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markets · Sunday 19 July 2026 · 9:00am 
Ballyconneely Agricultural Show
At Ballyconneely Community Field · Ballyconneely, Co. Galway
At Ballyconneely Community Field · Ballyconneely, Co. Galway
The Ballyconneely Agricultural Show is one of the most genuine country shows on the west coast - a full summer Sunday out in Connemara that draws livestock breeders, local families and visitors who want to see the real working life of this part of Galway. Set up by the community in 1986, the show has grown steadily into one of the largest Connemara Pony shows in the county, with upwards of 200 entries in recent years. It is free to attend, family-friendly, and finishes with a social tail that tends to spread through the village and on to Roundstone.
The show rings at Ballyconneely Community Field fill from early morning with Connemara ponies, cattle and sheep competing across breed and performance classes. The Connemara Pony has deep roots here - the breed evolved partly from local stock and, legend has it, from Arab horses that swam ashore from a shipwreck near Slyne Head in the 1820s. Watching these ponies go through their paces in front of knowledgeable judges is reason enough to come.
Beyond the livestock, there is a pet parade for younger visitors, plus arts, crafts and horticulture exhibits from local growers and makers. Trade stands sell agricultural supplies and handmade goods. Live Irish music and dancing run through the day, and previous years have seen All-Ireland Championship finals staged alongside the main show schedule. The combination of competition rings, craft stalls and traditional music makes for a long, unhurried day rather than a quick look around.
Ballyconneely is on the R341, roughly 60 km west of Galway City - about an hour’s drive via Oughterard and Clifden, or a slightly longer scenic route hugging the coast through Salthill and Inverin. Clifden, 10 km to the north, is the nearest town with fuel and services. There is no regular bus service to Ballyconneely on Sundays, so a car or lift is the practical option. Parking is typically available in the village and around the community field; arrive early on show day as the roads into the peninsula get busy by midday.
The village sits on a narrow peninsula between Mannin Bay and Bunowen Bay, with some of the most striking beach scenery in Connemara a short walk away - Coral Strand and Bunowen Beach are both close by and worth the detour. After the show, many people carry on into the evening in Ballyconneely or drive the 10 km to Roundstone for food and music. There is more to see in Ballyconneely and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Ballyconneely Community Field in Ballyconneely? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Ballyconneely area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.