Castlerea Rose Festival returns from Saturday, July 25th to Sunday, August 2nd with outdoor concerts, family entertainment, food events, sport, fireworks and the crowning of the 2026 Rose of Castlerea
Castlerea is preparing for nine days of festivities as the Rose Festival returns this weekend with events taking place across the town.
The 2026 programme combines outdoor concerts with children’s activities, sport, food, art and community events at venues including The Square, the Fairgreen, Somers Park, The Hub and the Trinity Arts Centre.
The festival will get underway on Saturday, July 25th with pop-up chess at Castlerea Library from 10.30 am, followed by a free Family Fun Day at Castlerea Celtic grounds from 1 pm.
Attention will then turn to the streets of Castlerea for the Grand Opening Parade at 8 pm. The parade will feature giant inflatables, live music, colourful characters, dancing and floats, while the popular Rose Buds will also make their return to the event.
Opening-night entertainment will continue in The Square, where Gorilla Radio will perform from 9 pm. The live show will be followed by a fireworks display at 10.30 pm. All of Saturday’s events are free.
Food will play a major part in the opening weekend, with the Castlerea Food Fair taking place at The Hub from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday, July 26th. The free event will feature food and drink, talks and demonstrations.
Sunday will also see Castlerea Crusaders Athletic Club host Run with the Roses from St Kevin’s GAA Centre at 10.30 am. The programme includes a timed 5km fun run and a 1km children’s run, with proceeds supporting the club.
A Historical Photo Exhibition will be officially opened by Sean Browne at the Trinity Arts Centre on Sunday evening. A coffee concert featuring Clare singer-songwriter Sabrina Dinan will take place at Josie’s Café from 7 pm, followed by a traditional Irish music session in Mulvihill’s Bar from 8.30 pm.
The Historical Photo Exhibition will continue at the Trinity Arts Centre on Monday, July 27th from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Castlerea native, television chef and zero-waste advocate Orla McAndrew will then present a cookery demonstration at An Chistin Food Hub from 7 pm to 9.30 pm. Tickets cost €10.
Children can design their dream ice cream at D’Gaff on Tuesday afternoon before the first of the festival’s major tribute concerts takes place in Somers Park.
The Piano Man will celebrate the music of Elton John and Billy Joel, performed by John Forde and the 52nd Street Band, with a George Michael tribute appearing as the support act.
Gates open at 7 pm, with the concert beginning at 8 pm. The programme lists tickets at €10 for adults and €5 for children.
Wednesday’s programme includes the Kilkeevan Art Group exhibition, a free outdoor workout in Somers Park, a pool party at Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool, a family movie night at The Hub and a Summer Supper Club at Benny’s Deli.
The art exhibition continues on Thursday, July 30th, when Clonalis House will also host a Wild Food Walk. Free family circuits will take place at Just Go Gym that evening.
The Fairgreen will then welcome Chasing Abbey and Queen tribute act Qween for a double-header concert from 9 pm. Tickets cost €15 plus a booking fee.
Friday’s events include a children’s window treasure hunt, a cookie-making class and Festival Bingo at the O’Rourke GAA Centre, where a €4,600 prize fund will be on offer.
The Castlerea Derby will bring toy-horse racing to The Square from 8 pm before Bruce Springsteen tribute band SPRINGSTEEN! takes to the stage for a free concert at 9.30 pm.
The final weekend begins with a free parkrun in the Demesne at 9.30 am on Saturday, August 1st, followed by a children’s art and craft morning, an indoor market and a children’s disco.
Jimmy Buckley will headline the Fairgreen that night, with music and dancing from 9 pm. Adult tickets cost €10 plus a booking fee, while the festival programme advertises children’s tickets at €5.
Festival Sunday will feature outdoor yoga and coffee in Somers Park, a swimming gala and the Bloom and Grow biodiversity event.
A free Family Fun Day will take place in Somers Park from 2 pm to 5 pm, with animatronic dinosaurs, bouncy castles, face-painting, a barbecue, live music and a puppet show among the attractions.
The festival will conclude at the Trinity Arts Centre on Sunday night, where the 2026 Rose of Castlerea will be crowned during the Rose Selection Gala. The event begins at 8 pm, with Gerry Glennon as MC. Admission is €10.
Full programme information and tickets for the festival’s ticketed events are available from the Castlerea Rose Festival website.
Castlerea Food Fest to celebrate best of local food, culture and community
Food lovers from near and far are invited to experience the very best of local produce, culinary talent and community spirit at the brand new Castlerea Food Fest, a vibrant celebration of food and culture which is taking place in conjunction with the annual Castlerea Rose Festival.
The festival will kick off with the Castlerea Food Fair on Sunday, July 26th, at the HUB, before continuing with a packed programme of family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and culinary demonstrations.
This exciting new festival is supported by Roscommon County Council and Fáilte Ireland through the new Food Festival Fund, which aims to strengthen food festivals and support Ireland’s culinary tourism offering.
2025 winner Saoirse Webb are some committee members. Photo: Michael Finan
Tourism Officer Lisa Joy said, “This support reflects the growing importance of food tourism in showcasing destinations such as Castlerea, highlighting local food producers and creating
authentic visitor experiences throughout County Roscommon.”
Speaking ahead of the festival, Benny O’Connell of Benny’s Deli said, “Castlerea Food Fest is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the exceptional food producers, hospitality businesses and community spirit that make Castlerea and County Roscommon so special. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Castlerea and sharing the very best of what our area has to offer.”
The festival is expected to attract visitors from across Roscommon and beyond, supporting local enterprise while further enhancing Castlerea’s reputation as a welcoming destination with a growing food offering.
Everyone is encouraged to come along, sample delicious local flavours, meet the producers behind the products, learn more about the benefits of supporting local food with low food miles, and enjoy everything that Castlerea Food Fest has to offer.
Rose Buds return for Castlerea’s opening parade
Popular festival tradition makes its comeback as young participants prepare to bring additional colour to the streets of Castlerea
The Rose Buds will make a welcome return to the Castlerea Rose Festival when the Grand Opening Parade takes place this Saturday, July 25th.
Girls aged from four to 12 will take part in the parade, which will travel through the streets of Castlerea from 8 pm. The wider parade will feature giant inflatables, live music, colourful characters, dancing and floats.
The Rose Buds were previously a popular feature of the festival in 2014, 2015 and 2016, when dozens of young participants wore official sashes and joined in the opening celebrations.
Several former Rose Buds have since returned to the festival as Rose of Castlerea contestants, including contestants in the 2025 and 2026 competitions.
Each Rose Bud taking part in Saturday’s parade will receive an official sash and must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the parade.
Registration is essential, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Application forms can be requested by emailing castlerearosefestival@gmail.com.
The free opening parade will be followed by a live performance from Gorilla Radio in The Square at 9 pm and a fireworks display at 10.30 pm.
