Updated May 2024–October in Ireland is a good time to visit if you want to see the Emerald Isle on a budget.
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Airfares are cheaper and so is accommodation.
The lines to the country’s most popular destinations are also shorter, which will save you time and give you the chance to see more.
But just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean that there’s less to do and see at this time of year.
For one, October is considered part of the autumn season and that means that you’ll get to see the beautiful fall foliage in many parts of the country.
Here are 18 things to do when you find yourself in Ireland during the month of October.
1. The Dublin Theatre Festival
If you plan to visit Dublin in October, you should sample the city’s artistic and cultural offerings.
Famous playwrights like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, John Millington Synge, and George Bernard Shaw all called Dublin home for a time.
The 2024 Dublin Theatre Festival will run from Sept. 26th to Oct. 13th, is a good example of the cultural richness of the city.
The festival typically includes hundreds of theater performances in many different venues across the city.
The festival usually includes a mix of musical performances, theater, opera and more. Here is a look at what festival goers were able to avail of last year.
The 2024 program is not yet available.
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2. Kinsale Gourmet Festival
There’s no denying that Kinsale has been a foodie haven for some time.
A visit to this colorful town on the County Cork coastline is evidence of that just by the sheer number of fabulous restaurants that line its streets.
If you’re a lover of good food, head to Kinsale for its annual Gourmet Festival.
The Mad Hatters Tea Party on Oct. 14th is a highlight of this popular event, with ticket holders gathering in Actons Hotel for a glass of bubbly before heading off on a walking tour led by Alice, Queen of Hearts, the March Hare, and the infamous Mad Hatter.
Expect to taste excellent cuisine along the way, with much it coming from fresh local produce and other farm-to-table ingredients.
Tickets are expected to go on sale in May of 2024.
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3. Derry Halloween
October in Ireland wouldn't be the same without a good Halloween celebration.
The great “Samhain gathering” in the city of Derry has grown over the years, making it Europe’s biggest Halloween festival.
For three nights beginning Oct. 28th, you can get into the spirit of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions, which incorporates the old pagan festival known as Samhain (pronounced “sow-in” like the female pig), which traditionally marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Derry’s iconic 17th-century walls are central to the celebration. Expect to see them brought to life with various spooky, colorful characters and animations being projected throughout the city center.
Along the trail, hear tales from the past, walk near haunted windows and alleys and enjoy performances from local and international artists.
At the city’s Guildhall, you’ll be transported back in time to a land of myths, legends, warriors, and witches. Of course, no festival is complete without music, food, and a parade at the end.
A full program of events will be available on the festival website soon.
4. Imagine Arts Festival
This 6-day festival in Waterford runs from Oct. 22nd to 27th and includes a range of events that incorporate theater, music, comedy, the visual arts, dance, literature, film, and activities for children.
It also includes The Waterford Writers Weekend, which showcases the best of Irish writing.
5. Enjoy Jazz in County Cork
October in Ireland means the opportunity to attend some great jazz festivals and two of them happen to be only a few miles apart in County Cork.
The popular Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is set to begin on Oct. 25th with a range of local and international performers in the festival lineup.
The Guinness Kinsale Jazz Fringe Festival set to take place from Oct. 24th through Oct. 28th promises to be a more leisurely celebration of the popular music genre.
Events are being planned at some 20 venues throughout the town, and there will be a scary, ghoulish, and decisively Halloween feel about them too, the organizers say.
6. Footsteps in the Forest
Head to Slieve Gullion Forest Park in County Armagh, a popular spot for those who want to explore nature and this beautiful part of Northern Ireland.
Footsteps in the Forest is a new Halloween-themed festival that is geared specifically to kids.
Expect to run into kidnapped dragons, mischievous witches, as well as elves, fairies, and druids as actors guide adventure-seekers through the forest in a theatrical tour in search of dragons and to help overcome Guillion's witch, The Cailleach Bheara.
Tickets for the guided tour are free but must be pre-booked. Email your request by heading to the Visit the Mourne Mountains website.
