ARMINTA WALLACEgives a rundown on some of the summer's top events in comedy, live music, pop, trad, street, festival, theatre/musical, classical, summer school/books, film/visual art
1 FESTIVAL Dublin Writers Festival
Among those coming to the capital for this summer celebration of the written word will be the novelist Ian McEwan, who’ll discuss eco-pragmatism with Whole Earth Catalogue founder Stewart Brand; David Mitchell, who’ll talk about his new novel; and the author of Stalingrad, Berlin and D-Day, Antony Beevor, who’ll explore the nature of history. Also Joseph O’Connor, Natasha Walter and Ruth Padel. Until 6th dublinwritersfestival.com
2 FESTIVAL Listowel Writers’ Week
Meanwhile in Kerry, there’s another terrific literary line-up at Listowel, including Kate Adie, Roddy Doyle, Tash Aw, Claire Kilroy, Paul Durcan and Anne Haverty. There’ll also be book launches, a songwriting workshop, a storytelling competition, a fiction slam and the announcement of the winning novel in the €15,000 Kerry Group Fiction Award. Until 6th writersweek.ie
3 COMEDY Carlsberg Cat Laughs
Kilkenny’s medieval streets play host to an eclectic gathering of 21st-century comedy talent, including Dermot Whelan, Maeve Higgins, Idiots of Ants, Danny Bhoy and Arj Barker. Until 7th carlsbergcatlaughs.com
4 FESTIVAL Flat Lake Festival
The annual outburst of Monaghan madness orchestrated by novelist and playwright Pat McCabe continues with Lily Allen joining Crystal Swing and Dominic West reading sonnets. Also on the menu at Hilton Park in Clones are Jack L and Mundy. Until 6th theflatlakefestival.com
5 OPERA Lismore Music Festival/Loughcrew Garden Festival
Whatever the weather, picnics are sure to go down well with recessionista operagoers this year, and the bank holiday weekend offers a choice of outdoor extravaganzas. The Loughcrew estate at Oldcastle, Co Meath, is the venue for Niall Morris’s production of La Traviata, while Lismore Castle in Co Waterford will be the romantic setting for Carmen, directed by Dieter Kaegi. The latter also features a score arranged for eight-string guitar (with Redmond O’Toole), accordion (Dermot Dunne), violin (Cora Venus Lunny) and percussion (Noel Eccles). Both operas will run on June 5th and 6th. loughcrew.com, lismoremusicfestival.com
POP Westlife
Where are Westlife, you may ask? At Croke Park promoting their new album Where We Are, is the answer.
FILM Outdoor Movies in the Park
Flowers, films and family fun are high on the agenda as the People’s Park in Dún Laoghaire gears up for three days of popular classics and blockbusters. At 3pm it’s animation, at 5.30 sci-fi and each evening at 8.30pm, a drama presentation – and it’s all free. dlrevents.ie
7 THEATRE Shakespeare Festival
Dublin turns into one big stage for this explosion of Shakespeare, with 45 free stagings, hourly from noon to 5pm daily, going on in various locations including St Stephen’s Green, The Botanic Gardens and Christchurch Cathedral. At 7.30pm each evening, the GB Theatre Company will perform As You Like It in a specially-constructed outdoor arena in Trinity’s Front Square.
Until 12th dublinshakespeare.com
10 FESTIVAL Lismore Festival of Travel Writing
The Co Waterford home of our most celebrated travel writer, Dervla Murphy, acts as base camp for this wide-ranging exploration of travel writing whose mantra is the old Irish word “immrama”, or “journey home”. With Ranulph Fiennes, Tim Severin, Jan Morris and Pico Ayer. Until 13th lismoreimmrama.com
11 FESTIVAL Eigse Carlow
A specially-commissioned outdoor dance silhouette work, Dancer’s Dialogue, is among the highlights of this year’s Eigse alongside a 30-year retrospective exhibition of visual art, a short films showcase, and Dermot Bolger’s new play, The Parting Glass. Until 20th. eigsecarlow.ie
12 POP Paul McCartney
Macca’s last gig in Dublin was hailed as the best in the universe ever, so presumably the punters will be happy to fork out between €70 and €156 at the RDS this time around – because he’s worth it. Isn’t he?
