August Country Dancing Weekend at Woodford Dolmen Hotel

Country dancing weekends are a fixture on the Irish hotel circuit, and the Woodford Dolmen’s August edition brings two nights of live country bands to Carlow with an afternoon dance class thrown in. It is aimed at the country-and-western dancing crowd rather than a general gig audience, with over four hours of music each night.

What to Expect

Friday 14 August has Mike Denver and Band followed by Jack Keogh and Band, with a late-night DJ set from Any Feery keeping the floor going after the bands finish. Saturday 15 August switches the lineup to Michael English and Band and Gavin Gribben and Band, with DJ Paddy Treacy closing out the night. Both nights run past midnight with over four hours of live dancing music. An afternoon dance class with Declan Flanagan runs ahead of the evening sessions for anyone wanting to brush up before the bands start.

Good to Know

• Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August 2026, live music from 9pm each night.
• €20 per night, sold on the door - no advance booking required.
• Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow Town.
• Afternoon dance class with Declan Flanagan runs both days ahead of the evening sets; check the hotel’s event calendar for the exact class time.

Getting There

The Woodford Dolmen is on the Kilkenny Road on the southern edge of Carlow Town, with a large on-site car park - useful for a weekend built around two separate nights out. Carlow railway station, on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, is about a 15 to 20-minute walk away.

While You’re in Carlow

For anyone making a weekend of it, Carlow Town has plenty to fill the daylight hours between dance sessions. Carlow Castle’s riverside ruins sit on the bank of the River Barrow, and the Carlow County Museum on College Street covers the county’s history in more depth. Tullow Street carries most of the town’s shops and cafes for a slower morning after a late night on the dancefloor. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.