15/09/2026
🌊It’s hard to believe that Regatta Monday was six weeks ago already.
Summer has drawn to a close, schools and colleges have started back, everyone is settling into their usual routines and autumn is creeping in.
Before the festival week becomes a slightly more distant memory, we wanted to take the opportunity to say a very sincere thank you to everyone who helped make Castletownbere Festival of the Sea 2026 happen.
First and foremost, thank you to our sponsors.
Our sponsors are local businesses, families and individuals who put their hands in their pockets and contribute their hard-earned money to help us deliver the Festival each year. We are incredibly grateful for that support and for the trust you place in us.
Every contribution, large or small, goes directly towards making Regatta week happen.
This year that included our Festival App, new sponsor boards and signage, printing, bunting, advertising in The Southern Star and on social media, entertainers, venue and marquee hire, prizes, trophies and medals, food and materials for the paella, and plenty more besides.
Small-town festivals like ours are about much more than a week of entertainment.
Castletownbere has always had its own particular character - shaped by the sea, fishing, farming, our harbour and the generations of families who have made their lives here.
The festival week gives us an opportunity to celebrate that heritage while bringing people together in the town as it is today.
For many people who have moved away, Regatta week is also a reason to come home. It’s a chance to meet old friends, spend time with family, bring the kids along, have a bit of fun and reconnect with people you might otherwise only see in passing.
We were also delighted to use the Festival as a platform to support two causes very close to this community, the RNLI and L.A.S.T. (Lost at Sea Tragedies). Thank you to everyone who donated so generously throughout the week.
Another part of the festival we love is showcasing local businesses, small crafters and traders through our markets. This year it was especially lovely to see some of the younger generation getting involved too, selling candles and bracelets, face painting and having their own little stalls. We would absolutely love to see more of that in future years.
A huge thank you also goes to the local clubs, organisations, pubs, businesses,families and individuals who organised events as part of the programme.
Every event organised independently takes some of the pressure off our small festival committee, adds another dimension to the week and, most importantly, gives people more reasons to get involved.
From soccer, athletics, the GAA Cúl Camp and Arts & Action Camp to quizzes, scavenger hunts, poetry readings, guided walks and everything in between - seeing such strong participation across the week was fantastic.
And our Wellness programme certainly found its audience this year! 😆 At one point the Sarah Walker Gallery was so full and the bookings were coming in so quickly that a list became fairly pointless, and it turned into “just come along, we’ll squeeze you in somewhere!” We loved seeing so many people willing to try something different and take a little time out during a very busy week.
And then, of course the weather was not exactly on our side on Regatta Monday, but that didn’t stop the craic. Thank you to everyone who came out, took part, competed, volunteered, helped behind the scenes or simply stood in the rain and supported what was happening around town.
A festival like this simply cannot be delivered by a committee alone. It works because a whole community gets behind it - financially, practically and by turning up and taking part.
So to our sponsors, volunteers, event organisers, local clubs and organisations, businesses, traders, entertainers, participants, supporters and everyone who came along during the week:
Thank you.
Your support keeps Castletownbere Festival of the Sea going, and we hope that Festival week continues to be something our community can enjoy, take pride in and look forward to coming home for. 🌊
