All roads lead to Killarney this June Bank Holiday weekend as the town gears up for the return of Ireland BikeFest – the country’s largest, free open motorcycle festival.

Headquartered at the purpose-built Bike Village on the grounds of The Gleneagle Hotel, Ireland BikeFest kicks off today (Friday) and runs for the whole bank holiday weekend.

Festival highlights include guided ride-outs along Kerry’s most famous touring routes including the Ring of Kerry, the Skellig Ring, Caragh Lake and the Dingle Peninsula, marshalled by Harley-Davidson Owners Groups (H.O.G.) from Ireland and the UK .

There’s plenty of activity at the Bike Village too, including retail stands and traders, merchandise, the Harley-Davidson Experiential Zone, food stalls and lots of family fun.

One of the biggest attractions, the custom bike show and awards ceremony, is set to take place on Sunday.

All makes and models are invited to take part. Categories include the Best Bike in the Show, the People’s Choice Best in Show, Best Chopper Prize, Best Trike, Best Classic, Best Special Build, Best Paint and new for this year, Best Adventure Bike.

“Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support this year’s BikeFest as it returns to Killarney," Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals at Fáilte Ireland, said. 

"Events such as this are a brilliant opportunity for visitors to experience Ireland’s heritage and culture while taking in some of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way’s spectacular scenery.

“Festivals and events are a key component of Ireland’s tourism offering and they provide unique and compelling reasons for a visitor to choose a destination. They also have the ability to drive footfall for local businesses, supporting jobs and revenue generation. Festivals such as BikeFest 2022 play an important role in the recovery of the tourism sector for Killarney and its surrounding areas.”

The ultimate spectacle is the Sunday morning parade where hundreds of all brand motorcycles rumble through the streets of Killarney before returning to the Bike Village for an afternoon of live entertainment and more festivities.