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Festivals
February 2012
The Awakening - Cultural Weekend in conjunction with the Earagail Arts Festival
Date: 3, 4 & 5 February
Location: Rathmullan House, Co. Donegal
Over 3rd 4th & 5th February The Earagail Arts Festival & Rathmullan House Hotel invite you to refresh your mind, body 
and soul and shake off the post-Christmas blues at our new winter weekend tonic .-The Awakening.
As well as an intimate concert with Rainey Boy Sleep in the Cellar Bar on Friday night, we will be hosting The Snowball-a seasonal Feast of The Senses including performances byLittle John Nee and Balkan Alien Sound.
All of this wrapped up in 2 days of interview, debate and discussion on Reinventing The Republic 2016 anchored by Diarmaid Ferriter with David Mc Williams and local contributors.
€185pps. For this you get 2 nights accommodation, tickets to the Snowball on the Saturday night, 2 debates/discussions on the Saturday (1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon) and a light hearted reveiw of the Sunday papers with Paddy Cullivan at noon.
For further information visit the Rathmullan House website or Earagail Arts Festival website.
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March 2012
St. Patrick's Day Festival Dublin
Date: 17-20 March
Location: Dublin
The Dublin St. Patrick's Festival is the celebration of Ireland's national holiday...some say it's the World's biggest annual party! It's a four day extravaganza offering a feast of events including street theatre, spectacles, Irish music and dance! With outstanding entertainment and a welcoming party atmosphere there is no where else in the world you would want to be. So come and join in these unique celebrations!
For further information visit the St. Patrick's festival website.
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Croagh Patrick Walking Festival
Location: Balla-Westport, Co. Mayo
Date: 18-20 March
The festival consists of a 3 day organised walk along the Croagh Patrick heritage trail taking in castle, standing sonte, ancient villages and abbeys.
Further information can be found on the Croagh Patrick Walking Festival website.
Stay in County Mayo:
SÓ Sligo Food and Culture Festival
17-20 March
Location: County Sligo
Celebrate Sligo's unique food culture with a weekend of festivities throughout the county. Join us for free family fun, food trails, cookery demonstrations with world class chefs and visits to local producers. Learn new skills and old traditions. Taste food from Sligo and from around the world. See professional chefs from around the world compete in the World Irish Stew championship or maybe you could enter in the amateur category of this competition
Further information can be found on the So Sligo Food and Culture Festival website
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April 2012
Cúirt International Festival of Literature
12-17 April
Location: Galway City
Cúirt International Festival of Literature is an annual celebration of the very best of contemporary writing in poetry, fiction and memoir.
From its genesis as a festival dedicated to poetry, to the present day, Cúirt has always placed the writer and the reader at its core. Many of the guest authors this year have never been to Cúirt before; some are coming with debut collections or novels.
Further information can be found on the Cúirt International Festival of Literature website.
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Smithwick's Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival
29 April - 2 May 
Location: Kilkenny
Attracting some of the finest names in American Roots music including country, folk, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly and Cajun. From midday to midnight audiences wind their way through the medieval streets sampling the huge range of music with over 80 shows in 30 venues.
Further information can be found on the Kilkenny Roots website.
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May 2012
Burren in Bloom Festival
Date: 29 April - 29 May 
Location: The Burren, Co. Clare
The Burren in Bloom Festival returns this year with a series of illustrated talks and organised walks throughout the month of May. The Festival, in association with the Burren College of Art and the Burrenbeo Trust, will give people an understanding and appreciation of the Burren and its formation, and how it continues to be a source of great botanical, archaeological, and cultural wealth with its unique wild flowers and ancient sites.
Further information can be found on the Burren in Bloom website.
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City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival
28 April - 2 May 
Location: Derry
Highlights not to be missed start Thursday 28th April as the Mayor hosts a special charity event in The City Hotel with the ever exuberant Jive Aces and friends. Admission is £5 and all proceeds raised are in aid of the Mayor’s chosen charities: Children in Crossfire and Foyle Search and Rescue.
