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music · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 6:00pm 
The Marquee in Drumlish Festival 2026
At The Marquee, Drumlish · Drumlish, Co. Longford
At The Marquee, Drumlish · Drumlish, Co. Longford
Every August, Drumlish punches well above its weight. A small village in the midlands of Co. Longford becomes the country music capital of Ireland for four nights, drawing crowds from across the country to what is genuinely one of the best-loved festivals on the Irish calendar. The Marquee in Drumlish has roots going back to the 1960s, when pole marquees in small towns were the social centre of rural Irish summers. Revived in 2009 and growing steadily since, it now draws a packed tent of dancers, families, and music fans who return year after year. If you love Irish country music and want to experience it in the company of people who really mean it, this is the place.
Four nights of live country music, starting at 9pm each evening with gates opening at 8:30pm. The bill typically mixes big-name acts - Mike Denver, Una Healy, Ray Lynam and Declan Nerney have all played in recent years - with rising local talent and trad-inflected acts. Nerney himself, who has a song literally titled “The Marquee in Drumlish”, traditionally closes the festival on the final night to a packed and partisan crowd. It is an unapologetically rural festival: good music, dancing, and a strong community atmosphere. Admission is at the gate each night on a first come, first served basis at €25 per person - no advance tickets, so arrive with time to spare. Card is accepted Friday through Sunday; Monday is cash only. It is an over-18s event and valid photo ID (Age Card, driving licence or passport) is required on entry.
Drumlish sits roughly 10km north of Longford town, off the N4 Dublin-Sligo road. By car it is about 90 minutes from Dublin and 90 minutes from Galway. Follow stewards’ directions on arrival - parking is available in the village. Motorhomes and camper vans are catered for at Drumlish Community Centre (Eircode N39 V8N9). Bus Eireann serves Longford town from Dublin and other cities, from where a taxi to Drumlish is a short run. Accessible drop-off for mobility-impaired visitors is available on the night - contact the stewards at the gate.
The village is a quiet, friendly place with a strong GAA tradition and a community that clearly knows how to put on a good event. The wider county has plenty worth seeing in the days around the festival, from Corlea Trackway (an Iron Age bog road) to the walking trails of the Longford Lakelands. There is more to see in Drumlish and across Co. Longford.
Heading to The Marquee, Drumlish in Drumlish? Longford has plenty more to see. Read the Drumlish area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.