The best fests, films and shows

BRIAN O'CONNELLgives a rundown of some of this month's top events

AUGUST

1

ART David Kronn

Running until October 9, the David Kronn collection at IMMA is drawn from a collection of more than 450 photographs held by the collector spanning both the 19th and 20th centuries. The portraits contain landscapes, as well as numerous modern cultural icons, and over 165 works will be on show. imma.ie

ART The Book of Lismore

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery on the grounds of UCC takes on the visual presence of the written word. A highlight is the historic Book of Lismore, on public display for the first time, until October 30th. Admission is free. glucksman.org

THEATRE Set in Stone

Friar's Gate Theatre Arts in Kilmallock, Co Limerick presents a new promenade style production called Set in Stone. Running until August 14th, the audience congregate at Kilmallock's Dominican Abbey before being led to Friars' Gate Theatre and taken on a journey of the history of the town through theatre. The play was written by John Sheehan and the cast features Myles Horgan, star of The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and Cora Fenton. friarsgate.ie

2

THEATRE Hay Fever

Noël Coward’s ever-popular 1920s comedy runs at the Gate Theatre this month, Directed by Patrick Mason and featuring an accomplished cast including Stephen Brennan, Mark O’Halloran, Barbara Brennan and Ingrid Craigie. gate-theatre.ie

3

CULTURE Frequencies

Frequencies is a series of talks at the National Sculpture Factory, Albert Road, Cork, on art and “publicness”, every Wednesday until the end of the month. Some of the participants include the artist Jesse Jones, the architect Tom dePaor, and the public art manager Ruairí Ó Cuív, all examining creative production in public realms. The talks begin at 1.05pm. nationalsculpturefactory.com

4

PHOTOGRAPHY Belfast Photo Festival

The biennial Belfast Photo Festival looks at the importance of photography in Northern Ireland’s visual and cultural history. It places amateur photographers alongside more established professionals and aims to create a conversation between the two. Events include walking tours, screenings and workshops as well as several exhibitions and a chance for photographers to have their portfolios reviewed. belfastphotofestival.com

5

FESTIVAL Kilkenny Arts Festival

One of the major arts events of the summer, the festival offers an eclectic feast of the contemporary arts over 10 days. Highlights include theatre from Gare St Lazare Players and Corcadorca, music from the European Union Baroque Orchestra and Cathal Coughlan, and a strong literature and visual arts programme. kilkennyarts.ie

FILM Casablanca withh the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Next Friday and Saturday, in a European premiere, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra provides a live score to the 1940s Humphrey Bogart classic at the National Concert Hall under conductor Neil Thompson. The original score was by Max Steiner, and features such songs as The Very Thought of You, As Time Goes Byand Cole Porter's Love for Sale. Tickets are priced from €23-€40. nch.ie

9

MUSICAL Grease

Singer Mary Byrne has had an incredible journey from karaoke singer to stadium rocker, and now stage musical star, playing Teen Angel in the Grand Canal Theatre’s production of the rock ’n’ roll high school musical. The show runs until August 25th, with matinees on Fridays and Saturdays. grandcanaltheatre.ie

FESTIVAL Masters of Tradition

Featuring Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Steve Cooney, the Begley family, and a host of other top Irish musicians in Bantry town. The programme also incorporates workshops and runs until August 14th. westcorkmusic.ie

10

FESTIVAL Puck Fair

Killorglin, Co Kerry, hosts one of Ireland’s oldest annual festivals, with its roots in pagan tradition. While the town has something of a party atmosphere at night, during the daytime there is a range of events for all the family, from circus street entertainment to free workshops. It runs until August 12th. puckfair.ie

13

FESTIVAL Carlingford Oyster Festival

This two-day festival in Co Louth describes itself as a weekend of fun and food, and this year there is a strong family events programme. It includes a teddy bear’s picnic, guided walking tours of the town, children’s cooking demonstrations and treasure hunts. carlingford.ie

17

FESTIVAL Terryglass Arts Festival

This festival in Co Tipperary, running until August 21st, has a strong emphasis on participation, with festival-goers able to learn skills from bread-making to visual arts. Four local female painters exhibit, and night time entertainment includes gala concerts, fireworks displays and street performance.

terryglassartsfestival.ie

19

FESTIVAL Sunflower Festival

Northern Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury takes place for three days at Tubby’s Farm in the rustic countryside outside Hillsborough, Co Down. The weekend incorporates live music, arts, crafts, comedy and a selection of food. The music line-up includes Duke Special and the Inishowen Gospel Choir. A weekend ticket is priced at £40, or £45 with camping.

sunflowerfest.co.uk

20

MUSIC Ukulele Hooley by the Sea

Ireland’s second annual ukulele festival takes place in Dún Laoghaire for two days. Acts include the Ukeristic Congress and Minny and the Illywhackers, a ukulele swing band whose set is taken from the first half of the 20th century. Ukulele workshops will also take place, although places are limited. ukulelehooley.com

MUSIC The Gloaming

The Gloaming is a collective of five individual talents who came together to explore new music at Grouse Lodge Studios in Westmeath in early 2011. They are New York pianist Thomas Bartlett, sean-nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, Chicago guitarist Dennis Cahill, fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and fiddle master Martin Hayes. They play the National Concert Hall on the 20th, An Grianán in Donegal on the 21st, the Model in Sligo on the 24th, Riverbank Arts Centre, Kildare on the 25th, Cork Opera House on the 26th and Glór in Clare on the 27th. note.ie

FESTIVAL Carrigaholt Family Festival

Running until Sunday 23rd, the Carrigaholt family festival combines local community events with a broader entertainment programme. So, you have children’s fancy dress, sports, a bonny baby competition and a horseshoe-throwing event. Many events are free. 065-9058102

