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food-drink · Tuesday 25 August 2026 · 10:00am 
Irish Game & Country Fair, Birr Castle
At Birr Castle Demesne · Birr Castle Demesne, Birr, Co. Offaly
At Birr Castle Demesne · Birr Castle Demesne, Birr, Co. Offaly
Every August, Birr Castle Demesne opens its grounds to one of Ireland’s best-regarded country sports gatherings - a two-day fair that draws serious competitors and curious first-timers in roughly equal measure. The Irish Game & Country Fair is run by the Irish Game Fair Association and covers clay pigeon shooting, gundog trials, fly casting and a wide range of rural pursuits, all set against the parkland of one of the midlands’ finest estates. It suits families with older children, anyone with an interest in country sports, and visitors who want a sociable outdoor day out with genuine atmosphere rather than a polished corporate event.
The headline draw is the All Ireland Game Fair Championships in Clay Pigeon Shooting, which carries one of the largest prize funds in Irish game fair sport - three guns to be won and significant cash prizes across the novice and all-comers categories. Gundog trials, fly casting competitions, stick making and terrier and lurcher displays run alongside the main shooting events throughout both days. There are hands-on taster sessions too: have-a-go fly casting, archery, air rifle shooting and pony rides mean younger visitors have plenty to occupy them. Trade stands run along what regulars call Gunmakers’ Row and Fishermans’ Row, stocked with country lifestyle gear, and a tented village of arts, crafts and rural suppliers fills out the rest of the ground. A food festival element brings hot food vendors and refreshment areas, so there is no need to leave the grounds for lunch. Most of the Birr Castle Demesne - the parkland, walks and riverside paths - remains open to fairgoers across both days, which adds a pleasant backdrop to the whole occasion.
Birr is a market town in central Offaly, roughly equidistant from Dublin and Galway - about 130 km from Dublin via the M6 and N62, and around 100 km from Galway via the N65 or M6. From Limerick the drive is about 80 km on the N7 and N52. There is no direct rail link to Birr; the nearest train station is Tullamore (about 30 km north), from which a taxi or local bus service connects to the town. Bus Eireann operates a route between Birr and major towns. Admission for the fair includes free parking on the demesne grounds.
Birr itself rewards a longer visit - the Georgian streetscape around Emmet Square is well preserved and there are good cafes and pubs within easy walking distance of the castle gates. There is more to see in Birr and across Co. Offaly.
Heading to Birr Castle Demesne in Birr? Offaly has plenty more to see. Read the Birr area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.