Music

Lughnasa Sunset Tour – 3 August: Uisneach Farm in Mullingar, Co Westmeath will host a sunset tour to celebrate the harvest season of Lughnasa. The event in Loughnavalley will be filled with music and storytelling, with tour guide Marty Mulligan focusing on stories of the sun god Lugh and explaining the importance of the harvest season. The visitor centre opens at 7pm and the tour starts at 8pm. The walk is 3km and lasts approximately three hours, with tea and coffee served afterwards. Visitors are asked to note that dogs on/off a leash are not permitted because Uisneach is a working farm. Tickets cost €16.97 and are available on eventbrite.ie. Children accompanying ticket-holding adults go free.

Theatre

SPRÓG: Whispering Wave – 1 August: This is the perfect event to bring your kids to this summer. Running in Waterford’s Garter Lane Theatre, it begins at 11am and ends at 12pm. SPRÓG: Whispering Wave is a storytelling performance that features a small boat and centres on stories of the sea. The Old Fisherman asks, ‘Can you hear? Can you hear the waves whispering?’ before recounting tales of strange sea creatures, a fairy wave and unusual burial rituals that are guaranteed to have your children on the edge of their seats. The event is free but ticketed, and booking in advance is recommended. Tickets are available on www.garterlane.ie.

Film

Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw – 1 August: After first facing off in 2015’s Furious 7, lawman Hobbs (an agent working for America’s Diplomatic Security Service) and Lawless Shaw (a former British military elite operative) are forced to put their past behind them and partner up to take down cyber-enhanced Brixton (Idris Elba). Brixton has obtained control of a dangerous bio-hazard that poses a grave threat to humanity, and the pair, with the help of Shaw’s sister, a fearless MI6 agent, must stop him in his tracks before it is too late. The thriller, which features giant trucks and jumping out of sky scrapers is set to be a massive hit this summer when it hits cinemas on 1 August.

Comedy

Two Pints – Until 10 August: Dublin’s Abbey Theatre is the venue this summer for Roddy Doyle’s Two Pints. What began as a conversation on Facebook has now snowballed into a successful play that has already completed two sold out tours of pubs across Ireland and the UK. This hilarious piece features the two men meeting for a pint and discussing matters great and small from their fathers, to death and the afterlife. For more information and tickets, visit abbeytheatre.ie

Musical

The Bodyguard – 7-15 August: Dublin’s Bórd Gáis Energy Theatre plays host to smash hit blockbuster The Bodyguard from 7 to 15 August. Based on the international blockbuster film, The Bodyguard, this production sees Alexandra Burke return to the role of Rachel Marron. Frank Farmer, a former secret service agent and bodyguard is hired to protect superstar Rachel, and the plot thickens when the pair fall in love. This romantic thriller also features a host of irresistible classics, such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I Will Always Love You. Tickets begin at €30, with more information available on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Dancing diary

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, 4th August(5-8pm), Blue Ridge Country(10.30) Robert Mizzell

Mayo: Claremorris, McWilliam Park,

Social Dancing: 4th August (5-8), Brendan Magee

Big Band Dancing: 2nd August, Patrick Feeney. 4th August, Jimmy Buckley

Leinster

Kildare: Celbridge, Celbridge Manor Hotel, 2nd August, Declan Nerney

Kilkenny: Pilltown, Pilltown GAA, 4th August, Pat Hayes

Westmeath: Moate, The Well, 1st August, Liam Mannering, 3rd August, Michael English, 4th August, Gerry Guthrie, 5th August, Stuart Moyles & John Molloy

Munster

Clare: Ennis, West County Hotel, 11th August, Declan Nerney

Cork: Mallow, The Hazel Tree, 2nd August, Jimmy Buckley, 4th August, Keith, Lorraine & The Showband Show, 5th August, Checkers

Kerry: Tralee, Keirns O’ Rahillys club, 7th August, Frank Nelson Band

Kerry: Scartaglen, Heritage Centre, 4th August, Charity Cancer Bus, Martin Kearney & Derry Kennedy, 11th August, Michael Collins Band

Limerick: Adare, Woodlands Hotel, 5th August, Michael Collins, 11th August, Jim Devine

Limerick: Limerick, Greenhills Hotel, 1st August, Declan Nerney, 15th August, Keith, Lorraine & Showband Show

Tipperary: Roscrea, Racket Hall, 3rd August, Cliona Hagan, 10th August, Gerry Guthrie

Ulster

Antrim: Ballymena, The Tullyglass Hotel, 3rd August, Gerry Guthrie

Cavan: Cavan, Hotel Kilmore, 3rd August, Robert Mizzell

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, 2nd August, The Indians, 3rd August, Jimmy Buckley, 4th August, Mike Denver, 5th August, Robert Mizzell

Tyrone: Omagh, Silverbirch Hotel, 2nd August, Derek Ryan

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, 3rd August, Barry Kirwan

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