23

MUSIC Look at Miss Ohio

Given that Gillian Welch has yet to play Ireland this year, following the release of her new record, a tribute night, Look at Miss Ohio, should fill the gap in the meantime. Fronted by Pauline Scanlon, Noelie McDonnell, Noriana Kennedy, Trevor Hutchinson, Gerry Paul and others, the night will feature songs from her earliest recordings right through to the present. It takes place in Whelan’s Dublin before travelling to Kelly’s in Galway the following night. whelanslive.com

THEATRE Curse of the Starving Class

Sam Shepard’s darkly comic exploration of the American family psyche opens on the Abbey stage. Jimmy Fay directs and the cast includes Joe Hanley, Phelim Drew and Andrea Irvine. abbeytheatre.ie

25

LITERATURE Clare Pollard, Laurie Leech and Evelyn Parsons

Poetry Ireland in association with Over the Edge present three authors, Pollard, Leech and Parsons, at Galway City Library. The winners of the Over the Edge writing competition will also be announced on the night.

overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com

LITERATURE Open Mic and Poetry Night

A new open mic and poetry night begins in the Twisted Pepper Building on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin. The event is intended as a showcase for poets, singers and prose writers, with each performer given three minutes to perform their original work in a supportive environment. Admission is free and to perform you need to make contact in advance. theloftbookshop.com

FILM Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival

Running for four days in Waterville, Co Kerry, where Chaplin resided, the festival features a variety of films, workshops and events, including the appropriately titled Tramps Ball and screenings of Chaplin’s self-directed classic The Circus and others. It closes on Sunday 28th with a world record attempt to gather the largest number of Chaplin look-alikes in one place. charliechaplincomedyfestival.com

FESTIVAL Dublin Bay Taste Music Festival

Celebrity chefs Martin Shanahan, Kevin Dundon and Derry Clarke rub shoulders with music acts Flash Harry, Bagatelle and Otis the Elevators, in the People’s Park in Dún Laoghaire, running until Sunday 28th. Tickets are well priced at €8 – €12 for all day admission. dublintasteandmusicfest.com

26

FESTIVAL World Fleadh

Taking place for three days in Castlebar, the World Fleadh features Dervish on the main stage in The Royal Theatre, with special guest Andy Irvine. Other highlights over the weekend include Tommy Fleming and Clannad. There’s a range of other events from street theatre to food markets. worldfleadh.com

FILM Ballinamore International Film Festival

The ethos of this three-day event in Co Leitrim is to not only show films, but also to show how films get made, so expect workshops led by everyone from directors to stunt crew. There’s a separate youth category, and a music festival in the town during the same weekend. Participation in all events is free. ballinamoreiff.com

27

LITERATURE Paul Muldoon

The award-winning poet reads at The Dock in Leitrim to coincide with a Philip Napier exhibition. The event begins at 2pm and tickets are €10/€8. thedock.ie

FILM Blackrock Animation Festival

Entries for the first Blackrock Animation Festival will be showcased at a “pop-up” cinema on the main street throughout the day. The purpose of the event is to give a platform to new and emerging talent in animation and story-telling; categories include best animated short for children and best under-18s film. Prizes will be awarded on Sunday 28th as part of a family day festival. blackrock.ie

A whole lotta heritage going onThis year marks the 21st year of the National Heritage Week Festival, which takes place in 49 countries around Europe. There will be over 1,300 individual events across Ireland, the majority of which are free. These include everything from bat walks to tours of historical buildings, traditional skills workshops and demonstrations.

The focus for the first day of the event is storytelling, with Saturday August 20th set aside as National Telltale Day.

Some highlights include:

Book Readingwith Children's Author Tom McCaughren on 20th August from noon to 1pm in the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. McCaughren reads from his award winning fox books including Run with the Windand Run Swift, Run Free. The event is suitable for children aged 9 -12. Admission is free but booking is required. E-mail soconnor@nli.ie or phone 01-6030317

Bone InvestigatorsThis event is a free archaeological dig for children, which takes place from August 20th-26th, between 10am and 4pm at Kerry County Museum in Tralee. Participants get a chance to dig up a skeleton and investigate a medieval murder! It is suitable for children of all ages and pre-booking is recommended.

E-mail education@kerrymuseum.ie or 066-7127777

Stone CuttingA demonstration takes place on Wednesday 24th August, between 10am and 3pm at Jerpoint Abbey (below) in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny. Booking is essential, and the contact is jerpointabbey@opw.ie or 056-7724623

Ballina LibraryWorkshops, talks and performance take place at Ballina Library in Co Mayo on Saturday August 20th between noon and 3pm. It's a chance to meet with conservators, historians and archivists as well as participate in an open mic session and swap personal stories and histories. Contact smccoole@mayococo.ie or 096-70833

The birthday boy is back in town

This summer sees an inaugural street pageant, The Boys Are Back in Town, to commemorate the life and work of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy, to take place on the date of his birthday, August 20th. This year is the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Thin Lizzy LP. It all happens around the Grafton Street area of Dublin and will incorporate colourful costumes from Sao Paulo, as well as Irish and Brazilian dancers, and drummers from the Masamba school in Dublin.

Part-sponsored by Dublin City Council, the event uses Latin carnival arts to represent the Irish rock icon, and is the brainchild of Simeon Smith, a director at the Masamba samba school.

It all kicks off from the Gaiety Theatre at 6pm, and fans and members of the public alike are encouraged to take part. More details on masamba.com

Also in August, the Philip Lynott Exhibition continues at St Stephen’s Green until the end of the month. The exhibition is the largest collection of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy memorabilia gathered in one place, and contains everything from set lists to cigarette packets, clothing to previously unseen film footage. Tickets are priced €10/€12, while concessions and group discounts are available.

philiplynottexhibition.com