Festivals

Kinsale Gourmet Festival

7-9 October: The 40th Kinsale Gourmet Food Festival will take place this week in the beautiful port town in Co Cork. On Saturday, the Mad Hatter’s Taste of Kinsale will see people wear fancy dress and mad hats around the town as they are led around on a food trail of lunchtime treats. The festival concludes on Sunday with a four-course Fruits de Mer Luncheon, followed by a charity auction and live music.

SPIT

13 October: Held in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin, SPIT is a wine-tasting event for those who love wine and are interested in out-of-the-ordinary wines and meeting winemakers. This event is a gateway to wines with a strong and unique sense of identity. There will be various industry insiders present on the day to help explain and contextualise the wines. Tickets cost €30 and are available to buy at www.spit.ie.

Tipperary Dance

Platform

10-16 October: Held in the Tipperary Excel Arts Centre and other locations in Tipperary town, this dance festival is organised by dance artists and will display a week of shows, dance video projections and an exhibition. This is a family-friendly festival where there will be dance classes held for all ages and experience levels. This year will see a large range of artists perform from Ireland, France and Switzerland. Visit www.tdp-danceplatform.ie for more details.

Dublin Theatre Festival

29 September – 16 October: Europe’s longest running specialist theatre festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival, has rolled around once more. First staged in 1957, the annual event brings world-class theatre to Dublin. Events will take place across the city, incorporating theatre, music, dance and family events as well as talks and public discussions. In the past, the festival has welcomed performances from actors including Vanessa Redgrave and Fiona Shaw. Visit www.dublintheatrefestival.com for more information.

Theatre

Bailegangaire

7-8 October: Tom Murphy’s play is reinterpreted by Paraic McIntyre at The Pavillion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire. An essential watch for theatre fans, this play explores what happens in a place where no one can ever laugh. The play witnesses the matriarch, Momo, telling the next generations about how the village earned its name and conclude the folk tale. Tickets cost €20 and can be bought on www.pavilliontheatre.ie.

Cinema

The Girl on the Train

7 October: One of the biggest releases of the year, The Girl on the Train is based on the 2015 best-selling novel and directed by Tate Taylor. The film stars Emily Blunt as Rachel Watson, the main character who takes the same train every day. On her journey she becomes obsessed with a couple whose home the train stops outside every day – until one day she finds herself embroiled in a missing person’s case. ?

Dancing diary

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, Sun 9th August, Declan Nerney

Mayo: Claremorris, McWilliam Park Hotel, Sat 8th October, Jimmy Buckley

Leinster

Dublin: Dublin, Red Cow, Thurs 6th October, Jimmy Buckley

Kilkenny: Pilltown, Pilltown GAA Complex, Sun 9th October, Finbar Dennehy

Kilkenny: Slieverue, Rhu Glenn, Sat 15tH October, Derek McEvoy

Louth: Dundalk, The Lisdoo, Sat 8th October, Gerry Guthrie

Meath: Navan, Ardboyne Hotel, Mon 10th October, Robert Mizzell

Westmeath: Mullingar, Greville Arms, Sun 9th October, Robert Mizzell

Waterford: Tramore, O’Sheas, Sun 9th October, Pat Hogan

Westmeath: Moate, The Well, Sat 8th October, Declan Nerney

Munster

Cork: Mallow, The Hazel Tree, Fri 7th October, Jim Devine

Cork: Glanmire, Vienna Woods, Wed 12th October, Michael Collins

Limerick: Cappamore, Sun 16th. October, Louise Morrissey; Mick Flavin and Sean Wilson

Limerick: Adare, Woodlands Hotel, Sun 9th October, Jimmy Buckley

Tipperary: Newport, Aherns, Sat 8th October, Dermot Lyons

Tipperary: Roundhill, Ballina, Sat 8th October, Castletrio, Sun 9th October, Richie Halpin

Ulster

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, Sat 8th October, Robert Mizzell

Donegal: Letterkenny, Josies, Fri 7th October, Gerry Guthrie

Down: Newry, Mourne Country, Sat 8th October, Johnny Brady

Monaghan: Monaghan, Four Seasons Hotel, Sun 9th October, Gerry Guthrie

Monaghan: Castleblayney, Glencarn Hotel, Fri 7th October, Jimmy Buckley

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, Sat 8th October, Jim Devine