The summer festival season is well and truly winding down, but September is fast gaining a reputation as “the month of the arts festival”. Several festivals with strong music programmes are taking place between now and the end of the month including next week’s Clonakilty Guitar Festival (September 20th- 23rd), which has just named the Redneck Manifesto as its headliners. Cian Nugent, House of Cosy Cushions and Windings are also on the bill.

The 11th annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival will take place on the same dates in Tullamore, with Paul Brady, Mundy and US bluegrass band Blue Highway on its line-up, while the Clifden Arts Festival returns for the 35th year on September 30th, with De Dannan, the Dubliners and the Saw Doctors among its musical highlights.

In Dublin, the Ranelagh Arts Festival begins tomorrow and runs until September 30th, with a number of free performances in local venues, from jazz gigs to trad sessions and busking competitions. Ticketed gigs by the esteemed Henry McCullough and an evening of Nick Cave songs with musician David Noone are highlights. ranelagharts.org