Melbourne Celtic Festival 17 March 2026
TICKETS for ST PATRICK’S DAY
Festival Pass $90 – $99 Afternoon and Evening Sessions $50 – $55 (Children 12 and under free)
Following ‘sold out’ Melbourne Celtic Festivals in 2023, 2024 and 2025
Grab your mates and get ready to dive into the unforgettable Melbourne Celtic Festival 2026!
Tuesday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day 12pm – 11pm
Mission to Seafarers, 717 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Across three intimate indoor stages. The Hall, The Chapel, The Dome and a Garden Stage
Artists:
Apolline . Austral . The Bushwackers . Claymore . Cora Browne Trio . Erin Russell . Gráinne Hunt (Ire) . Greenfieldz . Homebru . Inn Echo (CAN) . Jules Stewart (USA) . Kathryn Clements . Melbourne Ceili Band . Maggie Carty . Out Of Hand . Phil Lester . Sally’s Ukulele . Sam O’Connell . Shona Williams . Sue Foley . The Surround . Suzette Herft . Victorian Irish Dance Academy . Victoria Welsh Male Choir…
Experience world-class Celtic music and dance at Melbourne Celtic Festival 2026. Set in the iconic Mission to Seafarers in the heart of Melbourne, this St Patrick’s Day celebration brings the community together for an unforgettable day of music, dance, food, drink and connection.
🎻 Book your tickets now!
St Patrick’s Celebrations 15 March 2026
Celtic Mass – 15 March 2026
Celtic Mass – McCrae Street – Bendigo
10am mass at St Killian’s Church on Sunday 15th March 2026.
Followed by morning tea.
The mass will incorporate Irish hymns and prayers and will be celebrated by Fr Junray and Fr Rom Hayes.
We aim to celebrate the contributions of our Irish immigrants to Bendigo and wider surrounds, who brought their love of culture, music and stories as well as their love of community and faith.
Performing on the day:
Michelle Westley – Guitar and vocals
John Clancy – Organ
Sue Foley – Vocals
Supported by the St Killian’s Choir
Everyone is welcome – anyone who shares a love of music and Celtic tradition.
Melbourne Irish Festival 22 March 2026
Melbourne Comhaltas
St.Patrick’s Day Hooley–17 March
Come along and celebrate all things Irish with us on St. Patrick’s Day itself, Tuesday 17
March atSt.Philip’s AnglicanChurch Hall,HoddleSt. in Abbotsford. Kicking off at7:00p.m.,
there will be music, song, dance and loads of craic for the whole family. Fantastic raffle
prizes, plus music by our own Melbourne Comhaltas musicians and Ceoltóirí Naarm. The
cost is only $10 for Comhaltas members / $15 for non-members, and children are FREE.
Please let us know you’re coming by contacting Mary at 9435 4435 or
melbournecomhaltassecretary@gmail.com. Looking forward to celebrating with you!
Sydney St Patrick’s Day 2026
https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/event/sydney-st-patricks-day-festival-2026/
https://www.sydneystpatricksday.com/
Adelaide St Patrick’s Day 2026
Adelaide St. Patrick’s Day
Tuesday March 17 @ 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Parade at 11am weather permitting)
Main Hall – Adelaide Irish Club 13-15 Carrington Street, Adelaide
Join us For A Massive Day of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, from Irish Dancing, Live Music, bands and of course the best Pint of Guinness in Adelaide! Members Entry is Free.
Movies
Saipan – in cinemas 5 February
From the creators of the smash box office hit Kneecap comes Saipan, the unforgettable and hilarious story of Roy Keane vs Mick McCarthy, Ireland’s 2002 World Cup divided. Steve Coogan leads in this riveting, witty, and utterly unmissable tale of clashes, egos, and football frenzy. Do you have to be a football fan to love it? Absolutely not! ★★★★ | THE GUARDIAN.
IN CINEMAS 5 FEBRUARY
See the YouTube trailer.
Thanks to our friends at the Irish Film Festival and Kismet Movies
Melbourne Highland Games 29 March 2026
The Melbourne Highland Games & Celtic Festival is back on Sunday, 29th March 2026, from 9am to 5pm at
Eastfield Park, 119 Eastfield Rd, Croydon,Victoria. For tickets and details, see: http://www.melbournehighlandgames.org.au
This day-long celebration of Scottish/Celtic culture and heritage, held annually at Eastfield Park, Eastfield Rd in Croydon, Victoria, echoes the original games that took place centuries ago in Scotland during the reign of King Malcolm III.
This multicultural, inclusive event featuring wonderful music and competitions in dancing and pipe bands and world-class athletic
competitors is a must-see outing for everyone. We strive to provide the best of Celtic culture on public display.
