Dan Furey Weekend of Set Dancing 2026

Labasheeda, a small village on the Shannon Estuary in West Clare, hosts the Dan Furey Weekend of Set Dancing from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August 2026. Now in its 29th year, the weekend is run by a local volunteer committee in memory of Dan Furey, who spent his life teaching and preserving the set dances of the Labasheeda area, and it remains one of the longest-running fixtures on Ireland’s set dancing calendar.

What to Expect

Three ceili bands anchor the weekend: the Tulla Ceili Band plays Friday night, the Kilfenora Ceili Band takes Saturday, and Johnny Reidy and his band close the weekend with a Sunday afternoon ceili. Recent editions have followed a consistent pattern that 2026 is expected to repeat: a formal opening on Friday evening, dance workshops on Saturday morning for those wanting to brush up before the night’s ceili, and a Sunday built around a parade through the village followed by the final ceili and informal sessions into the evening. Local history talks and children’s entertainment, including a trad-themed disco, have also featured in past years, reflecting the weekend’s identity as a full community event rather than just a dance festival for enthusiasts. Musicians and dancers travel from well beyond Clare for it, including regular visitors from the Irish diaspora in the US and UK.

Good to Know

• Dates: Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August 2026
• Venue: Labasheeda village, on the banks of the Shannon Estuary
• Bands: Tulla Ceili Band (Friday), Kilfenora Ceili Band (Saturday), Johnny Reidy (Sunday)
• Price not published for 2026 at time of writing. Ceili weekends of this kind are typically paid per event at the door; check the Visit Clare listing or contact the committee nearer the date for confirmed prices
• Contact: 087 222 0289, or search “Dan Furey Set Dancing Weekend Labasheeda” on Facebook

Getting There

Labasheeda sits on the R487 coast road in West Clare, roughly midway between Kilrush and Kildysart on the Shannon Estuary shoreline. There is no direct bus route into the village, so the practical way to arrive is by car. Festival events are centred in and around the village itself, so once you arrive there is no need to drive between venues.