Comeraghs Wild Festival 2026 Is the Family Summer Day Out You've Been Looking For
If your summer plans currently consist of negotiating screen-time limits and trying to remember whether the kids have had anything green to eat this week, we may have found exactly what you need. The Comeraghs Wild Festival 2026 runs from 9th to 12th July across Waterford, and this year’s programme is genuinely stacked with things that’ll get the whole family off the sofa and into some of the most beautiful countryside in Ireland.
Now in its stride as one of the south-east’s most beloved summer events, Comeraghs Wild has built a reputation on mountain adventures and big-name gigs. But the 2026 edition is placing serious emphasis on family-friendly experiences, creative workshops and heritage events that have real heart to them. It’s the kind of festival you go to for one thing and end up staying for everything.
From willow creels to woodland magic
The festival kicks off on Thursday evening with a fascinating heritage event at the Old Woollen Mill in Kilmacthomas. Renowned historian Julian Walton will explore the mill’s remarkable story — it was established in the 1850s by Louisa, Lady Waterford, to provide employment in the difficult years after the Famine. Local historian Andy Kelly will present a special exhibition of historic photographs covering the mill, the railway, the viaduct and some of Kilmacthomas’ most memorable characters. Light refreshments will be served. It’s the kind of evening that reminds you history doesn’t have to be dry to be deeply absorbing.
On Friday, there’s a wonderful workshop in Dunhill Community Hall where visitors can learn how to make a traditional willow lobster pot, or creel, with craftsman Brendan Simpson. It’s a skill passed down through generations and one that most of us have never even seen up close. Something different, and genuinely memorable.
Saturday brings rural charm in abundance at Cooney’s Yard, with traditional sheep shearing demonstrations and sheepdog displays that are every bit as entertaining as they are educational. If your children have ever been enchanted by a sheepdog at work, this is the real thing. The popular Wet Felt Workshop also returns to Clonea Parish Hall on Saturday, with sessions for both beginners and more experienced participants — a lovely option if you fancy a couple of hours doing something creative with your hands while the kids are otherwise occupied.
Two women shearing sheep on a scenic hillside farm.
Saturday morning also sees the Greenway Joggers host a special Memorial Walk in Crough Wood in memory of former committee member Mary Flynn. Festival-goers and local community members are warmly invited to come together to remember Mary and celebrate her contribution to the area — a genuinely touching addition to the programme.
Stories, sun prints and a spot of zen
Saturday evening offers something for everyone. Storytelling enthusiasts can settle in for an immersive evening at Clonea Power, where folk tales from the Comeraghs and beyond will come to life through shared stories and imagination. Drama fans, meanwhile, can catch Cliffcastle House at St Brigid’s Hall, Kilrossanty — a new production from the Gealach Gorm Theatre Group, written and directed by James Barry. Murder, secrets and the reading of a baron’s will. Honestly, that’s our kind of night out.
Sunday is where the younger ones really get their moment. A Cyanotype Workshop in Crough Wood, Kilmacthomas, will teach children and adults alike how to use sunlight to create beautiful prints from leaves, stones, branches and natural objects gathered from the woodland floor. There’s also the Creative Children’s Woodland Camp and the Enchanting Woodland Escape with Claire O’Sullivan — the kind of morning that’ll tire them out completely and have them talking about it for weeks.
Kids enjoying a wild outdoor adventure in the Comeraghs.
For adults who are quietly desperate for a moment of stillness, Zen in the Park offers yoga, pilates and wellbeing sessions designed to reconnect mind and body with the natural surroundings. Yes, please.
Music, markets and a bit of everything else
The wider festival programme is equally impressive. The Dunhill Artisan Food and Craft Market will be a draw for anyone who loves a browse and a decent coffee. The Comeragh Motor Club Classic and Vintage Car Run and Display is a guaranteed hit with small people who are obsessed with anything with wheels. And there’s a free performance by the Comeragh to Coast Chorus too, along with guided hikes including the spectacular Coumshingaun Ridge Hike for those who want to earn their weekend.
Music fans are also spoiled for choice, with Gerry Walsh and California Blue kicking off the festival at The Village Bar, Rathgormack. Reviving the electric energy of Ireland’s golden ballroom era, the band brings together rock ‘n’ roll, classic country and beloved showband favourites in a lively performance guaranteed to have audiences asking “Are you dancin’?” Widely regarded as pioneers of the Irish showband scene, Gerry Walsh and California Blue promise an unforgettable start to the weekend. Bernard Casey also takes to the stage at The Village Bar, while Duke Special performs in the beautiful setting of Clonagam Church on Sunday afternoon with support from Moylan. The festival concludes with An Evening of Song and Story featuring the White Horse Guitar Club and The Backyard Band at Woodhouse Estate.
Festival organiser Bernadette Drohan says it best: “Whether you’re interested in history, arts and crafts, theatre, music, wellbeing, or simply making memories with family and friends, there is something for everyone at Comeraghs Wild. We want people to slow down, explore, discover and experience the magic of the Comeraghs.”
Full programme details and tickets are available at www.comeraghswild.com.