It is unlikely Dermot Mór MacCarthy could have envisaged that, 600 years after he built Drishane Castle in Cork, its rolling grounds would reverberate to the sound of horses and riders jockeying to be champions of Europe.

The world’s largest festival of juggling and circus skills continues this weekend, as fireworks light up a harbour festival in west Cork, and the country’s oldest horse race meeting goes ahead in Co Kerry.

The bizarre and the brilliant were showcasing their abilities in Cork this weekend with two festivals giving centre stage to those ordinarily on the fringes of the entertainment industry.

It’s a weekend for the great outdoors with fingers crossed for fine weather and lots of events in the south-west for locals and tourists.

Ireland is set to host the largest juggling and circus arts festival of its kind in the world.