Calling all music lovers to the “city of the tribes” for the week long Galway Sessions. This year’s event takes place from the 15th to the 22nd of June. The Festival offers an extensive programme featuring concerts, folk-club gigs, open air events as well as art and photographic exhibitions. Galway Sessions is a great opportunity for local musicians to showcase their talents. And this year the organisers are trying something different. Local and Scottish acts will feature at each event to explore the shared cultural heritage of both countries. Artists performing include Juliet …
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Fancy making the most of the May Bank Holiday Weekend? The seaside town of Bray plays host to the 9th Bray Jazz Festival, from 2nd to the 4th of May. Showcasing a mix of national and international artists in contemporary jazz, headlining acts this year include Maceo Parker and his band, Mare Nostrum, Orchestra National de Jazz, Liu Fang, Fuzzy Logic with Tom Arthurs, Togetherness, and Yurodny, to name but a few. Read on for more… With 37 gigs on offer, over 3 days, the ninth Bray Jazz Festival offers a …
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The John Roberts Weekend Festival is an event with a difference. Waterford city celebrates the life and works of architect John Roberts, from the 25th of April to the 27th of April. His name is always closely associated with Georgian architecture. Read on to find out more about this famous Waterford born architect… The son of a builder - John had a little architectural training in London. His big break came in 1746 when Bishop Richard Chenevix asked him to complete the New Bishop’s Palace. Other achievements include designing and building …
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Looking for something to do this weekend? The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Weekend takes place from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April in Inniskeen, County Monaghan. The venue is the Patrick Kavanagh Rural and Literary Resource Centre. Read on for more information… Why not explore your poetic abilities at the various workshops taking place over the course of the weekend? These will be facilitated by celebrated poet and author, Mary O’Donnell. If you take part, the aim of the workshop is to enable you to attempt drafts for 2 poems, giving you …
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Punchestown Racing Festival kicks off on 22nd April and runs until 26th April 2008 at the famous Punchestown Racecourse in Naas, County Kildare. Known as “the home of Irish National Hunt Racing”, this venue will be packed to the rafters for five days of racing as the main runners and riders take centre stage while the punters and bookies go head to head. Go on, experience the magic and excitement of the Punchestown Racing Festival this April. Punchestown Racecourse is located about 3 miles from Naas, County Kildare, on the …
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For a welcome change to the usual festival programmes, why not visit the County Kerry town of Listowel, the literary capital of Ireland, during Listowel Writers Week, held this year from 28th of May to the 1st of June? Listowel Writers Week is not only for the literary buff - this festival is also an established family event with a host of children’s activities including parades, drama and readings. For that budding novelist, Listowel Writers Week has a special competition category, “creative writing for youths”, which is open to young …
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Fancy heading to Kilkenny for the May bank holiday weekend? The normal party atmosphere of the medieval city of Kilkenny is sure to hit fever pitch as the city hosts the annual Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival from the 2nd of May to the 5th of May. Read on for more… The Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival will kick off on Friday the 2nd of May and run until Monday the 5th May and if you’re a music fan you’re in for a real treat. Artists will travel …
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You can experience traditional Irish entertainment and culture at its very best at Fleadh Nua, in the picturesque town of Ennis, County Clare. This year’s event kicks off on the 18th of May and runs until the 26th of May. So come along and join in the fun at the 35th Fleadh Nua in Ennis. Fleadh Nua celebrates all things Irish and promises 9 days of scheduled events and performances as well as impromptu Irish music sessions and ceilis, both indoors and outdoors. The festival has a programme of workshops …
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One of Ireland’s biggest horse racing fixtures and fashion extravaganzas, the world-renowned Galway Racing Festival, takes place from the 28th of July to the 3rd of August 2008. The venue is Ballybrit Racecourse, just outside Galway city centre, and whether you’re a veteran race goer or a novice and fancy a flutter you’ll love the unique atmosphere of this fun filled racing event. The highlights of the Galway Races summer 7-day meeting would have to be Wednesday’s “Galway Plate” and Thursday’s “Galway Hurdle”. Last year in excess of 210,00 people …
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The Galway Arts Festival 2008 presents an international programme of theatre, music, spectacle, visual arts, dance, music, literature, comedy, street performances as well as parades involving many artists and performers. It provides vital exposure for both Irish and International performing and visual arts, so come along and check it out for yourselves from July 14th to July 27th 2008. Founded in 1978 the Galway Arts Festival has 30 years of experience. The 2-week celebration takes place from the 14th of July to the 27th of July 2008. Hosted in the vibrant city of Galway also known as …
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