FESTIVAL Cork Midsummer
Cork city centre springs into summer with this high-octane mix of music, theatre and dance. Composer Philip Glass plays excerpts from his mammoth piano solo cycles, Corcadorca unveil their production of the award-winning Russian play Plasticine, and there’ll also be the Irish premiere of Jerome Bel’s controversial dance work The Show Must Go On. Until 27th corkmidsummer.com
CLASSICAL KBC Festival of Music in Great Irish Houses
The programmes are pretty good, and the artists are top-notch as well – but the real showstoppers at this chamber music festival are the glorious Big House venues. Take in Bartok and Debussy at Castletown House, Mahler and Brahms at Kilruddery and Britten and Bax at Emo Court. Until 19th. musicgreatirishhouses.com
STREET AIB Street Performance Championships
Dancing in the streets is only the start of it. Check out Victori Rubilar’s football antics for World Cup year from Victor Rubilar as well as quick-change acts, contortionists, breakdancers and acrobats galore — and it’s all free. The action kicks off in Cork at Fitzgerald Park and Mardyke Sports Ground on the 12th and 13th; then the whole shebang moves to Merrion Square in Dublin from June 17th to 20th. Noon to 8pm daily spwc.ie
14 TRAD The Galway Sessions
Now a co-production with Stirling in Scotland, this tradfest has Grada, Zoe Conway, the Sumbrellas, Jimmy Crowley and Captain Mackey’s Goatskin and Stringband as well as Fuaim Chonamara — a dance show billed as a sean-nós spectacular. Until 21st galwaysessions.com
16 POP Live at the Marquee
Deep Purple, Tony Bennett, Christy Moore, Paul Weller and Madness are among the attractions at Cork’s Docklands this year – and if that’s not enough musical nostalgia for you, there’ll be 15 live performances of the musical Mamma Mia! to boot. Until August 1st ticketmaster.ie
OPERA DLR Glasthule Opera Festival
The second year of singing by the sea in south Dublin features a cast of promising young Irish singers in Bizet’s fiery Carmen and Gluck’s elegant Orfeo ed Eurydice. Until 20th glasthuleopera.ie
18 FESTIVAL Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival
Don’t tolerate: celebrate. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival is devoted to diversity, and this year promises sports days, céilís, workshops, street gigs and – of course – the Dublin Pride Parade on Saturday June 26th. Until 27th dublinpride.org
21 SUMMER SCHOOL Blas
An intensive two-week programme of music, song and dance at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Small class sizes ensure students have the chance to get up close and personal with tutors who include Martin Hayes (fiddle) and Colin Dunne (dance). There’ll also be gigs from Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, and Donal Lunny and friends. Until July 2nd blas.ie
CLASSICAL West Cork Chamber Music Festival
Eight quartets, Mozart’s six children, masterclasses, coffee concerts and a young composer’s forum. What – no partridge in a pear tree? Superb music from morning until late night in the stunning setting of Bantry House, this is the cognoscenti’s chamber music festival of choice. Until July 3rd westcorkmusic.ie
POP Harmonic
A new indie rock gig based at the Marquee in Cork; the idea is to offer four world-class bands in a single night, at a price that’s way less than you’d pay for festival tickets. Headliners are Grizzly Bear, with Midlake and Camera Obscura — but it’s a fair bet that many of the folks who head south will be wanting to hear our very own Villagers. marqueecork.com
ROCK Sea Sessions
Waves both nautical and musical will be breaking on the shore at Bundoran, Co Donegal, when Paul Weller joins the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, David Holmes and many others for a weekend of song and surf. Until 27th seasessions.com
SUMMER SCHOOL Byrne Perry Summer School
The theme at Gorey, Co Wexford this year is Irish education. Has it changed — and if so, how — since Padraig Pearse described it as “The Murder Machine?” Until June 27th byrneperry.ie
30 FILM Twilight: Eclipse
It’s a bad time of year for vampires, what with the long evenings and all: but fans of the Stephenie Meyer series clearly just can’t wait any longer for another on-screen instalment of the bestselling Twilight saga. The gang’s all back for a third slice of vampire life in which – eek – Bella has to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob.
July
1 PHOTOGRAPHY Photo Ireland
Ireland’s first international exhibition of photography and visual culture will see some 50 photographers mounting exhibitions at 20 venues around the city centre. Until 11th. photoireland.org
SUMMER SCHOOL Synge Summer School
A collection of leading Irish drama scholars assemble at Avondale House in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, for a closer look at the works of Synge and other writers. This year’s theme is Re-imagining Irish Drama. Until 4th. syngesummerschool.org
POP Crosby Stills and Nash
They’ve produced some of the greatest songs ever, they’ve got a new album out and they’ve been touring consistently since Woodstock 40 years ago. The legendary singer-songwriting trio play the O2 as part of a world tour.
