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IMMERSE yourself in Atlantic Irish Fest that takes place in Bundoran, Co Donegal from 18 to 22 January. This festival celebrates the traditions of history, culture and music in a beautiful corner of Ireland. Over five days there will be cultural talks and tours, outdoor activities and a packed programme of live music with some of Donegal’s best musicians. Attend talks on language, literature, famine and emigration and take a tour of the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre. The north west of Ireland has been long celebrated for its unique culture and history and this festival helps showcase it. For more information see www.atlanticirishfest.com.
APPRECIATE TradFest, Dublin’s only festival of trad and folk music from 22 to 26 January. Make the most of the unique opportunities to experience live music in some of Dublin’s most historic places, from Dublin Castle and City Hall to the Pepper Canister Church. This five day festival celebrates traditional Irish music, Celtic rock, folk, nufolk and world music. The 2020 line-up includes Sharon Shannon, Cherish the Ladies, Hothouse Flowers and Daoirí Farrell of the Dublin Sessions with special guests. There will even be events for kids including craft club, open trad sessions and a family workshop. For tickets and more information see www.tradfest.ie.
TAKE PART in Run For the Border on 17 January. Imirt and Games NI have joined forces to bring together two game development communities to one location for food, drink and game development. This is a meeting of the minds, an event created for the purposes of friendship, cooperation and camaraderie taking place exactly halfway between Dublin and Belfast in Dundalk. The Creative Europe Desks are sponsoring two 50 seater coaches, travelling from locations around the country. For tickets and more information see www.eventbrite.ie.
ENJOY the Irish Modern Urban History Group Limerick Symposium on 17 January in the People’s Museum of Limerick. This is an international research network concerned with the history of the development and function of cities and towns in Ireland, and of the political, social and cultural history of urban spaces they contain. The event will start at 9.30am until 5.30pm and is organised by Dr Niamh NicGhabhann, School of History, University of Limerick. For more information see www.irishurbanhistory.wordpress.com.
CATCH a glimpse of life in prisons of the past on an atmospheric jail museum experience of Wicklow Gaol. Wicklow Gaol closed its doors for the final time as a prison in 1924 and opened to the public in 1998. The gaol has lasted through the 1798 Rebellion, the Great Famine, the Independence Era and the Cheshire Regiment. The gaol is open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm. There are free audio hand guides available in numerous languages and a family tour ticket costs €26, with a virtual reality experience family ticket costing €50. For more information see www.wicklowhistoricgaol.com.
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