Sligo Arts Festival
Sligo town May 28th June 7th
The Wailers in Sligo - minus Bob Marley, of course. But, yes, the original reggae Jamaican band will be in the north-west for this year's Sligo Arts Festival. Building on its world/trad/ethno vibe of last year, Sligo is also welcoming Celtic Caribbean sounds from Kila and guests, Boogaloose UK Cajun music, and Big Daddy & Red Hot Java. Other highlights include an Opera Ireland production of Bizet's Carmen, an exhibition of prints by Tony and Jane O'Malley and, on June 6th, the first millennium party (with pageantry, fireworks and street acts galore) on the official summer festival circuit. (Tel: 071 69802)
Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
Kilkenny city June 3rd 7th
Comedy aficionados will already know that Kilkenny is the place to be for the best laughs of the summer. Other stray cats keen for belly-aching, side-splitting humour or even the occasional restrained smirk can catch up with professional laughmakers from America, Britain and closer to home. These include Scott Capurro, Rich Hall/Otis Lee Crenshaw and Laura Kightlinger from the US, Jeff Green, Peter Kay and Fred MacAulay from across the pond, and Derry-born/ Australian-resident Jimeoin. Other familiar faces returning to Kilkenny this year include Dylan Moran, Mark Doherty and Deirdre O'Kane. New this year is a cartoonist slot, with work on show from Martyn Turner, Garry Trudeau, Graeme Keyes, Tom Mathews, Ralph Steadman and others. (Tel: 056 63837)
Eigse Carlow Arts Festival
Carlow town June 10th 20th
Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, Eigse is pushing out the boat and drawing talent from far-off lands, including work by Japanese sculptor, Naomi Seki, performances by Polish traditional folk song and dance group, Przemsyl and paintings by Rosmarie Arnet-Schonenberg from Switzerland. Also listen out for jazz, gospel, and classical sounds in this midlands town in midsummer. The birthday party itself - with free outdoor concerts, and children's events - takes place on Sunday, June 13th. (Tel: 0503 40491)
Holywood Jazz & Blues Festival
June 4th 6th Holywood, Co Down
The Humphrey Lyttelton Band leads the line-up of top-class jazz in this colourful spot just downriver from Belfast. The Sydney Zenith Jazz Band from Australia, the Second Line Jazz Band from Sweden, Fat Sam's Jump 'n' Jive Band from Scotland and Professor Peter O'Brien from Dublin will keep things swinging at this ninth annual festival. (Tel: 08 01232 768563)
Sense of Cork Arts Festival
June 23rd July 4th Cork city
Now settling into its early summer slot, this festival has a kind of liquorice allsorts approach to summer feting. An open day in Cork City Gaol, a Victorian street fair, classical concerts by John Gibson, outdoor cinema in the cricket club and a picnic in the park represent just some of the variety on offer. (Tel: 021 310597)
Galway Film Fleadh
July 6th 11th Galway city
With more than 60 feature films over six days, this is the film buff's summer blast of celluloid. Confirmed screenings to date include the world premiere of Nichola Bruce's I Could Read The Sky and the Irish-America film, Exiled. Asian film will get a special focus with The Saltmen of Tibet and Xiu Xiu, the directorial debut of the Chinese actress, Joan Chen. Gabriel Byrne will also be in the city of the tribes for a sixfilm tribute. Oh, and "the family" is another theme this year. (Tel: 091 751655).
