Vandeleur Festival - Heritage Craft Demonstrations and Book Launch

What to Expect

The third annual Kilrush Summer Festival takes place in the historic Vandeleur Walled Garden from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June 2026. The Walled Garden was the private garden of Kilrush House, ancestral home of the Vandeleur landed gentry family in the early 19th century and restored for public use in 1997. Heritage strands of the 2026 festival include live craft demonstrations by the Travelling Tradesmen - blacksmith James O’Connor and woodworker Eoin Reardon - and a book launch on Saturday for “Lords and Masters: Celebrating Kilrush Shamrocks Historic Five in a Row, 1975 to 1979” by Chris Dixon O’Mara, a piece of local GAA history. Music from the Kilfenora Ceili Band headlines the programme.

Good to Know

• Runs Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June 2026 at Vandeleur Walled Garden, Kilrush.
• Heritage craft demos and book launch are free with festival admission. Check vandeleurwalledgarden.ie for ticket prices and full programme.
• Vandeleur Walled Garden is open to visitors year-round outside festival days.
• Kilrush is approx. 40km south-west of Ennis.

Getting There

Kilrush is on the N68 from Ennis, approx. 40km south-west. The Walled Garden is signposted from Kilrush town centre. Car parking on site.