Kilrush.ie

Kilrush Art Group
2025-08-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-22 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Dublin) | West Clare Family Resource Centre / Kilrush Community Centre, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 VK31, Ireland
Monthly art classes with Pauline Dunleavy also available. For further details contact Pauline on 086 8339347

Kilrush Farmer's Market
2025-08-28 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-21 09:00 - 14:00 | The Square, Kilrush, The Square, Kilrush, Co. Clare
Support local businesses by shopping the Kilrush Farmer’s Market. Held every Thursday from 9am-2pm.

Knitting and Craft Club at Kilrush Library
2025-08-26 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Kilrush Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 W577
The knitting & craft group meet in the library every Tuesday evening and share their crafty tips and patterns. Free event, all welcome.

Weekly Woodland Walk with West Clare Mental Health Association
2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Vandeleur Gardens and Visitor Centre, Feagarroge, Kilrush, V15 E735
Join us for a group walk around Vandeleur Woods and Gardens.

Peadar McMahon In Concert
2025-08-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Millennium Park, Frances Street, Kilrush, Clare, Ireland
Join local historian and musician, Peadar McMahon, for an open-air concert featuring the songs of Percy French, and stories of his life. Peadar will also be performing some traditional tunes, and some of his own compositions.
This concert will take place in Millenium Park, at the entrance to Kilrush Marina.*
* If the weather is unkind, we will move indoors to Banner Books.

But Who are We Really? Zine-Making Workshop
2025-08-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Vandeleur Gardens and Visitor Centre, Feagarroge, Kilrush, V15 E735
But Who Are We Really? is a zine-making workshop exploring our foundations for Irish Heritage Week 2025.
Where: Vandeleur Walled Gardens Visitor Centre, Kilrush, Clare V15 E735
When: Sunday August 24th, 2025 from 11 am to 1 pm
Cost: Free to attend, pre-booking is essential due to limited space.
Who Can Attend: This workshop is open to participants ages 12+, participants 12-16 years of age will need to be accompanied by a parent or known adult. (I encourage family members to attend together to make a shared work as a keepsake, but this is entirely optional!)
So what is a zine? Zine (pronounced zeen), is short for magazine and that’s just what it is. A little magazine you make yourself. In our workshop we will be using both the 8-page mini zine (made using a single sheet of A4 paper) and the A5 saddle-stitched zine (A4 pages folded in half and stapled on the fold) formats to explore this years Heritage Week theme. Over the course of two hours you will learn how to make and format a zine centered on this year’s theme, and we’ll be talking about the history of this area and how it shaped you and everyone you know. This is a workshop focused on connection and exploration, to create something new from a past that still touches us here in the present.
In this workshop, we will be using a mix of materials to create our zines:
-photocopies of old historical documents (thanks to Kilrush Library)
-photocopies of old photographs by photographer Senan Rush (courtesy of Kilrush & District Historical Society)
-vintage and modern books and magazines
-markers, crayons, tissue paper, stencils, etc.
Donations to cover workshop administration and materials costs are warmly accepted.

Mermaids and Buoys, Cappagh
2025-08-24 09:00 - 10:30
Open water swimming, with a big meetup every Sunday and sea swims at other times throughout the week. Further details 086 8339347

Mrs Crotty's Kitchen and Parlour - Tour and Tea
2025-08-23 17:00 - 18:00 | Crotty’s Pub, Market Square, Kilrus, Co. Clare, Ireland
Facing onto the Market Square, Crotty’s has always been a cultural hub for Kilrush, famed for it’s music, it’s hospitality and most of all for the woman at the helm, Elizabeth Crotty.
Having closed it’s doors for a while, Crotty’s is now coming back to life! Join Naomi Glesson, the new owner who is overseeing a loving restoration of the property, as she welcomes you back to Mrs Crotty’s famous kitchen and serves tea – and perhaps a few tunes – in the parlour.

Guided Walking Tour of Kilrush Market Square
2025-08-23 15:00 - 16:30 | The Square, Kilrush, The Square, Kilrush, Co. Clare
Join historian Paddy Waldron for a walking tour of the Market Square, Kilrush.
With the imposing Market House at it’s heart, the square served as a focal point for Kilrush’s development as a major port and trading centre.

Vandeleur Parkrun
2025-08-23 09:30 - 11:30 | Vandeleur Gardens and Visitor Centre, Feagarroge, Kilrush, V15 E735
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you!

