The Shannon is nearby, and Birr with its Georgian streets and castle demesne is a short drive south. There is more to see in Belmont and across Co. Offaly.
Heading to Moystown, Belmont in Belmont? Offaly has plenty more to see. Read the Belmont area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.