Kildavnet Festival / Féile Chill Damhnait
4th – 15th August 2022
Friday 5th August
Failte Abhaile Night
Meet old friends and bring back memories of times past in Patten’s Bar, Dereens. From 8.30pm
Official Opening
Official opening by Cllr. Paul McNamara. Followed by live music with Shauna & Conor. Patten’s Bar, Dereens, 10.00pm.
Saturday 6th August
Achill Lifeboat Festival Open Day – Meet the crew and see the RNLI station.
11.30am 5K & 10K Road Races
Registration at 11am with races starting and finishing at Patten’s Bar, Dereens.
2.30pm Fun Cycle
With Achill Wheelers cycling club. Bike hire available from Blasta Bikes. Fun cycle plus bike obstacle and skill test.
8.00pm A Night at the Movies
Achill Musical & Dramatic Society presents their musical show ‘A Night at the Movies’. Ticketed event, tickets from Achill Sound Post Office and/or Patten’s Bar. Doors open 7pm.
10.30pm Live Music
Live music with iRadio’s Ciaran Bennett.
Sunday 7th August
12 noon Family Fun Day
Safari obstacle course; rodeo bull; sea world combi castle; dragon obstacle course; back-to-back bungee; TJ’s teddies; egg and spud race; sack race; wellie throwing; face painting; costume characters and lots more. BBQ during the day.
3pm Magic Show
With Joe Daly from RTE Junior’s Abra-Kid-Abra TV show.
7pm Talk: ‘Don’t Be Hacked’
Kevin McNeela on how to avoid being hacked on your digital devices and tips on making them secure.
8pm Talk: ‘Who Lived There’
Frank Masterson talk on who lived in the old villages of Bleanaskill and surrounding areas.
9.30pm Live Music
Music with Shauna & Conor
Monday 8th August
10am Fitness Boot Camp
Pamela leads an exercise class, followed by a healthy breakfast.
3pm Talk on Biodiversity
Leonard Floyd, ranger with the NPWS at Ballycroy, talks about biodiversity. Venue: Ashleam School.
Tuesday 9th August
2.30pm Ladies Day
Ticketed event, sold out.
6.30pm Live Music
Music with Tom McGinty
7.30pm Roisin’s Pizza
Fab food for all tastes.
9.30pm Live Music
Music with Hugh Ruddy
Wednesday 10th August
12.30pm Sli Ghrainne Mhaol Walk
Vivian and friends lead a circuit of the Sli Ghrainne Mhaol looped walk. Followed by tea and scones at Patten’s Bar, Dereens.
8pm Historical Talk
Mary Jo and Joan O’Keefe talk on ‘The History of Aillt’ and local folklore.
9.30pm Irish Night
With music and boxty.
Thursday 11th August
10am Family Boot Camp
Exercise class led by Pamela. Followed by healthy breakfast.
4pm Art Demo
With artist Padraig McCaul.
8pm Festival Bingo
€200 jackpot must go on the night! Plus other fantastic prizes.
Friday 12th August
8.30am Bryan Shannon Memorial Golf Tournament
At Achill Island Golf Club in Keel. Sponsored by the Shannon family.
2pm Children’s Movie Matinee
In the marquee at Patten’s with popcorn and candy floss.
8pm Festival Family Table Quiz
In the marquee at Patten’s.
10pm Live Music
Music with The Tiernans.
Saturday 13th August
8am Kildownet Golf Day
At Achill Island Golf Club, Keel. (Presentation of prizes at 9.30pm)
11.30am Achill Beg Day
First ferry departs Ce Bheag at 11am. Returns from Achill Beg from 4pm. Tickets available from EventBrite. Events on Achill Beg include: guided walk with Vivian and friends; kid’s entertainment on the beach; live music in two inflatable pubs, with iRadio’s Ciaran Bennett.
2.30pm Yawl Race
For Johnny Patten Memorial Cup.
8.30 Live Music & Trophy Presentation
Presentation of yawl race trophy and live music from Shauna & Conor.
Sunday 14th August
8.30am Paddy Lavelle Golf Day
At Achill Island Golf Club. Sponsored by Michael & Mona Masterson (Carrick / Shraheens)
3pm Children’s Feis and Talent Competition
With medals for winners and certificates for all entrants.
8.30pm Live Music & Trophy Presentation
Presentation of golf prizes followed by live music with Hugh Ruddy.
Monday 15th August
7pm Historical Talk
Tomas Mac Sheain on ‘The History of Kildownet Cemetery’
7.30pm Mass
Mass in the old cemetery and visit to St. Dympna’s Well.
Féile Chill Damhnait is an annual village festival taking place in Kildavnet, Achill Island, in August. In 2022 the festival returns after a COVID-19 enforced gap, and takes place from 4th – 15th August.
Sunday 7th August is the date for our Family Fun Day, featuring rodeo bull, safari obstacle, back-to-back bungee, dragon obstacle, seaworld combi castle, costume characters, magic show and much more.
A Night At The Movies. Saturday 6th August. For one night only, Achill Musical & Dramatic Society reprise their highly successful show ‘A Night At The Movies’. Tickets available on EventBrite.
Ladies Day! Tuesday 9th August is Ladies Day, with afternoon tea & prosecco, fashion, health & beauty show, and much more. (Sold Out)
Achillbeg Day – Saturday 13th August. Fun on the beach; guided walk; live music; inflatable pubs; BBQ and more. Places limited, ferries (x2) from Cé Mhoir and one from Currane – book on EventBrite.
The Chill Damhnait 2021 magazine is now available to buy online: Buy Chill Damhnait 2021 Magazine Now.
For latest updates please see Féile Cill Damhnait facebook page.



- Events Calendar
- Achill Greenway parkrun
- Achill Half Marathon & 10K
- Achill International Harp Festival
- Achill Yawl Festival
- Battle for the Lake
- Féile Cill Damhnait / Kildavnet Festival
- Currane Challenge
- Achill Island Film Festival 2023
- Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend
- Féile Inis Bigil
- New Year’s Eve
- Robert Henri Festival
- Scoil Acla
- Achill Sheep Show
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Tour de Achill