Summer Festivals
Sligo Arts Festival
Sligo town, May 22nd-June 1st
With a rich and varied programme of music, theatre, art, street pageantry and children's events, Sligo town heralds the summer with creative verve. Traditional musicians, Lunasa, Iarla O Lionaird Jimmy McCarthy and Andy Irvine lead the line-up for the traditional music weekender from May 22nd-24th, while Zimbabwe group, Black Umfolosi, Regis Gizavo from Madagascar and the Talahassee Jazz And Blues Band from Sligo's twin town, Tallahassee, Florida, provide the exotic rhythms for the world music weekender from May 29th-31st. Other highlights include Disco Pigs by Corcadorcha, at the Hawk's Well theatre, Tommy Tiernan and Jason Byrne in a double-bill comedy show and performances by Scottish folk singer, Dick Gaughan, and the Sligo Early Music Ensemble. Tel: 071 69802
Listowel Writers' Week
Listowel, Co Kerry May 27th-31st
Billed as Ireland's oldest festival of writing, this north Kerrybased feast of poetry, drama, literature and song will take African culture and the French connection in the 1798 rebellion as themes this year. Fergal Keane, Deirdre Purcell, Kate O'Riordan, Evelyn Conlon, Niall Williams and Patrick Bergin are among the invited guests. Workshops will be led by Aodhan Madden (short fiction), Eilis Ni Dhuibhne (creative writing), Mary Halpin (writing for the theatre), Nuala O'Faolain (autobiography), Greg Delanty (poetry), Seamus Hosey (writing for radio) and Kevin Liddy (screen-writing). Tel: 068 21074
The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
Kilkenny city, May 28th-June 1st
British comic Paul Merton leads the line-up for this comedy festival which, now in its fourth year, has come to rival Edinburgh's Fringe and Montreal's Juste Pour Rire/Just For Laughs. Other big names include Merton compatriot, Bill Bailey, and North American comics, Rich Hall, Dom Irrera, Kathleen Madigan and Harland Williams. Dylan Moran, Mark Doherty and Barry Murphy represent the home country in the laughing lofts of the medieval city over this bank holiday weekend. Tel: 056 63837
Eigse Carlow Arts Festival
Carlow town June 4th-14th
With the visual arts as its central focus, Eigse welcomes its first painter from mainland Europe this year. Hans Tyrrestrup, one of Scandinavia's leading artists, together with Scottish painter, June Redfern, leads the line-up of exhibitors. Sculptor Michael Warren presents his new solo exhibition on a 1798 theme, while Welsh painter David Tress displays his colourful landscapes. Other highlights include a children's day on June 6th, a Brahms requiem in Carlow Cathedral and a free openair rock concert in Shamrock Square. Tel: 0503 40491
Ennis Arts Festival
Ennis, Co Clare June 13th-21st
Quality theatre shows for adults and children, classical and choral works from across the centuries, comedy, art and writers' chat-ins will fill this digital-age town over the nine-day festival. Big names include the Morriston Orpheus Welsh Choir in Ennis Cathedral, acclaimed street players, The Armagh Rhymers, and the Ridiculusmus Theatre Company with their show, The Exhibitionists. Tel: 065 43500
A Sense of Cork Arts Festival
Cork city June 23rd-July 1st
Still in its infancy, this midsummer festival grew out of Bonfire Night celebrations in Emmet Place. Street events remain central, with a Victorian Street market, picnic in the park and public art pieces placed throughout the city. Portishead leads the line-up at the weekend of rock and an extensive literary programme includes coach tours following the life of short-story writer Frank O'Connor. Tel: 021 310597
The Seacat Storytelling Festival
Ulster Folk And Transport Museum, Holywood, Co Down June 27th-28th
Professional storytelling and musical interludes in this annual event. Special guests include Robin Williamson, Wendy Welch, Shirley Fisher, Sally Tonge and Kate Corkery. Tel: 080 1232 428428.
Galway Film Fleadh,
Galway City July 7th-12th
Veteran Irish actor Donal McCann is the focus of a special tribute this year with screenings of December Bride, The Dead and Budawanny as well as the new Irish film, The Nephew by first-time director, Eugene Brady. "Urban Jungle", a provocative programme of new features from around the world which reflect harsh modern urban life is another theme. Other highlights include Oscar-nominated The Thief, the Czech film, The Buttoners and Jafar Panahi's follow up to the White Balloon, The Mirror. Tel: 091 751655.