Melbourne Irish Studies Seminars
These free seminars, often both online via Zoom and in person at Newman College, begin for 2026 on 11 Feb. 26
Melbourne Irish Studies Seminar Series
We are delighted to announce that we have great program lined up for Semester 1, 2026. So add these dates to your diaries, more details to come with zoom links for live streaming.
18 March Ellen O’Leary, DPhil candidate, University of Oxford, ‘Claire Keegan’s (Re)past: Appetite, Autonomy and Temporality’
15 April Dr Sarah Corrigan, Allan Myers Lecturer in Latin Language and Literature, University of Melbourne, title to come.
27 May Dr Laura Jocic, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, ‘Bound for Australia: Anne Trotter’s Needlework Specimen book, 1840’
http://isaanz.org/events/miss-seminars/
As always this is a free public seminar open to every one. It starts at 4.30pm Jabiru Room at Newman College, Swanston St, Carlton. See above link if you wish to attend via Zoom.
MISS co-convenors:
Philip Bull (La Trobe University)
Frances Devlin-Glass (Deakin University)
Dianne Hall (Victoria University)
Ronan McDonald, (University of Melbourne)
Elizabeth Malcolm (University of Melbourne)
Our website is https://isaanz.org/events/miss-seminars/
Touring
Celtic Thunder Australia 2026 Tour
For the first time in a decade, acclaimed Irish singing group Celtic Thunder return to Australia in 2026.
Renowned for a catalogue of songs that includes ‘A Place In The Choir’, ‘Seven Drunken Nights’, ‘The Sound Of Silence’, ‘Ireland’s Call’ and ‘Galway Girl’, this tour will see Celtic Thunder perform concerts in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in March.
The quartet of Emmet, Damian, Neil and Ronan will perform a collection of their biggest hits as well as presenting their new production, An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder, that will see them reunite with past members for an unforgettable evening of music, memories, and camaraderie.
Kingfishr – Halcyon Tour 2026
The Pogues
ADELAIDE ROUNDUP FRINGE AND FESTIVAL
Is é Gasra na Gaeilge ionad na Gaeilge san Astráil Theas agus cuirimid úsáid na Gaeilge chun cinn agus tugaimid tacaíocht do lucht foghlaim na Gaeilge / Gasra na Gaeilge is the centre for the Irish language in South Australia and we promote using the Irish language and support learners and speakers.
Súil siar ar 2025 / A look back at 2025
It was a big year for Gaeilge in 2025 with the Gaeilge rappers Kneecap taking Australia and NZ by storm. Language learning opportunities abounded with immersion courses offered in Sydney in January and June thanks to the Australian School of Celtic Learning and Scoil na Gaeilge Sydney, the latter even putting out its own cookbook – see more here!
Gasra na Gaeilge continued to host Pop-up Gaeltachtaí across Adelaide which continued to be well attended by Gaeilgeoirí and be a great place for speakers to meet and talk. Many thanks to Seán Quinn for his efforts in arranging these with more scheduled for this year – see further below.
The Adelaide Irish Club also successfully hosted a number of Irish classes thanks to Gaeilgeoir and Adelaide Irish Club Chairperson Marc Ó Conaill. Interest was huge and the classes were over scribed and spawned the follow-up August event, Irish Stories, Mythology & Irish-Language Learning.
Whilst Gasra na Gaeilge is not currently hosting Irish language classes, Adelaide-based Gaeilge teacher, Dr Dymphna Lonergan, has kindly offered that if anyone is looking for help with Irish in Adelaide to reach out to her at dymphnalonergan@gmail.com.
There are of course also numerous opportunities for learning Gaeilge ar líne (on line) with educational institutions around Australia at a range of levels, times and days of the week. If looking to join and online class be sure to check out the following:
- Australian School of Celtic Learning – online beginners classes are Wednesdays 7:30-8:30pm; intermediate classes are Thursdays 5-6pm. All NSW times. More info here.
- University of Queensland’s Institute of Modern Languages, online Irish (Gaelic) Level 1A and 2A – March to May 2026, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6 pm–8 pm Qld time. More info here.
- Cumann Gaeilge na hAstráile (Irish Language Association of Australia) (Victoria) – advanced 7:30-8:30pm Tuesdays; beginners & intermediate 7-8pm Wednesdays. All Vic time. Classes start back 27 January 2026. More info here.
- Irish Language School Sydney /Scoil na Gaeilge Sydney Inc – Mondays 6-8pm NSW time. More info here.
