THERE’S A feast of events taking place around the State this weekend, including Taste of Dublin, the Street Performance World Championship and an ex-Beatle on stage in the RDS.
Many of the Republic’s top chefs will be at the Iveagh Gardens over coming days for the Taste of Dublin food and drink fair, which is expected to attract about 30,000 people.
Bon Appetit, Chapter One, Diep Le Shaker, Roly’s Bistro and Venu Brasserie are among the restaurants dishing up food and there will also be live cookery demonstrations from Rachel Allen, Kevin Dundon, Derry Clarke, Neven Maguire and Clodagh McKenna.
Dublin is also playing host to Paul McCartney, who is at the RDS tonight following his sell-out concert at the O2 last December.
Danny O’Reilly, lead singer with Dublin band The Coronas, said the group was “absolutely shocked and delighted” to be announced as the support act.
The Coronas supported Paul McCartney’s son James in London recently, and the band and the former Beatle share the same booking agent, Marshall Arts Ltd.
“I remember my mother [singer Mary Black] and father buying me Revolver, and I was blown away by the simplicity of the songs.
“It is hard to explain how big a deal this is to us. We’re all massive fans.”
The Cork Midsummer Festival begins today and continues until June 27th. The AIB Street Performance World Championship 2010 also takes place in Cork this weekend before transferring to Dublin.
The Immrama travel writing festival in Lismore, Co Waterford, which opened on Thursday, continues until tomorrow.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Jan Morris and Tim Severin are all scheduled to appear at this year’s event.