Clonakilty International Guitar Festival Returns for 22nd Edition with Paul Brady Headlining West Cork Celebration
The 22nd Clonakilty International Guitar Festival runs from 16 to 20 September in County Cork, with legendary Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady headlining a diverse programme that transforms the West Cork town into a stage for guitar-based music across local bars, shops, and venues — a volunteer-led, not-for-profit celebration of the guitar in all its forms that has become one of the most beloved fixtures in the Irish music calendar.
Background
The Clonakilty International Guitar Festival was founded in 2004 by a group of local music enthusiasts who wanted to create an event that would celebrate the guitar — in all its forms, from traditional Irish music to blues, jazz, folk, and contemporary — in the intimate setting of a West Cork market town. Twenty-two years later, the festival has grown into one of the most distinctive music events in Ireland, attracting performers and audiences from across the country and beyond while retaining the community-powered, volunteer-led character that has always been its defining feature.
The festival's model is deliberately different from the large-scale commercial music festivals that dominate the Irish summer calendar. There are no massive stages, no corporate sponsors, and no VIP areas. Instead, the town of Clonakilty itself becomes the venue, with performances taking place in local bars, shops, community spaces, and outdoor locations across the town centre. The DeBarras Folk Club, one of the most celebrated music venues in Ireland, serves as the festival's central hub, but the programme extends far beyond its walls.
The festival is supported by the Arts Council, Cork County Council, and a range of local sponsors, but its financial model is built around the community — local businesses, volunteers, and music lovers who give their time and resources to make the event happen. This model has proven remarkably resilient, allowing the festival to survive and grow through economic downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the various challenges that have beset the Irish arts sector in recent years.
Key Developments
The 2026 programme is one of the most ambitious in the festival's history, with a lineup that spans the full range of guitar-based music. Paul Brady, one of the most revered figures in Irish music — a singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose career has encompassed traditional Irish music, folk, rock, and pop over more than five decades — headlines the festival, bringing a depth of musical knowledge and a quality of performance that few Irish artists can match.
The programme also includes Leah Song, the American singer-songwriter whose blend of folk, soul, and world music has earned her a devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic; Kevin Burke, Dermot Byrne, Noriana Kennedy, and Jim Murray, representing the finest traditions of Irish traditional music; and a range of emerging artists including DUG, Bill Shanley, and the Cliffords, who bring contemporary perspectives to the guitar tradition.
The Culture Night slot — on 18 September, when the festival coincides with the national Culture Night celebration — features The Wran, a Cork-based group whose music draws on the deep well of West Cork's musical heritage. The inclusion of a Culture Night event reflects the festival's commitment to accessibility and to the idea that music should be available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Why It Matters
The Clonakilty International Guitar Festival matters because it represents a model of cultural programming that is increasingly rare in Ireland: community-led, volunteer-powered, and rooted in a specific place and its traditions. In an era when the Irish arts sector is dominated by large-scale events and corporate-sponsored festivals, the Clonakilty festival is a reminder that some of the most meaningful cultural experiences are created by people who love music and who are willing to give their time and energy to share that love with others.
The festival also matters because of what it does for Clonakilty and for West Cork more broadly. The economic impact of the event — which brings hundreds of visitors to the town over five days, filling local accommodation, restaurants, and shops — is significant for a region where tourism is a major driver of economic activity. But the cultural impact is perhaps even more important: the festival has helped to establish Clonakilty as a destination for music lovers and has contributed to the town's reputation as one of the most vibrant cultural communities in rural Ireland.
Paul Brady's headlining appearance is a particular coup for the festival. Brady, who is now in his late seventies, remains one of the most compelling live performers in Irish music, and his willingness to appear at a community festival in West Cork — rather than at a larger, more commercially lucrative venue — reflects his own values and his commitment to the kind of intimate, authentic musical experience that the Clonakilty festival provides.
Local Impact
In Clonakilty, the festival is the highlight of the cultural calendar — an event that the whole town participates in, whether as performers, volunteers, audience members, or simply as residents who enjoy the atmosphere that the festival creates. Local businesses report a significant increase in trade during the festival week, and the accommodation in the town and surrounding area is typically fully booked months in advance.
The festival has also had a lasting impact on the musical culture of the town and the wider West Cork region. A number of young musicians who attended the festival as children have gone on to pursue careers in music, citing the experience of seeing world-class performers in intimate local venues as a formative influence. The festival's commitment to including local and emerging artists in its programme alongside established names has provided a platform for West Cork musicians that would otherwise be difficult to access.
What's Next
The 22nd Clonakilty International Guitar Festival runs from 16 to 20 September, with events taking place across the town from early afternoon until late at night. Tickets for the headline events are available through the festival website, while many of the smaller venue performances are free or pay-what-you-can. The festival organisers have indicated that planning for the 23rd edition is already under way, with the aim of continuing to develop the programme while maintaining the community-powered character that has made the festival what it is. Further information, including the full programme and ticketing details, is available at the festival's website.
