Activate Spring Festival

Cork

May 7th-10th

With twice daily workshops in drama, pottery and puppet making for young people from five to 18, Activate is run by the Graffiti Theatre Company in the Firkin Crane Centre Cork. "Drama - past and present", a drama workshop in Cork City Gaol for transition year students, is a new addition to the programme this year. Tel: 021 505758.

Bealtaine

Portlaoise, Co Laois

May 10th-12th

Now in its second year, this festival of literature will include readings by Mary O'Donnell, Brian Leyden, Gabriel Rosenstock, Benedict Kiely, Peter Sirr, Ita Daly, Colm Breathnach, James Ryan, Arthur Broomfield, Grace Wynne Jones and Louise Couper. The Laois anthology of writers, edited by writer in residence at Laois County Council, Mary O'Donnell, will also be launched at Bealtaine. Tel: 0502 22044. Children's readings will take place in national schools countywide on Friday, May 10th.

Listowel Writers' Week

Listowel, Co Kerry

May 15th-19th

The former Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey will launch the 26th annual writers' week, which will include readings by Joe O'Connor John Montague, Michell O Siadhail, Michael Hartnett, Colm Toibin, Mary Morrissy and Barry McGovern. Three Dutch writers, Rutger Kopland, Tsjebbe Hettingsa and James Brockway will also speak about their work, as will Michael O'Loughlin, an Irish poet living in Amsterdam. "Crime in Ireland - a worthwhile alternative?" is the theme of this year's Sunday seminar. Tel: 068 21074.

The Cat Laughs

Kilkenny

May 30th-June 3rd

Following its hugely successful debut last year, Kilkenny plays host to one of the largest gatherings of comedy aficionados in the world. The American actor Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Stripes) will open the festival and perform for five nights with his brothers, Joel Murray and Brian Doyle Murray. Other guest artists this year include the British comedians Eddie Izzard and Jo Brand and Monaghan born Ardal O'Hanlon. Tel: 056 634l6/ 63207.

Feile an Phobail, West Belfast August 2nd-11th

Nationalist West Belfast's answer to the Belfast Festival at Queen's. Details are not available yet, but usually it boasts premieres of interesting new theatre, ceilis, music and much emphasis on links with our fellow marginalised peoples around the world. This year's film festival will be opened by Maureen O'Hara.

Tel: 01232 313440.

Puck Fair

Killorglin, Co Kerry

August 10th-12th

While the wild Kerry goat takes centre stage in the Coronation parade and ceremony on the opening night, Killorglin bursts into a three day frenzy of busking competitions, regattas, Irish dancing displays, a pet show, a Puck Duck race and horse and cattle fairs. Tel: 066 61258.

Rose of Tralee Festival

August 23rd-29th

Now 38 years in existence, the Rose of Tralee continues in spite of the political incorrectness of beauty pageants to attract young women with Irish parentage from all corners of the world. Free, nightly concerts on the streets of Tralee throughout the festival. Tel: 066 23227.

Eigse Carlow

Carlow town

May 31st-June 15th

With its growing reputation or strong visual arts, Eigse 96 will include exhibitions by the English abstract painter, John Hoyland, the Irish sculptor Conor Fallon and artists Gwen O'Dowd, Rita Duffy, David Drone and Nancy Wynne Jones. Workshops and demonstrations in raku, pottery, wood turning and fabric printing run throughout the festival. A film festival celebrating 100 years of cinema is also scheduled. Tel: 0503 40491.

The International Cartoon Festival Rathdrum, Co Wicklow June 1st-3rd

Cartoonists from Australia, the United States and throughout Europe will converge on the small east Wicklow village of Rathdrum over the Whit Bank Holiday weekend. Expected guests include the German gag cartoonist, Valerie Kurtu, strip cartoonist, Hunt Emerson and Burmese cartoonist, U Win Naing who will contribute to the special exhibition and seminar on censorship. Although he has received much critical acclaim from his peers, U Win Naing's work has been banned and censored by the Burmese government. Tel: 040446811

Ulster's 8th Storytelling Festival Cultra, Co Down June 15th-16th

Storytellers from Canada, the United States, Scotland, England and Ireland North and South will be weaving yarns in the picturesque setting of the Ulster Folk and

Transport Museum. Tel:

01232 428428.

Ballina Salmon Festival

July 12th-21st

A community based festival with events for all the family. Check out the National Heritage Day this year on the first Saturday of the festival instead of Wednesday. The Mardi Gras, on Saturday July 20th is a new addition to the programme, and the teddy bear's picnic attracts thousands of children every year. Tel: 096 70905.

