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festivals · Sunday 23 August 2026 · Various 
Belmullet Festival 2026
At Belmullet town venues · Belmullet, Co. Mayo
At Belmullet town venues · Belmullet, Co. Mayo
The Belmullet Sea Angling Competition takes place across the weekend of 23-24 August 2026, run by the Belmullet Deep Sea Angling Club against the backdrop of one of the finest sea angling locations in Ireland. This is a well-established competition that draws boat anglers and shore anglers from across the country and further afield, with Broadhaven Bay to the north and Blacksod Bay to the south offering some genuinely exceptional Atlantic fishing. If you have ever wanted to see what serious sea angling looks like in the west of Ireland, this weekend gives you a front-row seat - competitors or spectators, the atmosphere on the pier and in the town is worth the drive.
The competition covers both boat and shore fishing, organised under the Belmullet Deep Sea Angling Club, which has been running international competitions on these waters for decades. The club hosts several open events through the season, and the August weekend competition is one of the centrepieces. The waters around Belmullet and the Mullet Peninsula hold at least 36 recognised game fish species - pollack, cod, ling, conger, various rays, mackerel, plaice, wrasse, gurnard and the occasional blue shark among them. The Irish record halibut was taken near the Stags of Broadhaven, just offshore from here. Charter boats with local skippers operate out of the area; the bays also provide sheltered options when the Atlantic is running rough. Alongside the angling, the festival element brings live entertainment and community events into the town on both days, so even if fishing is not your reason for coming, there is plenty of life in Belmullet over the weekend.
Belmullet sits at the base of the Mullet Peninsula in the far northwest of Mayo, about 85 km from Ballina and roughly 70 km from Castlebar by road. The main approach is via the N59 from Ballina through Bangor Erris, or from Castlebar via Crossmolina. The journey from Dublin takes around three and a half hours. Bus Eireann runs services into Belmullet from Ballina and Ballina connects to the national network, but services are infrequent - driving is by far the most practical option for a festival weekend. Parking in the town is on-street and generally manageable outside of the busiest fair-day events; the pier and quayside areas will be busier during competition weigh-ins.
Belmullet is the main town on the Mullet Peninsula, a long narrow finger of land between Broadhaven Bay and Blacksod Bay with dramatic Atlantic coastline on both sides. The area is part of the Erris region, which is Irish-speaking in parts and has a strong sense of its own distinct character. Wild swimming, cliff walks, and some of the least-crowded beaches in Ireland are all within easy reach. There is more to see in Belmullet and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Belmullet town venues in Belmullet? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Belmullet area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.