Ireland BikeFest returns to Killarney from 29 to 31 May, marking 20 years since the 2006 European HOG Rally that originally brought the festival to the town.

What began as a one-off European Harley-Davidson event in 2006 led to the launch of Ireland BikeFest the following year.

It has since grown into Ireland’s largest free open motorcycle and music festival, drawing visitors annually from across Ireland, the UK, and Europe over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

“Twenty years ago, Killarney fell head-over-wheels in love with the biking community,” says Patrick O’Donoghue, Chairman of Ireland BikeFest.

“There was something electric about that first rally in 2006. The sound, the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the town embraced it completely. Ireland BikeFest grew from that connection and twenty years later the relationship is stronger than ever.”

The 2026 anniversary festival will feature the purpose-built Bike Village at the Gleneagle, guided ride-outs along the Wild Atlantic Way, live music, a Custom Bike Show, and the traditional Sunday bike parade through the streets of Killarney.

Supported by Harley-Davidson, the Gleneagle, and Fáilte Ireland, the event remains free and open to all riders, bikes, and visitors. For more information, visitwww.irelandbikefest.com.

Killarney took pride of place in both the film and literary categories of this year’s ‘Hot Press’ Readers’ Poll, with local connections winning two of the main national awards.

The Best Film award went to Hamnet , starring Killarney actress Jessie Buckley. Buckley’s performance as Agnes Shakespeare in the feature adaptation has been a major success, and Hot Press readers have now voted it their favourite movie of the year.

Meanwhile, author Joseph O’Connor won the Best Book category with his latest novel, The Ghosts of Rome.

O’Connor has a strong historical link to the area, as his recent books are based on Killarney humanitarian Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and his wartime exploits in Rome.

O’Connor has long championed the legacy of the Killarney native, whose memorial statue stands in the town centre.