Burtonport Summer Festival is returning for a 49th celebration

The Burtonport Summer Festival is set to kick off on Friday.

The celebrations begin on July 19 and will run until Saturday, July 26. Events are taking place from morning until night with activities for all ages. The full programme is available below:

Friday, July 18 

12:00pm Burtonport Trail: €10 

Location: Lobster Pot Bar

Email: donegalheritage@gmail.com

4:30pm – 6:30pm

Children’s disco: €3

Location: St Columba’s Community Centre

7.00pm Knockout

Location: Festival Carpark

8.00pm Drive-in Bingo

Location: Central Park, Keadue 

9.00pm DAILY 50/50 BINGOTickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

10.00pm Disco Location: O’Donnell’s Bar

Saturday July 19

9:30am Underage Football Blitz for boys and girls (U8 & U10)Registration 9:30 am, starts 10 am.Contact Ben 0851030318

11:00am Car Boot sale

Location: Harbour Car Park 

Entry Fee €10 per stall.

12:00pm Thíos Cois An Trá

Location: Mullaghderg Car Park

Email: donegalheritage@gmail.com €10

12:00pm Sea Angling

Location: The Pier, BurtonportAll boats and participants must register at the pier by 11:45 a.m.Weigh-in at 5pm at the top slip and presentation at 6pm.Lifejackets compulsory.

Contact Séamus on 0868696377.Entry €10 per rod.

2:00pm Festival Bonny Baby Show Location: St Columba’s Community Centre Registration begins at 2 pm; the event starts at 2:30 pm sharp. Categories 0-6m, 6-12m, 1-2yrs, 2-3yrs. Admission €3 per person.

3:00pm Family Walking Treasure Hunt Location: Starts At The Port Gift Shop And Runs All Week.

6:30pm Aifreann Na Féile, Festival Mass With Youth Choir

Location: St. Columba’s Church, Acres

7:30pm Community ParadeLocation: Departs From The Crossroads Maple, Burtonport To The Festival Platform.A parade featuring Marching Bands, Floats, Local Sporting Clubs and Organisations.

8:30pmOscailt Oifigiúl, Official Opening CeremonyLocation: Festival Platform

9:00pmDaily 50/50 Bingo

Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

9:30pmThe Minertones Band

Location: The Festival Platform

10:00pmDiscoLocation: O’Donnell’s Bar

Sunday July 20

10:30am Railway Ramblers 8km Walk Location: Meet outside The Harbourfront Cafe

1:00pmThe Rosses At War Location: Meet at Mullaghderg Beach Car Park, light walk along a spectacular coastline while hearing of wartime disasters such as the Spanish Armada, the 1798 rebellion, world wars and the Ballymanus Mine Disaster.Email: donegalheritage@gmail.com

1:30pmAnnual Blessing Of The Boats and Leisure Crafts. A beautiful tradition that the festival has carried over many years, so please come along and have your craft blessed at the main Harbour for the 49th Anniversary.

3:00 - 5:00pm Country Show Location: Festival Platform

A free outdoor concert where Conor O’Donnell and The Ryan Turner band will host Patrick Feeney, Hugo Duncan, Saffron Dixon and Jordon McPolin

5:30pmOpen Air Music With The Rosses Ukulele Group Location: Festival Platform

6:00pmComórtas Beirste, Annual Bridge Open Location: St Columba’s Community Centre Contact Marion at 086 6022288

7:30pmOpen Air Concert With Glór Tíre Winner Paddy Treacy Location: Festival Platform

9:00pmDaily 50/50 Bingo Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

10:00pm DiscoLocation: O’Donnell’s Bar

Monday, July 21

12.00pmChildren’s Beach DayLocation: Carpark Beach Cloughglass (F94 Hw22) Entry Fee €3 Per Child.

2–4pm Busking Corner Location: The Port Gift Shop Contact 086 0851046

2:30pmBurtonport Railway Heritage Walk

Meeting point: In the car park by the platform €5 each.

7.00pm Whist Location: St Columba’s Community Centre Contact Mamie at 0868052567 

7.00pm It’s A Knockout Location: Carpark At The Festival Platform

8:30pm Outdoor Music Location: Festival Platform

9.00pm Daily 50/50 Bingo

Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

10.00pmDiscoLocation: O’Donnell’s Bar

Tuesday, July 22

11.00am Astronauts And Aliens Take Over Rutland

A packed lunch is advised, and fancy dress is optional.Please text bookings with names and numbers of people to 0860851046.Price €5 each or €15 for a family of 4.

2–4pm Busking Corner

Location: The Wheelhouse Contact 0860851046

4.00pm Building The Railway Talk

Location: St. Columba’s Community The Burtonport extension was built through some of the wildest and most scenic parts of County Donegal’s countryside, which presented challenges in its construction to the contractors and in its operation to the Lough Swilly Railway company.

Cost: €5 each

7:30pm5k Road Race Sponsored By The Cope

Location: St Columba’s Community CentreRasáí Botháir – Burtonport annual 5K Road Race. Fun runners are also welcome.

Registration from 6 pm at the Community Centre. Entries & Details are available from Seamus Coyle 074 95 21095.

