Shamrock Castle Festival

Celtic Folk at Jägersburg Castle

Since its first edition, the Shamrock Castle Festival has established itself as Bavaria's most important Celtic Folk and Irish Punk Festival. The 14th edition will take place in 2026. The venue is Jägersburg Castle in Bammersdorf, a district of Eggolsheim in Franconian Switzerland (Lkr Forchheim) – a Baroque castle ensemble from the 17th century with a castle park, which today operates as an event location, hotel, and brewery restaurant.

Musical Profile

The program focuses on Celtic Folk, Irish Punk, and Folk Rock with occasional medieval acts. Regular guests and recurring headliners are Fiddler's Green (the most important German Celtic Punk band, founded in 1990 in Erlangen) and The Real McKenzies (Canadian Bagpipe Punk pioneers). In addition, bands like Botany Bay, The Rumpled, Bodhaktan, The King's Gambit, Mücke, Crazy Rascal Band, and O'Malley perform – a cross-section of the European and Canadian Celtic Folk scene.

Jägersburg Castle – The Setting

Jägersburg Castle is located in the middle of the forest north of Eggolsheim, at the transition to Franconian Switzerland. The Baroque main building was erected in 1689 by Prince-Bishop Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg. Today it houses the Jägersburg brewery restaurant and a hotel wing. The extensive castle park forms the festival area – with the main stage, a second stage, camping area, food truck mile, and beer garden.

Murphy's Stout and Festival Beer Garden

The culinary highlight is Murphy's Irish Stout on tap, along with Irish and Franconian specialties. The beer garden is freely accessible even without a festival ticket – ideal for families and visitors who just want to enjoy a pint for an evening without paying the full festival admission.

Camping and Festival Format

Camping directly in the castle park with sanitary facilities is included in the festival ticket. Parking spaces are free. The format is significantly more family-friendly and sophisticated than pure punk festivals – castle backdrop instead of a field, medium-sized, intimate atmosphere. Advance ticket prices are around €82 (incl. camping).

Franconian Switzerland – Location

Franconian Switzerland, with its rock formations, caves, castles, and the highest brewery density in Germany, offers the perfect ambiance for a folk festival. Eggolsheim is conveniently located on the A73 between Bamberg and Forchheim. Festival visitors often combine their festival visit with a weekend in the region – hiking, climbing, beer hikes.