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Until 3 May, Punchestown, Kildare, more info here
The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition is raising the stakes in 2025 with the debut of the Bollinger Style Concierge, an elegant and immersive style experience set to elevate the fashion and beauty offering at this year’s Punchestown Festival.
1-4 May, The Complex, Dublin, more info here
Exploring the theme ‘Urban Scores’, this edition of Alternating Currents is inspired by the writings of Elena Biserna, and seeks to provoke sonic works that can both score the city and be scored by it. The programme will feature live performances, broadcasts, workshops, and artistic interventions, inviting artists to interpret Dublin City—and cities at large—through a sonic lens.
1-5 May, Birr, Offaly, more info here
Birr Festival of Music returns for its ninth edition with their most ambitious programme to date. The RTÉ Concert Orchestra will open the festival with a spectacular evening of orchestral and operatic favourites. Acclaimed singer Liza Pulman and award-winning jazz pianist Gareth Williams will explore the Great American Songbook while male vocal quartet 4 in a Bar will perform at Craughwell’s Courtyard.
2-4 May, venues across Drogheda, more info here
This multidisciplinary arts festival spans two days of national and international performances along with a visual arts exhibition, music and street spectacle. Highlights include a one off performance by Seefeel, a Walk, Talk and Chalk session with Caoimhe McCarthy, and a captivating afternoon of Irish traditional music.
2-10 May, venues across Galway, more info here
Experience brave new voices, wild creativity, and performances that will challenge and excite you at Galway Theatre Festival. Programme highlights include Hothouse from Malaprop, which is a story of generational trauma woven together with the climate crisis; The Loved Ones, a wonderfully witty play about motherhood, grief and family; and When All The World Is Quiet, a new play exploring individual responsibility in the face of colonialism.
2-4, 17, 23-25 May, venues across Ireland, more info here
Iconic 11-piece all-female trad super group BIIRD will be hitting the road this month, making pitstops in Cork, Limerick, Derry, Mayo, Belfast and Dublin. Their energy is unmatched, and they’re helping to keep traditional Irish music alive while drop kicking it into the future. We spoke with mother BIIRD Lisa Canny earlier this year about the synthesis of method and magic, the value of authenticity and changing what it means to be a woman in trad. Read it in full here.
10-11 May, IMMA at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, more info here
Europe’s largest health, fitness and wellness festival, WellFest have returned with another incredible lineup to get your health racing and make sure you leave well fueled, both mentally and physically. This year’s highlights include a sex education workshop from Jenny Keane, a fitness session with celebrity trainer DB DONAMATRIX, and a run club with Nadia Power.
11 May, Hen’s Teeth, Dublin, more info here
The next edition of Bring Your Own Art Art Show kicks off in Hen’s Teeth with 30% of art sold on the day going towards charity, while the other 70% goes directly to the artist. Photos, paintings, napkin scribbles – all easily hung artwork welcome, so if you’re an aspiring artist this is one for the books.
13 May, 3Olympia, Dublin, more info here
In her new one-woman show, New York icon Candace Bushnell, the international best-selling novelist and creator of Sex and the City takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of New York City, from Studio 54 to the lipstick jungle and beyond, sharing her remarkable stories of fashion, literature and sex.
13-17 May, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, more info here
Step aboard the Orca and into a behind the scenes deep dive of the making of Hollywood’s first blockbuster, Jaws. This Olivier Award-nominated play stars Ian Shaw (War Horse, Common) as his father, Robert Shaw, alongside Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Scheider and Ashley Margolis as Richard Dreyfuss.
13-24 May, various locations across Dublin, more info here
Dublin Dance Festival’s 21st Edition is an invitation to come together with courage and curiosity, and to dance. The programme includes bold new commissions and award-winning performances, plus club nights, workshops, talks and discussions.
25 May, across Ireland, more info here
Celebrating its 15th year this year, Street Feast is an annual weekend of street parties and community lunches to give you a reason to get together with your neighbours to share food and enjoy some conversation and camaraderie. It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or house, all you need is a space to bring people together. You can sign up to host your own now.
From 27 May, Lismore Castle, Waterford, more info here
This year’s summer opera festival features a production of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a Shakespeare in Music concert, a mezze picnic, and open air musical performances — to name but a few.
From 29 May, Phoenix Park, Dublin, more info here
Bord Bia Bloom returns for its 19th year as Ireland’s most celebrated festival of gardening, food, and sustainable living. Brimming with colour and creativity, it heralds the start of summer with a dazzling display of glorious gardens, fabulous food, and enthralling entertainment to entice visitors of all ages.
31 May & 1 June, IMMA at Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, more info here
In the heart of Dublin city, Forbidden Fruit is the capital’s first and longest-running city-center festival. Now in its 11th year, the festival lineup is perhaps the best one yet, featuring Jamie XX, Caribou, Peggy Gou and Jazzy, to name a few.
Throughout May, venues around Galway, more info here
From natural wine pairings to seafood trails, pop-up feasts, chef swaps and global flavours rooted in West of Ireland ingredients, this year’s festival is your perfect excuse to try something new, meet new people, and enjoy the buzz of Galway.