Guide to arts and entertainment in August
Jul 29th – Aug 6: The Festival of the Erne has a wide programme of family-friendly activities like pig racing, adults’ fancy dress and street entertainment.
www.festivaloftheerne.com
Until Aug 5: Budding and experienced gardeners can pick up tips from top nature experts at the Carlow Garden Festival. See www.carlowgardentrail.com
Aug 30 – Sept 7: The Lisdoonvarna Match-Making Festival is Europe’s biggest singles event, as Willie Daly, Ireland’s last matchmaker, attempts to work his magic. There’s also dancing daily. www.matchmakerireland.com
Until Aug 6: Gastronomic goodness continues in the Cork City International Gourmet Festival, with workshops, family days out, arts and crafts, a parade, restaurant offers, gala Titanic ball, gourmet trail and Jazz brunch.
sylvia@cornstorecork.com
Until Aug 6: Break out the rainbow flag (and probably the rainbow umbrellas) for Cork Pride, with the main gay pride parade taking place on Aug 5. www.corkpride.com
Jul 30 – Aug 5: The Doneraile and Literary Arts Festival is a weekend of free literature and arts in the atmospheric setting of Creagh Castle and Doneraile town.
www.literaryartsfestival.ie
Jul 31 – Aug 2: Shandon plays host to the Mother Jones festival commemorating Mary Harris, who was born in Cork, and became one of the most famous and feared trade union leaders in America. There will be a screening of a film about her life, attended by its director and producer, Rosemary Feurer, guided tours, exhibitions, music, and dances. motherjones175.wordpress.com
Aug 2 – 5: The Clonakilty Waterfront Festival, now in its third year, continues to grow into one of the most popular small festivals of its kind. This year’s line-up includes Taboo (from Black Eyed Peas), Scouting for Girls, The Kanyu Tree, Relish, Republic of Loose, The 4 of Us, and Jerry Fish. The Flavours of West Cork will also be represented with local restaurants and producers offering samples. Tickets €15-€64.
www.clonfest.ie
Aug 3 – 5: The Indiependence Music & Arts Festival is running at Deer Farm in Mitchelstown, headlined by 2ManyDJs, The Coronas, Feeder, British Sea Power, and Bressie. Tickets €60 – €99. See www.indiependencefestival.com
Aug 4 – 5: The Liss Ard boutique festival in Skibbereen plays host to 70s disco and funk legends Chic, Jamaican reggae greats Toots & the Maytals, local star Mick Flannery, Lisa Hannigan, Bob Mould, the Macrae Sisters, Roy Harper, West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, and more. See www.lissardfestival.com
Aug 19: The Youghal Medieval Festival takes place from 12pm-6pm in St Mary’s College Gardens, with free events like medieval battles, archery displays, food and crafts stalls and circus workshops.
www.youghal.ie
Aug 2 – 6: The Gaze Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is held in the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield. Highlights include a free screening of the indie hit Weekend, dance movie Leave It on The Floor, the harrowing true story Gone, and the raunchy romance I Want Your Love.There will also be workshops, exhibitions and parties. www.gaze.ie
Aug 15: Emile Sande plays the Olympia. Tickets from €27.90 from ticketmaster.ie
Aug 15 –19: The Dublin Horse Show takes over the RDS, with events including the Aga Khan Nation’s Cup and Grand Prix competitions. There will also be 300 trade stands offering art and antiques, etc. Free music. See www.dublinhorseshow.com
Aug 21: The capital will be overrun by “Barbz” as Nicki Minaj struts into the Olympia Theatre powered by her smash hit album Pink Friday: Reloaded.
Aug 21 – Sept 1: The touring production of the legendary stage musical Chicago is in the Bord Gáis Theatre, with former pop star Duncan James playing the role of Billy Flynn. Tickets €20.
www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
Aug 24: French DJ David Guetta takes over Marlay Park with support from Example and Rizzle Kicks. Tickets €49.50 from Ticketmaster.
Jul 30 – Aug 5: The Galway Races and Summer Festival brings a 200,000-strong crowd together for a mixture of flat and national hunt racing.
www.galwayraces.com
Aug 5 – 12: The Festival of the Connemara Pony and Connemara Pony Show in Clifden features the biggest showcase of Connemara ponies in the world. See www.cpbs.ie
Aug 13 – 14: Around 100 unique Irish boats — Galway Hookers — will gather for a weekend of racing and celebration at the Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara.
www.kinvara.com
Jul 27 – Aug 5: Killarney Summerfest has live music, street entertainment, outdoor theatre, and arts workshops and performances.
www.killarneysummerfest.com
Aug 2 – 6: The Atlantic Sessions Festival is back with an outdoor big top, street parade, street entertainment, hot air balloons, French market and the All Ireland Beach Soccer Cup Final. See www.destinationballybunion.ie
Aug 3 – 5: The 17th Cahersiveen Festival of Music & the Arts will play host to free open air concerts and family-friendly street entertainment, including bar man’s races, stilt walkers and animal farms.
www.celticmusicfestival.com
Aug 10 – 12: The legendary Puck Fair takes place in Killorglin, with open-air concerts, street performances, comedy and acrobatic shows, horse fair, fireworks display, and King Puck. www.puckfair.ie
Aug 17 – 21: Daithi Ó Se returns as compere of the Rose of Tralee, which has street fairs, food markets, battle of the bands contests, music and dancing. See www.roseoftralee.ie
Aug 23 – 26: The Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival in Waterville includes workshops, a tramp’s ball, film programme, live music, talks, vintage car parade and croquet. www.charliechaplincomedyfilmfestival.com
Aug 18 — 19: The second Secret Garden festival is held in the surroundings of Martinstown House, with facilities for camping. There will be sing-a-longs by the campfire, clowning around in the daytime with activities and workshops, and all the milk and cookies you can consume. Early birds will get entry, camping and all the cookies you can eat for €30. www.milkandcookiestories.com
Aug 10 — 19: The Kilkenny Arts Festival brings to the Marble City the best in Irish and international visual art, classical music, theatre and dance, jazz, world and traditional Irish music and literature.
