Park Life - Saturday 17th
The beating heart of our festival every year - Saturday & Sunday in our beautiful Con Smith Park, Cathedral Road, Cavan Town. Parking available right next door at Cavan Institute.
Saturday 17th May, 10:30am
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Kyle Riley & Little Folk - On The Road
Kyle’s back with his wildly popular family concert for young children. ‘Little Folk-on the Road’ is perfectly suited for 2-6 year olds and their adults.
Tickets: €10
Saturday, May 17, 11am
Bandstand in Con Smith Park
Working Glas Heroes: Anja Murray - Guided Talk of Con Smith Park’s Natural Habitats
Join Anja Murray’s guided talk of Con Smith Park, which will give insights into the amazing range of habitats in and around the park. Her talk will include grasslands, woodlands, and river habitats with approximately 15 minutes at each 'stop' along the route.
Saturday 17th May, 10am-2pm
Small Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Lifelong Learning Carnival School
Lifelong Learning Carnival School brings artists and communities together to celebrate culture and community through carnival arts!
Thursday 15th - Sunday 18th May, 11am-3pm
Cavan Institute, Block A
Creative Collectives Student Showcase
Join us at Creative Collectives 2025 to celebrate the talent and creativity of students from across a growing range of creative courses at Cavan Institute.
Saturday 17th May, 11am-3pm
Cavan Institute, Block A
What makes it home?
Third Year students from Loreto College Cavan have been undertaking a project based on the theme 'What makes it home?'. Each artist has considered what makes Cavan home to them from their unique perspectives. The theme has been explored through various media such as paint, print and book craft.
Saturday 17th May, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Sásta Play
This workshop is perfect for children aged 2 to 5, where they can spark their curiosity by immersing themselves in sensory, imaginative and messy play experiences.
Join Helen from Sásta Play for a fun-filled afternoon.
Saturday 17th May, 12 noon
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Working Glas Heroes: Eoghan Daltun - A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding
Acclaimed author and environmentalist Eoghan Daltun is famed and beloved in equal measure for his inspiring work on rewilding. His talk at Con Smith Park's Big Top Tent promises to be both thought-provoking and hopeful. Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of Ireland’s most influential environmental leaders!
Saturday 17th May (12-2pm)
Cavan Institute, Block A
Sensory Room
Cavan Arts Festival is proud to offer a dedicated Sensory Room in collaboration with Cavan Autism Centre as part of this year’s festival. Open to anyone who may benefit from a calm, low-stimulation environment, this space is designed to support relaxation, regulation, and inclusion.
Saturday 17th May, 12:30pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Slips Experience
Gerard and Philippe have been released! And they invite themselves onto the streets of Cavan all the way from Belgium and into Con Smith Park for a cheeky street clowning and acrobatics show you won’t want to miss!
By and with Xavier Bouvier and Benoît Devos from Company Okidok.
Saturday 17th May, 1pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Shay Mouse - The Mouse From Longford
Shay Mouse lived peacefully in Bornacoola Wood until an evil band of rats takes it over and Shay is forced to leave in disgrace. He travels across the midlands where in a series of wonderful adventures he meets new friends and enemies. He eventually ends up in Dublin where he befriends Jack Russell but will they be able to rescue all his friends from Pat The Rat and his evil band back in Bornacoola Wood?
Adapted and Performed by Shane Carroll and Padraic McIntyre.
Saturday 17th May, 1:30pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
The Dukes
The 4 member band is based in Cavan, they began back in 2021 formed by brothers Ben and Conor Lynch. In 2022 they met drummer Shane Galligan and in 2024 lead guitar Player Oisin Hilton.
The lads have been working hard to make a name for themselves in the music scene.
Saturday 17th May, 2pm & 4pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Route 424 Brass Band
The Route 424 Brass Band plays traditional Irish folk tunes with a New Orleans twist. This walkabout performance incorporates, arranged pieces with audience interaction, offering members of the public to conduct at intervals.
The Route 424 Brass Band hails from Galway City. Originally assembled for Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc’s 2022 street party for Culture Night, the band since then has been an-ever changing line-up of brass players with different repertoires and a show-stopping energy.
Saturday 17th May, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Small Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Radio Butty
Welcome to the world of Radio Butty brought to you by the legendary Pat McCabe. Fresh from the Flat Lake Festival of 15 years ago comes the weird, wonderful, absurd, unexpected, and unknown Radio Butty.
Saturday 17th May, 3pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Clarity at Last (rehearsed reading)
‘Clarity at Last’ concerns itself with prunes, observations and memories. A man, his daughter and a clob detail the events of an evening in their lives. And in their own individual ways they all find some sort of clarity.
Man: Killian McGuinness
Daughter: Kim McCafferty
Clob: Charlie McGuinness
Duration: 40 mins
Saturday 17th May, 3pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Baby Rave
Baby Rave is where the future movers and shakers are getting their groove on! DJ Captain Chaos is set to spin some serious beats that even the little ones can’t resist. Let’s turn up the volume and make memories that’ll last a lifetime!
With DJ Captain Chaos
Saturday 17th May, 4pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
J. Smith
J. Smith returns to his roots with a full-band set at this year’s Cavan Arts Festival. Hailing from Crosskeys, Co. Cavan, where he now lives and creates, J. Smith blends heartfelt songwriting with rich, textured production - music that feels both intimate and expansive.
His upcoming second album builds on the deeply personal style of his debut, weaving themes of family, place, and identity into songs that resonate long after the final note.
With his unmistakable voice and a sound that bridges indie, folk, and alt-rock, J. Smith brings an honest, powerful energy to the stage. Don’t miss this special hometown performance.
Saturday 17th May, 5pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Padraic Brady's Ojus Tours
Site Specific Street Theatre. Meeting Point: Peace Statue in Con Smith Park. Maximum of 25 people per tour. Duration: 50 minutes approximately.
Tickets: €10
Saturday 17th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Storm Echoes
Bursary Winner 2025
Orla Galligan
Storm Echoes is a bold and sustainable art installation project that repurposes fallen trees and branches from Storm Éowyn into dynamic, colourful sculptures.
The installation invites community interaction, encouraging viewers to explore its shifting forms from multiple perspectives.
Saturday 17th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Re-Turn
Re-turn, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme launched on February 1, 2024. When you buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium, or steel can that features the Re-turn logo, you pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink.
When you return your empty drink container to participating shops and supermarkets, you get your deposit back in full.
Saturday 17th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Skate Jam with Cavan Concrete Surfing
Cavan Arts Festival are delighted to be teaming up with Cavan Concrete Surfing again this year.
Try skateboarding! Come and have a go at our welcoming & supportive have-a-try lessons.
Saturday 17th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Forest Feast Food Area
Join us for a fabulous selection of some incredibly tasty food from Oven Baked pizza to Fresh Sushi, Mouth watering burgers to hand made hot dogs, coffees, cakes, vegetarian options & refreshing treats - you name it we have it this year in our forest feast area.
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Official Cavan Arts Festival Programme 2025
A magical four days & nights of art & culture in the heart of Cavan Town