The Northern Ireland Secretary might seem an unlikely person to open the Cork Midsummer Festival, but that is the role he will find himself in tonight.
Mr Peter Mandelson will also find himself briefly incarcerated, as the opening will be performed at the old Women's Jail in Sunday's Well. This will be followed by a medieval evening in the grounds.
It is not known if Mr Mandelson has visited Cork before, but his trip South is being awaited with much anticipation. Apparently, he originally agreed to officiate at the opening of the refurbished Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork with Ms Sile de Valera, Minister for Arts, Culture, Heritage and the Islands, but the opening had to be postponed.
The organisers of the festival were quick to hear of this and seized the opportunity to invite the Secretary of State. The packed festival programme could even be enough to keep Mr Mandelson on this side of the Border for a few days. One of the fun events will be a ceili with the Kilfenora Ceili Band at the Emmet Place Plaza next Friday. The festival runs until the following Sunday.