The Kilkenny Arts Festival is one of the premier events running from Thursday, August 8th till Sunday, August 18th at different venues around Kilkenny, showcasing a plethora of creativity from across the globe. The 51st edition of the festival will spotlight a wide range of artistic expressions, from classical music and modern electronics to traditional folk music. There will be exceptional showcases of poetry, visual arts and theatre, and the event will also include works-in-progress. Prime attractions include the Drone Mass by Jóhann Jóhannsson (St Canice’s Cathedral on Saturday, August 10th), the Irish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Thomas Zehetmair (St Canice’s Cathedral, Thursday, August 15th), and readings from his latest collection “Joy in Service on Rue Tagore” by Paul Muldoon (Parade Tower, Friday, August 16th). The ‘Secret Garden Music Series’ promises a mystery line-up of pop-up shows throughout the festival.
In Dublin, the “We’ve Only Just Begun” event will take place between Thursday and Saturday, 8th-10th August, this year at Whelan’s. Featuring an array of upcoming and semi-established musicians, predominantly female and non-binary, the three-night event promises a diverse blend of music ranging from folk, hip-hop, and soul to indie-pop and rock.
Also in Dublin is the ensuing “Social Unrest Festival”. Scheduled to occur from Friday to Sunday, 9th-11th August, the festival takes place in Grand Social, Dublin. Tickets range from €20 to €65.
Let’s immerse ourselves in another three-day music extravaganza that you can attend at your leisure. With a range of punk bands from the UK and Ireland taking the spotlight, both renowned (including Ruts DC, Paranoid Visions, Dubtones, Vulpynes, Riskee and the Ridicule, The Black Pitts, and The Gakk) and the less discovered ones (such as 50 Foot Woman, Brain Donation, ADH, Arcadian Shadows, The Coathanger Solution), there is something for everyone’s taste.
Headlining the event on Friday, August 9th, at the Galway Airport is Fatboy Slim. Also known as Norman Quentin Cook, he is making a comeback to Ireland after his unexpected Glastonbury performance with Paul Heaton, his ex-Housemartins bandmate. The audience is set to be swaying to hits like The Rockafeller Skank; Right Here, Right Now; and Going Out of My Head.
From the 9th to the 11th of August, the Howth Roots & Blues Festival 2024, held in a variety of venues, offers numerous times and price options in Howth, Co Dublin. Known for its rich musical culture, Howth hosting a successful music festival comes as no shock. More than 30 performances are free of cost. Topping the list for must-see performances include Crow Black Chicken, Mik Pyro & Dublin Blues Cartel, Mary Stokes Band, and Mary Coughlan.
Concurrently, the Boyne Valley International Film Festival will run from the 9th to the 11th of August at the Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda, Co Louth. It offers a variety of different times and prices, with a season ticket costing €35.
Despite its modest location in a provincial town, this superb mini film festival is distinguished by its international scope. The festival is overseen by film-maker, Frank W Kelly, and the Droichead Arts Centre director, Collette Farrell. Visitors can expect a packed weekend, with film screenings, workshops such as comedy with Jonathan Hughes (script supervisor for The Young Offenders) and panel discussions. Noteworthy films being shown include ‘Come Here’, featuring Peter Coonan and Seana Kerslake, and the recent short, ‘Kiki’, directed by Naomi Sheridan.
In the visual arts sector, the ‘Now You See It…’ exhibit continues at the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork until September 15th. Prior to its closure for a two-year renovation, the gallery is showcasing a diverse variety of art including sculpture, paintings and photography. As a unique initiative to promote audience engagement, the exhibition integrates artwork requested via the gallery’s ‘You Tell, We Show’ scheme, as well as pieces selected by the gallery staff. Renowned artists like Patrick Scott, Dorothy Cross, Mainie Jellett, Amanda Coogan, Corban Walker and Louis le Brocquy are included in the exhibition.
Shifting towards traditional events, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann begins on August 4th and goes until August 11th in various venues across Wexford. More a local festival than a conventional pageant, this event hosts a variety of activities all centred around a deep appreciation for traditional music and culture. The line-up includes book launches, sean-nós dancing, concerts, and even an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous tin whistle performance.
Lastly, the play, 2:22 – A Ghost Story, continues its run.
3Olympia Theatre in Dublin has been featuring the spine-chilling thriller 2:22 till the 11th of August. The play generally begins at 7:30 pm, offering tickets at varied prices of €55, €47.50 and €26.50 on ticketmaster.ie. Renowned actors Laura Whitmore and Colin O’Donoghue have been treating audiences to a high-stakes story of four people spending a night in a home, laden with brooding suspense and terrifying drama.
Furthermore, coming performances to secure tickets for include:
Sofie Hagen performing at the Workman’s Club in Dublin on October 13th.
Rock band The Prongs to perform at Dublin’s Grand Social on November 17th. Tickets are available on thegrandsocial.ie.
The critically-acclaimed play ‘The Ferryman’ can be caught at Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, running from January 27th till March 8th.
Lastly, the two-night performance of Sabrina Carpenter in Dublin’s 3Arena on March 3rd and 4th is also a must-see. Tickets for all these events are available on ticketmaster.ie.