MEATH: Last year thousands of people travelled to the Royal County to ring in the Celtic new year, or Halloween, which Meath folk will have you believe they invented. The Spirits of Meath Festival, which kicked off yesterday, celebrates this audacious claim. Highlights this weekend include a dark arts trail around Navan and the house of horrors at Tayto Park. meathtourism.ie
WEXFORD
The Wexford Festival Opera Fringe celebrates its diamond jubilee this year and on Sunday music aficionados will have the unique opportunity to listen to a recital on three rare 18th century square pianos. The recital, at the Wexford Arts Centre, will be accompanied by a talk. Tickets €15/€12.
[ wexfordfringe.ie ]
WATERFORD
A good sean-nós dancer, they say, can almost hover on the spot, their feet resembling “playful birds at the floor”.
Todays sean-nós dance workshops at Waterford’s Imagine Arts Festival welcome dancers of all levels and will probably offer something more authentic than synthetic curls and shiny blouses. €10 per workshop, telephone Neill Byrne 087-9273505
LIMERICK
Following the success of OpenHouse Dublin and OpenHouse Galway, Limerick will offer locals and visitors a chance to nose around buildings not normally open to the public. Expect site-visits, lectures, walking and cycling tours and children’s activities all weekend across Limerick city and county. And its all free.
LONGFORD
The Aisling Children’s Arts Festival kicks off on Sunday in what will, no doubt, be an explosion of paint, glitter and pritt-stick. This week-long, Longford-wide festival seeks to “nurture and develop an artistic appreciation among young people by introducing them to a wide range of arts disciplines such as drama, music, dance” and, probably, finger-painting.