Galway Arts Festival

July 17th-28th

This is the pinnacle of many people's arts calendar; the one annual event they never miss. Watch out for the special 10th anniversary Macnas parade on Sunday, July 21st and the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Company, this year's highlight of Baboro, the week long international children's festival. The latter is a two person team of live inflatable human animation which has toured successfully in Asia, North and South America and Europe. Tel: 091 583800.

mation who have toured successfully in the Far East, North and South America and Europe. Tel: 091 583800.

Galway Film Fleadh

July 11th-16th

With up to 70 films showing from countries throughout Europe, North and South America and the Antipodes, this is the biggest annual feast of film in the west of Ireland. This year's themes are romantic comedy, Brazilian film, new Irish features and emigration. Following the closure of the Claddagh Palace cinema, this year's film fleadh will be held in the Town Hall Theatre and the Omniplex cinemas. Tel: 091 751655.

Boyle Arts Festival

July 25th-August 5th

With its customary strong emphasis on visual arts, this year's festival takes an innovative twist by inviting established artists such as Basil Blackshaw, Barrie Cooke, Sean Mc Sweeney and Carolyn, Mulholland to select a young painter/sculptor to exhibit alongside them. Recitals by Hugh Tinney, Cara O'Sullivan and the Welsh tenor Aled Hall are also scheduled. Other events include an evening with Ciaran MacMathuna, poetry readings by Maire Mhac An tSaoi and Tom MacIntyre, jazz evenings, lectures and children's workshops. Tel: 079 63085.

Kilkenny Arts Week

August 17th-25th

The European Union Baroque Orchestra provides the first night entertainment this year. Other musical guests of the week include The Voice Squad, Cantique, Ronan Tynan and Boris Berezovsky, Roddy Doyle, Jennifer Johnston, Paul Muldoon, Bernard O'Donoghue and Christabel Bielenberg will give public readings and sculpture by Maud Cotter, Derek Whitticase, Marian O'Donnell, David Kinane and James Hayes will be on exhibition throughout the festival. Tel: 056 63663.

FESTIVALS ABROAD

Mayfest

Glasgow

May 2nd-25th

A month long feast of theatre, music, film and visual arts in Scotland's second city. Highlights include An Angel Moves Too Fast To See, Rhys Chatham's symphony for an orchestra of 100 electric guitars, an exhibition of the work of the Scottish architect and designer, Charles Rennie Machintosh, the world premiere of Blood and Water by the Scottish Arches Theatre Company and a drive in outdoor screening of Braveheart. Also on this year's programme are Brian Friel's Lovers, Red Kettle's production of Donal O'Kelly's magnificent Catalpa the Movie and a double bill of Marie Jones plays from Dubbeljoint. May Day parade and ceili on Sunday May 5th. Box office: 00 44 141 5580329.

Bergen International Festival

Norway

May 22nd-June 2nd

A rich programme of drama, music, ballet, folklore and art in the home of Grieg. Venues include the medieval King's Hall and the art nouveau National Theatre. Tel: 00 47 55312170.

Verona Opera Festival

Italy

July 5th-September 1st

This year's operas in Verona's outdoor Roman arena are Nabucco and Aida by Verdi, Carmen by Bizet and Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini. A ballet of Antonio and Cleopatra is scheduled between August 7th and 11th. Tel: 00 3945 8005151.

Avignon Arts Festival

France

July 9th-August 3rd

A stylish festival of theatre, music, dance and art in one of France's most beautiful southern cities. Highlights include Meredith Monk in concert, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and a host of French theatre. Tel: 00 33 90 27 66 50.

Lorient Celtic Music Festival

France

August 2nd-11th

Brittany becomes the centre of the Celtic world at this time, every year with music, dance and merriment oozing from every corner of the seaside city. The focus is on Ireland this year, and there is a special programme of events to coincide with L'Imaginaire Irlandais, including an exhibition of paintings inspired by traditional music entitled "The Water Is Wide". Tel: 00 33 97 212429.

L'Imaginaire Irlandaise,

France

March-August

A full programme of events throughout France celebrating Irish culture in all its forms. President Robinson and the French president, Jacques Chirac will officially open an exhibition of the work of 16 Irish artists in Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts in Paris on May 22nd. The two presidents will also attend a gala performance of Frank McGuinness play, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme in the Odeon on May 22nd. Other highlights include a three week celebration of Celtic music at La Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris. Guests include Christy Moore, Van Morrison and the Chieftains. A Breton Irish musical collaboration runs from May 22nd-27th in Brest, Brittany, and the Dance Theatre of Ireland will perform Deseris d'Amour at the festival of dance in Montpelier throughout June and July.