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, now a festival regular, plays the first of his two sold out concerts this evening. Those lucky few who managed to get tickets are sure to be treated to an evening of boogie woogie and soul at it’s very very best.
Other high notes over the weekend are sure to include performances from Brass Jaw, Keith Harkin, the Dublin I.T. Big Band, the Lol Coxhill trio, the Chet Baker Story, James Huish and the Michael Buble Tribute Band, the Mark McKnight Quartet, child prodigy Andreas Varady, and the David Lyttle Group.
Further information can be found on the City of Derry Jazz Festival website.
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RTE All Ireland Drama Festival
29 April - 7 May 
Location: Athlone, Co. Westmeath
The RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival comprises of nine nights of the best in Irish amateur drama performed at the Dean Crowe Theatre Athlone for the prestigious Festival Trophy as well as for other major acting and technical awards.
The festival is supported by an active fringe which involves street theatre, art exhibitions, workshops and events for all age groups.
Further information can be found on the Drama Festival website.
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Punchestown National Hunt Festival
3 - 7 May 
Location: Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co. Kildare
The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival is the highlight of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The special combination of thrilling sporting action, brilliant live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun, dazzling glamour or casual comfort is unequalled due to the unique Punchestown Festival atmosphere.
Further information can be found on the Punchestown website.
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Galway Early Music Festival
20 - 22 May 
Location: Galway
Galway Early Music promotes the performance of medieval, renaissance and baroque music in Galway City and County.
Galway Early Music's main event is The Galway Early Music Festival which runs annually in May and features concerts by top international performers, workshops, schools events and music and theatre in the Galway City Museum and in the street. The Festival has a unique, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and highlights the medieval town of Galway and the artistic and cultural richness of the area.
Further information can be found on the Galway Early Music Festival website.
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Tattersalls Festival and International Horse Trials
26 - 29 May 
Location: Ratoath, Co. Meath
A world class equestrian event. Ireland's top riders go up against the very best from Europe, the UK and further afield. Accompanied by a festival village with crafts, shopping, tasty localproduce and loads of family activities.
Further information can be found on the Tattersalls website.
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June 2012
Bloom in the Park
Date: 2-6 June 
Location: Phoenix Park, Dublin
Bloom, Ireland's largest gardening, food and family event, takes place in the Phoenix Park Dublin during the June bank holiday weekend for 5 days (Thursday 2nd - Monday 6th June 2011).
For further information visit Bloom in the Park website
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Listowel Writer's Week
Date: 1 -5 June 
Location: Listowel, Co. Kerry
Since it’s inception in 1970 Listowel Writers’ Week has been recognised as the primary event in Ireland’s literary calendar. North Kerry is the birthplace of many of Ireland’s most prominent writers past and present including Dr. John B Keane, Dr Bryan Mac Mahon, Professor Brendan Kennelly, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, George Fitzmaurice, Maurice Walsh and Robert Leslie Boland. Writers’ Week festival was established in 1970 to celebrate those writers and to provide an opportunity for Irish Writers in general to develop their talents and meet new audiences.
For further information visit Listowel Writer's Week website.
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The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
Date: 2 - 6 June 
Location: Kilkenny City
The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival was founded in 1994 in response to the burgeoning wealth of Irish comic talent with no clear national outlet for expression.
The festival has grown from a small event comprising a handful of shows to an internationally acclaimed festival which showcases the very best in Irish and international comedy acts, attracting visitors to Kilkenny city and its surrounding regions through the unusual combination of professionally-managed world class entertainment in the atmospheric setting of our charming and intimate medieval city.
For further information visit The Cat Laughs website.
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Taste of Dublin
Date: 9-12 June 
Location: The Iveagh Gardens, Dublin
Taste of Dublin, the capital’s premier outdoor food and drink festival, will return this year to the ornate surroundings of the Iveagh Gardens for a weekend of gourmet indulgence
For further information please visit the Taste of Dublin Festival website.
