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Autumn in Ireland can be a great time to visit. Prices are down, the crowds have evaporated and believe it or not, you can experience some beautiful fall foliage in various parts of the country.

Together with the crisper air and colorful landscapes, you can also expect to find a packed calendar of festivals that celebrate food, culture, and music.

Here are some festivals that are worth checking out during the months of September and October.

As always, if you have any questions about traveling to Ireland or about planning your dream vacation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by responding to this email.

Happy traveling,

Colette ☘️💚🇮🇪

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🔹Galway International Oyster Festival, Sept. 26-28: This is the oldest oyster festival in the world and has been around since 1954. It traditionally marks the start of the oyster season, which is when oysters are said to be at their best. The original festival started out in Clarenbridge, a village about 17 km/10 miles from Galway's city center, but these days, it's held underneath a large tent by the Spanish Arch. In addition to the main event, the World & Irish Oyster Opening Championships when shuckers vie for the top spot with their speed, technique and precision, there are also lots of other things going on in the city at this time, including seafood trails, live music, dancing, recipe demos, street parades, a Mardi-Gras-style party, and more.

🔹Clifden Arts Festival, Sept. 17-28: Experience West of Ireland culture at its best with music, theatre, poetry, and community events all coming together at this superb arts festival in Connemara's capital, Clifden. Local artists are a highlight of this festival, which this year includes several exhibitions of handmade prints, paintings, ceramics, photographs, and glassworks, as well as film showings, visual arts performances, festival bus tours, and so much more.

🔹Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, Sept. 1-30^th: Are you looking for a match? If so, Lisdoonvarna in County Clare is the place to go. This month-long singles festival is the largest one in Europe and perhaps the quirkiest, with the world's last surviving traditional matchmaker Willie Daly making an appearance at many events. If you're jaded with dating sites, this may be the place for you. In all seriousness though, there's a lot of fun to had at this enjoyable festival, including music in all the town's pubs, singing, dancing and of course social get-togethers.

🔹Savour Kilkenny, Oct. 24-27, 2025: This is one of Ireland's longest-running — and largest food festivals — and it happens to take place in the very popular medieval city of Kilkenny, which attracts lots of tourists each year. The main draw is the Savour Market in the center of the city in an area known as The Parade (from Castle to Patrick Streets), with over 100 artisan food producers and street food stalls. Expect cookery demos, stage talks, unique themed dinners, wellness and foraging-themed events, kids events, and much more at this popular event that attracted 68K visitors last year.

🔹The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Oct. 23-27: This music festival is considered Ireland's premier jazz event and is also regarded as the most prestigious of jazz festivals in Europe. Expect performances at the iconic Cork Opera House, the Everyman, Live at St. Luke's, and the Triskel Arts Center. In addition, there will be plenty of jazz playing at pubs and outdoor spaces across the city, as well as in nearby Douglas and Kinsale. Pop-up shows, street performances, jazz-themed boat trips, and more will all be part of the fun. If you're a lover of jazz and you happen to be in Ireland around this time, I wouldn't miss this very popular festival.

🔹Púca Halloween Festival, Oct. 30-Nov. 2: This is a huge event on the Irish Halloween calendar. Given that Halloween originated in Ireland as "Samhain," this is not surprising. The Two Johnnies, a popular comedic duo in Ireland, will headline this year's event that also includes a myriad of events and activities over four days. Festival events can be found in Trim and Athboy. You won't want to miss the Púca Procession: Gathering of the Spirits on Nov. 1^st in Trim, as well as the Lighting of the Samhain Fire in Athboy on Oct. 31^st, and many other events. Be sure to browse through artisan craft stalls at the Púca Markets in Trim, where you can also enjoy displays of ancient skills and games performed in historical dress.

🔹Derry Halloween Celebrations, Oct. 28-31: Also known as the "Home of Halloween," this is Europe's largest Halloween festival. It is completely staged within the city walls of Derry, Northern Ireland's second-largest city. For three nights, various characters from folklore will roam about the city center, known as the "City of Bones." Expect immersive illuminations, live performances, and a lively parade where thousands dress up as zombies, witches, banshees, fairy creatures and more. This is all followed by an amazing fireworks display over the River Foyle.

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Local Eats and Other Food Adventures this Autumn in Ireland

Members of the Ireland on a Budget Facebook group often ask about eating out in Ireland and how much it costs, and to be honest, that depends on a number of variables, including your travel style, your budget and whether you are willing to rely on food in supermarkets or gas stations instead of a sit down lunch, for example, in a restaurant.

Because it's autumn, there are numerous favorites that you'll find on restaurant menus, including colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage/kale), boxty (potato pancakes), seafood chowder, and hearty stews.