Visit the park from 6-10 pm between Oct. 25th and Oct. 30th to experience it all.
If you can get there earlier in the day, the scenic 8-mile (10 km) drive around the slopes of Slieve Gullion (a Special Area of Conservation) is totally worth it and will give you spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
For the more adventurous, an 8.7-mile (14 km) walk can be completed by taking mountain paths, forest trails and country roads. Begin the trek in the main car park.
There’s also an Adventure Playpark and the Giant’s Lair children’s story trail for kids to enjoy.
The park is free to visit.
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7. Open House Dublin
Enjoy Ireland’s biggest architecture festival in Dublin over the weekend of Oct. 12-20.
Open House Dublin is a free festival of architecture with 100+ guided tours, films, exhibitions and events taking place across the city.
Learn about the architectural details in some of Ireland's most beautiful buildings, including Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the president of Ireland; Farmleigh House, which is located in Phoenix Park and was once the home of the Guinness family before it was purchased by the Irish government; The Casino Model Railway Museum described as one of the finest thatched cottages in Ireland; the Chester Beatty Clock Tower Building, and much more.
Tours are all free and are provided by professionals, including architects, planners, and students of archaeology, as well as those who live in or use the buildings.
A series of lectures will also be available over the weekend, in addition to guided walking, cycling, and Luas tours, exploring Dublin’s architecture along its commuter routes.
Keep an eye on the website for details of the 2023 program of events.
8. Baboró: International Arts Festival for Children
If you’re in Galway City from Oct. 11th through the 20th, check out this unique festival geared toward kids
A complete program of events is expected to be published on the website during the summer.
9. Galway Comedy Festival
There is always a lot to do in Galway City at any time of year.
If you’re looking for a fun night out, why not attend the Galway Comedy Festival, the largest in Europe?
Expect to see up to 100 performers at this year’s event, which will be held from Oct. 22nd-28th.
Some of the performers already announced include Ruby Wax, Jimeoin, Fin Taylor, Mickey Bartlett, and more.
10. The Quite Man Cottage
October is the perfect time to visit the Quiet Man Cottage Museum located in Cong, County Mayo.
The white-washed cottage/museum, which closes for the season on Oct. 31st, is the exact replica of the “White-O-Mornin” cottage from the iconic movie.
Inside you’ll discover all the furnishings, artifacts, and costumes used in the making of the film.
They include Sean Thornton’s four-poster bed, Mary Kate’s piano, the tandem bicycle, as well as the tables and chairs that were part of the movie set.
You’ll also find the largest collection of Irish newspaper articles related to the making of the 1951 film, all sourced from local library archives.
You can even watch the film while sitting inside the cottage, a thrilling experience for die heart fans of the movie.
Walking tours and chauffeur-driven tours of the Quiet Man locations are available.
Take a Walking Tour of The Quiet Man Film Locations in Cong
11. Explore West Cork on the Ring of Beara Drive
This drive located in West Cork’s Beara Peninsula, is another piece of wild, beautiful countryside in Ireland that you should include in your Ireland road trip itinerary.
The route runs through Counties Cork and Kerry but is less well-known than the neighboring Ring of Kerry.
The route, about 130 kilometers (80 miles), is doable in a day and can be done in about 4 hours.
You can begin the Ring of Beara in either Glengarrif in County Cork or in Kenmare, County Kerry.
Perhaps one of the most stunning parts of the Ring of Beara is the Healy Pass, which winds its way through some of County Cork’s most isolated countryside and up and across the Caha Mountains, listed as a Special Area of Conservation.
The road itself was constructed in 1847 at the height of Ireland’s Great Famine as a way to provide work for the poor, starving local people. It was named after Timothy Healy, the first governor general of the Irish Free State.
If you’re looking for Atlantic views off the Ring of Beara, you’ll find them in Eyeries and in Allihies.
12. Explore Dublin Bay in October
Dublin Bay in October is the perfect place to stretch your legs and see what’s outside the city.
