Best Irish Seafood Festivals 2020 | Coast Monkey’s Essential Guide

All over Ireland, villages and coastal communities are beginning to plan their seafood festivals this year, to share the very best of their locally-sourced and skillfully-prepared seafood at festivals celebrating the bounty of coastal life. And we don’t want you to miss a moment of fun. It’s early and some dates have yet to be confirmed but no harm pencilling in a few dates in your calendar!

Here are the best seafood festivals taking place around Ireland in 2020

1. Connemara Mussel Festival, Galway

2nd – 4th May 2020

First off this year head to the beautiful west coast for the Connemara Mussel Festival which offers a veritable feast for the senses. Originally established to promote the excellence of the mussels from Killary Harbour, the festival has grown to become a celebration of local people, food, culture and heritage and is recognised as the premier food event for Connemara attracting visitors from near and far. Great people, great atmosphere, this is a really great one and a fantastic way to welcome the longer days!

Visit the official Connemara Mussel Festival website

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2. Howth Maritime & Seafood Festival, Dublin

8th – 10th May 2020

Howth Maritime & Seafood Festival – a brand new name for a festival that began life as the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival. Thanks to strong public interest in the festival, it has now grown into something that will now bring the best of Howth’s maritime world together with its already established gift for great seafood. It’s also taking advantage of the sunnier weather with this firm festival favourite now taking place in May.

Howth has tons of great restaurants that will participate and they typically have a stacked programme of events with loads of stalls and family entertainment. Whatever way you like your seafood, Howth’s many award-winning restaurants will serve your favourite dishes at the food village of this year’s festival, from fantastic fish and chips to luxury lobster dishes. We’re really looking forward to this revamped festival in 2020.

Find out more here

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3. Baltimore Seafood Festival, Cork

22nd – 24th May 2020

Summer is truly here in May and where better to spend a few days that Baltimore, West Cork, definitely one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and a fantastic spot for a festival. This three-day seafood festival is a showcase for the products of Baltimore’s fishing and fish-farming industries, and for other local food producers.

Visitors have the opportunity to sample some of the best of the fish and shellfish from the seas off Baltimore, together with other local produce like cheese and home-baking. There is musical entertainment in the Square every day and free shellfish is served in all the bars. The festival is held in conjunction with the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, making this one of the most festive weekends of the year.

Visit here for more info Baltimore Seafood Festival

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4. Wicklow Seafood Festival, South Quay, Wicklow Town

June 2020 – Dates to be confirmed & Info to be confirmed

A celebration exciting seafood flavours, creative cooking and family fun on the Wicklow Quays. Lots of exciting activities including boat trips to Black Castle and Wicklow Head, the Pirate’s Cove train, puppet shows, face painting and of course delicious seafood. The day also celebrates the birthday of local legend Sammy the Seal!

Visit here for more info: Dates to be confirmed & Info to be confirmed

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5. Féile na Mara, the Festival of the Sea, Achill Island

July 2020 – Dates to be confirmed

Féile na Mara, the Festival of the Sea, takes place on the gorgeous Achill Island on the Wild Atlantic Way. This is a celebration of seafood at it’s best, showcasing the spectacular seafood of the Atlantic Ocean and embracing Achill’s rich heritage. There will be fresh seafood and lobsters at the Purteen harbour festival as part of the Féile na Mara events.

Visit the official site here Féile na Mara

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6. Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival, Wexford

Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th July 2020

A seafood festival in Wexford with its rich maritime and fishing history is an absolute must.  Each July, Kilmore Quay, Wexford’s charming and picturesque fishing village, on the south-east coast of Ireland, celebrates summer with delicious seafood platters, fishing and lots of fun activities for all the family.

Kilmore Quay is a really special little town and time spent here is well spent time especially in the long summer days!

For more info: Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival

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7. Valentia Island King Scallop Festival, Co. Kerry

Saturday 25th – Monday 27th July 2020

The annual Valentia Island King Scallop Festival is a family-friendly celebration on the beautiful Valentia Island with live music, entertainment, competitions and at the heart of it the delectable scallop! The weekend will see this little mollusc been served up in a number of tasty dishes and the highlight of the festival will be the cook-off and crowning or Mr King Scallop!

More info: Valentia Island King Scallop Festival

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8. Carlingford Oyster Festival, Louth

 August 2020 – Dates to be confirmed

The beautiful and historic town of Carlingford has a really great festival. The Carlingford Oyster Festival offers a four day fun-filled festival for the whole family is packed with traditional children’s activities including Magic Show, Face Painting, the ever popular Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Free Kayaking in the Harbour, Children’s Funfair & Bouncing Castles. If you like watersports, there is so much for you in Carlingford.

For more info: Carlingford Oyster Festival

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9. Dalkey Lobster Festival, Dublin

 August – Dates to be confirmed

The Dalkey Lobster Fest takes place in the chilled out village of Dalkey and the festival see’s a fusion of local seafood with the best of current global jazz musicians and lots of fun events for all the family to enjoy.  There are lots of free events on throughout the day. It’s a fantastic weekend for all the family. So come along and enjoy some crab, lobster and all that jazz.

For more info: Dalkey Lobster Fest

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10. Clarenbridge Galway Oyster Festival

September 2019 – Dates to be confirmed

The perfect conditions that exist in Clarenbridge for growing and harvesting Oysters – a sheltered bay, a perfect ratio of fresh and saltwater and added to this the skill and knowledge of a community who are immersed in Oyster harvesting since Roman times makes for some seriously delicious Oysters. Now celebrating the festivals 65th year there’s so much going on here with a full programme of events, but here the Oysters are the proverbial pearl!

For more info: Clarenbridge Oyster Festival

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12. Galway Oyster Festival

Friday 25th – Monday 27th September 2020

Want even more Oysters in Galway? Us too! Welcome to the oldest oyster festival in the world and the most internationally recognised Irish festival after St Patrick’s Day. Deemed one of Europe’s longest-running food extravaganzas, the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival was launched in September 1954 by Brian Collins, the manager of the Great Southern Hotel (now called Hotel Meyrick). That year just 34 guests attended the first Oyster Festival Banquet and feasted on several dozen oysters each. These days, the event is one of the biggest on Ireland’s social calendar, drawing big numbers who gleefully down tons of the famous native Galway Oysters.

For more info: Galway Oyster Festival

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13. Hooked Killybegs Seafood Festival

September 2020 – Dates to be confirmed

This festival is relatively new to the seafood scene but a few years in and it’s already paving the way to be one of the best Irish seafood festivals out there. The festival is run by the Killybegs Community and aims to showcase what the premier fishing port of Killybegs has to offer and to celebrate its seafood, traditional seafaring and maritime heritage.

More info: Hooked Killybegs

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If you think we’ve left out your favourite festival or got something to add, get in touch! Contact us at info@coastmonkey.ie