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markets · Tuesday 18 August 2026 · 9:00am 
Connemara Pony Festival
At Showgrounds · Clifden, Co. Galway
At Showgrounds · Clifden, Co. Galway
The Connemara Pony Show is one of the great annual gatherings in the Irish agricultural calendar - a four-day festival in Clifden that draws breeders, riders, and curious visitors from Ireland, Britain, and further afield every August. First held in 1924 and running continuously since 1947 at the Clifden Showgrounds, the 2026 show marks 101 years of the Connemara Pony Breeders Association putting their native breed on the world stage. Entry is free, the atmosphere is genuinely convivial, and you do not need to know anything about ponies to enjoy the day.
The show runs Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 August, with a different theme each day. Tuesday opens with the Loose Jumping Championships and the official Show Launch - a good introduction if you are only coming for one day. Wednesday is the busiest: In-hand Show Day, where ponies are presented at the halter and judged on conformation, leads into the Supreme Championship in the afternoon. Alongside the equestrian classes there are domestic arts competitions, a dog show, and Irish dancing displays, so the showgrounds feel more like a country fair than a specialist horse event. Thursday brings the Ridden Classes and Championship, and Friday closes with Working Hunter events and the Parade of Champions.
The Connemara Pony is a specific Irish breed - compact, sure-footed, and bred for the rocky terrain of this part of Connacht. The show is the largest single gathering of Connemara Ponies anywhere in the world, and the in-hand ring on Wednesday draws entries from overseas as well as local studs. Expect commentary, a good number of trade stands, food stalls, and a crowd that mixes serious breeders with families making a day of it.
Clifden sits roughly 80 kilometres west of Galway City, at the end of the N59. The drive from Galway takes about an hour and a quarter and passes through some of the most striking scenery on the Wild Atlantic Way. There is no direct public transport to Clifden, though Bus Éireann route 923 runs from Galway City during summer - check timetables before travelling as services are limited. Driving is the practical option for most visitors. Parking at busy show days can fill up around the Showgrounds; arriving before 10am on Wednesday is advisable if you want to see the In-hand classes from the start.
The town itself is well set up for a day out - good cafés, pubs, and a lively main street that tends to fill up during show week. The Sky Road loop just outside town gives a short scenic drive with Atlantic views, and Clifden Castle is a fifteen-minute walk from the centre. There is more to see in Clifden and across Co. Galway.
Heading to 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.