In Galway, as mentioned above, be sure to avail of its famous oysters (you'll get them in Carlingford, County Louth, and Sligo too, just to name other regions where they are harvested).
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Dublin Bay prawns are delicious and smoked salmon like the kind that is harvested at the Connemara Smokehouse (tours are available there) is equally appetizing, with smoked salmon being a common item on the menu of many of the city's seafood restaurants.

If you love to wander around markets of any kind, especially food markets, then The English Market in Cork City is a must, as well as St. George's Market in Belfast. Both have been around since at least the 19^th century.
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The Saturday Galway Market, on the other hand, has been a part of the city for centuries. It was originally held outside St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, a popular attraction in the city. Lots of fresh produce there as well as globally inspired street food and local specialties from Sheridan's Cheesemongers. If you're hunting for souvenirs, you just may find what you're looking for among the many artisan crafts and unique gifts for sale.

If you're interested in a food tour, I've written about that, and you'll find the blog post here.

Early bird specials are a good way to budget as you travel around Ireland. Many restaurants offer them, including some in Dublin (scroll to the end of the article to find them).
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Stay tuned, also, for a complete blog post on food and craft markets in Ireland, which will be posted to the Ireland on a Budget website.

Solo travel is one of the fastest growing trends in 2025 and beyond, and with TourRadar, an affiliate partner of Ireland on a Budget, travelers can explore the world solo — but never alone. Organized tours offer the perfect balance of independence and community, allowing solo travelers to join like‑minded adventurers and create unforgettable experiences together. Check out the numerous Ireland solo tours that TourRadar is promoting for its 2025/2026 season. ​

Public Transportation: The Scenic Budget Option

While renting a car offers flexibility, Ireland's public transportation system provides a cost-effective alternative. Traveling by train through Ireland reveals beautiful landscapes without the stress of navigating narrow country roads.

For areas not served by rail, look into taking a bus with Ireland's main transport provider, Bus Eireann. The added benefit? You can enjoy a pint of Guinness without worrying about driving back to your accommodation.

If you're curious about the cost of using public transport versus renting a car or using taxis, this handy guide may help and this rather lengthy blog post on Ireland's transportation system may also be valuable to you.

Looking for a quality spring or fall jacket that will suit Ireland's unreliabale weather? Try LLBean's range of fashionable outerwear.

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Meet Rodney O'Callaghan and Sandra Sheehan of ROC Ireland Tours, a Member of the Licensed Private Driver Network

Are you looking to explore Ireland with a guide who's a professional landscape photographer and knows all the great scenic places to take you to? If so, consider Rodney O'Callaghan, who along with Sandra Sheehan of ROC Tours Ireland is known for creating not just tours, but personalized experiences to make your time in Ireland worth remembering. Rodney is a licensed private driver in my Licensed Private Driver Network.

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Want to know more about WiFicandy? You can find out more
in this handy updated PDF.

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Driving in Ireland 🚗🍀

Thinking about renting a car in Ireland but feeling unsure about driving on the opposite side of the road? You’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest concerns for visitors, especially those used to driving on the right. And let’s be honest, narrow country roads, roundabouts, and local driving quirks can be intimidating at first.

If you’re on the fence about whether to drive or not, that’s okay. It’s completely normal to feel a little hesitant. The good news? Most people adjust faster than they expect, especially when they’ve had a chance to prepare.

💡A Simple Way to Feel Comfortable Behind the Wheel

​The Tripiamo Driving Guide for Ireland, certified by an Irish driving school, helps you mentally adjust before you even arrive.

Get a driver’s-eye view of Irish roads with 360° video practice, so nothing feels unfamiliar when you get there.

Train your brain to stay on the left with simple tricks that make it feel natural.

Master roundabouts, road signs & rural driving so you can focus on the scenery, not second-guess yourself.

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Avoid expensive mistakes — like bus lane fines, speeding tickets, or wrong turns onto a one-way street.

Most travelers who use Tripiamo go from 36% confident to 86% confident because when you’ve seen it before, it’s way less intimidating.

And for less than the cost of a single ticket or fine, it’s a small investment for a stress-free trip.

If you want to know more before purchasing, check out my landing page (be sure to look at the YouTube video at the bottom of the page).
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Try out Tripiamo for yourself

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Have you read my recent Vessi review (yes, I own two pairs that I love!)? I also received a cool pair of their waterproof slip-on shoes, and I'll be doing a review of them real soon. In the meantime, you can get 20% off your order of any Vessi waterproof shoes when you use code 01-VIP-TRAVEL-1110. Check it out here.