Clonmel’s Inaugural Plein Air

With the Suir Blueway running through it and built against the stunning backdrop of the Comeragh mountains, Clonmel awaits your discovery during our Plein Air on 4th and 5th July. Also within easy reach of the rich scenery and outstanding OPW sites in Carrick, Cahir and Cashel, we invite you to join us for Clonmel’s inaugural Plein Air. Come to Clonmel to paint and draw and enjoy the hospitality and cultural programme that the 2026 Clonmel Junction Arts Festival offers. Click here to find out more…

2025 Highlights

2026 Festival

Exchanges

Exploring Cultural Exchanges & Blended Cultures

Our festival theme for 2026 is ‘Exchanges’, exciting conversations about ourselves and our communities, exploring Cultural exchanges and blended cultures. Our brochure and full programme has now launched with tickets for events on sale.
Pick up our brochure at a wide selection of the cafés, shops or businesses in Clonmel and its environs as well as STAC, Clonmel Library, the Main Guard and the Museum of Hidden History. Tickets are on sale online now via the Tickets button in the top right hand corner of our website or at our Box Office in the Showgrounds Shopping Centre from 11am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for information on our many events, artist videos, updates on our community development projects and other ways to be involved in the lead up to the festival (3rd to 12th July).
I would also just like to take a moment to express our sincere thanks to all our funders, sponsors and partners – the festival couldn’t happen without you. Many thanks also to our wonderful festival team, Board of Directors and volunteers – people make a festival and you certainly make the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival the special and vibrant festival that it is.
We look forward to celebrating our 2026 festival together and hope to see you at many more events during the festival from 3rd to 12th July.

Rebecca Lenehan
Artistic Director

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Clonmel, County Tipperary

Follow Us!