Seisiún - Traditional Music Session
2025-08-22 21:00 - 23:00 | Buggle’s Pub, Moore Street, Kilrush, Ireland
Join the regular musicians at Buggle’s for the Seisiún – traditional music in a very traditional setting. All musicians welcome.

Open Mic Social Hosted by Karen J. McDonnell
2025-08-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Banner Books, 1a, Hector Street Mills, Kilrush, V15 PW83
This month, our Open Mic Social is taking place a little earlier than usual, as part of the Kilrush Heritage Quarter celebrations for #NationalHeritageWeek
The monthly open mic social at our Kilrush shop is a free event, open to all.
For lovers of poetry, flash fiction and any kind of creative writing. Come to read from your own work or to share a favourite piece by another writer, or come to listen and support.
Tea, coffee, and treats provided.
This is a free event, but there will be a ‘Tip Jar’ if you would like to donate towards expenses.
Karen Mc Donnell’s first poetry collection, This Little World, was published by Doire Press. They will publish her next collection, ‘Tidal’, in September 2025, and she will be sharing some poems from the collection with us.
She has also been published widely in anthologies and journals, at home and abroad, in several genres.
Her work has been long- and shortlisted for many awards, including the An Post Irish Book Awards Poem of the Year in 2021.
More at karenjmcdonnell.com
Themes in Karen’s work include family history, general history, and the human dimension to world events, as well as the feminist perspective. With family roots in Kilrush and Kilkee, Karen will be sharing some locally-themed poems. For the open mic segment of the evening, we would particularly love to hear writing about the people, places and past experiences of West Clare that have inspired you.

Open Days at the Shannon Dolphin Centre
2025-08-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-19 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-18 11:00 - 16:00 | Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Centre, Merchants Quay, Leadmore West, Kilrush, Clare, V15 E762, Ireland
Free guided tours and interactive activities for all ages, offering an opportunity to explore the Shannon Dolphin Centre and learn about our resident bottlenose dolphins.

The History and Stained Glass of St Senan's
2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:00 | St Senan’s Catholic Church, Toler Street, Kilrush
Join local experts Paul Gleeson and John Glynn for a tour of St Senan’s Church, Kilrush, and an exploration of it’s history and it’s exceptional collection of stained glass.
From the impressive 230-foot spire, designed by JJ McCarthy, to the Harry Clarke windows behind the altar, St Senan’s has so much to catch the eye and capture the imagination.

Traditional Skills Demonstrations at Kilrush Farmer's Market
2025-08-21 10:00 - 14:00 | The Square, Kilrush, The Square, Kilrush, Co. Clare
There’s something special happening at the Farmer’s Market in Kilrush this week! Our stallholders will be demonstrating all kinds of traditional skills from textile crafts like spinning and felting to food producing skills like butter making and plant propogation. Plus, there will be a display on the foundations of the market in our historic market town.

Mapping the Ground We Stand On
2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Banner Books, 1a, Hector Street Mills, Kilrush, V15 PW83
An Education for Reconciliation Workshop
Established in 1959, Alongside Hope is the development and relief agency of the Anglican Church of Canada. Working mainly with partners overseas, since 1969 it has also worked in partnership with Indigenous communities in Canada on community development and cultural recovery projects. This “education for reconciliation” workshop explores Indigenous presence and Settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island/Canada. It also examines the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the concept of terra nullius (empty land) and Indigenous knowledge.
Using video and PowerPoint resources, Mapping the Ground We Stand On at Kilrush Heritage Week, will offer participants an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Canada’s history and present, based on what we place on and leave off of the Canadian map. It will also provide opportunity to explore what a “mapping exercise” might look like for Ireland, and specifically for West Clare. For this, we will use an Indigenous Talking Circle method, allowing all who wish to speak, an opportunity, and we will explore questions such as: “What is your family’s history of presence on the Irish map? How and where do you understand yourself to be present on the map today? How do we tell the part of the Canadian story that includes Irish immigration to Canada (mentioned briefly in the Mapping Exercise)? What and who needs to appear on the Irish map to enable a deeper understanding of Ireland’s history and present?”
Admission is free. All are welcome.

