Summertime - and the living is get up and go

Carnival time on the streets of Dublin during last year's St Patrick's Festival

Feile Na Bealtaine

Dingle, Co Kerry - May 1st-7th

066-9151082

email: E-mail: fnab@eircom.net

Tonight's concert featuring pianist and composer, Micheal O Suilleabhain, Iarla O Lionaird and the Irish Chamber Orchestra is one of the highlights of this festival. On Sunday, writers, Ivan Klima, Adam Czerniawski, Peter Curman and Mgr Dr Padraig O Fiannachta will read from their works followed by a paper entitled, Writers and Protest by Irish Times journalist Eileen Battersby.

Cathedral Quarter Festival

Belfast City - May 3rd-13th

048-90232403

www.cqaf.com

Virtually all possible art forms are represented in this impressive arts festival. Here's a snapshot: writers Pauline McLynn, Tom Paulin and Liz Lochhead will read from their work; Beckett plays, Molloy and Malone Dies open over the weekend; Derry-born comedian Jimeoin and Kevin McAleer provide the gags. Also, traditional singing sessions, visual arts shows, circus and street theatre events.

Bealtaine Laois Festival Of Literature

Portlaoise, Co Laois - May 17th-20th

0502-63355

www.dunamaisetheatre

The blend of author readings and music is the defining characteristic of this early summer literature festival. Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Maighread Medbh and Christy Kenneally will read from their work while Mick Hanly provides the vocal and acoustic entertainment at Dunamaise Theatre Arts Centre. This venue is the centre of activities which include children's theatre, performances from Two Chairs company and lots more readings from the likes of Joseph Woods, Louis de Paor and Conal Creedon.

Diversions

Temple Bar, Dublin city - May-September

01-6772255/01 6715717

www.temple-bar.ie

Now in its third year, this programme of arts activities draws all ages into Meeting House Square in the heart of Temple Bar throughout the summer. Highlights include free open-air films on Saturday nights, free performances from circuses and puppet theatre companies for children on Sunday afternoons and contemporary dance, theatre, opera and music on midweek nights.

St Patrick's Festival

Dublin City Centre - May 18th-20th

www.stpatricksday.ie

The re-scheduled St Patrick's Festival has the unusual task of sending the message to the world that Ireland is open for business again, following the easing of restrictions imposed during the foot-and-mouth crisis. The increased likelihood of sunny weather means the festival parade on Sunday, May 20th, (starting at 2 p.m.) should be brighter and more beautiful. Saturday, May 19th sees the Dame St/Westmoreland St part of the city transformed into a fun palace with acrobats, bungee jumpers and samba soccer. The annual fireworks display bursts into colour at 10 p.m. from Custom House Quay on Saturday.

Listowel Writers' Week

Listowel, Co Kerry - May 30th-June 3rd

068-21074

writersweek@eircom.net

Historian, Prof John A. Murphy from University College Cork will open this annual gathering of literati. Clinical psychologist Tony Humphreys will give the Dr Seamus Wilmot Memorial lecture entitled, People Feeling Good. Poets Gerard Donovan, Maeve McGuckian, Paddy Bushe and Jude Nutter will read from their work at the Michael Hartnett Memorial Poets Symposium. Book launches, writing workshops, readings and literary competitions draw an eclectic mix of budding and established writers.

Murphy's Cat Laugh's Comedy Festival

Kilkenny City - May 31st-June 4th

056-63837

www.murphyscatlaughs.com

Now in its eighth year, this comedy festival rivals other international comedy festivals in its attendances. An annual visitor to Kilkenny, Rich Hall, joins home-grown talents such as Ardal O'Hanlon, Tommy Tiernan and The Nualas. American comedians on schedule for arrival are Jake Johannsen and Todd Barry. Kitty Flicks bills itself as a Cat Laughs Cannes Film Festival. Go along and judge for yourself.

Dublin Writers' Festival

Various venues in Dublin city centre - June 14th-17th

01-8783877

info@dublinwritersfestival.com www.dublinwritersfestival.com

More than 30 poets and fiction writers from Nigeria, Germany, Israel, Norway, Mexico, India, the US, Canada, Australia, Britain and Ireland will read from, and discuss, their work at the third Dublin Writers' Festival. Public interviews, a poetry panel discussion, a Poetry Slam (in association with RTE's arts programme, Rattlebag) and a novel event, the Echo Chamber feature. The latter involves "live" readings alternating with recordings of the writer's favourite dead poet. International writers attending include German author, Bernhard Schlink, Israeli novelist, Meir Shalev, Canadian novelist and poet, Jane Urquhart and Norwegian novelist, Jostein Gaarder. Irish writers attending include John McGahern, Emma Donoghue, Colm Toibin, Claire Keegan, Paula Meehan, Mary O'Malley, Maire Mac an tSaoi and James Ryan.

