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heritage · Friday 25 September 2026 · Various 
Follow Me Up to Carlow Set Dancing Weekend
At Seven Oaks Hotel · Athy Road, Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
At Seven Oaks Hotel · Athy Road, Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
The “Follow Me Up to Carlow” Set Dancing Weekend is one of those events that draws people from all over Ireland and further afield, not because they have to go, but because they genuinely want to. Running across three days in late September, it brings together set dancers of all levels for a programme packed with céilís, workshops, social dancing, and sean nós, all under the same roof at the Seven Oaks Hotel on the Athy Road. If you have ever wanted to try set dancing in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, or you are already a regular on the circuit, this weekend delivers both a proper workout on the floor and the craic that goes with it.
The 2026 programme runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September and covers the full range of traditional Irish social dance. Céilís feature bands including The Abbey, Brian Boru and Johnny Reidy - names well known on the Irish set dancing scene. Workshops are led by Syl Bell and Liz Hand, two experienced and popular callers who cater for mixed levels, so beginners are not left standing at the edge of the floor. Social and line dancing sessions run with Edel Pender, and Irene Cunningham takes sean nós, the solo free-form style rooted in Connacht and Munster tradition that sits alongside set dancing at gatherings like this.
The Seven Oaks is a four-star hotel with 89 rooms and a leisure club on site, so those coming from outside Carlow can stay in the building and be on the floor within minutes of waking up. That matters at a weekend like this, where the programme can run from morning through to late in the night.
Carlow Town sits on the N9 between Dublin and Waterford, roughly 85 km from the capital. By car, the journey from Dublin takes just over an hour. The Seven Oaks Hotel is on the Athy Road, a short distance from the town centre. Carlow Train Station is served by Irish Rail on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, with several departures daily; the hotel is around a ten-minute walk from the platform. Bus Eireann runs services into Carlow from Dublin, Kilkenny, and Waterford. On-street and hotel parking is available for those driving.
Carlow Town has a compact but interesting centre, with the remains of Carlow Castle beside the Barrow, the Carlow County Museum, and the Cultural Quarter within easy reach on foot. The Barrow Track - a long-distance walking and cycling route - passes nearby if you want to stretch your legs between sessions. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.
Heading to Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow? Carlow has plenty more to see. Read the Carlow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.