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seasonal · Friday 31 July 2026 · Various 
Feile na Sionainne
At Athlone · Athlone, Co. Westmeath
At Athlone · Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Féile na Sionainne fills Athlone over the August bank holiday weekend with three days of traditional Irish music, song and dance - all free to attend. Now in its fourth year, the festival has grown quickly into one of the town’s signature annual events, drawing musicians, céilí dancers, families and visitors who want to experience living Irish culture rather than a polished stage show. It is the kind of festival where the sessions spill out of the pubs onto the streets, where teenagers enter a busking competition and where grandparents and small children end up on the same dance floor.
The programme runs across venues throughout Athlone - pubs, community halls, the town library, and an outdoor canopy stage on Church Street. Expect open trad sessions in well-known spots, céilí dancing with local bands, workshops and instrument trials for younger visitors, and street performances that wander through the town centre. In previous years the festival has included music therapy sessions, an age-friendly trad session at the library, an inclusive trad disco, a street parade departing from John Paul Park, and a closing céilí on Sunday night.
The busking competition is one of the highlights - free to enter and open to under-18s, it gives young musicians a proper stage and a real audience. Church Street becomes the main outdoor hub across Saturday and Sunday, with local céilí bands and dance schools performing in rotation.
Féile na Sionainne runs alongside the Athlone River Festival on the same weekend, so the town is busy with activity across both events. The two festivals complement each other: the River Festival brings energy to the Shannon waterfront while Féile na Sionainne concentrates on the traditional culture of the town itself.
The full 2026 programme is typically released closer to the weekend via the festival’s Facebook page.
Athlone sits at the geographic centre of Ireland, roughly equidistant from Dublin and Galway on the N6. By road from Dublin it is about 80 minutes; from Galway around 70 minutes. Irish Rail runs direct trains from Dublin Heuston and from Galway on the main Westport/Galway - Dublin line, with Athlone station a short walk from the town centre. Bus Eireann routes also connect Athlone to Dublin, Galway, Roscommon and Limerick.
Town centre parking is available on streets and in car parks near the main shopping area. During the bank holiday weekend the town is busier than usual, so arriving on foot from the train station or a nearby car park is often easier than driving to each venue.
The town straddles the River Shannon, with Athlone Castle standing directly on the western bank. The castle houses an excellent heritage museum, and a short walk from there takes you to Sean’s Bar, reputedly Ireland’s oldest pub. There is more to see in Athlone and across Co. Westmeath.
Heading to Athlone in Athlone? Westmeath has plenty more to see. Read the Athlone area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.