What's on This Weekend - Friday to Sunday 16th-18th of May

It's time for our weekend roundup! Here's what's on this weekend, between Friday the 16th and Sunday the 18th of May across Ireland. We've got a great lineup of things to do, from the International Literature Festival in Dublin to a food festival in Tralee, and much, much more.

International Literature Festival Dublin - 16.05-25.05

Readings, big‑top debates, YA & children’s day, plus the famed “Date‑With‑an‑Agent” pitching fair for emerging writers. Visit ilfdublin.com for more information.

Tralee Food Festival - 16.05-28.05

100‑plus stalls, cook‑off demos, craft‑beer marquee and family street entertainment! Visit traleefoodfestival.com for more information.

Dublin Dance Festival - 13.05-24.05

Two weeks of boundary‑pushing choreography, club nights and workshops (headline runs by Oona Doherty, Boris Charmatz, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake land squarely on the 16‑18 May weekend). Visit Dublin Dance Festival for more information.

Cavan Arts Festival - 15.05-18.05

The Con Smith Park big‑top, late‑night Town Hall gigs and pop‑up galleries turn Cavan into a four‑day carnival of music, circus and visual art. Visit cavanartsfestival.ie for more information.

West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival - 08.05-18.05

Intimate classical and jazz concerts in St Mary’s Church and the baroque grandeur of Russborough House, closing with a Sunday‑night Julian Bliss Septet. Visit westwicklowfestival.com for more information.

Ballymaloe Festival of Food - 16.05-18.05

Chef walk‑abouts with Rachel Allen & friends, pop‑up dining in the Walled Garden, butter‑churning workshops and late‑night sets in “The Big Shed.” For more information on the festival, visit ballymaloegrainstore.com.

Burren in Bloom - 03.05-25.05

Limestone wildflower rambles, butterfly walks and a Slow Food market in Lisdoonvarna. A good excuse for a weekend on the Wild Atlantic Way! For more information on the event and schedule including tickets, visit burreninbloom.com.