20–23 March
Festival Programme
Guests
Guest Workshops
Meet the Artist!
2026 sees the introduction of our first festival workshop series. These are artist-led opportunities to learn more about our guest singers – their song journey & tradition. Four different languages on offer with Nick Hart, Róise Ní Mhurchú, Christine Primrose and Fado performers Zoë & Philippe de Sousa, and Nuno Estevens.
20 places per workshop. First come first served. Extra fee bookable only in-person at the Singing Weekend € 10 per person.
ITSC Young Singers’ Bursary Scheme
Since 2010 we have offered bursaries to full-time student singers to attend and take part in our Singing Weekend. This initiative has been one of the most successful ventures we have undertaken and its benefits are realised each year as young singers attend and return annually. It is an opportunity to sing, learn, and network among peers and among experienced singers in an inclusive and supportive atmosphere.
The 2026 bursaries are supported by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick and by University College Cork and McDaids Bathroom – Plumbing & Tiles.
Venues
The Festival hub is the Ballyliffin Hotel where registration, many of the official events and late night sessions take place. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday we provide transport for registered guests to/from the hotel to our sessions in neighbouring Clonmany, Drumfries and Crossconnell.
Where to stay
There are a range of accommodation options in the immediate area: Ballyliffin Hotel, Ballyliffin House, and Ballyliffin Lodge. Self catering options can be found on Airbnb, Booking.com and Donegal Cottages. Aras Owen provides hostel accommodation.
Clonmany, Isle of Doagh, Carndonagh and Buncrana are all within driving distance. Please note there is very little local public transport so a car or using a taxi will be your options if you are not staying in Ballyliffin.
Unfortunately ITSC cannot provide accommodation booking for the Festival.
Getting there
Ideally a car is the best option for your visit to Inishowen as there is little local transport within the Peninsula itself.
However if you are travelling via Dublin, or Dublin Airport, John McGinley Coach Travel runs an excellent bookable direct service to Ballyliffin. Once you are at the Festival, registered guests are provided with intervenue transport.
Flight options to City of Derry Airport, Belfast City Airport, Belfast International Airport and Dublin Airport are available. However Dublin Airport is the only airport that then connects by bus to Ballyliffin.
For detailed directions please consult Google Maps
The Sat Nav Co-ordinates for the Ballyliffin Hotel are:
Latitude: 55.2666, Longitude: -7.3828
From Dublin:
John McGinley Coaches
From Derry:
McGonagle Bus & Coach Hire
(Routes 951 & 956)
From Letterkenny:
McGonagle Bus & Coach Hire
(Route 951)
Gerard Bradley, +353 (0)86 2776441
Hugh Coady, +353 (0)87 9909887
Activities,
food and more
Atlantic Stores & Foodmarket; Directly opposite Ballyliffin Hotel; Centra Supermarket, Clonmany (in-store); Beside MacTam’s, Clonmany
Mon–Sun 8am–9pm
Ballyliffin, Atlantic Store
and
Carndonagh, Bridge Street, F93KT9W
Inishowen Medical Clonmany +353 (0)74 9376173
Inishowen Medical Buncrana Buncrana +353 (0)74 9361800
inishowenmedical.ie
NOWDOC: GP out of hours Service 0818 400 911
In an emergency ring 999 or 112
Mon–Sat 7.30am–10pm,
Sun 8.30am–10pm
