From A to Z – Your guide to Mountshannon Arts Festival

FLIGHT transforms Mountshannon into a lively village of music, theatre, visual art, literature, workshops, performance and kids’ and family activities across the June Bank Holiday weekend.

To capture the atmosphere, practical information and many different strands of this year’s extravaganza, Mountshannon Arts Festival has created a special FLIGHT A-Z Guide. Here are just some of the highlights visitors can expect across the five Festival days – the full FLIGHT A-Z Guide, with many more events, activities and practical details, is now available at https://mountshannonarts.ie.

A is for Aistear Park – one of the main Festival hubs with live music, performances, workshops and family events throughout the weekend.

E is for Exhibitions – visual art can be discovered across the village, including at the Market House, Aistear Building, The Snug, Anita’s and the Berrytree Café.

L is for Literature – spoken word, readings, workshops and discussions form an important strand of the Festival programme.

M is for Music – From Landless and Denise Chaila to Leah Song, Sive, Earl Okin, Kenan Flannery, Leon Hayes, Mykology and the Pocket Jazz Orchestra, music fills Mountshannon throughout the Festival weekend, with concerts, sessions and performances across the village.

N is for Nature – woodland walks, lakeside views and outdoor events remain part of the FLIGHT experience across East Clare and Lough Derg.

O is for Opening Night – FLIGHT opens on Thursday evening at the Church of Ireland with Satakieli and Aindrias de Staic.

P is for Parking – Festival parking will be clearly signposted on all approach roads into Mountshannon.

Q is for Questions – the Festival Info Point at Aistear Park will provide programmes, directions, wristbands, raffle tickets and visitor information throughout the weekend.

R is for Raffle – this year’s fundraising raffle includes a wide range of prizes supporting the volunteer-led Festival and its community programme.

U is for Unbelievable – more than 80 artists, around 60 events and activities, 15 venues and five days of Festival life, all created by a small village community on the shores of Lough Derg.

V is for Volunteers – a huge thank you to all volunteers helping make FLIGHT 2026 possible.

W is for Wristbands – most Festival events and the full music programme in Aistear Park are included with the Festival wristband. Wristbands are €10 for adults, €5 for children, with a family option also available.

X is for Explore – Seek out your inner artist, with the full gamut of art to inspire you, plus workshops covering poetry, dance, smartphone photography, kite-making and drawing.

Y is for You – thank you to everybody supporting FLIGHT, including visitors, artists, volunteers, local businesses and sponsors.

Z is for Zero Distance – in Mountshannon, everything is only a short walk away, with music, cafés, exhibitions and performances unfolding across the village.

FLIGHT takes place from Thursday 28 May to Monday 1 June across 15 venues throughout Mountshannon, with more than 80 artists and around 60 events and activities forming part of this year’s Festival.

Mountshannon Arts is a community-based, volunteer-led organisation dedicated to fostering creativity, supporting local and visiting artists, and enriching cultural life in East Clare. Through the annual Mountshannon Arts Festival, public art projects such as the Mountshannon Art Trail, and year-round collaborations with schools, community groups and international partners, the organisation aims to make art accessible to all and to celebrate the unique spirit of Mountshannon, East Clare and Lough Derg.