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festivals · Thursday 9 July 2026 · 7:30pm 
Monaghan Town Country Music Festival
At The Diamond · The Diamond, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
At The Diamond · The Diamond, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
Every July, The Diamond in Monaghan town transforms into an open-air country music venue for four consecutive evenings. The Monaghan Town Country Music Festival has been running since 2013, organised entirely by volunteers with support from Monaghan County Council and local businesses, and every euro raised goes to local charities and good causes. That community spirit is palpable - the crowd is genuinely mixed, from teenagers to grandparents, and regulars travel from across Ulster and beyond to be part of it.
The main stage goes up on The Diamond itself, giving the festival a proper town-square feel rather than a fields-and-fencing affair. Thursday through Saturday, gates open at 7:30pm with headline acts taking the stage around 9:30pm and music running to 11:30pm. Sunday is the long day - gates open at 4pm, giving you a full afternoon and evening of entertainment before the last notes around 10:30pm.
Past headliners have included Michael English, Mike Denver, Jimmy Buckley, and The Tumbling Paddies - the kind of names that fill dance halls across Ireland all year. The 2026 lineup will be confirmed closer to the date; the festival Facebook page is the place to watch. Michael English has been confirmed for Saturday 11 July via his own tour listings.
The Sunday jiving competition on a dedicated timber dance floor is a serious highlight. Couples come from all over to take part and the standard is high, but spectating is half the fun. Cullen’s Fun Fair runs alongside the music throughout the weekend, which keeps younger children happy while the adults enjoy the acts.
Monaghan town is well served by road from Dublin (the N2 / M3 takes about 90 minutes), Belfast (about an hour on the A3 / N2), and Armagh and Cavan via the N54. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Dublin Busaras and from Cavan town; the journey from Dublin takes roughly two hours. The town centre has pay-and-display parking and a number of car parks within a short walk of The Diamond.
The town itself repays a longer visit - the Market House, the County Museum, and Rossmore Forest Park are all within easy reach. There is more to see in Monaghan and across Co. Monaghan.
Heading to The Diamond in Monaghan? Monaghan has plenty more to see. Read the Monaghan area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.