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heritage · Sunday 23 August 2026 · Various 
Loughrea Medieval Festival - Walled Towns Day
At The Fairgreen · Loughrea, Co. Galway
At The Fairgreen · Loughrea, Co. Galway
Loughrea has one of the most intact medieval street plans in the west of Ireland - founded by the Anglo-Norman de Burgos in the 13th century and still holding the last working moat in the country. Walled Towns Day is the one day each year when the town leans into that history fully, filling the Fairgreen with living history performers, craftspeople, falconers, and families. It suits anyone curious about medieval Ireland, and it costs nothing to get through the gate.
The centrepiece of the day is Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland, who put on genuine full-contact demonstrations of combat techniques - proper steel, proper movement, and people happy to explain what they are doing and why. Beyond the fighting, there are circus skills workshops pitched at children, hands-on traditional craft stations where visitors can try their hand rather than just watch, and falconry demonstrations that tend to draw a crowd at every show.
A food and craft market runs throughout the day, mixing local produce with handmade goods. A grand parade through the town marks the day officially, and the Clonfert Diocesan Museum opens free of charge, giving access to religious and local history collections that are normally ticketed. The festival is part of National Heritage Week, so there is often additional programming tied to the wider national calendar. Check the festival’s own listings closer to August for any additions.
Loughrea sits on the N65, about 35km south-east of Galway city - roughly a 30 to 35 minute drive from the city centre. Bus Eireann runs services on the Galway to Loughrea corridor; the journey takes around 45 minutes. The town is compact and The Fairgreen is central, so once you arrive on foot or by car you will not need to travel far. Street parking is available in the town centre and there is no indication of a parking charge at this event.
The medieval moat, the Carmelite abbey ruins, and the town’s heritage trail are all walkable from the Fairgreen and worth an hour before or after the festival. There is more to see in Loughrea and across Co. Galway.
Heading to The Fairgreen in Loughrea? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Loughrea area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.