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July 2012
The Tall Ships Race
Date: 30 June - 3 July 
Location: Waterford City
Thursday-Sunday, June 30-July 3, 2011 will be three extraordinary days of festival fun in the city followed by a glorious Parade of Sail along the Waterford and Wexford estuary, as Ireland once again hosts The Tall Ships Races.
This is one of the most spectacular and colourful events in the world and Waterford is gearing up to host over 70 majestic Tall Ships; 1,500 sail trainees and an anticipated 500,000 maritime, music and festival fans on the quays of Ireland’s oldest city.
For further information please visit the Waterford Tall Ships Race website.
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Ballina Salmon Festival
Date: 10 - 17 July 
Location: Ballina, Co. Mayo
Ballina Salmon Festival is Ireland's premier family-orientated festival giving thousands of people, eight days of fun-filled artistic and cultural events catering for all age groups.
The open-air festival attracts in excess of 300,000 people from all over Ireland and the rest of the world. Included in the events is a Heritage Day, Lady of the Moy, Mayo's Got Talent, Street Rag Parade, Triathlon, Its a Knockout, Krazy Kart and fireworks; and, for the younger children, there is the Teddy Bears Picnic, dance, song and creative workshops.
The Ballina Salmon Festival 2011 promises to be a fun-filled week that will be enjoyed by all ages.
For further information please visit the Ballina Salmon Festival website.
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August 2012
Carlow Garden Festival
Date: 30 July - 7 August
Location: Carlow 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2011, Carlow’s Floral Festival Trail is a gardening, flora and nature extravaganza. We continue to bring you informative gardening and environmental workshops hosted by some of Ireland’s best known TV and radio experts. The Festival also includes a country fair at Duckett’s Grove Historic House and Walled Gardens featuring a large craft and food fair, musical performances, traditional craft demonstrations and fun for the entire family.
From bulbs to borders and woodland to wildlife, the Carlow Garden Festival is a great opportunity for budding and experienced gardeners and nature lovers to obtain practical advice and tips from some of Ireland’s most respected gardening and nature personalities. Now in its 10th year and widely recognised as the South-East’s premier gardening event, the festival offers the perfect break for flower, garden and nature lovers.
Whether you are about to tackle your first ever gardening project or looking to hone your gardening skills, Carlow Garden Festival is full of informative lectures and easy to follow workshops designed to suit your needs.
Visitors to the festival also have the opportunity to visit the Carlow Garden Trail, a collection of 16 different gardening attractions including great old gardens that have been lovingly restored and smaller gardens maturing beautifully with time. Award winning garden centres and forest parks complement the joy of a visit here. A range of special “Garden Breaks” are designed to ensure you get the most from your visit to the county.
For further information please visit the Carlow Garden Festival website.
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Dublin Horse Show
Date: 3-7 August
Location: RDS, Dublin 
The Horse Show is a Dublin institution. A celebration of Ireland's affinity with the horse, the Dublin Horse Show has the best show horses and the best international show jumpers compete for honours. It is one of Ireland's largest events, a highlight of the summer, each year welcoming tens of thousands of people from Ireland and all over the world.
The Blue Book will be on the Discover Ireland stand (number D1), please stop by for your free brochure.
For further information please visit the Dublin Horse Show website.
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Rose of Tralee International Festival 
Date: 19-23 August
Location: Tralee, Co. Kerry
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is one of Ireland's largest and longest running festivals, celebrating 50 years in 2009. The heart of the festival is the selection of the Rose of Tralee which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world to County Kerry, Ireland for a global celebration of Irish culture. The festival also includes street entertainment, carnival, live concerts, theatre, circus, markets, funfair, fireworks and our internationally renowned Rose Parade.
For further information please visit the Rose of Tralee International Festival website.
