Carlow Arts Festival

Carlow Arts Festival traditionally kicks off Ireland's summer festival season with a multidisciplinary program spanning visual art, music, theatre, dance, literature and film. Born in 1979 as Éigse Carlow Arts Festival, rooted in Irish heritage, it took its current name in 2013 and is now one of only a handful of Irish festivals with strategic Arts Council funding. Many of its shows and installations, often staged outdoors, are free and open to all.