And we’re off!! 🚀🎭 We opened the 25th Clonmel Junction Arts Festival at @fetchcoffee_ this morning with the Launch of The Clonmel Exchanges Podcast Project ! This exciting new podcast project mentored by renowned podcaster Siobhán McHugh engages Tipperary writers Barrie Peterson, Dylan Lyons, Eileen Heneghan, Eve O’Mahony, Marie Walsh, Paul Harrison, Rosaleen Quinlan, Suzanne Walsh, and Theresa Jones to interview those who have loved and left Clonmel to make new lives around the world. It was created by Artistic Director Rebecca Lenehan with podcast consultant Siobhan McHugh and Tipperary Museum Curator Marie McMahon. Technical production is by Michal Durik, with original music composed by Eamon O’Malley. Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is principally funded by the Arts Council and Tipperary County Council. Hear their stories via QR codes at venues, at the specially curated Cabinet of Curiosities (a mobile handling museum) and at www.junctionfestival.com. The Clonmel Exchanges Podcast Project is a partnership project with the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History. 📸 @john_d_kelly_photography #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #festivallaunch #clonmelarts
It was great to welcome Sheila Dooley from @Failteireland to our Festival Launch at @fetch coffee earlier today ☺️ @marie.mcmahon.7564 @lenehan.rebecca #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #festivallaunch #clonmelarts
Resonance Records Returns to Junction Festival! 🎶 After an incredible response at last year’s Junction Festival, Resonance Records is back! Founded by Louis Quirke and James Healy, Resonance Records was created to give musicians the chance to capture high-quality live recordings in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Following the overwhelming support from artists and festival-goers last year, we’re delighted to be returning for this year’s festival. 📍 Find us in Lonergan’s Bar 🗓️ Daily from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Whether you’re an experienced performer or simply want to record a song to remember the festival, we’d love to have you. 🎤 Walk-ins are welcome, or you can book in advance by emailing resonancerecordz@gmail.com or contacting Louis on 087 417 5221. Come in, play a tune, and leave with a recording you’ll be proud of. Resonance Records – Capturing the Sound of Junction Festival. #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #recordingstudios #clonmelarts
Music Generation Tipperary Rock Camp and Trad Camp Showcase🤘🏼🎸🎻 Join us for standout live performances from Tipperary’s talented young musicians at the new Abbey Street Performance Space. Following their camp earlier in the week, it’s time to shine a light on these stars of the future. Grab a coffee from one of Clonmel’s coffee shops, sit back and enjoy! In partnership with Music Generation Tipperary. 📅 - Saturday, July 4 ⏰ - 12pm - 3:30pm 📍- Abbey Street Car Park 🎟️ - FREE! #musicgenerationtipperary #livemusic #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmelarts
The rest of old GameStop is being transformed into a Gaming Space for No CTRL: Expression NOT Suppression.🤩 Curious? Then step into this pop-up installation and gaming space on Mitchell Street created by our Youth Council with designers Derek Harvey and Rebecca O’Reagan. Bookings for free 1-2-hour board game sessions can be made online at www.junctionfestival.com #gaming #dungeonsanddragons #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmel
Get ready to lose yourself in the power of words!⁠ ⁠ Clonmel Junction Arts Festival's Literary Events line-up is bringing a wonderful celebration of stories, books, and spoken word to town.⁠ ⁠ The schedule is packed with incredible variety, featuring relaxed book club discussions with debut novelists, engaging poetry readings, and captivating live spoken word performances. You can even explore unique illustrations on display alongside local library events, or enjoy thought-provoking readings by fantastic contemporary Irish writers.⁠ ⁠ From intimate chats about the creative writing process to inspiring live performances that bring text to life, there is a wealth of storytelling waiting to be discovered across our local venues.⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.junctionfestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
Nataliia is beginning her mural on Kickham Plaza... A work in progress 🎨🖌️🎭 #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #artist #mural #clonmelarts
Not to be missed! The Horse of Jenin, written and performed by Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada, tells a universal story. It is about a boy growing up in Jenin, but like every child in the world, he most wants to play and have fun. It is a story about the resilience that imagination brings. 🐴 For more details visit our website- link in bio 🔗 📅 - Wednesday, July 8th and 9th Presented in association with Cairde Sligo Arts Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival and Earagail Arts Festival. 📍Showgrounds Shopping Centre Theatre #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmelarts #cjaf26 #horseofjenin #alaashehada
Pei Shin caught up with @roseannapurcell earlier today for a quick chat about her upcoming rehearsed reading -MUCK, which takes place next Tuesday night at @showgroundssc 🐄 Have a listen! Love a good blooper at the end 😂 details below 👇🏼 Tickets via link In bio 📅 - Tuesday, July 7 ⏰ - 8pm 📍 - Showgrounds Shopping Centre Theatre SUITABILITY: Ages 14+ 🎟️ - General: €10 🎟️ - Concession: €8 Supported by @sourcearts #roseannapurcell #clonmelarts #clonmeljunctionfestival #cjaf26
🎉Gather up the kids and get ready for a fantastic week of memory-making!🎉 ⁠ ⁠ Clonmel Junction Arts Festival's Family Events line-up is packed with wonder, laughter, and creativity for all ages.⁠ ⁠ The festival is transforming the town into an interactive playground with an incredible variety of activities. You can look forward to spectacular bubble shows, massive family-friendly fun days, creative colouring trails, and hands-on workshops where kids can try their hand at everything from comic strip design to pottery and painting.⁠ ⁠ With plenty of free street performances, interactive music sessions, and creative hubs popping up right across the town—including special weekend hubs at Kickham Plaza—there is something to keep every little imagination buzzing all week long.⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.junctionfestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
Alan Clarke exhibition - shout out to David Kirwan at Artisan Frames - sponsor of Gold Prize for Plein Air and we’re really lucky to have such a world-class framer in Clonmel. He’s created a unique frame for the Alan Clarke exhibition to showcase the illustrations in order to keep the sense of the works being created on drawing boards. Alan Clarke gave his illustrations to The National Library of Ireland and a selection of his work will be in an exhibition at Clonmel Library from 6th July. 🎨🖌️ @artisanframesgallery @tipperarycocolibraryservice #artisanframesclonmel #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #alanclarke #clonmelarts
A huge thank you to Mulcahy’s, who provide a warm welcome to many of our artists throughout the festival and are proud sponsors of a prize for our Plein Air competition! 🎨 CJAF26 #CJAF26 #clonmelarts #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #Pleinair
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