2 FESTIVAL Clonmel Junction
Is it a rock gig? A clown show? A circus? It’s probably all of those – and more – as the Co Tipperary town celebrates its 10th year of festival with another eclectic programme of music, workshops and aerial dance. Among the many colourful visitors will be Cirque de Legume and the Dutch musical comedy outfit De Werel band. Until 11th. junctionfestival.com.
FESTIVAL Spraoi in the Park
A three-day event based in the People’s Park in Waterford with street theatre, installations, music and cinema including the 1927 silent movie The General with live musical accompaniment. On Sunday afternoon, the city will erupt in celebration for the big street parade. spraoi.com
3 FESTIVAL Earagail Arts Festival
This bilingual festival will open with a shadow puppet theatre show and close with an exploration of the work of Frances Browne, the blind 19th-century poet from Ballybofey, by the Redmoon Theatre Company from Chicago. In between there’ll be performances from Pol Brennan’s world music project, Villagers with Cathy Davey and Altan with the Donegal Youth Orchestra. Until 18th. eaf.ie
SUMMER SCHOOL Willie Clancy Summer School
The annual commemoration of the piper from Milltown Malbay, in Co Clare, is a Mecca for traditional musicians and singers. All ages, instruments and standards are catered for, and there’ll be live gigs as well as lectures on topics related to trad, but the main attraction of the Willie Week is the quasi-legendary quality of the impromptu sessions which break out at all hours in the pubs and on the streets. Until 11th. willieclancy-summerschool.com
FESTIVAL Cairde Festival
Sligo town’s summer celebration features Bibi Tanga and the Selenites, new music from composer Ian Wilson featuring The Callino Quartet and Mohammed Asseni, and Park Fest, a day-long extravaganza of music, food, arts and crafts in Sligo’s Peace Park. Until 10th. cairdefestival.com
4 SUMMER SCHOOL The James Joyce Summer School
This summer school aims to encourage readers to approach Joyce in an open, pluralist manner – and to relate his fiction to contemporary Irish culture. It all happens at Newman House and Boston College Ireland on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Until 10th. joycesummerschool.ie
BOOKS West Cork Literary Festival
There’s great excitement at Bantry this year with the new JG Farrell fiction award up for grabs, as well as a major influx of literary luminaries including Margaret Drabble, John Boyne, Hugo Hamilton, Eavan Boland, Alan Monaghan, Nuala Ni Chonchúir, Michael Palin and Philip Ó Ceallaigh. You could take a fiction workshop with Peter Cunningham – or a crime writing workshop with Alex Barclay. Until 10th. westcorkliteraryfestival.ie
6 FILM Galway Film Fleadh
Galway’s six-day feast of film attracts celebrities and industry folk from all over the world and new movies are unveiled amid public interviews, debates, workshops and seminars. This year’s programme will be announced shortly. galwayfilmfleadh.com
8 FESTIVAL Boyle Arts Festival
An open-air Merchant of Venice, comedy from Ardal O’Hanlon and music-plus-storytelling from Mick Hanly and Arty McGlynn are on offer as the festival mood takes over the Co Sligo town for the best part of a month. Until 30th. boylearts.com
9 ROCK Oxegen
How can so much music be squeezed into two days? That’s rock festivals for you. Headed for Punchestown, Co Kildare, this year are Eminem, Muse, Arcade Fire, Republic of Loose, Bell XI, Paolo Nutini, Florence and the Machine, Vampire Weekend, Prodigy, Jay-Z and lots, lots more. Until 11th oxegen.ie
10 FESTIVAL Kinsale Arts Week
Outdoor venues don’t come much grander than Charles Fort outside Kinsale, Co Cork, which this year plays host to Camille O’Sullivan, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and The Bootleg Beatles. Until 18th. kinsaleartsweek.com
12 FESTIVAL Galway Arts Festival
Highlights include contemporary dance from the Hofest Shechter Dance Company, a production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya from Bristol, a retrospective exhibition by Brian Bourke, talks from Ian Rankin and Niall O’Dowd and gigs by Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band, The Human League, Heaven 17, Brad Mehldau and Divine Comedy. Until 25th galwayartsfestival.com
14 SUMMER SCHOOL Percy French Summer School
Pardon the French: this is just the second year of a new summer school devoted to the life and work of the quirky songwriter, who was also a painter, poet and journalist. Based at Castlecoote House, a Palladian mansion on the River Suck in Co Roscommon. Until 21st. percyfrench.ie
18 SUMMER SCHOOL The MacGill Summer School
