Pan Celtic festival is worth €1m to Carlow’s economy

AN update on the International Pan Celtic Festival for this year and plans for the 2026 event was presented to councillors at the monthly meeting of Carlow Municipal District last week. The festival is worth €1 million to the local economy, members were told.

Carlow Co Council, in partnership with the Pan Celtic International Committee and local stakeholders, will host the festival next year and again in 2027, revealed Kieran Comerford, head of economic development and enterprise with the local authority. The prestigious international event celebrates the shared Celtic heritage of six nations ‒ Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany ‒ through language, music, dance and cultural exchange.

Festival organisers plan to build on the momentum of this and last year’s festivals. More than 6,000 people attended the diverse programme of competitions, concerts, club nights and street entertainment across venues such as Visual, the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow College, local hotels and public spaces.

For next year, the programme will be further enriched to include a mix of traditional and contemporary performances, with a strong emphasis on showcasing the unique identity of each Celtic nation. There will be competitions in traditional singing, storytelling, piping, a ‘streetfest’ programme and fringe programme.

Councillors heard that the economic and cultural impact of the festival continues to grow. Praise has been received from both the international delegates and local businesses, citing Carlow’s compact and walkable layout, friendly hospitality and well-managed event operations as key strengths and, in particular, the partnership with the local authority.

Looking ahead to 2026, the council is preparing to deepen the scale and impact of the festival through increased investment, broader community engagement and expanded programming. The 2026 festival has been confirmed for April and preparations are already underway. A cross-functional team with the council has been established to support planning and delivery of the festival.

One of the key developments to date is the submission of an application to Fáilte Ireland’s Strategic Festival Fund seeking enhanced funding to support growth in infrastructure, marketing and visitor experience. The council has also begun to explore opportunities for national media partnerships targeting domestic and international audiences.

In terms of community consultation, a number of engagement activities have already taken place. A public survey was conducted over the summer to gather feedback.

It is proposed that the official design process for Pan Celtic 2026 will formally begin in September. Key new components under consideration include a large-scale outdoor event and the development of a family-friendly programme to widen audience participation. The additions are a result of public feedback and will align with a wider tourism strategy for the county.

The central focus for the 2026 festival will be to increase engagement among local and regional audiences, as well as to foster deeper Irish participation in both competitive and non-competitive elements of the programme. In doing so, the council aims to ensure that Pan Celtic is not just an international gathering but also a local celebration that reflects the identity and pride of the people of Carlow while acting as an economic catalyst for the town.

Following Mr Comerford’s presentation, mayor Paul Doogue revealed that he was “extremely disappointed that there wasn’t more in the parade”. Mayor Doogue said that “we (council) need to think outside the box” for planning future Pan Celtic festivals.

Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said he concurred with the mayor’s remarks. Cllr Browne said that other delegates from Celtic areas outside of Ireland should be invited in future.

Fianna Fáil’s Fintan Phelan agreed that “new elements and more diversity” should be introduced such as a 5km run as “there would be huge buy-in” for that.

Independent Ireland councillor John Cassin added that the New York Carlow Association should also be recognised and invited to next year’s festival, while Fianna Fáil’s Andrea Dalton said more publicity was needed to raise awareness of the event.

“It’s a phenomenal success and we need to widen the market for it with more national publicity. The more people know about, it the better.” 

Mr Comerford told councillors that the festival committee was inviting other countries to attend the Pan Celtic and that the matter has “gone to our various partners”. He added that “awareness of the festival is critical”.