If you like good quality blues rock, great cheap pints and a town that welcomes anyone then The Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon every year on the June bank holiday is for you.
Every year for the last 6 I've been to this festival and I've never had a bad time! The crowd is the happiest you will find and with the exception of one scuffle between a few local teenagers I've honestly never seen a single fight or problem, one year we even had a local garda jumping on a skipping rope we found!
The festival itself takes place in the town, which I'm pretty sure has more pubs than houses, and believe it or not bars don't go out of their way to gouge festival goers, €3.50 a pint of Guinness is the norm! If you're camping you will need to get a campsite wristband for €40 which will cover Thursday to Monday morning, though unfortunately this price is fixed no matter how long you stay. The campsite has changed a few times since I started attending but is now a well equipped spot about 20 mins walk outside of town (depending on your stout content) and there is an almost constant shuttle running into the wee hours, just short of around the clock.
I have heard horror stories of this potentially being the last year, but if not I recommend you get your denim and flannel out and I'll see you at the bar next year! read more