Maria Schneider has collaborated with Bowie and won a flock of Grammy awards. No wonder her orchestra's visit to Cork is being hailed as a coup for the upcoming jazz festival, writes Philip Watson

Acclaimed contemporary Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy speaks to Cathy Desmond ahead of the world premiere of his prize-winning opera ‘The Second Violinist’.

SATURDAY

The discerning readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine voted Kilkenny one of its top 10 of world’s friendliest cities recently, and if you visit during its festival period, you might even consider a mere top 10 is a bit unfair to the place.