Talk - Scattery Island Restoration Works
2025-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Scattery Island Tours, Kilrush Marina, V15 AD62
SIHG in collaboration with the OPW presents an information talk on Scattery Island’s Restoration works for Heritage week 2025. This will be delivered by Ronan Maguire Architect Office of Public Works on Scattery Island on Wednesday 20 August at 2pm. This is a free event hosted by SIHG and the OPW for Heritage week.
For transportation to Scattery check ferry times at Scattery Island Ferry Tours, Kilrush Marina to view the ferry’s scheduled sailings on that date.

Clay Pot Making with AMS (Archaeological Management Solutions)
2025-08-20 11:00 - 16:30 | Millennium Park, Frances Street, Kilrush, Clare, Ireland
Pottery production in the Bronze Age involved techniques remarkably similar to those used by modern hand-building potters. From clay preparation to vessel construction, firing and decoration, the prehistoric pottery’s methods were both intricate and effective, ensuring the creation of durable and functional ceramics.
Join the AMS Post-Excavation Team in pot making! Using the coil building method, you will be able to build and decorate your own clay pot. And the fun doesn’t have to end there! You will be able to take home your beautiful creation and continue the decoration method with paints.
You can find the clay pot making booth in the Marina Park across from the Merchant’s Quay Building from 11am to 4:30pm.*
*One pot per person. While supplies last.

Currachs, Canoes and Neamhóga of the Shannon Estuary
2025-08-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Kilrush Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 W577
Scattery Island Heritage Group presents Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh delivering a talk titled: Currachs, Canoes and Neamhóga of the Shannon Estuary in Kilrush Library Tuesday August 19 at 7pm. Limited seating so come early to this free event for Heritage Week,themed Exploring our Foundations.
Críostóir is an Author and Archivist for the National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin. His research interests are vernacular architecture, traditional boats and fishing, the cultural landscape (especially those of Atlantic island communities), as well as folk drama and oral literature.

The Art of Coffee Roasting
2025-08-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Jellyfish Marketplace, Merchant's Quay, Frances Street, Kilrush, V15 XW83
Coffee has been popular in Ireland since the late 1600’s, when ‘The Devil’s Drink’ would have been the preserve of the coffee houses and gentleman’s clubs of Dublin, Wexford and Waterford. Back then, coffee would have been a very strong and bitter brew.
These days, we treat our precious coffee beans with a little more care, and Ireland boasts at least 20 artisan coffee roasteries, all around the country.
Based in Birdhill, The Old Barracks is one of the finest. Join them at Jellyfish Marketplace to learn about how the Irish coffee trade has grown, and how expert roasters get the best out of their beans – and, of course, there will be lots of samples to try, so you can taste the difference for yourself!

Roots of Wisdom - Trees, Ogham and the Celtic Year
2025-08-19 15:00 - 16:30 | Kilrush Urban Orchard, The Terret, Feagarroge, Kilrush, Clare, Ireland
Join Mariia Marchenko of Moon and Sage for a tour of Kilrush Urban Orchard, where native Irish Apple and Hazel trees thrive, on the fringes of Vandeleur Wood.
Explore the deep roots of Celtic tradition through trees, ogham, and the turning of the year.
This will be an afternoon of myth, wisdom, and connection to the land.
* If the weather is bad, we will retreat to the neighbouring Turret Lodge.

Joe and Joe - Memories of Rural Life
2025-08-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Museum of Irish Rural Life, Cooraclare Road, Drimna, Kilrush
Join two well-known and well-loved Joes for a tour around the Museum of Irish Rural Life – and a good few tales to boot!
Joe Whelan is the founder and curator of the museum, and has recently overseen it’s expansion to include a new wing for tractors and agricultural machinery.
Joe Queally is a storyteller and oral historian, who collects precious stories from the old folks of County Clare, making sure that our old ways are not forgotten.
Together, they hold a treasury of knowledge of Irish country life in times gone by, which they share with such warmth and humour that the tales will stay with you forever.

Irish Language Singing Circle
2025-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Moon and Sage, Frances Street, Kilrush, Clare, V15 NY94, Ireland
Celebrate Heritage Week and have fun singing in circle.
We will sing simple songs ‘As Gaeilge’ – words and guidance will be available.
Déan Seachtain na hOidhreachta a cheiliúradh agus spraoi a bheith agat ag canadh i gciorcal.
Canfaimid amhráin shimplí as Gaeilge – beidh focail agus treoir ar fáil.
