Music

The Playing Fields Festival – 24-25 August: Saturday 24 August will see the likes of The Frank and Walters, Topso, Oski Bravo, Jerry Fish, Montauk Hotel, Padraig Cahill, Valhalla and Alice Lynskey perform alongside headliners The Stunning. On day two of the event, the audience members will be entertained by The Two Johnnies, Dublin Gospel Choir, Empire Circus, Winter Heart, The Road Worn Frets, Saarloos and Declan O’Rourke as well as headliners The 4 Of Us. Tickets on sale on www.eventbrite.ie. Visit www.theplayingfields.ie for more information on the festival.

Film

Never Grow Old – 23 August: Never Grow Old follows Irish carpenter and undertaker Patrick Tate and his young family on the outskirts of a small town on the California trail during the 1849 Gold Rush. Life isn’t easy but it’s peaceful until outlaw, Dutch Albert and his ruthless gang arrive, killing anyone that dares to say a word against them. For Patrick, it is only a matter of time before he must protect his own from the dangerous game. Directed by Ivan Kavanagh, this western drama stars Danny Webb, Emile Hirsch and John Tate, and hits Irish cinemas on 23 August.

Theatre

Doors to the Past – 23 August: Stories from behind the doors of the most and least prominent buildings in the oldest planned estate towns in Ireland is brought to life by members of Mountrath Youth Theatre in Co Laois. The tour takes a look into the lives of these people, both the regency and the lay folk that were once the town’s residents. General admission costs €4. See www.powerofwords.ie.

Comedy

Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival – 23-25 August: The small seaside village of Waterville, Co Kerry, welcomes back the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival. The first festival took place in 2011, when the people of Waterville, along with Chaplin’s daughter Josephine and many others came together to honour the life and work of the master comedian and filmmaker, whose legacy is still influential to comedy today. Hugging the shores of Lough Currane and boasting a magnificent backdrop of lush mountains, Waterville makes the perfect location for the festival. For more see www.chaplinfilmfestival.com.

Musical

The Miami Showband Musical – 28 August: Killarney’s INEC hosts The Miami Showband Musical on 28 August. In the 1960s, while The Beatles reigned in England alongside the Rolling Stones, and America worshipped The Beach Boys, Ireland embraced the Miami Showband. However, tragedy struck when in 1975, three members of the band, Fran O’Toole, Tony Geraghy and Brian McCoy were killed in a UVF ambush on the way back from a gig in Co Down, sending shockwaves through the nation. The band’s story is about to hit the stage in Kerry, written by Belfast playwrights Martin Lynch and Marie Jones. The show follows the story of the band from their origin to becoming one of the country’s most popular acts, the aftermath of the ambush up to the memorial concert in 2005. For more, see www.inec.ie.

Dancing diary

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, 25th August, (5-8pm), T Bone Country (10.30) Patrick Feeney

Leitrim: Carrick on Shannon, The Landmark, 24th August, Patrick Feeney

Mayo: Claremorris, McWilliam Park,

Social Dancing: 25th August (5-8), Pat McKenna & Glenshane Country

Big Band Dancing: 24th August, Gerry Guthrie

Leinster

Dublin: Dublin, Red Cow, 22nd August, Ciaran Rosney

Kildare: Celbridge, Celbridge Manor Hotel, 23rd August, Patrick Feeney

Kilkenny: Pilltown, Pilltown GAA, 25th August, Declan Aungier

Kilkenny: Slieverue, The Rhu Glenn, 24th August, Mike Denver

Louth: Dundalk, The Lisdoo, 24th August, Jimmy Buckley

Offaly: Cloghan, Sports field, 25th August (2-6), TR Dallas, John Molloy & others

Westmeath: Moate, The Well, 22nd August, Michael Collins, 24th August, Derek Ryan, 25th August, Muriel O’Connor & Fran Curry

Munster

Clare: Ennis, West County Hotel, 25th August, Ciaran Rosney

Cork: Mallow, The Hazel Tree, 23rd August, Declan Nerney

Cork: Kanturk, Social Club Kilbrin, 30th August, Dermot Lyons Band

Cork: Ballyvourney, Abbey Hotel, 26th August, Martin Kearney & Derry Kennedy

Cork: Glanmire, Vienna Woods, 28th August, Declan Nerney

Kerry: Tralee, Keirns O’ Rahillys club, 28th August, Michael Collins Band

Kerry: Scartaglen, Heritage Centre, 25th August, Mike Condon

Limerick: Adare, Woodlands Hotel,25th ugust, Declan Nerney

Limerick: Limerick, Greenhills Hotel, 22nd John McNicholl

Limerick: Kilmallock, Bulgaden Castle, 28th August, Michael Sexton

Tipperary: Roscrea, Racket Hall, 24th August, Robert Mizzell

Tipperary: Thurles, The Premier Ballroom, 25th August, Pat Costello

Ulster

Cavan: Cavan, Hotel Kilmore, 24th August, Johnny Brady

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, 23rd August, Johnny Brady, 24th August, Keith & Lorraine & The Showband Show

Down: Newry, Mourne Country, 24th August, The Indians

Tyrone: Omagh, Silverbirch Hotel, 23rd August, Cliona Hagan

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, 24th August, Ciaran Rosney

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