President Connolly to open Pan Celtic Festival in Carlow 

CARLOW town is busy putting up bunting and decorating for the Pan Celtic International Festival 2026. “It’s an exciting time,” said organiser Bríde de Róiste. “It’s a festival for everybody; it's a festival for the whole town.” This year is a particularly big deal as the festival will be opened by an tUachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly on 7 April at Visual.

“It’s a great honour,” said Bríde.

The promotion of Celtic languages and community festivals like Pan Celtic is what her presidency is all about.

“We're asking everyone to come out and welcome her on her first major visit to Carlow,” said Bríde.

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President Connolly’s address will be live streamed and there will be overflow seating outside the main auditorium for those who wish to attend. At the opening: “Each of the nations will do a spotlight on their own culture, music and dance as just a taster for what we can enjoy for the next five days,” explained Bríde.

The programme of events was launched on Thursday 26 March which was attended by local councillors, TDs, business owners and cultural organisers involved in making the festival a success.

This year, the programme has “a special waterproof cover so that it will last the full week” regardless of the unreliable spring weather, said Bríd. They are available to pick up for free from Carlow Tourism office, the festival office and many stores around Carlow.

As well as the 26 trad sessions, concerts, choirs, bands, storytelling, comedy, busking and an international song contest, Bríde pointed out that the nations parade on Friday afternoon and the street party afterwards is expected to be one of the highlights of the week.

“It’s a chance for each of the nations to come out and march proudly behind their banners and flags. We’re delighted that, for the first time, Carlow will have people parading in our national traditional costume, thanks to a talented group of seamstresses who have been sewing and stitching for the past four months. They say they have a huge surprise in store for us.” Bríde encouraged people to come out and line the short route from Carlow College, Dublin Street and onto Tullow Street.

At the launch, mayor of Carlow MD, cllr Paul Doogue, spoke poetically about the fact that “the festival is a celebration of not only where we come from, but where we are going.” He said: “It reminds us of the value of community, identity and shared heritage.” Bríde extended her gratitude to all those helping to put on the festival. “We’ve got great support and lots of people ready to dig deep and give their time,” she noted. She urged people not to book holidays away from Carlow during that week because they will miss out on the dizzying array of free or donation-based events in the town after Easter weekend.