It’s always a topical summer school, but there’ll be particular interest in the MacGill summer school at Glenties, Co Donegal, this year as some 50 contributors – including politicians, industrialists, economists, academics and media folk – turn their attention to Reforming the Republic: Issues of Politics, Economics, Integrity and Accountability. The organisers hope to celebrate the school’s 30th anniversary with an exceptionally full and frank exchange of views. Until 24th. patrickmacgill.com
20 THEATRE The Plough and the Stars
Wayne Jordan’s new production of Sean O’Casey’s classic play opens at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. abbeytheatre.ie
JAZZ Sligo Jazz Project
A week of jamming, teaching and concerts, culminating in a marathon afternoon gig on Sunday 25th. Visiting luminaries include the pianist Bill Carrothers and the singer Anita Wardell. sligojazz.ie
21 MUSICAL Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
A cast and crew of more than 100, including 10 dogs – don’t ask – bring the box-office smash to the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin for a month. Until Aug 14th. grandcanaltheatre.ie
22 CLASSICAL Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland
Some of the biggest names on the international guitar scene come to Dublin for a finger-plucking good festival which showcases all aspects of guitar-making and performing. Until 25th. gfi.ie
COMEDY Carlsberg Comedy Festival
Des Bishop and Tommy Tiernan lead the comedic charge into Dublin’s usually quiet Iveagh Gardens for this outburst of amiable lunacy. Until 25th. carlsbergcomedy.com
23 FILM Toy Story 3
It must be one of the most eagerly awaited sequels ever. The original Toy Story was hailed as an animated masterpiece – until part two came out, and was even better. Now the pressure is on the creators of Woody, Buzz and all the gang to outdo themselves all over again.
WORLD MUSIC Festival of World Cultures
The global carnival by the sea turns Dún Laoghaire into a kaleidoscope of colour and sound every year: small wonder that it was recently given the thumbs-up by Songlines magazine in a feature on the best 25 international festivals. Rohia Traore from Mali and Calypso Rose from Trinidad are among this year’s headline acts. Until 25 festivalofworldcultures.com
TRAD Eigse Eatherlaí
A weekend of traditional song and dance in the gorgeous Glen of Aherlow in south Tipperary. There’ll be workshops with Tara Diamond (flute) Máire Breathnach (fiddle) and Cormac De Barra (harp). eatharlai.ie
24 SUMMER SCHOOL Yeats International Summer School
The Sligo school celebrates its 50th birthday this year with a reading of a specially commissioned poem by Bernard O’Donoghue, The Ascent of Ben Bulben. There’ll also be a reading by Seamus Heaney – who celebrated his 70th birthday in April – as well as a full programme of lectures, discussions and an evening with Mike Scott of The Waterboys. Until August 6th. yeats-sligo.com
SUMMER SCHOOL Gerard Manley Hopkins Literary Festival
Celebrating the legacy of the Jesuit poet in Newbridge, Co Kildare, with music, workshops, field trips and – of course – poetry. Visiting poets include Yiorgos Chouliaris and Richard Berengarten. Until 30th. gerardmanleyhopkins.org
25 VISUAL ART Muraqqa: Imperial Mughal
Exquisite images of emperors, Sufi saints and animals are the order of the day as more than 100 works from 17th-century India go on display at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle. There’s also an accompanying programme of lectures, music, dance performances and workshops. Until October 3rd. cbl.ie
26 SUMMER SCHOOL The John Hewitt Summer School
The cosy Market Place Theatre in Armagh is the setting for an exploration of the theme Back to Uncertainty: Considering Other Possibilities. Speakers at this year’s school dedicated to the Ulster poet and activist John Hewitt include Louis de Bernieres, Terry Eagleton, Michael Longley and Glenn Patterson. Until 30th. johnhewittsociety.org
30 FESTIVAL Spraoi
Waterford city centre goes bananas as the annual August bank holiday festival showcases the best of street art, acrobatics and world music. It’s a colourful spectacle, it’s a great family weekend and it’s all free. spraoi.com
FILM The A-Team
Could it be more OTT than it used to be on the telly? Come to think of it, can Liam Neeson get any more OTT than he was in Clash of the Titans? He’ll be playing Hannibal in this action comedy remake by director Joe Carnahan.
31 POP Castlepalooza
Once the new kid on the rock block, this modest two-day festival at Charleville Castle, near Tullamore, is now a familiar face in the summer calendar. Headliners this year will be Mercury Rev, Fionn Regan, Wave Machines and Taylor McFerrin. castlepalooza.com
MUSIC Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen plays Lissadell House in Sligo on Saturday July 31st and Sunday Aug 1st. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
