What is the Ardmore Pattern Festival?

The annual Ardmore Pattern Festival is a family-friendly Festival, established to revive the traditional pattern festival of Ardmore, but with a modern twist. The Festival is a weekend-long feast of events and activities ranging from open-air concerts, fireworks, children’s competitions and entertainment, arts events, traditional storytelling, guided historical tours, football blitzes, kayaking and power boating, live music sessions and much, much more.  Organised for both the local community and visitors alike, most events are free of charge, with something for all ages and tastes.

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When does it take place?

The Ardmore Pattern Festival takes place at the end of July each year, the weekend closest to the Pattern Day of local patron saint, St. Declan which is on the 24th July.

The main Festival takes place from Friday evening to Sunday night, with a number of Festival warm-up events taking place in the week leading up to the Festival.

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What is the Pattern Day?

The word pattern comes from ‘patron’. The Pattern Day of Ardmore celebrates the local ‘patron’ saint, St. Declan. St. Declan’s Well and ecclesiastical settlement in Ardmore is considered the most ancient Christian settlement in Ireland. St. Declan was a bishop in Ireland before the arrival of St. Patrick. He is credited with a great many miracles from pushing back the sea to bringing hostages who died of the plague at Cashel, Co Tipperary back from the dead. Long after his death St. Declan was venerated and pilgrims traveled for miles to Ardmore in search of further miracles and cures.

For more information about St. Declan look at the following sources:

Waterford County Museum website;

Declan of Ardmore by Siobhán Lincoln, 1995;

The Life of St. Declan of Ardmore (Betha Decclain) with an introduction, translation and notes by Rev. Canon Patrick Power.

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What type of Events?

The Ardmore Pattern Festival boasts a wide variety of events and activities to suit all ages and tastes, the majority of which are free.

Children: Puppet Shows, Sandcastle and Fancy Dress Competitions, Treasure Hunt, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Underage Football Blitzes (Boys & Girls), Art Workshops, Children’s Storytelling

Teenagers: Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Art Workshops, Golf Putting Competition, Penalty Shoot-Out Competition, Live Music on the Festival Stage

Artistic: Artists’ Trail, Pottery & Painting Demonstrations, Art Exhibition, Fireworks & Fire Spectacular Displays, Food & Craft Fair, Street Theatre

Sports: Kayaking & Rock Climbing, Power Boating, Basketball Blitz, Golf Putting Competition, Penalty Shoot-Out Competition, Fun Water Polo, Beach Rugby and Road Bowling

Musical Entertainment: Open Air Concerts on the Festival Stage featuring a variety of bands; live music & song each night in the various bars and hotels in the village, ranging from traditional, to folk, to rock music; Live Classical & Choral Concerts; Music from Bygone Days; Fancy Dress Discos; Busking Competitions

Historical Interest:Guided Historical Tours of the village and heritage sites; Walk down St Declan’s Way; Pageant Celebrating the life of St. Declan

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What will it cost?

The vast majority of Ardmore Pattern Festival events are free of charge. Occasionally we may charge an admission fee for a small number of events (usually indoor concerts in the local Church), to cover the cost of organising that particular event. The Festival is kindly funded by local business sponsors for the most part, allowing us to provide the majority of entertainment free of charge.

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Where Can I Stay?

There is a variety of accommodation in and around Ardmore and the neighbouring towns of Youghal and Dungarvan. There are two hotels in Ardmore: The Cliff House Hotel and the Round Tower Hotel as well as a number of B&Bs, plus other rented accommodation. For details on accommodation in the area, you can contact the local Tourist Offices in Dungarvan and Youghal or see our 'Partners' page for links to the websites of local accommodation providers who support the Ardmore Pattern Festival.

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What else can I do in the area?

Scenic walks, kayaking, rock climbing, golf, swimming, sea angling and top class restaurants - these are just some of the activities available in and around Ardmore. For details on other attractions in the area, you can contact the local Tourist Offices in Dungarvan and Youghal or also refer to Fáilte Ireland’s (the Irish Tourist Board) website - Discover Ireland. 

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How do I get involved?

Have you participated in the Ardmore Pattern Festival in previous years? What were your experiences? Have you any suggestions to help us improve the Festival? Any ideas for future events or activities? Contact us......

Are you new to the Festival? Would you like to come to Ardmore for the next Festival? Perhaps you have questions about the Festival to which you would like some answers? Contact us......

Are you into Facebook and Twitter? If so, visit our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter become a fan of the Pattern Festival..........

Enter our lively forum and post a question or answer/share insights with a questioner. If you have something to contribute to the growth and development of the Festival we want to hear from you. So join in the discussions. Ask some questions, share some ideas. Make your presence known and help us to make the Pattern Festival even more successful!

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