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22 Sept 2025
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22 Sept 2025
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The Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club promoting the launch of the walking festival
BALLYHOURA Walking Festival, Ireland’s longest-running walking festival is returning for its 29th year this autumn, with a “diverse programme” catering to all abilities.
For the fifth consecutive year, the walking festival will join forces with the Joyce Brothers Music Festival, to create a unique weekend that “blends the joy of outdoor exploration with the rich traditions of Irish music, song, and dance”.
The music festival celebrates the legacy of PW and Robert Dwyer Joyce, natives of Glenosheen, whose collections of Irish music, songs, and stories are still treasured today.
A spokesperson for the annual festival said: “The music festival’s lively programme of concerts, sessions, workshops, and heritage walks perfectly complements the walking trails, adding a rich cultural dimension to the weekend.”
Many of the walks are led by members of the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club, whose knowledge of the area’s heritage, wildlife, and folklore ensures every step is “steeped in local insight”.
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From challenging hikes such as the Sunrise to Sunset Ballyhoura Challenge, which covers over 42km of rugged trails, to the “light-hearted and joyful” Whistling Walk - there are events for all abilities.
The “musical heartbeat” of the weekend will kick off with the Gala Opening Night in the Old Chapel Rooms on Thursday, October 2 at 7.30pm setting the tone for days filled with traditional concerts, toe-tapping sessions, and engaging workshops.
A spokesperson said that festival-goers can expect to hear “the best of Irish traditional music spilling from pubs, halls, and street corners”.
Alongside the strolls and the songs taking place across the festival weekend, Kilfinane Community Council will host an Intercultural Food Fair from 1.30-3.30pm on the Saturday.
The festivals will take place from Thursday, October 2, to Sunday, October 5, with a wide array of events hosted each day.
Tickets to the events can be purchased on Eventbrite, with many being free to attend.
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