Eigse Carlow Arts Festival

Carlow Town - June 15th-24th

0503-40491

Visual art and sculpture exhibitions are at the core of this festival. St Patrick's College hosts the major shows with works this year from Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Sonia Lawson, Nick Miller, Rebecca Peart, Bobby McLean, Sophie Ryder and others. An open-submission section also attracts a good mix of Irish artists. Other events include concerts by Juliet Turner and The Saw Doctors, classical lunchtime recitals, a children's day, a festival parade and talks by invited artists.

Cork Midsummer Festival

Cork City - June 19th-July 1st

021-4550946.

Now in its fifth year, the highlights of this arts festival include an outdoor promenade performance of Midsummer Night's Dream by Corcadorca in Fitzgerald's Park, a photographic exhibition of Cork Youth 1950-2000 and a production of Roald Dahl's The Twits from Coventry-based Belgrade Theatre Company. Expected guests include actresses Susannah York and Amanda Harrios.

Earagail Arts Festival

North Co Donegal - July 9th-22nd

074-20777.

www.donegalculture.com

Spanning the widest geographical area of any Irish arts festival, Donegal's biggest festival boasts a good programme of theatre, music, visual arts, comedy, street spectacles, outdoor shows, poetry and children's events in more than 30 venues. The highlight this year is a visit from Australia-based theatre company, Marrugeku, whose show, Crying Baby will combine stiltdancing, acrobatics, film and traditional and contemporary dance. The musical line-up includes Donal Lunny and Maire Brennan, The Undertones, the Alison Brown Quartet, the West Ocean Quartet. Donal Kelly will perform his acclaimed theatre show, Catalpa, Scottish group, Shona Reppe Puppets, Puca Puppets and Piparella will perform for children and Architects of Air will show giant maze-like sculptures of brightly illuminated domes.

Galway Film Fleadh

Galway City - July 10th-15th

091-751655

www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

A season of Iranian films with special tribute to Iranian director, Abbas Kiarostami who will visit Galway for the fleadh is one of the highlights of this, the 13th Galway Film Fleadh. Other highlights are a Nordic season and new Irish feature films and documentaries including John Carney's On the Edge and Martin Duffy's The Testimony of Taliesan Jones. In the Nordic season, the Fleadh will present films from Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The Irish/Danish/German animated feature, Help I'm a Fish, will get its world premiere.

Galway Arts Festival

Galway City - July 17th-29th

091 509700

www.galwayartsfestival.ie

This one has got the highest profile of all summer arts festivals. This year's programme features performances from Australia, the United States and throughout Europe. International theatre, outdoor spectacle - especially the annual Macnas parade - and visual art are its staples. The programme details will be released on June 6th.

Boyle Arts Festival

Boyle, Co Roscommon - July 26th-August 4th

079-63085

info@boylearts.com www.boylearts.com

Sean McSweeney & Friends is the title of the group exhibition of contemporary Irish art at this year's Boyle Arts Festival. Elaine Agnew is the featured composer whose works for stringed instruments, piano and children's choir will be performed. Poet Seamus Heaney will read from his work in this year's expanded literature programme. Classical, jazz and traditional music concerts also feature.

Waterford Spraoi

Waterford City - August 3rd-5th

051-841808

www.spraoi.com

The street parade on the closing night is by far the most exhilarating aspect of this free, mainly outdoor festival of street theatre and music. Sea creatures, adventurers and pirates will feature in this year's closing parade on August 5th. Also, for the second year running, Garter Lane Arts Centre is working with Spraoi on a children's programme of workshops and theatre.

Kilkenny Arts Festival

Kilkenny City - August 10th-19th

056-63663

www.kilkennyarts.ie

Highlights include chamber music recitals from French cellist Jean Ghihen Queyras, a retrospective on the work of Austrian artist, Gottfried Helnwein, an exhibition of prints by Albert Irvin, Leon Kossoff, Louis Le Brocquy and Tony O'Malley and a children's performance from poet, Benjamin Zephaniah. Jazz, traditional and rock music, street theatre and Irish and American drama also feature in this highly acclaimed arts festival.

Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann

Listowel, Co Kerry - August 24th-26th

068-23036

E-mail: fleadhlistowel2001@eircom.net

www.fleadhcheoil.com

Competitors from the US and throughout Britain battle it out against local musicians and dancers at this annual mecca of traditional music. More than 10,000 musicians participate in street and pub sessions. Competitions attract about 4,000 and the total number of visitors to the fleadh comes in at around 200,000.

Clifden Community Arts Festival

Clifden, Co Galway - September 20th-30th

095-21644.

E-mail: brenfly@eircom.net

A popular end-of-summer festival where the scenery as much as the art attracts. Highlights include concerts from the RTE Concert Orchestra, Juliet Turner, Cafe Orchestra, Dordan and Matt Cranitch. Rita Ann Higgins, Mary O'Malley, Anne Haverty and Dr Enda McDonagh are among the invited writers and speakers.