The SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race kicks off this weekend from Wicklow Harbour on Saturday 18th June. Excitement has already been growing with banners and bunting in place to welcome many guests to Wicklow Town!

Wicklow Sailing Club will play host to Ireland’s most premier offshore race, which will see an amazing fleet of over 52 boats in Wicklow harbour, ranging from 30-70 feet.

The Round Ireland race is always one of the highlights of the summer with many visitors flocking to the town to witness the fantastic spectacle, as well as experience all the great food, drink and shopping the town offers.

The official race starts at 1pm on Saturday 18th June from Wicklow Harbour, but there’ll be plenty to see from as early as Thursday with the competing boats and teams arriving at the harbour.

To celebrate this landmark yacht race, Wicklow Sailing Club will be hosting a series of festival events that will take place from Thursday to Sunday at the Wicklow Sailing Club and on Black Castle Hill.

Festivities will begin on Thursday with a ‘Meet the Sailors’ party at 8pm, followed by the ‘Rock-a-Round Ireland Party’ with a BBQ and live music on Friday at 9pm.

Saturday and Sunday will have lots of fun family activities at Black Castle Hill from 12-9pm each day including live music, a funfair with children’s Bounceworld, and food stands from local businesses.

For lovers of music and live entertainment, there’s a free, open-air live music stage at the Round Ireland Festival, with gigs at the Black Castle from Friday to Sunday. Brought to you by SSE Renewables and supported by Wicklow County Council and the Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage, the line-up includes local and national artists on Friday evening and all-day Saturday and Sunday from lunchtime, with headline performances by Big Love on Saturday night and Leslie Dowdall on Sunday night.

The race will officially conclude on Friday 24th June with a Sailors’ Prize Giving Ceremony, BBQ and live music at Wicklow Sailing Club.

Full list of activites:

SSE Renewables Round Ireland Festival – At a glance
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Thursday June 16th
- ‘Meet the Sailors’ Party, 8pm at Wicklow Sailing Club (WSC)
- Live music by ‘The Sessions’

Friday June 17th
- Festival at the Black Castle, 5-8pm with free live music
- ‘Rock-a-Round Ireland Party’ at WSC, 9pm
- BBQ & Live music by ‘New Dimension’

Saturday June 18th
- Race Day – Race Start at 1pm
- Festival at the Black Castle, 12 noon-9pm with free live music
- Music Stage headliner: Big Love, 8.30pm

Sunday June 19th
- Festival at the Black Castle 12 noon-9pm with free live music
- Music Stage headliner: Leslie Dowdall, 7.30pm

Friday June 24th
- Sailors’ Prize Giving Ceremony, 6pm at WSC
- BBQ and Live Music by ‘The Man in the Kilt’