
The top ten things to do in Sligo this week, July 16-22: Ballygawley Music Festival, Jazz Festival, Wipeout & more
Check out our top pick of this week's events below.
Ballygawley Music Festival
Ballygawley Music Festival takes place this weekend from Friday July 18 until Sunday July 20 in Ballygawley and is expected to sell-out. Enjoy music from Johnny Brady, Mike Denver, Claudia Buckley and more. Tickets available from ballygawleymusicfestival.com
Sligo Jazz 2025
Sligo Jazz Project's annual Summer School and Festival runs from 22-27 July 2025, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the world to teach and perform in Sligo. Sligo will become a global hub for music lovers, students, and jazz legends, as it hosts Europe's largest and most inclusive Jazz Summer School alongside its internationally renowned Jazz Festival. See sligojazz.ie for more
South Sligo Summer School
South Sligo Summer School continues in Tubbercurry until this Saturday, July 19. Classes and workshops continue, and there will be lots of live music and dancing throughout the remainder of the festival.
Wipeout
Wipeout Festival is taking place in Strandhill this Saturday July 19 from 1pm. The festival aims to promote new independently minded bands playing original music, giving them the platform to perform at an outdoor festival on the grounds of the National Surf Centre in Strandhill. This free all day music festival features bands from Dublin and Belfast and of course Sligo.
Brendan Kelly band
Enjoy a night of fantastic live music with the Brendan Kelly Band at Lillie's Cocktail Bar Sligo! on Thursday July 17. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience a memorable evening of great music. Tickets via eventbrite
Aine Gordon
Áine Gordon is a singer-songwriter based in Belfast. Her music blends melodic indie folk with narrative-driven lyrics, capturing everyday moments through themes of longing, resilience, and life's uncertainties. See her live at Brees Strandhill on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets via eventbrite.
Lunchtime at the Well
Lunchtime at the Well continues with a special performance from Jacinta Ní Chonghaile, Aidan Shannon and Enda McGreevy who will be performing at the Hawk's Well on Wednesday July 16 at 1:10pm. These events are free to attend (pay what you can).
Rambling House
Rambling House takes place at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen on Wednesday, July 16 from 8pm. The Rambling House Concerts are cherished events that celebrate Ireland's rich tradition of music, song, and storytelling.
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Sligo Stages Rally
The FAAC Simply Automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Stages Rally takes place this Sunday, July 20. A full entry of 165 cars plus eight Dacia Sandero crews will leave Parc Fermé at Sligo Retail Park, Carraroe, at 9am on Sunday, with the first car due at the Connolly Cupra finish ramp at the Sligo Park Hotel from 5.30pm.
International Chess Day
Celebrate international chess day this Sunday, July 20 at Queen Maeve Square from 11am-5pm where there will be workshops, casual games and a mini-tournament. It's free to join.
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RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Preparations under way for Ablefest 2025 in Co Meath
Preparations are well under way for what is set to be Ireland's first and largest music and arts festival for people with additional needs, which will take place in Co Meath this weekend. The organisers of Ablefest have said the non-profit event aims to highlight the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, and attendees class it as their Electric Picnic. This year's line-up will see the likes of Jake Carter, Johnny Brady, Brian Mullen, Catch 22, Matt Leavy, tribute act Irish Elvis, and Bingo Loco take to the stage at Fairyhouse Racecourse on Saturday. Festival-goers will also be able to enjoy a "myriad of creative fun" at an array of art and activity stations. Special toilets will be provided by AccessoLoo on the day for wheelchair users needing hoists while there will also be staffed sensory pods on site. Co-founded in 2018 by Shay Casserley and Kevin Farrell, who both have children with additional needs, this year's festival is set to be the biggest one yet. It is also the first year that Ablefest will take place at Fairyhouse Racecourse to accommodate a larger number of attendees, and the first year that Meath County Council is partnering with the event. Ablefest has donated thousands of euros to charities in recent years and organisers are now looking into using the proceeds from the event to sponsor respite care for families. Collaborations have also been formed with other festivals such as TradFest in Dublin and the St Patrick's Day Festival in Killarney. Co-founder and festival director, Mr Farrell said that he and Mr Casserley set up the festival as there was nothing like it already established in Ireland. He said: "We are very excited to collaborate with Meath County Council for Ablefest 2025, which is shaping up to be our biggest and best yet. "Ablefest is the first and largest accessible festival in Ireland, where 1.2 million people have a disability, and I am proud to welcome people from all over the country to Fairyhouse for a fantastic event." Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe said: "Meath County Council is delighted to partner with this year's Ablefest event, once again showcasing Meath as an inclusive county for people of all abilities. "The excellent line-up and supportive festival environment will ensure Ablefest 2025 will undoubtedly be a great day out for all on Saturday," Mr Kehoe added. Tickets for Ablefest 2025 are still available to purchase online with organisers stating that all money raised is used to cover the cost of the event itself, or else is donated to charity.


Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Sligo's Got Music winners announced as Phoenix Band take the title
'We are delighted to announce the winners of Sligo's Got Music. We are thrilled with the project and the many entries we received from all over the country. 'The judging panel had great difficulty with choosing the winner. We want to congratulate the Phoenix Band.' The project aimed to showcase the north-west's wide range of musical talent and create a platform for up-and-coming artists. 'We want to thank our partners Ocean FM and the Creative Ireland Programme who helped us made this project possible.' Phoenix Band will now receive a full day recording day at Blue Room Studio in North Sligo and will sing at Ballygawley Music Festival this weekend.


Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Irish Independent
The top ten things to do in Sligo this week, July 16-22: Ballygawley Music Festival, Jazz Festival, Wipeout & more
Ballygawley Music Festival and Sligo Jazz 2025 get underway in the coming days, while South Sligo Summer School continues until this weekend. Check out our top pick of this week's events below. Ballygawley Music Festival Ballygawley Music Festival takes place this weekend from Friday July 18 until Sunday July 20 in Ballygawley and is expected to sell-out. Enjoy music from Johnny Brady, Mike Denver, Claudia Buckley and more. Tickets available from Sligo Jazz 2025 Sligo Jazz Project's annual Summer School and Festival runs from 22-27 July 2025, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the world to teach and perform in Sligo. Sligo will become a global hub for music lovers, students, and jazz legends, as it hosts Europe's largest and most inclusive Jazz Summer School alongside its internationally renowned Jazz Festival. See for more South Sligo Summer School South Sligo Summer School continues in Tubbercurry until this Saturday, July 19. Classes and workshops continue, and there will be lots of live music and dancing throughout the remainder of the festival. Wipeout Wipeout Festival is taking place in Strandhill this Saturday July 19 from 1pm. The festival aims to promote new independently minded bands playing original music, giving them the platform to perform at an outdoor festival on the grounds of the National Surf Centre in Strandhill. This free all day music festival features bands from Dublin and Belfast and of course Sligo. Brendan Kelly band Enjoy a night of fantastic live music with the Brendan Kelly Band at Lillie's Cocktail Bar Sligo! on Thursday July 17. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience a memorable evening of great music. Tickets via eventbrite Aine Gordon Áine Gordon is a singer-songwriter based in Belfast. Her music blends melodic indie folk with narrative-driven lyrics, capturing everyday moments through themes of longing, resilience, and life's uncertainties. See her live at Brees Strandhill on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets via eventbrite. Lunchtime at the Well Lunchtime at the Well continues with a special performance from Jacinta Ní Chonghaile, Aidan Shannon and Enda McGreevy who will be performing at the Hawk's Well on Wednesday July 16 at 1:10pm. These events are free to attend (pay what you can). Rambling House Rambling House takes place at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen on Wednesday, July 16 from 8pm. The Rambling House Concerts are cherished events that celebrate Ireland's rich tradition of music, song, and storytelling. ADVERTISEMENT Sligo Stages Rally The FAAC Simply Automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Stages Rally takes place this Sunday, July 20. A full entry of 165 cars plus eight Dacia Sandero crews will leave Parc Fermé at Sligo Retail Park, Carraroe, at 9am on Sunday, with the first car due at the Connolly Cupra finish ramp at the Sligo Park Hotel from 5.30pm. International Chess Day Celebrate international chess day this Sunday, July 20 at Queen Maeve Square from 11am-5pm where there will be workshops, casual games and a mini-tournament. It's free to join.