Galway Arts Festival
Galway City July 11th-26th
Billed as Galway's biggest party, this year's 21st birthday celebrations should meet the approval of all those already addicted to the Galway Arts Festival. Japanese drummers, Kodo and the Donal Lunny band opening spectacle, outside the Black Box theatre, will set the pace for other exhilarating acts including the German troupe, Theatre Titanic in their outdoor evening performances of a show loosely based on the going down of that magnificent vessel. A Galway Arts Festival/Macnas co-production of Patrick McCabe's The Dead School to be directed by Joe O'Byrne, Don Juan and A Winter's Tale by Footsbarn and the Circus of Horrors also feature. Other unmissables are the Big Day Out in the Castlegar Sports Grounds on Saturday July 11th with Pulp, The Beastie Boys, Garbage and Corner Shop and the Macnas Parade on Sunday, July 19th. Tel: 091 58300.
Boyle Arts Festival
Boyle, Co Roscommon July 23rd-August 1st
Classical music and the visual arts is the mainstay of this festival. New this year is an afternoon of contemporary Irish film, to be introduced by media lecturer, Luke Gibbons. Pianist Ruth McGinley, violin and cello duo, Anna and Ben Cashell and the Breffni Players are among those performing, while Eithne Carr, Pat Scott and Barbara Warren are among the artists exhibiting in the large group show. Children's events include a dance spectacle by Swedish folk dancers, Alno Folkdansgille. Tel: 079 63085
Feile na Phobail
West Belfast August 2nd-9th
Taking the 1798 bicentenary commemoration as its theme this year, this commmunity-based festival opens with a carnival parade. Highlights through the week include a folk festival, comedy nights, opera, an open air concert, an international food fair and debates and discussions. Tel: 080 1232 313440
Puck Fair
Killorglin, Co Kerry August 10th-12th
With a programme of events which runs from 7 a.m. to midnight over the first two days, the later start of 11 a.m. on the final day should allow those party revellers to last until the closing fireworks at midnight on August 12th. Horses and cattle are bought and sold with fervour, music echoes through the town in open air concerts and buskers challenge each other while the billy king reigns. Tel: 066 62366
Kilkenny Arts Week
Kilkenny city August 15th-23rd
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Kilkenny Arts Week will have two extra-special events this year - a retrospective festival exhibition at the Butler Gallery with works by Patrick Heron, Sol le Witt, Maud Cotter, Marie Foley and others and the performance by Swedish group, Ensemble Son of two new works by Ireland-based composers, Roger Doyle and Barry Guy in St Canice's Cathedral. Other highlights include the first Irish performance of the young Danish baritone, Bo Skovhus, an outdoor Shakespeare production by Bickerstaffe theatre company for 12 nights in Kilkenny Castle and an exhibition of works by Swedish artist Rolf Hanson in the Long Gallery, Kilkenny Castle. Tel: 056 63663.
Rose of Tralee International Festival
Tralee, Co Kerry August 21st-27th
Celebrating its 40th birthday, this epic beauty and character pageant retreats indoors again this year, to the Brandon conference centre in the Brandon Hotel. A favourite among those keen to hang onto an Ireland of innocent charm and uncomplicated wit, the Rose selection goes out live on RTE television on August 25th and 26th. Tel: 066 21322
Clifden Arts Week
Clifden, Co Galway September 17th-27th
Celebrating its 21st arts week this year, Clifden is welcoming many old faces and new to the West. Seamus Heaney, John McGahern, Tim Robinson, Richard Murphy, Paul Durcan, Mary O'Malley and Katie Donovan are among the literati in attendance who will be reading from their work. Also worth catching up with are Breton musicians, Sons of the Desert and Pol Huellou, and popular Irish traditional musician, Martin O'Connor. Writing workshops will be led by novelist, James Ryan and poet, Gabriel Fitzmaurice. Tel: 095 21162
Aspects Celebration Of Irish Writing
Bangor, Co Down September 23rd-27th
This year's Aspects has a day devoted to writer C.S. Lewis, in honour of the centenary of his birth, with guests including the poet Richard Murphy, a former student of Lewis. There will be readings by novelists Bernard MacLaverty, Maurice Leitch, David Park and Kate O'Riordan. The poet Kerry Hardie will read, and historian Thomas Packenham will give two lectures, one on trees and one on his 1798. Tel: 080 1247 271200
Dublin Theatre Festival
Dublin city, October 5th-17th
With 20 productions in all, from home and abroad, this year's international programme includes theatre from Brazil, Canada and Britain. Meanwhile, Irish playwrights, Marina Carr, Paul Mercier and Jim Nolan are creating new works for the festival. Tel: 01 6778439.