Pop Ups Nationwide
Bíonn Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí nó ciorcal comhrá ar siúil go minic in
● Mparntwe/Alice Springs: cur teacs chuig nó cur glaoch ar Séamus ar 0414 883 478;
● Meanjin/Brisbane: tuilleadh eolas ar suíomh Gaeilge Brisbane
● Gimuy/Cairns: tuilleadh eolas ar suíomh Cairns Le Gaeilge
● Warrane/Sydney: tuilleadh eolas ar suíomh Comhaltas Sydney
Australia’s very own Celticist and Gaeilgoir, Dr Pamela O’Neill, of the Australian School of Celtic Learning in NSW also regularly hosts online events about early Irish history and language – more info here.
Adelaide Fringe and Festival March 2026
The Irish Club Comedy Gala
You’ll Be Grand and Other Contortions
Music: The Shamrocks
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-shamrocks-af2026
Music: The Shambolicks
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/irish-at-the-norwood-af2026
Music: Cranberry Tribute
Western Australia Fenian Festival 2026
Irish Music & Dance Weekend – Queenscliff 1-3 May 2026
Victoria National Celtic Folk Festival – Portarlington 5-8 June 2026
Ongoing
What’s On at the Celtic Club Melbourne
The Celtic Club is an organization that celebrates and supports pride in Irish heritage and culture, as well as the broader Celtic community. We provide opportunities for our members and guests to benefit from, learn about, and enjoy Gaelic language, Irish music, art, culture, and more.
For further information please visit us here:https://www.celticclub.com.au/whats-on
Ceoltóirí Naarm Melbourne
This group of very young and very talented musicians are worth supporting.
Gaeilge Brisbane agus Preab Ghaeltacht Brisbane
Gach coicís, tagann grúpa díograiseach le chéile chun gaeilge a labhairt agus ceangal a dhéanamh leis an gcultúr i gciorcal comhrá in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Is ciorcal é seo ina bhfuil neart léibhéil agus tá fáilte roimh éinne ina bhfuil suim acu sa teanga agus a bhfuil fonn orthu an méid gaeilge atá acu a úsáid. Ciorcal sóisialta, cairdiúil, neamhfhoirmiúil atá ann agus tá beim ar an labhairt ach go háirid.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá Preab Ghaeltacht ar siúl i Gilhooley’s Bar ar gach Domhnach deireannach den mhí. Buail isteach agus usáid an méid geailge atá agat!
Breis eolais le fáil anseo.
Each fortnight, a committed and enthusiastic group convene at Woolloongabba, Brisbane, to connect with the Irish language and culture. The group consists of many levels of fluency and all who are interested in the language and wish to speak are very welcome. It is an informal, friendly, social group with an emphasis on connection and on using the language.
Furthermore, a Pop-Up Gaeltacht convene on the last Sunday of the month at Gilhooley’s Bar, Brisbane for the same purpose. Come and join and put your Irish language to work!
See here for more information.
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Ciorcal Comhrá Nua ar an gCósta Óir
Tá Ciorcal Comhrá nua tosnaithe ar an gCósta Óir agus bíonn sé ar siúl gach dara Domhnach i SoPo i Southport, ón 4 go dtí a 6pm. Féach ar Gaeilge Gold Coast ar Facebook chun breis eolais a fháil agua na sonraí a aimsiú.
A new Ciorcal Comhrá has started on the Gold Coast and runs every second Sunday in SoPo, Southport from 4 to 6pm. See the Gaeilge Gold Coast Facebook page for more details.
Sunday sessions (Canberra Irish Club) Canberra
Musicians and singers are invited to express their talents and to entertain patrons of the Canberra Irish Club on Sundays from 2- 4pm
Find out more here
An Inaugural Irish-Australian Short Film Competition
| Irish Film Festival ’26 Short Film Program open for submissions |
| In 2026, the Irish Film Festival will stage our first Short Film Competition as part of the festival season! The competition is open to fiction and documentary with all genres welcome – drama, comedy, animation, experimental and anything in between. The winning films will be screened as part of the festival and receive prizes (to be announced). To qualify, the submitted film must:Have themes, storylines, characters or locations relating to Ireland or the Irish diaspora, ORHave a principal participant (director, producer or actor) who has Irish heritageBe an original work and meet all eligibility requirements regarding music and copyrightBe less than 15 minutes longHave been completed after January 1st 2024 (incl.)Be presented in their original versions with English language subtitles or commentary where necessaryBe uploaded in MP4 format via FilmFreeway (resolution of 1920X1080 px, at least)A $20 AUD entry fee is required to enter. Film submissions close 30th April 2026 at 11:59pm AEDT. To read further terms and conditions and view last year’s program, visit our website. If your short film is eligible, please submit your film via our FilmFreeway pageto be considered for inclusion in the Irish Film Festival Australia 2026 Program |
Tinteán 