Cloonacool Sheep Festival: What's on and everything you need to know
Each September, the south Sligo village of Cloonacool comes alive with a four-day festival that honours a renowned local sheep farming tradition.
At the recent launch of the 2025 Cloonacool Sheep Festival, it was announced that this year’s event would feature a visit for the President of the Irish Farmers Association and an attempted world record. This September 18 to 21 will see the largest offering so far from the local festival that started in 2019.
Each September, the south Sligo village of Cloonacool comes alive with a four-day festival that honours a renowned local sheep farming tradition. The festival has become a showcase for a local community fighting against rural decline. Each year the event receives huge support from local parishes, with many of those attending coming from further afield.
Cloonacool Sheep Festival opens this year on Thursday 18 September in the company of Sligo’s own Kieran Quinn in concert. Quinn went down a storm at last year’s opener and his return is eagerly anticipated. Friday 19 at 9pm Music Bingo. This event became part of the festival for the first time in 2024 and went down a storm.
On Saturday 20 at 2pm, the festival hosts a Charity Kiddies Tractor Run. This event is being run in support of Féileacáin (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support), and as many children as possible, riding their 4-weeled toys, are invited to attend. It is expected that this event will set a world record for the most vehicles participating in a Kiddies Tractor Run event.
Gavin Gribben, the up-an-coming country star from Co. Down, is providing the music for the annual Festival dance on Saturday night September 20 at 9pm. This is always a great event, attracting social dancers from all over the West. Sunday is open day with Sheep and Dog Shows and fun for all the family.
Tickets for all festival events are on Eventbrite and are also available through the committee on 087 410 8919 or on the doors. All events have full bar facilities and attendance at the festival’s Open Day on Sunday September 21, is free of charge.