Cork Film Festival
Cork City October 11th-18th
Renowned for its broad-ranging and carefully selected programme, Ireland's oldest film festival sweeps into action again this year with contemporary feature films, retrospective and documentary seasons and short film competitions. Plans are afoot to extend the schools' programme this year. There will also be a special exploration of new technologies of film. Tel: 021 271711.
The Belfast Festival at Queen's,
Belfast city November 12th-29th
With more than 300 performances, including British and Irish theatre premieres, literature events, film, jazz, comedy, folk and music, there is no doubt about the calibre of this event. New initiatives include a festival for young people and a fringe festival. Full programme details available in September. Tel: 080 1232 667687.
Rock Festivals
Elton John And Billy Joel Face To Face
Croke Park, Dublin
May 29th-30th
FOR some, the prospect of Bill and Elt together, on the same stage, is too much to contemplate - imagine, Candle In The Wind and We Didn't Start The Fire on the same evening. For 80,000 fans, however, it's the double bill of a lifetime, and Croker will be doing the Crocodile Rock when the Piano Men roll on stage.
Tel: 01-4569569
Guinness Southern Soul and Disco Festival
Cork
May 30th-31st
CORK becomes Funkytown for the June Bank Holiday Weekend, with a line-up of stars from the world of soul and hip-hop. The southern boogie nights are headlined by The Jungle Brothers, replacing De La Soul, who have cancelled their scheduled appearance. No worries - with the recent remix of Jungle Brother, the original hop-hop revolutionaries are hot to trot, and their Saturday night show at the Metropole in McCurtain Street should be kickin'. Other acts confirmed include Gwen Dickey (ex-Rose Royce), DJs Norman Jay and Paul "Trouble" Anderson, and The Grand Central Collective.
Tel: 021 277590
Guinness Fleadh
Finsbury Park, London
June 6th
THE annual Irish day out at London's Finsbury Park is always a mixed affair, with a line-up of Irish and international acts all rocking together under a loosely Celtic banner. This year James headline the main stage (perhaps they should change their name to Seamus for the night), and the supporting bill includes Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Shane MacGowan, Dr John, World Party, Mike Scott and Altan.
Tel: 0044 181 9630940
Guinness Fleadh
Randall's Island, New York
June 13th-14th
THE Fleadh moves to New York a week after Finsbury Park, and the line-up for this twoday bash on "scenic" Randall's Island includes Sinead O'Connor, The Chieftains, Tracy Chapman, Chumbawamba, Squeeze, Los Lobos, and Indigo Girls. A week later, on Saturday, 20th June, Chicago hosts the Fleadh, after which it finds its way to San Jose on Saturday 28th. Tel: 0044 181 9630940
Heineken Weekender
Cork June 25th-28th
ANOTHER weekend, another festival of all things dance-oriented. This latest Weekender falls slap bang in the middle of summer, and is headlined by the masters of triphop, Portishead, who play at the Opera House on Thursday 25th. The band's second album was released this year, and showcased in a memorable concert in the Roseland in New York. Earlier this year, they played two sold-out shows in Dublin's Olympia theatre, mesmerising the crowd with languid beats and the evocative voice of Beth Gibbons. The weekend line-up features trip-hop, funk and drum 'n' bass acts in a number of venues around Cork, plus a free city-wide pub trail featuring top DJs and dance acts.
Tel: 021 27002/ 01 4569569}
The Big Day Out
Castlegar Sportsgrounds, Galway
July 11th
THE Beastie Boys, Garbage and Pulp head a stellar cast at this one-day outdoor gig on the Dublin road in Galway. Also on the bill for the only big open-air event of the Summer are Cornershop, Junkster and former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown. Gates open at 1.30 p.m. and the 20,000 available tickets are selling fast. Buses and trains will run to and from the concert from all major towns. Check with Iarnrod Eireann for timetables.Tel: 01 4569569
Guinness Blues Festival
Temple Bar, Dublin
July 24th-Sunday 26th
Temple Bar gets the blues once again with a line-up of top artists headed by Canadian guitar prodigy Jeff Healey on Friday 24th. The 32-year-old blues-rocker who plays with his guitar on his lap is at the Red Box in Harcourt Street, a bit far from Temple Bar, but well worth the walk. Other acts confirmed for this jamming weekend include Ali Farka Toure, a native of Mali who has collaborated with Ry Cooder, and acoustic bluesmen Chris Smither and Alvin "Youngblood" Hart.Tel: 01 4970381
