BRIAN O'CONNELLlooks at some of the events taking place around the country
MAYO
Big House Stories
Westport House will be providing a free tour of the house telling the story of pirate queen Grace O’Malley on Sunday as part of National Tell Tale Day in conjunction with Heritage Week. The storytelling runs hourly between noon and 5pm. See westportmusicfestival.com
DUBLIN
On Song
Fresh from playing alongside the likes of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison at the London Feis, Aoife Scott performs a double header with the Blood Red Mountain Band at the Cobblestone in Smithfield on Sunday night. Tickets are €10, doors open at 8pm
DUBLIN
GAA
If you’ve never been to an all-Ireland senior hurling or football game, then this weekend in Dublin there are two games on offer at Croke Park. On Saturday at 7pm, Dublin take on Tyrone in football, while on Sunday at 3.30pm Kilkenny play Waterford in hurling. See crokepark.ie
DUBLIN
Go Bump in the Night
A historical walking tour of haunted Dublin takes in everything from the Hellfire Club to supernatural folklore in the city. It leaves adjacent to City Hall on Dame Street on Saturdays at 8pm, and costs €13. Tours also run on Thursdays and Mondays. See hiddendublinwalks.com
DUBLIN
Art for kids (and others)
Picture This,an exhibition of children's book illustrations, is running at Airfield House, Dundrum. Illustrators will be showing their work until August 31st as part of an illustration boot camp for adults, which includes the work of Sinéad McCarthy. There will also be a celebration of childrens literature and art next Sunday (14th), Bookworms Invade Airfield. See airfield.ie
KILKENNY
Arts Festival
One of Ireland’s largest and most respected arts festivals runs for the next 10 days, with a programme strong on visual arts, theatre, literature and music. Highlights this weekend include Corcadorca’s Request Programme as well as James Vincent McMorrow performing in St Canice’s Cathedral on Sunday. See kilkennyarts.ie
OFFALY
Festival Fever
The 46th annual Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival starts today and runs for a week, with performances from the likes of Jack L and the Irish Chamber Ensemble. A street parade takes place on Sunday at 3pm, while a visual-arts trail also runs during the festival. See birrvintageweek.com
CORK
Arts Festival
The Doneraile Literary and Arts Festival is on this weekend in the north Cork town, and features theatre, poetry, song and workshops. Tomorrow there will be talks on Elizabeth Bowen as well as readings from Ulick O’Connor and Leanne O’Sullivan, while Sunday has a number of children’s events. See historicdoneraile.ie
CORK
Family Festival
Beginning today, the Rosscarbery Family Festival runs for the next 10 days in west Cork and features everything from live music to sports. Today’s events include a pitch and putt competition, while the official opening takes place in the main square on Sunday evening. See rosscarbery.ie
WATERFORD
All That Jazz
Fairbrook House and Gardens in Kilmeaden is the setting for a summer concert on Saturday with both jazz swing and a Jacques Brel tribute act. The concerts run from 1-3pm and 5-7pm. Tickets are €20 and visitors should bring their own seat. See fairbrook-house.com
CORK
Historical Tours
Running every day at 1.30pm and 3.30pm at the Blackrock Castle Observatory, a living history tour of the castle will be given by a local theatre company. The tour is included in the price of admission, which is €6 for adults and €4 for children. See bco.ie
ARMAGH
Dance
A new dance show called Funkfrom the Dylan Quinn dance school begins this Sunday with a free performance in the People's Park in Portadown, as part of the Portadown People's Festival. It starts at 5.30pm and the show tours during the rest of August.
See dylanquinndance.org
