LAUGH your way through the musical comedy hit Hairspray, currently running at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until 16 September. The musical is set in Baltimore in 1962 and centres around Tracy Turbald, who is on a mission to make her dream of appearing on national television come true. The show features the hit songs Welcome To The ’60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat, The Nicest Kids In Town and many more. For more information on this performance, see www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie and for booking, see www.ticketmaster.ie.

RELIVE the literary work of Dermot Healy at the Fierce Moon Festival in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, from 14 September to 17 September. Fierce Moon is a weekend of literary goodness in Leitrim, where the late poet Dermot Healy enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Glens Centre where the festival is based. Over the weekend there will be music from Seamie O’Dowd and spoken word from Michael Harding, Sally Rooney and Pat McCabe. Masterclasses, book launches and poetry prizes will also be sprinkled throughout the weekend and literary lovers of all sorts are sure to enjoy this event. For a full line-up of what’s on, see www.theglenscentre.com.

EXPERIENCE the skills of four world-class step dancers at Anam, a dance show that explores the similarities and differences between these dancers from the US, Canada and Ireland, each with their own distinct hard-shoe style. The show will take place at the Belltable in Limerick on 15 September and attests to the tradition of passing on dance styles, while also adding a fresh modern flavour. The dancers featured will be Matthew Olwell, Jonathan Kelliher, Nathan Pilatzke and John Fitzgerald. A standard adult ticket costs €18 and tickets are available on www.limetreetheatre.ie.

IMMERSE yourself in one of Europe’s largest outdoor events, the National Ploughing Championships, taking place from 19 September to 21 September at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Highlight of the agricultural calendar in Ireland, the Ploughing is not to be missed and enjoyed by people from all walks of life. The main attraction of the Ploughing is, of course, as the name suggests, the ploughing competition, which is entered by over 300 people each year. Along with that there will be 1,700 exhibitors selling all you could think of and a number of informative stands also. For more information and a full programme of events see www.npa.ie.

RUN into a whole load of fun at the Inflatable Colour Run taking place in Craughwell, Co Galway, on 16 September. A day out for the whole family, this colour run/walk is suitable for you regardless of your fitness level. Start the race dressed in white and then walk, run and bounce your way around to the various colour stations, finally finishing in a rainbow of colours. There will be music at the finish line and a medal for each participant. An adult ticket for the run costs €23.95. For more information, search Inflatable Colour Run on Facebook.