8:30pmOpen Air Concert With ‘The Hopeful Kind’

Location: Festival Platform

9.00pmDaily 50/50 Bingo 

Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

9.00pm Irish Dancing And Crab BoilLocation: Lobster Pot

10.00pm DiscoLocation: O’Donnell’s Bar

Wednesday, July 23

10 – 11:15am Wellbeing Morning - Yoga And Meditation Location: Keadue Beach, across From The Football Field

11:30am Sensory Activities For Children With Additional Needs Location: Community Centre Booking Essential On 0860851046 Admission €3 Per Child

2 – 4pm Busking CornerLocation: The Port Gift Shop Contact 0860851046

2:30pmMagical Mystery History Tour

Location: Community Centre

Booking is essential due to limited numbers, by contacting 0864060006.

Price: €25 per person (includes soup and sandwiches) 

3:00pm Children’s Novelty Events

Location: Carpark At Festival Platform

7:00pm Novelty Events Location: Carpark At Festival Platform

7:30pm 10k Cycle Time Trial Location: St Columba’s Community Centre

8:30pmOutdoor Concert With Bula BéagLocation: Festival Platform

9:00pmDaily 50/50 BingoTickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

10:00pm Disco

Location: O’Donnell’s Bar

Thursday, July 24

La GaelachLe tacaíocht ó Pleanáil Teanga Na Rosann “Labhair Gaeilge Linn”

11:00amSiamsán Le TeidíSeó idirghníomhach do theaghlaigh le páistí os cionn 3 bliana, le neart ceoil, damhsa agus spraoi.Is í an Ghaeilge teanga na hócáide. Caithfear clárú roimh ré le sile@uisimitheoir.ieCá háit: Ionad Pobail Ailt Naomh Columba

12:00pmTuras oileán / An Island trip to Inishfree

Visit Donegalseaadventure.ie to book

1:00pm Comórtas éadaí do pháistí / Children’s Fancy Dress Competition Admission: €2 each

2 – 4pm Cúinne Busking / Busking Corner Location: The Wheelhouse Contact 0860851046

4:00pm Oíche de chultúr, cheol agus rince Gaelach An Evening Of Irish Culture, Music And Dancing

Location: Festival Platform Fionn Doogan and Aoife McKelvey of ‘Rinceoirí na Rosann’ will treat us to a fantastic display of Irish Dancing, as well as some fantastic performances from various local talents.

5:30pm Meenacross CCE - Evening of traditional music

Location: Festival Platform

6:00pm Tóraíocht Taisce Gluaisteáin / Car Treasure Hunt Location: Registration and take off at O’Donnell’s Bar Entry: €15 per car. Presentations at 10pm in O’Donnell’s Bar. Sponsored by McDevitt Oil

7:30pm CEILI MÓRLocation: Festival Platform

9:00pm BINGO LAETHÚIL 50 50/  Daily 50 50 Bingo

Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

10:00pm Ceolchoirm amuigh faoin aer le Chrissy MacLocation: Festival Platform

10:00pm DiscoLocation: O’Donnell’s Bar

Friday, July 25

12:00pm An Island trip to Inishkeel

To book, visit donegalseaadventure.ie.Leaving at 12pm and returning at 3pm

12:00pm Children’s Sports DayOur annual day of races, novelty races and family fun time. Sponsored by Bia Beo.Location: Central Park, Keadue

1:30pm Beach Walk Let Margaret Boner guide you on a stroll along some of our beaches whilst learning about the history associated with the area.Location: Car Park beach, F94 HW22 Cost: €5 each

2 – 4pm Busking Corner Location: The Port Gift Shop Contact: 0860851046

4:00pm Pet Show Come along and enter your cat, dog, budgie, rabbit or any family pet. Special category – Animal Teddies. No pedigree necessary. Fun prizes. Dogs must be kept on a leash for safety. Sponsored by Donegal Sea Adventure.Location: Carpark at the Festival Platform

7:30pm It’s A Knockout Location: Carpark at Festival Platform

8:00pm Drive-In Bingo Location: Central Park, Keadue F94 ET91

9:00pm Daily 50 50 Bingo Tickets are available at The Port Gift Shop, with the daily draw taking place at the Festival Platform.

9:30pm Open Air Concert With ‘Springsteen A Tribute’ Location: Festival Platform

10:00pm Disco

Location: O’Donnell’s Bar

Saturday, July 26

Pat Forker Memorial

Finn Harps FC have agreed to play Keadue Rovers F.C. in the annual Pat Forker Memorial Tournament. The match will take place on Saturday, July 26th.Finn Harps are scheduled to play Cobh Ramblers on July 25th, so those who don’t play Friday’s game may likely feature in Keadue on Saturday.This also offers an opportunity for the coaching staff to scout some trial players.Kick-off time to be confirmed

12–2pm: “Thank You Tea”

Location: Gemma’s Legacy of Hope House, Little Bridge, Dungloe, F94VA71Join for a warm welcome and appreciation event, thanking the local community for their support and fundraising.

Enjoy tea, treats, and a tour of the new safe, welcoming space for counselling and play therapy.

The annual festival draw will take place on Friday August 15 and the prizes include: €500 Cash; 2 Nights Stay in The Wheelhouse Pods (Midweek with Hot Tub); Donegal Sea Adventure Vouchers; Ben Sweeney Vouchers; McCafferty’s Voucher; Bridge Inn Voucher; Afternoon Tea at Sweeney’s Hotel; O’Donnell’s DIY Voucher; Danielle Gallagher Nails Voucher; and a Healthwise Hamper.