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September 2012
Dublin Contemporary 2011
Date: 6 September - 31 October 
Location: Various locations in Dublin City
Dublin is about to be taken over – but in a good way. For almost two months the city will tingle with the creative sparks of over 90 international artists from Ireland and five continents.
As well as Dublin's finest and funkiest spaces (think The Royal Hibernian Academy, The Hugh Lane, National Gallery) creative juices will flow to the former university campus, Earlsfort Terrace, where mini solo exhibitions, installations and wall hangings will whet the artistic appetite. All the works this year will fall under the theme of Terrible Beauty—Art, Crisis, Change & The Office of Non-Compliance.
With a title like that, this is bound to be memorable.
For further information please visit the Dublin Contemporary website.
Stay & Dine nearby:
King Sitric Restaurant & Accommodation
Dublin Fashion Festival
Date: 8-11 September 
Location: Dublin
A host of fabulous fashion events will take place right across Dublin city in hundreds of shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and lots of other locations across the city.
Enjoy exclusive style events, special offers and discounts, pampering treats, beauty tips and tricks and all you need to know to make sure your look is in style this Autumn/Winter!
Collections for A/W ’11 will be in stores across the city so come to Dublin and make sure your look is updated and ready to rock the season ahead!
For further information please visit the Dublin Fashion Festival website.
Stay & Dine nearby:
King Sitric Restaurant & Accommodation
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
Date: 23-25 September 
Location: Galway
The Galway Oyster Festival has evolved from very modest beginnings. In September 1954, 34 guests attended the very first Oyster Festival Banquet. The idea presented itself when in 1953, Brian Collins, manager of the Great Southern Hotel was facing a bleak September with a deserted hotel.
Brian was mulling over the challenge of filling his hotel by extending the tourist season into September when the head chef recommended that oysters be included on their menu as they had just come into season. Eureka! Therein born the idea of celebrating the opening of the oyster season with a festival and the creation of what is now regarded as one of the most celebrated and longest running festivals in the world.
For further information please visit the Galway Interantional Oyster & Seafood Festival website.
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Siamsa Tire - National Folk Theatre
Date: Various dates in September 
Location: Tralee
Clann Lir - The Story of The Children of Lir
Clann Lir, an eternal tale of evil and salvation, is a story as old as Ireland itself. According to the legend, the four children of King Lir were turned into swans by their wicked stepmother, Aoife. This is a glorious visual, musical and magical performance.
Oileán - Celebrating the Blasket Islands
Oileán celebrates life on the Blasket Islands in times past, capturing the essence of this island community, their traditions and customs, their wealth of song and story, their love of life and their strong kinship with one another.
For further information please visit the Siamsa Tire website.
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Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival
Date: 29 September - 16 October 
Location: Dublin
To coin a phrase, Dublin is about to become a stage. Rolling into town with a thespian pep in its step is the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival taking over the city with dramatic intent. Long story short, it looks like being a bit of an epic.
Just think of UBDTF (as the hipsters call it) as a magnet for the most powerful, bewildering, and thought provoking on stage works from around the theatre world, featuring acrobatic Russian clowns and tragedies in Dublin tenements – not in the same show of course.
At the Ulster Bank Theatre Festival, anything can happen. And be warned, you won't want to miss it.
For further information please visit the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival website.
Stay & Dine nearby:
King Sitric Restaurant & Accommodation
October 2012
Open House Dublin
Date: 7-9 October 
Location: Dublin
Open House Dublin opens eyes and doors to the stunning and usually off-limits buildings in the city. We’re talking maintained tenements, regal residences and ecologically friendly triumphs. This year’s theme ‘The Architecture of Change’ explores the idea that buildings around us have the potential to make us happier and the world a better place.
For further inforamtion please visit the Irish Architecture Foundation Open House Dublin website.
Stay & Dine nearby:
King Sitric Restaurant & Accommodation
Wexford Opera Festival
Date: October 21-November 5 
Location: Wexford
The Wexford Festival Opera has be running since 1951, playing a central role in the cultural life of Ireland, in the world of Opera and Arts internationally.
