Festivals

Cork Midsummer Festival

17-26 June: Cork Midsummer Festival is Cork’s largest annual multi-disciplinary arts festival that uses the city as its backdrop and inspiration. It provides high-quality arts events, both national and international, for audiences of all ages. Its programme provides opportunities for significant public participation and engagement, supports the development of emerging artists across all art-forms, and provides a unique platform for work by local and national artists. 2016 will be an incredibly exciting time to visit the festival. It will have the world premiere of large-scale site-specific theatre and opera events; the return of family favourite, Picnic in the Park; once in a lifetime outdoor, participative experiences; and the chance to get under the skin and behind the scenes of the city.

An Tóstal

26 June - 2 July: Nathan Carter taking to the stage is the highlight of this festival which has plenty more to offer. The festival will feature a parade, street entertainment and a live band. Throughout the week there will be art classes, for both adults and children, in oil painting, sculpture, jewellery making, pastels, and clay sculpture. Other events include an art exhibition, hill walking, Cinema on the Lake, Céilí Mór, a 1916 night, a five-a-side soccer competition, a mothers and others Gaelic football tournament, and fishing workshops in coarse and fly fishing. The Day at the Lake will feature raft building, kayaking, paddle boarding, bouncy castles and much more. Tickets for Natan Carter are €20 and can be purchased on the door.

Theatre

The Wake

22 June - 30 July: This long-awaited revival of The Wake is a critique on the materialism in Irish life today and its staging serves as part of the Abbey Theatre’s programme entitled Waking the Nation, which commemorates the Easter Rising 100 years on. When morality goes out the door, anything can happen… It’s the ’90s. It’s small town Ireland and Vera’s back. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Tom Murphy’s award-winning and highly regarded and controversial play, performed live on the Abbey Theatre stage as part of Ireland 2016. Tickets start from €13. For more information, see www.abbeytheatre.ie

The Man in the Woman’s Shoes

23-26 June: Back in the Pavilion Theatre after numerous sellout runs, don’t miss playwright/performer Mikel Murfi’s one-man show, The Man in the Woman’s Shoes. The play follows a few hours in the life of the full-time cobbler, occasional farmer and all-around stand-up guy, Pat Farnon, as he walks five miles from his white cottage to his small Irish town and back again. Set in October 1978, Pope John Paul I is not long dead, autumn is closing in and Farnon has “some business” to do in town. He meets some unforgettable characters along the way.

Music

The Coronas

24-25 June: The Coronas perform Live at the Marquee in Co Cork this Friday and Saturday. Releasing their first album almost 10 years ago, they have since become a huge success in the Irish music industry. Originating from Dublin, the band has released four albums so far ,with their first album, Heroes and Ghosts, bringing them widespread acclaim. For full ticket information, see www.ticketmaster.ie

Film

Elvis and Nixon

24 June: On the morning of 21 December 1970, actor-singer Elvis Presley shows up to the White House and requests for an urgent meeting with President Richard Nixon, to swear him in as an undercover agent in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Learn the untold true story behind the meeting between which produced one of the most requested pictures in the National Archives. Featuring an all-star cast of Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Pettyfer and Johnny Knoxville and more.

Dancing diary

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, Sun 26th June, Mike Denver

Leinster

Dublin: Dublin, Red Cow, Thurs 23rd June, Declan Nerney

Kilkenny: Pilltown, Pilltown GAA Complex, Sun 26th June, Derek Veale

Kilkenny: Rhu Glenn, Mon 4th July, Seamus Moore & Ritchie Kavanagh

Louth: Dundalk, Lisdoo Arms, Sat 25th June, Michael English

Meath: Navan, Ardboyne Hotel, Mon 27th June, Barry Kirwan launch with special guests

Westmeath: Moate, The Well, Sat 25th June, Johnny Brady

Munster

Cork: Glanmire, Vienna Woods, Wed 29th June, Patrick O’Sullivan

Clare: Ennis, West County Hotel, Sun 26th June, Declan Nerney

Limerick: Adare, Woodlands Hotel, Sun 26th June, Gerry Guthrie

Limerick: Caherconlish, Millenium Centre, Sat 2nd July, Muriel O’Connor & Fran Curry, Fri 8th July, Michael Collins

Tipperary: Thurles, The Premier Ballroom, Sun 26th June, Peter Bourke

Tipperary: Newport, Aherns, Sat 25th June, Adrian Ryan

Tipperary: Ballina, Roundhill, Sat 25th June, Lawerence Campion Sun 26th June, Tempo

Ulster

Antrim: Ballymena, Tullyglass House, Sat 25th June, Joe Davitt

Cavan: Cavan, Hotel Kilmore, Sat 25th June, Jim Devine

Tyrone: Omagh, Mellon Country, Fri 24th June, Gareth Pritchard

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, Sat 25th June, Jimmy Buckley

Down: Newry, Mourne Country, Sat 25th June, Ritchie Remo

Monaghan: Castleblayney, Glencarn Hotel, Fri 24th June,

Monaghan: Monaghan, Four Seasons Hotel, Sun 26th June, Derek Ryan

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, Sat 25th June, Robert Mizzell

Derry: Coleraine, Bushtown Hotel, Mon 27th June, Derek Ryan

Donegal: Letterkenny, Josies Country Tavern, Fri 24th June, Patrick Feeney