Experience

some of the best traditional music and dancing that Leinster has to offer at the Leinster Fleadh Cheoil 2016. This year Fleadh Laighean will be held in Kilkenny City from 4 to 10 July. This Irish traditional music festival is guaranteed to bring a wealth of talent to the streets of the city, with competitors showcasing their skills in a wide variety of traditional instruments, song and dance competitions. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there will be céilís, trad group performances, and music sessions in venues around the city. For more information and the timetable of events, see www.leinsterfleadh.ie

Get

to know your neighbour with Macra’s summer initiative. It can be very easy for neighbours to remain strangers and for people moving to new communities to become isolated and alone. Know Your Neighbours Weekend provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of community and the value of building and maintaining friendships and connections within our neighbourhoods. By connecting with our neighbours we are helping to ensure the future of our communities and are creating a truly inclusive society of which we can all be proud. These events will be held on different weekends throughout the country. Terelton will host their evening on 10 July. For more information, see www.knowyourneighbour.ie

Celebrate

the best in farming, rural interests and country living at the Mullingar agricultural show. The show that has been running for over 180 years is sure to attract entries from the length and breadth of Ireland. With classes to reflect the traditional agricultural strengths of Westmeath in pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep showing classes, sheep shearing classes, horse and pony showing classes, and show jumping. There will also be pony classes for special needs children. For more information, see www.mullingarshow.com

Dance

your legs off for a Meath charity. Newly crowned Irish Country Music Entertainer of the Year Mike Denver is set to headline this year’s Barn Dance in aid of Cancer Research and chosen local charities at Kilmoon, Co Meath, on Saturday 16 July. Over 2,500 attended last year’s event, which patrons young and old described as the night of the year. There is a full bar on the night managed by Philip Foster of the Snail Box Bar and Restaurant and unlimited free food provided by Rumbles. Popular local DJ James McNally will play till late following Mike Denver. This is the fifth barn dance in as many years, with almost €250,000 raised for charity from the events to date. Tickets are €25 and can be ordered from Euro Farm Foods Duleek (041-9880888) or one of the sellers on the event’s Facebook page.

Push

yourself to the limit at Tough Mudder from 9 to 10 July. This 10- to 12-mile mud and obstacle course is designed to drag you out of your comfort zone by testing your physical strength, stamina, and mental grit. The 10-plus mile course culminates with “electroshok therapy”, where participants run through a field of wires carrying up to 10,000 volts of electricity. Tough Mudder is all about camaraderie. It is not a timed race but a team challenge that allows participants to experience world-class obstacles they won’t find anywhere else. In just over five years, this challenge has attracted more than two million participants, with over 60 events in seven countries in 2015 alone. For more information, see www.toughmudder.ie