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festivals · Friday 11 September 2026 · Various 
Craic On: Bantry Singles Festival 2026
At Bantry Town Centre · Bantry, Co. Cork
At Bantry Town Centre · Bantry, Co. Cork
Craic On: Bantry Singles Festival is a West Cork weekend built specifically around getting single people out and meeting each other, running from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026 in Bantry. It has grown a loyal following since it started, blending organised social events with the town’s usual weekend buzz, and doubles as a fundraiser for local causes along the way.
The weekend programme includes speed dating sessions, such as an 18 to 30s men’s speed dating event at The Quays Bar, alongside outdoor activities like kayaking on Bantry Bay and lighter, crowd-pulling events including a “man auction” that raises money for charity. The town leans into the theme for the weekend, with local businesses decorating shopfronts and pubs running themed nights to match the festival mood. It is a genuinely local event - much of the organising happens through the festival’s Facebook page and word of mouth around the town - so exact timings for individual sessions are usually confirmed closer to the date rather than locked in months ahead.
Bantry sits on the N71 in West Cork, about an hour and 15 minutes from Cork City by car. There is no rail service to Bantry; the most practical options are driving or the Bus Eireann route connecting Bantry to Cork City and Skibbereen. Parking in the town centre is available but limited, and it fills up quickly on festival weekends, so arriving early on the Friday or Saturday is worth it if driving in. Given the mix of daytime outdoor activities and evening pub events, comfortable layers and a rain jacket are sensible for a September weekend in West Cork.
Heading to Bantry Town Centre in Bantry? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Bantry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Bantry Town Centre? These Cork tours book out in summer.