The 34th annual Clarinbridge Market Day, taking place on Saturday, 5 September 2026 in the Village Green from 12pm-6pm showcases the tradition and heritage of the village and the best of Irish culture. With a line up of live traditional music and dancing, an assortment of food trucks and stalls, oyster tasting, Irish handmade crafts and foods for sale, live animals and petting farm, face painting, wool spinning and bread making demonstrations, and a display of vintage tractors, cars and boats, it’s a great day out for the whole family. The event raises money to benefit local community organisations and charities.

About the Market Day:
The Clarinbridge Market Day features traditional demonstrations which can range from wheat threshing, butter churning, wool spinning, and traditional open-fire soda bread baking. The market itself, which takes place on the Village Green, includes local stall holders selling art, hand crafted goods, plants and herbs, locally made food products, and more. The family friendly atmosphere features a petting farm with various animals, face painting and games for the kids. A schedule of live traditional music and dancing are carefully curated to provide entertainment and a lively atmosphere for market goers throughout the entire day. Vintage displays of farm machinery, classic cars and boats line the main road and the recent addition of our “Food Street” features all the flavours of Galway with a plethora of food trucks, oysters, seafood chowder and Guinness. The annual event raises money for local charities and community organisations.

History of Market Day:
Clarinbridge Market Day has a history rooted in the tradition of holding a market and fair in the village. In 1820, a patent was granted to Sir Thomas Redington to hold a market every Tuesday, primarily for oats and wheat. Additionally, a fair was established on the first Thursday after the 11th of February, May, August, and November, primarily for livestock like pigs and horses. Today, the modern day version of Clarinbridge Market Day, which was intiated in 1993 by Father Hon Keogh, and is held annually on the first Saturday in September, showcases a step back in time with traditional crafts, farm practices, and live animals, while also raising money for local charities. 33 years ago, Father Keogh, Clarinbridge’s Parish priest, inaugurated the very first Market Day day with the Angelus, and a Catholic prayer, followed by a tasting of the new season’s oysters. For many years, the Market Day marked the beginning of the Clarinbridge Oyster Festival which began in 1954. Today, the modern Market Day is a vibrant event, featuring a range of activities and displays that bring the village’s past to life. It is strongly driven by the local community intent on celebrating the local culture, and showcasing Irish crafts, food, music, and traditions.

Photo by Karen Lyons, from Clarinbridge Market Day 2025.