The popular Ccoonacool Sheep Festival takes place from 17th to 20th of September. The unique festival has been running, in one form or another, since 2019. Since that time, the South Sligo village has played host to some great events and spectacles and thei 2026 festival is promised to be no exception.
The festival, running over four days and nights, has the ambition to celebrate the sheep farming tradition of Cloonacool as well as providing top entertainment and novel events.
Sligo’s own, Kieran Quinn, will mark opening night again this year and up-and-coming dance sensation, Gavin Gribben will play for the Festival Dance on Sat 19th September. Sunday 20th is Open Day and features the region’s top sheep and dog shows.
This year, Cloonacool Sheep Festival is offering a weekend ticket for the three nightly events of the festival. This ticket comes with a discount and covers opening night with Kieran Quinn, Songo Bingo on Friday night and the Gavin Gribben dance on Saturday 19th of Sept.
The Sheep Festival draw is taking place again this year and tickets are now on sale locally. They will be on offer from committee members and at the Mill Community Café in Cloonacool Village.
The top prize this year is €1,000. The proceeds from this draw are used to cover festival set-up costs and also allow the organising committee to provide a free admission open day on the final day of the festival, 20th September.