← All events
music · Friday 11 September 2026 · Various 
Dooagh Folk Festival
At Multiple venues across Dooagh and Achill Island · Dooagh, Achill Island, Co. Mayo
At Multiple venues across Dooagh and Achill Island · Dooagh, Achill Island, Co. Mayo
The Dooagh Folk Festival draws some of the finest names in Irish and Celtic folk music to a small Atlantic village on Achill Island for three days each September. The 2026 edition - following two sold-out years - brings Damien Dempsey, Dervish, Lúnasa, Dan McCabe, Karen Casey Trio, Des Cafferkey, Na Píobairí Uilleann and more to pubs and venues across Dooagh and Keel. It suits anyone who wants live traditional music in an unhurried, community setting rather than a large festival site: the scale keeps things intimate, the craic tends to run late, and the backdrop is hard to beat.
The weekend opens Friday evening with a special seated concert at the Wavecrest Hotel from 7 pm - Lúnasa headline that night. Saturday steps up to a full day of sessions and workshops before Damien Dempsey and Dervish take the headline slot. Sunday wraps with more sessions, recitals and talks spread across the village’s pubs and smaller spaces. The format mixes ticketed headline shows with the kind of informal sessions that spill out of bar corners at midnight. Acts like the Golden Eagle Pipe Band and GráDee & The Achill Lads add a local community dimension alongside the national names. Parking at the festival is free. The event is 18+.
Dooagh sits at the western end of Achill Island, roughly 80 minutes’ drive west of Castlebar and about two hours from Galway. From the N5 take the N59 through Westport and Newport, then cross Achill Bridge onto the island and follow signs for Keel and Dooagh. There is no direct rail link to Achill; the nearest train station is Westport, from where Bus Éireann service 440 connects to Achill Sound. Taxis cover the final stretch to Dooagh. If you are coming from Dublin, allow around three and a half hours by road.
Achill Island is one of the largest islands off the Irish coast and has no shortage of reasons to stay longer - Keem Bay, the Atlantic Drive, Slievemore Mountain and the deserted village are all within easy reach of Dooagh. There is more to see in Achill and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Multiple venues across Dooagh and Achill Island? Mayo has plenty more to see. Browse the area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.