Feline fine as festival fever marks start of summer

FESTIVAL fever infected the country this bank holiday weekend with events taking place celebrating cat-themed comedy, gardening, jazz, maritime culture and traditional music.

Now in its 13th year, the Smithwicks Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival once again drew thousands to the city to marvel at the talents of Irish and international comedians.

Among those wowing them in the Marble Ccity were Tommy Tiernan, Colin Byrne, Paul Merton, Jason Byrne, Dara O Briain, Des Bishop, Lucy Porter, Mike Wilmot, Maeve Higgins, Ardal O’Hanlon, and PJ Gallagher. The festival winds up tonight with a show called The Cat’s Pyjamas at the Rivercourt.

The Docklands Maritime Festival also finishes off tonight in Dublin after a weekend of tall ships, street entertainment and outdoor markets as well as the Nofit State Circus at the financial district on the city’s north quays.

The inaugural Bloom Festival in the Phoenix Park has been a huge success, with Ireland’s ever-increasing interest in gardening reflected as crowds flocked to see the horticultural creations.

Organisers said that traditional flowers, such as the ever-popular rose, played a big part in the four-day event, with a high standard set for future floral festivals.

The event was held on a 70-acre site and included gardens to showcase Ireland’s natural heritage, the food cycle, and the plant, animal and insect worlds.

The World Bodhrán Championships have been taking place at Milltown in Co Kerry this weekend, while elsewhere the Kilgarvan Traditional Music Festival concludes today. The Doonbeg International Jazz Festival brought many jazz-lovers to the west Clare coastline.

Macra members flocked to Athboy in County Meath for the annual Blue Jean Country Queen Festival.

In Cork, the Festival of the Bulls held on Saturday and Sunday celebrated the rich traditions of Blackpool, while yesterday’s Ocean to City rowing race from the RCYC to the city centre turned attention to the water as a wet start to the day gave way to brighter conditions by the Lee.

Today is expected to be mainly dry, bright and sunny countrywide, after a misty start. Temperatures could get as high as 21C. Met Éireann is forecasting dry, settled weather for the coming days, with temperatures reaching the low 20s from midweek.