EU Presidency celebrated with events across Tipperary
Brendan Begley comes to Nenagh, with A Scare in Cahir at the end of October
As part of Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a number of high-profile events are taking place in Cashel, Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh, Cahir, Tipperary Town and Roscrea. Already, acclaimed bilingual singer-songwriter Pádraig Jack has performed at the Rock of Cashel, and Clonmel held its Harvest Festival.
Looking ahead, Tipperary Dance Festival is coming to The Source Arts Centre in Thurles on 8 October, where a special performance by a European dance company will be accompanied by an international symposium exploring the lived experiences of artists working within the EU.
On 11 October, musician, artist and storyteller Brendan Begley will appear at Nenagh Arts Centre as part of Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival for a bilingual conversation about his memoir Clann an tSeanamhuintire / Of My People. He will reflect on his life as a musician, artist, activist, festival organiser and television presenter, and on the people, places and traditions that have shaped him, followed by an evening of storytelling, song and music.
As Halloween approaches, Tipperary’s traditions of folklore, mythology and seasonal celebration come to the fore. A Scare in Cahir - Into the Wild, on 24 and 25 October, will bring free street theatre, circus and community activity to Cahir, drawing connections between Irish folklore and shared European traditions of mythology and seasonal celebration.
From 27–31 October, Spleodar Halloween Children’s Arts Festival in Nenagh will explore European folktales through parade and spectacle, with artist ROGU bringing stories to life through fire, alongside storytelling, puppet-making and creative workshops for children and young people.
On 31 October, Samhain Fest in Tipperary Town will celebrate the ancient Celtic festival with music, activities, food and fireworks, enhanced for Cultúr 2026 by a major street-theatre spectacle and community mask and lantern-making workshops.
The county programme concludes on 4 December, when The Taste of Music comes to the Castle Grounds in Roscrea. Part of The Taste of Roscrea festival, the special Friday-night event will bring together local artists from different backgrounds for an evening of music and live performance, creating a shared cultural experience to close Tipperary’s Presidency programme.
These events are part of a €5 million investment to celebrate the EU presidency. For more information on Cultúr 2026 events see irelandculture2026.eu.