From small and humble beginnings it has achieved world-wide success and critical acclaim by demonstrating passion, innovation and a willingness to lead audiences and artists into neglected territories to explore the rich vein of operatic work worldwide.
A full programme can be found on the festival website.
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Dunbrody House
Marlfield House
Sligo Live Ireland's Folk, Roots and Indie Music Festival
Date: 27-31 October
Location: Sligo
Sligo Live is a festival celebrating traditional, roots and acoustic music. It has carved out a niche as one of the most relaxed, intimate an enjoyable music festivals in Ireland.
Further information can be found on the Sligo Live website.
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Cork JAZZ Festival
Date: 28-31 October
Location: Cork 
148 acts, 1,200 live performances & over 55,000 of you, the supporters, made last years festival a runaway success.
A full programme can be found on the festival website
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November 2012
Waterford International Music Festival
Date: 2-13 November 
Location: Waterford City
Twelve days celebrating what's best about music, from popular musicals to soulful gospel and alternative sounds. 2011 promises a return of some old favourites and a new twist for the more adventurous.
A full programme can be found on the festival website
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Corona Cork Film Festival
Date: 6-12 November 
Location: Cork City
Corona Cork Film Festival is one of Ireland’s premier cultural events. Established in 1956, the festival has enjoyed a steady growth in scale, in numbers of admissions and guests. The festival has developed an ever-increasing audience of general public, film lovers and filmmakers. Corona Cork Film Festival is held in high regard on a local, national and international level. The programme is wide-ranging, an eclectic mix of big budget pictures, world cinema, innovative independent films, documentaries and short films from all over the globe. The festival is a major showcase for Irish film production.
A full programme can be found on the festival website
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Georgian Christmas Market
Date: 19-20 November 
Location: Pery Square, Limerick
Pery Square, the lovely Georgian area of Limerick hosts market stalls, local artisan food producers, arts & crafts, seasonal gifts with a difference, festival atmosphere and much more.
A full programme can be found on the festival website.
Stay nearby
The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
Taste of Christmas
Date: 25-27 November 
Location: Convention Centre, Dublin City
Taste of Christmas is the season's finest food, drink and shopping festival! Discover the best in seasonal food and drink, sample signature dishes from Ireland's top restaurants, and be inspired and entertained by top culinary talent in this winter wonderland of flavour.
A full programme can be found on the festival website.
Stay & Dine nearby
King Sitric Restaurant & Accommodation
December 2012
Winter Solstice
Date: 18 - 23 December
Location: Newgrange, Co. Meath
Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the Winter Solstice sun. Above the entrance to the passage of the mound there is a opening called a roof-box. On mornings around the winter solstice a beam of light penetrates the roof-box and travels up the 19 metre passage and into the chamber. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens so that the whole chamber is dramatically illuminated.
The general public are welcome to gather at Newgrange for the sunrise on the mornings around the Solstice (December 18th to December 23rd). Access to the chamber on the Solstice mornings is decided by lottery. There were 31,531 entries for Solstice 2011 lottery.
For further information visit the Newgrange Website.
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Walk Killarney
Date: 26-27 December
Location: Killarney, Co. Kerry 
It is said that "in Killarney, you will find a different walking route for every day in the year". This may be an exaggeration, but only just !!. At any time of year, with or without guides, walkers can choose from low level parkland walks around beautiful lakes and through some of Ireland's oldest Oakwoods, to higher level hill walks on old coach roads and bridle paths, or for the more adventurous, take on the 3000 feet + summits of the "iconic" MacGillicuddy Reeks. Long and short "linear" walks including some of the pioneering "waymarked" walks like the Kerry Way and the Dingle Way can be navigated in full or in part. Killarney has a plethora of "loop walks" where walkers return to the start point without recovering their steps - some can be completed in 30 minutes while others can take 4+ hours.
For further information visit the Walk Killarney website.
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January 2013
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