Festival Details

Battle for the Lake is back for a 7th year and promises to be an even bigger celebration of all things Mayo! Set on the stunning Achill Island, Keel lake will provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend of surfing, music, and fun. Nestled on the Wild Atlantic Way combine your weekend with some of the most breath taking scenery Ireland has to offer and head to Mayo’s best festival where family and friends gather to see some spectacular aerial displays as the riders fly through the air and of course catch some of the best Irish bands in the last festival of the summer!

National and International riders will compete for the title of Irish Champion and King or Queen of the lake. Sean Murphy Irish Pro champion and Padraig O’Doherty Irish Amateur Champion will be back to keep their 2016 titles. For the first time EVER Achill will play host to the Irish Windsurfing Tour where top Irish windsurfers will compete in the ‘Mayo Mayhem’ wave competition!

PureMagic is well known for bringing in top class international surfers to Ireland for Battle for the Bay every May and now Battle for the Lake will welcome world Redbull legend and Dutch kitesurfing national champion Ruben Lenten. Ruben is a true ‘Flying Dutchmen’ and renowned for being the most daring and radical kite surfer in the world. Surfing fans will know Ruben for his death defying stunts, in particular during the Red Bull Ragnarok 2012, he completed a breath taking jump from a hundred meter high cliff on the Haugastøl plateau in Norway. Ruben will be the Battle’s special guest, with demos on the lake and a DJ session.

Brand new this year is the Comedy Tent curated by Dublin comic Mark Cahill. Headlining this tent will be T.P.M. Hailing from Louth, brothers Charles & Andrew Hendy, influenced by the dole, depression and anxiety, this duo have been described as a mix between the Rubberbandits, David Byrne and The Specials (TODAY FM). You will want more and never get enough.

Gary Lynch is Ireland’s most handsome mid-life crisis comedian. He sometimes talks about things that a gentleman of his vintage really should have forgotten about. He regularly performs all over Ireland, UK & Europe. He has performed 5 years of the Edinburgh Festival, selling out his solo shows. He holds the record for the most appearances at an Edinburgh Festival, 126 in 25 days. ‘Brilliant’ – Broadway Baby. ‘An Amazing Performer’ – Three Weeks Edinburgh

Conor Murray is comedian with a mildly surrealist style who likes pigeons, he’s gigged throughout Ireland and the UK as well as performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. Al Orme has been a regular on the Irish comedy circuit since 2016. He was a finalist in the 2017 Bray Comedy Festival New Talent competition and can be heard every Friday on the Jon Holmes Show on talkradio. Married to a bride of Achill, Dave ‘The Laugh’ Kenny brings spontaneous Impromptu surreal celebrity impressions, from Bono to Don Trump, Flatley to Francis Brennan, Unmissable!!

Also taking to the stage is Dublin comedian Derek Mullen resident compere of Penny Hill comedy Club. Greg Marks is a bona fide crowd pleaser! He has performed his rapidfire gags in The Laughter Lounge, Belfast Empire, London Comedy Store and Edinburgh Festival. Joe Dowlin was a finalist of The Laughter Lounge “Comedian of the Year 2017 and was described as ‘loveable & charming – a born entertainer.”

As usual the day time schedule is completely free with an area dedicated to families with a line-up of activities and performances including bouncy castle, fun fair rides, games, music, kite workshop and a kiddie disco. On both Saturday and Sunday DJ Wil Softly will have everyone up dancing on the banks of the lake. Relax and unwind in the Healing & Relaxation Tent with local holistic therapists providing a range of treatments to festival-goers. New this year are heartfelt inspirational yoga workshops, with Jenny & Art from Back to the Heart Yoga.

Friday and Saturday night will see rainbow of colours reflected in the Burning Lake, while you hear the crackle and bang of the superb firework display, followed by some hot air balloons flying in the dark skies…

If you’re coming from Dublin hop aboard The Magic Party Train in partnership with Irish Rail. With live DJs, bands and magicians, you can sit back relax enjoy a beer and get in the party mood. Return tickets cost €50 from Eventbrite.

With special guests, kids’ activities, food stalls and O’Hara’s bar there will be something in this weekend of surprises for everyone.

Weekend Night tickets are available from €40 for the entire festival or €25 per Night from www.eventbrite.ie

Free event during the day for all

We have partnered with top local campsite Achill Keel Caravan Park for €6 euro per person per night visit http://www.achillcamping.com for more details.