AT the signing of the LEADER grant for the Headfest Festival were Steve Dolan (CEO of GRD), Conor Carty (LEADER Manager), and the Headfest team of Katie Walsh, Liam McDonagh, and Tommy Walsh; with Executive Director of GRD Cllr Andrew Reddington.

Headford community festival gets funding boost

Headford
GRD

Published: Wed 15 Apr 2026, 10:35 AM

FUNDING has been allocated to Headford’s long-running community festival Headfest under the LEADER grant.

The funding will support the 2026 programme themed The Corrib: Land, Water, Air, in celebrating the environmental, cultural, and historical significance of Headford and the River Corrib.

Now in its 16th year, Headfest is a volunteer-led festival that attracted over 5,000 attendees in 2025 across five days of music, sport, culture and family activities.

Each year, the festival delivers a social and economic boost to Headford, supporting cafés, pubs, shops, hotels, B&Bs, and more than 50 small producers and craftspeople.

Over 100 volunteers contribute annually to its success, demonstrating the strong community spirit behind the event.

“Our 2026 theme, The Corrib: Land, Water, Air, will help people of all ages engage with the natural world around us; while enjoying the music, sport, culture, and family events that make Headfest special,” said Katie Walsh, a representative of Headfest.

The 2026 Headfest programme is expected to expand significantly through Corrib-focused activities, including boat crossings on Lough Corrib, biodiversity walks, folklore trails, birdwatching, and an environmental workshop.

Partnerships with Corrib Beo, Galway Bay Boat Tours, BirdWatch Ireland, Inland Fisheries, LAWPRO, Headford Environment Group, SOLAS, and local enterprises will ensure the festival remains both educational and inclusive

Executive Director of Galway Rural Development (GRD) Cllr Andrew Reddington welcomed the investment and said that it will allow the festival to grow in a way that celebrates the local heritage, environment and community.

LEADER Manager Conor Carty highlighted the project’s alignment with LEADER priorities and said: “Headfest is a great example of what LEADER is designed to support; community led innovation that strengthens the area socially, culturally, and economically.

“This project will enhance Headford’s tourism offering, create opportunities for local enterprises, and promote environmental awareness. We are proud to support the Headfest team,” he added.