Kerry county councillors have approved the 2026 Arts Act grant allocations.
A total of 27 projects will share €35,000, supporting festivals, and music, theatre, and arts groups across the county.
Major recipients include K Visual in Kenmare and the National Circus Festival in Tralee, each receiving €3,500, Feile na Bealtaine and the Chamber Music Festival on Valentia with €2,500 each, and Dingle Lit and World Fiddle Day with €2,000 each.
Other grants start at €400, supporting a wide variety of arts activity.
The council said the high number of applications reflects a vibrant arts sector, supporting both new initiatives and previously funded projects.
An independent panel described the applications as very high quality and recommended increased funding in future rounds.
Separately, following the closing date in December, the council received ten applications for the Artist in Schools Bursary, 14 for the Artist Retreat Bursary, 46 for Creative Work Development, four for the Eamon Kelly Bursary, and three for the Further Arts Education Bursary.
| No. | Project | Location | Funding (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dingle Lit | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 2,000 |
| 2 | Eigse na Brideoige 2026 | Kenmare | 800 |
| 3 | The Handed Down Sliabh Luachra Series | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 2,000 |
| 4 | World Fiddle Day | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 2,000 |
| 5 | Kenmare Film Club | Kenmare | 600 |
| 6 | Teach Slamsa Finuge | Listowel | 1,000 |
| 7 | An Feile Eile | Kenmare | 1,000 |
| 8 | Beaufort Film Night | Kenmare | 400 |
| 9 | Spraoi Chiarrai | Killarney | 600 |
| 10 | Artists@Anam "AAA" – Music & Poetry | Killarney | 800 |
| 11 | Into The Wild | Kenmare | 500 |
| 12 | National Circus Festival | Tralee | 3,500 |
| 13 | Binneas – concerts of local traditional music, song and folklore | Kenmare | 700 |
| 14 | The Unwritten Her | Listowel | 700 |
| 15 | The Gathering Festival | Killarney | 1,000 |
| 16 | Feile na Bealtaine | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 2,500 |
| 17 | Lá na Cruite | Harpday 2026 | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 700 |
| 18 | Chamber Music Festival on Valentia | Kenmare | 2,500 |
| 19 | Kerry Drama Festival | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 500 |
| 20 | Dingle Theatrics | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 1,500 |
| 21 | Cúil le Chellie | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 1,000 |
| 22 | K Visual | Kenmare | 3,500 |
| 23 | Anam Tralee | Tralee | 1,500 |
| 24 | St. Brigit's Day Illumination – Ciarral Art Nexus | Kenmare | 1,200 |
| 25 | Féile Feabhra Festival 2026 and Féile Cheoil Festival 2026 | Listowel | 500 |
| 26 | An Fhéile Bheag Fillochta 2006 | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 1,000 |
| 27 | Dingle Distillery Film Festival | Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne | 1,000 |
