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festivals · Tuesday 18 August 2026 · Various 
Connemara Pony Show 2026
At The Showgrounds · Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway
At The Showgrounds · Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway
The Connemara Pony Show in Clifden is one of the oldest and largest horse shows in Ireland, drawing breeders, riders, and spectators from across the country and overseas every August. In 2026 it reaches its 101st year - a remarkable run for any agricultural show, let alone one so tied to a single, place-specific breed. If you have any interest in horses, rural Ireland, or the particular wildness of Connemara as a landscape and a culture, this four-day event is worth going out of your way for. It suits families, serious equestrians, and curious visitors in equal measure.
The show runs Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 August 2026 at the Showgrounds in Clifden, and the programme is structured so each day has its own character. The opening day centres on the Loose Jumping Championships - Connemara ponies jumping free of a rider, which is as dramatic as it sounds. Day two is the main in-hand show day, featuring the Supreme Championship where the finest examples of the breed are judged on conformation and movement, alongside domestic arts competitions, a dog show, and Irish dancing performances. Day three focuses on ridden classes, with riders competing across different age groups. The final day brings Working Hunter classes and the Parade of Champions, a fitting close that gathers the week’s winners in one ring.
Throughout the four days you will find trade stands, craft stalls, and the steady hum of a large agricultural show - children handling ponies, breeders in animated conversation, and the occasional queue for tea. The Connemara pony itself - hardy, sure-footed, bred for this particular Atlantic landscape - is the thread running through everything.
Clifden is roughly 70 km west of Galway city along the N59, a drive of about an hour and a quarter. The road is straightforward if not fast, passing through Oughterard and Maam Cross with mountain views opening out as you get deeper into Connemara. Bus Éireann operates services between Galway and Clifden, though during show week a car gives you more flexibility given the spread of the schedule. Parking at and around the Showgrounds fills early on the busier days - arriving before midday is sensible.
The show week is the busiest Clifden gets all year, and the town itself - with its twin-spired skyline above the bay - is a good place to spend an evening. The Sky Road loop west of town is one of the better short drives in the west of Ireland. There is more to see in Clifden and across Co. Galway.
Heading to The Showgrounds in Clifden? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Clifden area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.