Headquartered at the purpose-built Bike Village located on the grounds of The Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, Ireland BikeFest kicks off on Friday, May 31 and runs throughout the June bank holiday weekend. Bikers in their thousands from around the world are expected to visit the region for the festival.
Highlights include guided ride-outs along Kerry’s most famous touring routes including the Ring of Kerry, the Skellig Ring, Caragh Lake and the Dingle Peninsula, marshalled by the Harley Owner’s Club UK and Ireland chapters Celtic Thunder Chapter Waterford, Gaelic Chapter Dublin and Belfast Chapter.
There’s plenty of activity at the Bike Village too, including retail stands and traders, merchandise, the Harley-Davidson Experiential Zone, food stalls and lots of family fun.
Grab a drink and kick back at the popular Harley Bar, or simply sit and listen to the incredible line-up of live bands on three stages over the course of the weekend. New to the 2024 programme is the Biker Lounge – a chill-out sanctuary for bikers to connect and unwind with live music, bike talks and more.
This year’s music programme features the biggest and best line-up yet taking in three stages – the Main Stage INEC, the Outdoor Stage in the Bike Village and The HarleyBar. Expect all the rock classics on the Main Stage at the Gleneagle INEC Arena where some of the greatest tribute and cover bands on the planet are set to perform including JoanOvArc, The Strobes, Guns Reloaded, The Unusual Suspects and Hells Bells.
Outside, in the purpose-built festival Bike Village, the Outdoor Stage will host a marathon of live music with performances by Niall Toner and Band, The Afters, The Hush, Rob Strong and Band, Chapter 3, Amazing Apples, Whitewater, The Harleys and Slippery When Wet. And that’s not all! Favourite bikers’ haunt The Harley® Bar is set to host Two Time Polka, the Rising and Mega Trad.
One of the biggest attractions, the Custom Bike Show and awards ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, June 2. Categories include Best in Show, Best Harley-Davidson Best Non-Harley-Davidson®, Best Adventure Bike and more.
The ultimate spectacle is the Sunday morning parade where hundreds of all-brand motorcycles rumble through the streets of Killarney before returning to the Bike Village for an afternoon of live entertainment and more festivities.
And if you are not a biker don’t worry! Ireland BikeFest Killarney also welcomes visitors, tourists and families who just want to experience the Bike Village, have fun and enjoy the free live entertainment. You do not even have to own a bike; you can just bask in the glory of some slick, well-built machines and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Ireland BikeFest. You may even win you’re a motorcycle in the ‘Win a Harley-Davidson Raffle’ in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
“Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support this year’s Ireland Bikefest. Festivals and events present an excellent opportunity to showcase the rich heritage and unique culture that Ireland has to offer. They are also important drivers of tourism revenue across the country, particularly in areas that are outside of the traditional tourism hotspots. Developing unique and immersive visitor experiences like Ireland Bikefest play a key role in motivating both international and domestic visitors to choose a destination while helping drive the sustainable development of the tourism sector for the county and the wider region.” says Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events, Fáilte Ireland.
Ireland BikeFest Killarney is supported by Harley-Davidson® UK & Ireland, The Gleneagle Hotel, Fáilte Ireland, Destination Killarney Ltd., Authorised Harley-Davidson® Dealers, Kerry County Council and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.
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Kerry Motorsport News 