CHALLENGE yourself at Dingle’s Mountain Challenge this Saturday, 18 August. The annual event is organised by Brighter Communities Worldwide, an organisation that's been working since 2002 to respond to the needs of the people of Kenya. Their focus is on improving health, access to clean water, better education and increased household income. Funds raised at this annual event will help support rural families in Kenya to live healthy lives. Choose between climbing Mount Brandon or walking part of the Dingle Way (8km). Participation costs €60. See www.brightercommunities.org

ENJOY the Canal Quarter Festival in Tullamore this weekend from Thursday, 16 August, to Sunday, 19 August, as the festival of music, food and craic returns once more. Some of the acts include the Wolfe Tones, Damien Dempsey, Ruaile Buaile, The Harleys and many more. Closing the festivities on Sunday night is Smash Hits, bringing back the best of the '90s music, which is not to be missed if you're a '90s child. See www.canalquarterfestival.com for more.

EXPERIENCE Ireland’s real music in Drogheda, Co Louth, at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018. Having begun on Sunday, 12 August, the festival will run until this Sunday, 19 August. This is the world's largest celebration of Irish music, song and dance. This year’s line-up has been described as one of the most exciting to date, with local, national and international artists, including Damien Dempsey, Hothouse Flowers, Zoe Conway, Denis Cahill, the RTÉ Contempo Quartet and Concert Orchestra to name just some. Don't miss this uniquely Irish music affair. See www.fleadhcheoil.ie for the full line-up

VISIT west Cork from Friday, 17 August, to Sunday, 19 August, for The West Cork History Festival. From Rosscarbery to Mizen Head, west Cork offers the most beautiful stretch of coastline in the whole of Europe, attracting national and international visitors to take in both its stunning geography and its rich culture. Dig into west Cork’s varied social, political, and religious heritage this weekend as the festival offers a range of subjects and speakers, with topics like art inspired by An Gorta Mór, and the political scenario across Ireland, Europe and the Middle East in 1918 on the menu. See westcorkhistoryfestival.org.

LEARN about Ireland’s unique and significant culture with a choice of over 2,000 diverse events taking place across the nation during National Heritage Week, running from 18 to 26 August. The theme of Heritage Week 2018 is "Share a Story, Make a Connection". Events range from storytelling, iron forging and nature trails, to a medieval re-enactment and a special concert with Ireland’s ancient instruments. Other events include daily guided tours of Scattery Island, Co Clare, treasures of the National Museum in Dublin, sharing of emigrant stories at Dublin’s Irish emigration museum, and a medieval re-enactment at Gallows Hill, Co Waterford. The full programme is available at www.heritageweek.ie

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