A selective guide to events and activities this summer and singer/songwriter Charlie McGettigan talks of three of his favourite places in his home county of Leitrim.
Daytimes: A visit to the RHA on Dublin's Ely Place is well worth a visit to view two different art collections. Eurojet Futures in Gallery I, which closes on Friday, features the work of young and emerging artists, including Amanda Coogan, Oliver Comerford (Get Here VI above) and Vanessa O'Reilly.
Nighttimes: For a literary night out, lovers of the great short-story writer, Mary Lavin, will want to go along to the Dubliners Literary Study Circle tonight at 8 p.m. in the Central Hotel where they plan to continue their study and reading of Irish and Anglo-Irish literature. For more information, contact Desmond O'Malley, the circle's co-ordinator, at 01-8620263.
Childtimes: At Belfast's Grand Opera House each day this week, up to and including Saturday, children from two to seven will be entertained by Bananas in Pyjamas. The musical features all the characters from the TV series. The show starts at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on Saturday at 4.30 p.m.
My Native County:
Leitrim - Charlie McGettigan, singer/song-writer
Three of my favourite places:
1 I love where I live in Drumshanbo. We came to live here for six months about 30 years ago and we're still here. It's about eight miles from Carrick-on-Shannon. It has a unique geographic feature where the high street runs parallel with the main street. There are all kinds of things to do, but the biggest feature is the people. They are down-to-earth, honest. They give you a straight answer.
2 Leitrim is divided in two. There's south Leitrim and north Leitrim from Drumkeerin up to Tullaghan, with our two miles of coastline. My second favourite place is Carrigallen in south-east Leitrim because it has got its own theatre, the Cornmill Theatre. It was one of the first small theatres to come on stream. It's a small village of up to 200 people, but they've won several all-Ireland amateur drama awards.
3 My third place is the Leitrim Glens, it's a great scenic area. I do a fair bit of cycling and this is a particularly beautiful part of the county - including Glencar, Glenade and Rossinver. There's a great walking tradition there too.
Catherine Foley
Just-in-times - late offers: Due to a late cancellation, the Connemara Gateway hotel has a special offer for next weekend. Two nights B&B from €99 per person sharing and three nights B&B from €139 per person sharing. The Connemara Gateway at Oughterard is only 20 minutes from Galway city. If you want to do some exploring, a visit to Kylemore Abbey and grounds (above) is well worth the journey. Tel: 091 552328.
Joan Scales jscales@irish-times.ie
All About August is edited by Angela Long and Sheila Wayman august@irish-times.ie