Take a hiking tour with Howth Adventures for stunning views of the bay or a panoramic e-bike tour of the region, also with Howth Adventures. You could also take a stroll through the pretty seaside communities of Dalkey and Killiney, home to a number of Irish celebrities.
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13. Hang out in Dublin’s Temple Bar
Despite it being a tourist trap, the Temple Bar section of the city is still a huge draw for many.
The street is known for its music-filled pubs and talented buskers, and in October, it won't be teeming with tourists like it is during the summer months.
Call into the Icon Factory, an artist’s co-operative, sample some foodie delights at the Temple Bar Food Market and step into the past with a drink in the 19th-century Victorian heritage bar known as The Palace Bar.
14. Dingle Food and Wine Festival
This County Kerry culinary extravaganza takes place this year between Oct. 4th and Oct. 6th.
If you plan to visit the Dingle Peninsula, be sure to hop on the “Taste Trail,” which will give you the chance to sample food from a variety of Dingle’s excellent restaurants and bars.
Other highlights of the festival include cookery demonstrations, over 50 market stalls, workshops, street entertainment, wine tastings, children’s events, and more.
Like its neighbor Kinsale to the east, Dingle is known for its culinary reputation.
There are at least three dozen restaurants there, as well as a host of pubs selling craft beers and whiskeys, together with a culinary school, and a distillery.
Some of the popular ones on the Taste Trail include James Long’s Bar & Restaurant, the Land to Sea Restaurant, Lord Baker’s, and Fenton’s of Dingle, among others.
15. The Patrick Kavanagh Weekend
While no official date has been announced as of yet, this popular festival celebrating the life and work of the famous Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh is expected to take place at the end of September/beginning of October again this year.
The three-day event usually includes a full program of lectures, talks and discussions, workshops, poetry readings, and art exhibitions, all at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre.
Music, ceilis, and sean nós dancing are also offered, in addition to tours of the surrounding area.
Read More: 3 Irish Poets That Speak to the Beauty and Soul of Ireland
16. Sligo Live
This popular annual festival held in Sligo town will take place this year from Oct. 24th to Nov. 3rd and celebrates traditional, roots, and acoustic music and the connections between Sligo and musicians abroad.
The bond with New York’s trad musicians is strong in Sligo given that one of the county’s musical greats, Michael Coleman, emigrated to New York in the 1920s where he went on to record under various record labels.
There is also a link between Sligo and Scotland, namely Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival, which presents a Scottish program each year.
17. Kerry International Film Festival
If you're visiting County Kerry in October, be sure to check out the Kerry International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 17th to the 20thf.
The festival celebrates its 25th edition year, with a series of venues in Killarney and elsewhere.
Prior years' events have included curated programs of short films, family-friendly screenings, the best in new Irish cinema, and a host of industry-expert talks throughout the weekend.
The 2024 program is not online yet, but check the website during the summer for updates.
18. Explore Lough Gur, County Limerick
While Newgrange in County Meath is by far the more popular of Ireland’s ancient archaeological sites, Lough Gur in the heart of the County Limerick countryside is also worth a visit.
There is plenty of evidence that humans have been living around Lough Gur since about 3,000 B.C.
The Grange Stone Circle, which is the largest one of its kind in Ireland, as well as a dolmen, are located near the lake, in addition to the remains of at least three crannogs.
Stone Age houses and a number of ring forts also point to an ancient civilization that survived and thrived here.
In addition to its archaeological significance, Lough Gur has also been designated a Wildfowl Sanctuary by the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service and you will see a wide variety of birds in the area, including gulls, songbirds, crows, dragonflies, and more.
Tourists who visit Lough Gur can first stop at the award-winning Heritage Centre. The center’s exhibits tell the story of Lough Gur through audio guides, interactive touchscreens, and more.
Curious to know what to expect from a visit to Lough Gur? You can now take a virtual tour of the site and listen to experts talk about the significance of the area.
Does October in Ireland seem like a good time for a vacation? Let me know in the comments below.