Galway Arts Festival
July 10th 25th Galway city
A Macnas parade by night entitled Cargo de Nuit, a very exciting programme of theatre including productions from Russia, La Reunion Islands, Indian Ocean and France, a drum carnival (with the biggest drum in the world as a special guest) and fireworks across the bay. Music from Kristin Hersh, Billy Bragg, the Dutch Ricciotti ensemble; art from Wayne Thiebaud, Barrie Cooke and Jay Murphy; and lots, lots more. Galway Arts isn't dubbed the best arts festival for nothing. If you only go to one this summer, it has to be this one. (Tel: 091 562611)
Boyle Arts Festival
July 21st 30th Boyle, Co Roscommon
This year's highlights include masterclasses, performances and lectures with classical musicians Philip Martin and Penelope PriceJones, a "pre-millennium" concert with Liam O'Maonlai, a talk by John Waters on the Whoseday Book of Musings and on Irish literati and art by John Behan, Barbra Freeman, Bob Sloan and others. (Tel: 079 62963)
O'Carolan Harp and Traditional Music Festival
July 30th August 2nd Keadue, Co Roscommon
Jumping on the Millennium Festivals bandwagon, this festival turns the small village of Keadue into a mecca for traditional music lovers. However, the organisers are keeping their cards close to their chests on their star attraction. The Belfast Harp Orchestra, led by Janet Harbison, also bring the crowds as will a 35-piece Swedish group of musicians and dancers. (Tel: 078 47204)
Waterford Spraoi
July 30th August 1st Waterford city
What started off as a celebration of drum-beating has turned into a virtual feast of free music and theatre on the streets, squares and alleyways of Waterford. Confirmed acts to date include Bedlam Oz from Australia, The Primitives from Belgium, A & P Theatre from Germany and Black Umfolosi, a nine-piece band combining a cappella songs with athletic African dance from Zimbabwe. (Tel: 051 841808)
Feile an Phobail
July 31st August 8th West Belfast
Billing itself, somewhat grandiosely, as the biggest community festival in Europe, this west Belfast festival is bringing in musicians such as Raices Cubanas, Capercaille, Frances Black, Sinead O'Connor and the Afro Celt Sound System this summer. Comedians Kevin McAleer and Tommy Tiernan will also entertain with their inimitable brand of humour. Other highlights include an international food fair, new drama, water balloon fights and mountain walks. (Tel: 08 01232 313440)
Kilkenny Arts Festival
August 13th 22nd Kilkenny city
Cross-fertilisation of the art forms is one of the worthy aims of this year's festival. And if you're wondering what that means, consider William Trevor reading from his work followed by a screening of Ballroom of Romance; Seamus Heaney and Liam O'Flynn in an evening of poetry and piping; playwright Billy Roche teaming up with fellow Wexfordman, singer/songwriter, Pierce Turner in a show entitled The Menapia Men, and Clare fiddle player, Martin Hayes, performing with the American guitarist Dennis Cahill. There's also the usual strong programme of classical music (including Swiss cellists, Patrick and Thomas Demenga, Belgian orchestra, I Fiamminghi and American mezzo-soprano, Michelle De Young), an interesting visual arts selection (including Brazilian Ana Maria Pacheco and sculptor, Barry Flanagan). Finally, as one of the Millennium Flagship Festivals, the festival is featuring a night of the art of Kilkenny hurling with pageantry, song and dance to beat the band. (Tel: 056 63663)
Clifden Arts Week
Clifden, Co Galway September 16th 26th
Maeve Binchy, Michael Hartnett, Michael Longley, Mary O'Malley, Aidan Matthews, Tom Kilroy, Mary O'Donnell, Christy Kenneally and John Moriarty will all be making their way to the west for this late-summer arts festival. The RTE Concert Orchestra, tenor Ronan Tynan and the Breton band Sons of the Desert will add the musical dimensions while Macnas are cooking up a street pageant for Clifden's millennium party on Saturday, September 25th. Expect fireworks, free music on the streets and children everywhere. (Tel: 095 21644)
Humours of Bandon Festival
Bandon, Co Cork June 5th and 6th
Movers and shakers in the traditional field will be heading for the Humours of Bandon festival on the June bank holiday weekend. Each evening a free outdoor concert on south Main Street will be headlined by, respectively, Donal Lunny's Coolfin and De Danann, aided and abetted by Declan Sinnott (Saturday) and the Cork group North Cregg (Sunday). There will also be seisiuns in Bandon's pubs.
