Circus250, the Achill-based circus group, hosts a number of events during the year including two major festivals:
Daring Dames
The Daring Dames circus festival is an all-female event featuring aerial acts, clowns, and late-night circus cabaret. Check back here for dates of the 2026 Daring Dames circus festival on Achill Island.
Circus Science by the Sea
The 2025 Circus Science by the Sea festival featured science-themed events, presentations, performances and workshops. It took place from 14th – 16th November with events on Achill and in Westport. For full details see Circus Science by the Sea Festival 2025.
- Events Calendar
- Achill Greenway parkrun
- Achill Half Marathon & 10K
- Achill Yawl Festival
- Battle for the Lake
- Féile Cill Damhnait / Kildavnet Festival
- Circus Festivals
- Currane Challenge
- Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend
- Féile Inis Bigil
- Achill Camino Challenge Walks Festival
- New Year’s Eve
- Scoil Acla
- Achill Sheep Show
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Tour de Achill
Grace O’Malley Festival 2026
Circus250 will host the first-ever Grace O’Malley Festival from 22nd to 24th May on Achill Island and other locations in Co. Mayo. Full details, and links to bookable events, from the circus250.com website.
From circus250.com:
Rooted on Achill Island, the festival brings together jaw-dropping circus, live music, storytelling, performance, art and heritage-inspired events to champion daring women of the past and present.
Festival highlights include Circus250’s aerial spectacular retelling Grace’s life story, a concert with Ireland’s leading songstress Camille O’Sullivan, a Pirate Queen cabaret to make your timbers shiver, and a giant sand portrait of Grace on Achill’s beach.
