7 Exciting Events to Attend at the Clifden Arts Festival This Month
There's an incredible programme spanning art, dance, theatre, music, film and more, with something for absolutely everyone.
We’ve put together a list of seven exciting events happening during the festival that are well worth attending, from cultural exhibitions to crafty workshops and live music shows.
Feeling of Home
Feeling of Home is a mixed-media exhibition highlighting Ukrainian artists living in Ireland and across Europe. It brings together both established and emerging Ukrainian artists, highlighting a rich and diverse collection of voices and personal experiences.
Through painting, watercolour, ceramics and more, the show explores the idea of home as an evolving experience shaped by memory, imagination and adaptation.
Feeling of Home runs from Thursday 17th to Saturday 26th September in Clifden Town Hall.
Emma agus Eva Ag Caint
On Wednesday 23rd September, writers Emma Dabiri and Eva Kenny will come together for Emma agus Eva Ag Caint, a bilingual discussion looking at the journey of re-learning the Irish language as adults.
Emma is best known for her bestselling books Don’t Touch My Hair and What White People Can Do Next, while Eva’s writing has featured in the likes of The Stinging Fly and the Dublin Review of Books.
The event kicks off at the Clifden Court House at 6.30pm, and tickets are €15.
Adventure Athlete Walk and Talk
Shake up the week and exercise your volunteering spirit by joining athlete and mental health advocate Becky Gilmour on her unique walk and talk adventure. Becky was the first person to skateboard the entire Wild Atlantic Way in 2025, and once paddled almost 1000km through Ireland.
She’s leading a litter-picking walk from Clifden Town Square to the Sailing Club, where she’ll share the story behind her adventures and raise awareness for mental health.
The walk will begin at 3.15pm at the town square, and the talk will start at the Sailing Club at 4.15pm, €10 admission.
Niall Breslin and The Polaris Quartet
Bressie fans will be delighted to see him join The Polaris Quartet for a unique show that combines visual art, music, spoken word and an immersive lighting experience.
The show follows the release of Niall’s latest album, The Place That Has Never Been Wounded, and involves cinematic compositions that are set to surprise and enthral you.
See Niall and the Quartet at St.Joseph’s Church on Sunday 20th at 8pm, with tickets from €20.
The Summer Keep Workshops
Artist duo Superfolk will host a playful and fun-filled series of art workshops designed for adults and little ones at The Booley, Fernwood.
The workshops will cover everything from sand-casting to block-printing and will offer a chance for participants to express their creativity and go home with something special.
Visit Superfolk.com to book.
What Remains
In the serene setting of St. Mary’s Church and graveyard, Kerry sculptor Phil McSweeney will bring a selection of striking woven forms to life across three days.
Themes of growth, memory and connection will shape his pieces within the beautiful, historic surroundings of the church grounds.
Visitors can watch Phil at work between 11.30am-5.30pm on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th, and 2pm-5.30pm on Sunday 20th.
The Pale Blue Dot
In a very special multimedia premiere performance, Elevation Ensemble are reimagining the magical moment when NASA's Voyager spacecraft carried a capsule with a message from humanity etched onto the Golden Records, in 1977.
The show weaves in new music from Irish Composers Linda Buckley and Jonathan Nangle with explorations of the many diverse musical ensembles that were chosen for the records. Expect a beautiful and rich sonic landscape accompanied by stunning visuals and a story of science delivered by an Astronomer.
The show takes place on September 24th at 4pm, and tickets are €15.
The Clifden Arts Festival will take place from 17th–27th September, 2026. See the full programme and book tickets here.
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