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festivals · Monday 24 August 2026 · 10:00 - 18:00 
Tubbercurry Old Fair Day
At Tubbercurry Village Centre · Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
At Tubbercurry Village Centre · Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
Tubbercurry Old Fair Day is one of south Sligo’s best-loved summer fixtures - a free, community-run festival that recreates the atmosphere of traditional Irish fair days when livestock trading, craft demonstrations, and music brought rural towns to life. First held in 1985, the event has grown into a five-day celebration drawing over 25,000 visitors, with the main Fair Day itself falling on the second Wednesday in August. It suits families, anyone with an interest in heritage, and visitors who want to see the real texture of rural Ireland rather than a packaged version of it.
The streets of Tubbercurry village fill from morning through to early evening. A heritage and craft village is the heart of the day, with demonstrators showing skills that were everyday work a century ago - thatching, butter-making, rush work, weaving, pottery, and threshing. Live animals add to the fair-day authenticity. Artisan stalls sell food and handmade goods, and traditional music sessions run outdoors and spill into the local pubs as the afternoon wears on. Street performances keep younger visitors entertained throughout. The pace is unhurried, the entry is free, and there is no ticketing to navigate - you simply arrive and walk in.
The broader Old Fair Day festival runs across five days, so if you are staying in the area there are supporting events on the surrounding days as well. Check oldfairday.ie closer to the date for the full programme.
Tubbercurry sits in south County Sligo, roughly 50 km south of Sligo town on the R297. By car from Sligo town the drive takes around 40 minutes; from Ballina in Mayo it is a similar distance heading north-east. The N17 (Sligo to Galway) passes close by, making the village easy to reach from either direction. Parking is available in and around the village centre, though on Fair Day itself the streets are busy, so arriving early in the morning is sensible. Bus Eireann serves Tubbercurry on routes connecting Sligo and Galway - check the Bus Eireann journey planner for current timetables.
The town has a long tradition in south Sligo music culture, associated with the legacy of fiddle players like Michael Coleman who came from this part of the county. The Western Drama Festival also calls Tubbercurry home each spring, and the surrounding countryside is quiet, green, and worth a slow drive. There is more to see in Tubbercurry and across Co. Sligo.
Heading to Tubbercurry Village Centre in Tubbercurry? Sligo has plenty more to see. Read the Tubbercurry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.