← All events
seasonal · Friday 10 July 2026 · Various 
Abbey Hotel Country Music Weekend - July
At Abbey Hotel · The Diamond, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal
At Abbey Hotel · The Diamond, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal
The Abbey Hotel’s country music weekends have become one of the most consistent draws on the Irish country scene, pulling fans from across Donegal, Ulster and well beyond for three full days of live music and dancing. The July edition runs Friday to Sunday, 10-12 July 2026, at the hotel’s own ballroom on The Diamond in the centre of Donegal Town. If you love proper Irish country - the kind you dance to rather than just listen to - this is the format that delivers it, with a package that covers your bed, breakfast and every dance session under one roof.
The weekend is built around live performances and dancing across Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday, with multiple acts taking the stage over the three days. Previous Abbey Hotel country weekends have featured some of the biggest names in Irish country music - artists like Patrick Feeney, Jimmy Buckley, Mike Denver, Michael English and David James have all played the venue’s regular series - so the standard of performer is consistently high. The format suits both seasoned dancers and people who simply want to sit close to the stage and take it all in. The hotel’s ballroom is purpose-suited to these events: good floor space, a proper stage, and a crowd that genuinely turns up to have a good time. Evening sessions run late, and the hotel bar keeps the atmosphere going between sets.
The weekend package, from €259 per person sharing, covers two nights bed and breakfast and access to all the dances - so once you arrive, there is very little to organise beyond enjoying yourself. Single-room options may be available on request; contact the hotel directly.
Donegal Town sits at the southern end of Donegal Bay, at the junction of the N15 and N56. From Dublin, take the M1 north to Monaghan, then the N2/N14 through Letterkenny and south on the N15 - roughly a three-and-a-half-hour drive depending on traffic. From Belfast, the A5/N14 route through Omagh and Ballybofey brings you in from the east, around two-and-a-half hours. Bus Eireann operates services from Dublin and Sligo into Donegal Town; the bus stop is close to The Diamond. The Abbey Hotel is right on The Diamond itself - the town’s central square - so it is straightforward to find on arrival. Parking is available in the town centre.
Donegal Town is a compact, lively place with good restaurants, traditional pubs and easy access to some of Donegal’s most dramatic coast and inland scenery. The castle on the riverbank is worth ten minutes of anyone’s time, and the Blue Stack Mountains are close if you want a walk to clear your head between sessions. There is more to see in Donegal and across Co. Donegal.
Heading to Abbey Hotel in Donegal? Donegal has plenty more to see. Read the Donegal area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.