Look out for writers Elliot Perlman, John Banville and Peter Murphy, singers Mick Flannery and Jape, and Shakepeare’s Globe Theatre’s production of As You Like It. See www.kilkennyarts.ie
Aug 30 – Sept 2: The first International Gospel choir Festival combines music from all over the world with workshops.
www.kilkennygospelchoir.com
Jul 28 – Aug 6: The Durrow Scarecrow Festival launches with a ‘Scarecrow Ball’ on the 28th in the Castle Arms Hotel, kicking off a week of craft workshops, sporting events, art exhibitions, and the All-Ireland Scarecrow Championships. www.durrow.ie
Aug 31 – Sept 2: Electric Picnic kicks off in Stradbally with a kick-ass line-up, including The Cure, Sigur Ros, Orbital, The xx, Grizzly Bear and Bat for Lashes, The Killers, Ed Sheeran, and Bell X1. Tickets €230. electricpicnic.ie
Aug 9 – 12: Family-friendly fun is the focus of the Carlingford Oyster Festival, which features a treasure hunt, world crab fishing, street and bar entertainment, wine reception, food markets, the famous chowder tasting, guided medieval tours of the town, parades, teddy bear’s picnic and cooking demos. See www.carlingford.ie
Aug 10 – 12: The Annagassan Viking Festival showcases the community’s rich Viking past, and includes Viking re-enactments, a Viking village, foods, crafts, music, Viking history tours, amusements and side shows. www.annagassanvikingfestival.ie
Aug 10 – 12: The 4th Drogheda Food Festival celebrates the culinary talents of the Boyne Valley and the north-east. www.drogheda.ie
Aug 2 – 12: Comedian Tommy Tiernan’s ‘World Tour of Mayo’ hits several venues in the county over 10 days. Tickets €28.
ticketmaster.ie
Aug 3 – 6: The Le Cheile Arts and Music Festival runs all weekend in Oldcastle and has attracted Bressie, Paddy Casey, The Four of Us, The Republic of Loose, and more. www.lecheile.com
Aug 19: The Lady Well Fete at Slane Castle features a variety of fun events and activities for the family, including a ‘masters’ game of Gaelic football, Irish dancing, music, junior soccer, dog trials. €5 per adult and kids go free. www.ladywellfete.com
Aug 3 – 5: Charleville Castle in Tullamore is the setting for the Castlepalooza Festival, which plays host to well-known and up-and-coming Irish and international acts. This year it’s The Charlatans, Ghostpoet, King Charles and Jape. Day and weekend tickets €50-€85. www.castlepalooza.com
Aug 3 – 10: Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival will have free children’s events, an antique and fine art fair, sporting events, live music for all ages, a donkey derby, nightly pub entertainment, an Olde Time traditional fair, fireworks display and the opening parade.
www.birrvintageweek.com
Until Aug 4: Every year, the Boyle Arts Festival features scores of Ireland’s leading artists and sculptors. There’s also classical music, jazz, traditional and world music, drama, literature and storytelling. www.boylearts.com
Jul 29 – Aug 10: Tread Softly is a new festival that pays tribute to two of the county’s greatest sons, William Butler Yeats and his artist brother, Jack B. There’ll be music, theatre, exhibitions and readings and the Yeats Summer School.
www.seasonofyeats.com
Aug 4 – 8: The Tubbercurry Old Fair Day Festival is a family friendly event with circus performance and fire acts, a samba band, pig racing, etc. See www.oldfairday.ie
Aug 8 – 12: The Sligo Lúnasa Festival has a programme of mostly free events from café culture to a race meeting and family fun.
www.fergusonevents.com
Aug 15 – 19: The Terryglass Arts Festival features artists covering visual arts, dance, theatre, music, poetry, film, storytelling, etc www.terryglassartsfestival.ie
Jul 30 – Aug 3: The children’s festival SprOg, encourages children and parents to engage with the arts with daily performances, workshops and exhibitions.
www.garterlane.ie
Aug 3 – 5: The Spraoi international street arts festival will have a night-time show in addition to the famed Spraoi Parade, on Saturday, Aug 4. Meanwhile, the streets become outdoor stages for music, acrobatics, and visual comedy.
www.spraoi.com
Aug 3 – 6: The Joe Dolan Festival is back in Mullingar with concerts, theatre, dancing, family fun and a farmers’ market. www.joedolan.com
Jul 30 – Aug 7: Wexford Art in the Open is Europe’s largest Plein Air painting event. There are also demonstrations and workshops, artists’ BBQ, music, and a final grand exhibition.
www.artintheopen.org
Aug 10 – 12: The Duncannon Sand Sculpting Festival is a family festival which will have a beach party with fireworks and music, and plenty of children’s entertainment. www.visitduncannon.com
Aug 17 – 19: The Enniscorthy Street Rhythms Dance Fest begins with an evening parade of dancers and musicians followed by a dance concert in Market Square. Saturday starts with Baby Bop (with Barney, Mickey Mouse and friends).
www.enniscorthystreetrhythms.com
Until Aug 6: Bray Summerfest continues with more music, funfairs, food, kids’ corner. display.www.braysummerfest.com
Aug 3 – 6: The second Greystones Americana and Roots Festival includes the Macrae Sisters, The Baskervilles, and Spellbound.
www.rootsweekend.com
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