Ireland's scenic and beautiful countryside
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Festival fever engulfs Ireland every year, native Michelle Hayes advises on the best way to experience the famous Irish hospitality
Ireland of the thousand welcomes; 40 shades of green; the land of saints and scholars. We’ve all heard the clichéd descriptions for the small island at the corner of Europe. But the Ireland of John Ford movies, myths and legends is a far cry from the post-Celtic Tiger country of today, or “Rip-off Republic” as the locals affectionately term it. The question now is: does Ireland still hold the same appeal?
The answer is yes, if you get off the beaten path and look for the friendly country that still exists beneath its polished, busy surface. Ireland has its fair share of strange and wonderful festivals taking place throughout the year. The obvious candidate for a quick jaunt to Ireland is of course, Dublin. The city has much to offer the visitor, whether a 20-something partygoer, family or single traveller, but it is useful to remember that there is more to the country than its capital. How about sampling some of Ireland’s best oysters and excellent Guinness to the strains of top-class musical entertainment, or watching an actual goat being crowned king of a fair? Maybe you’d prefer to have a flutter at Ireland’s only seven-day racing festival? If any of this sounds like your recipe for holiday fun, then read on…
St. Patrick’s Festival 12-17 March 2011
With its 15th anniversary celebrations just fading into the distance, this six-day extravaganza to honour the memory of Ireland’s patron saint continues to go from strength to strength, offering an impressive schedule of free entertainment for all ages and interests. The St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin and Limerick encompasses a packed itinerary of family and cultural events, with enough variety to please all members of the clan. One of the main events is the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade, which features street theatre groups, giant puppet creations, dancers and marching bands from around the country and across the globe. Previous years’ highlights have included the popular fireworks spectacular and the outdoor Festival Céilí, which ensures a liberal helping of dancing and craic. If you feel like awakening the Irish person inside, each year festival-goers can sample a range of free Irish language and culture events, as part of GaelSpraoi, which run throughout the six days. Now a worldwide phenomenon, St. Patrick’s Day parades and festivities will be familiar to many people around the globe, but sampling the Irish party spirit at home is definitely a must!
Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival Kilkenny 3-7 June 2010
Now we Irish love a laugh, so what better way to satisfy this love of laughter than with a festival of laughs? Cat laughs, to be exact. The renowned Carlsberg Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is held every June Bank holiday weekend in the historic city of Kilkenny, providing a winning combination of entertainment and culture. Since its inception in 1994, the festival has grown into an internationally regarded platform for showcasing both home-grown acts and the best of international comedy, with a good mix of up-and-coming and established performers. The event is a huge draw for visitors to this beautiful medieval city, with more than 30,000 sampling the comic delights in 2009. This year’s acts are yet to be announced but with a list of alumni including Lee Mack, Ross Noble, Ardal O’Hanlon, Dave Gorman, Rich Hall and Rhod Gilbert, it is sure not to disappoint.
Galway Races 26 July-1 August 2010
The Galway Races is an Irish horse racing festival held at Ballybrit Racecourse and is the longest of all race meets in Ireland and Britain. The festival runs for seven consecutive days starting from the last Monday in July each year and during this week, the host city Galway on the west coast of Ireland is a hive of activity and excitement. For first-time visitors, it is a spectacular, if slightly hectic, introduction to a city with a palpable joie de vivre and constant party atmosphere. Be warned though, accommodation is all but impossible to come by at the last minute and hotel, B&B and apartment prices will reflect demand, so be prepared. Traditionally, the busiest days of the festival are Wednesday, when the Galway Plate is held, and Thursday, when the Galway Handicap Hurdle and Ladies’ Day take place. The latter produces a cornucopia of weird and wonderful sartorial choices, not to mention head attire! The festival is a great day out for all the family, with amusements and attractions catering to children and a packed itinerary of races for the adults. Additional meetings also take place in September and October, but these are not as popular as the summer festival, which draws more than 200,000 spectators to a city with a population of just 75,000.
Puck Fair 10-12 August 2010
One of the most colourful street festivals in the whole of Ireland, the annual Puck Fair takes place in Killorglin, County Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland, with a packed programme of free family entertainment. The fair is Ireland’s oldest and is now in its 400th year. One of the highlights of the festival is the coronation ceremony of King Puck, a goat from which the festival takes its name. There are several competing theories as to the origins of the event, but one of the most credible is that it was a pre-Christian ceremony that honoured the goat as a symbol of pagan fertility. The more interesting theory, though, tells of an invasion by Oliver Cromwell, who routed a herd of goats grazing at the foot of the McGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range, en route to the town of Killorglin. The he-goat or “Puck” took flight and forewarned the inhabitants of the town, who promptly prepared themselves for Cromwell’s arrival. Events during this lively celebration include a traditional horse fair, street parade, open-air concerts, fireworks display, children’s competitions, face painting, street entertainers and dancing displays. During the three days, it is estimated that more than 100,000 visitors attend the festival, with many arriving in Ireland specifically to take part in the ancient celebration. While you’re in Kerry, you could take the time to drive around the Ring of Kerry tourist trail and admire the stunning scenery, or hop over to neighbouring County Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone, thus ensuring the gift of the gab for the rest of your life.
Galway Oyster Festival 23-26 September 2010
Back to the west coast and Galway; every autumn, the city hosts the International Oyster Festival where visitors can sample “the taste of the sea” from the famous Galway Bay. This festival is all about family, friends and food. For four days and nights, the city celebrates as visitors from all across the globe consume the fresh local oysters and a fortifying pint of Guinness. The event began life in 1954, with millions of oysters enjoyed since. Speaking of the power of consumption, in 1982, 40,000 oysters were eaten in one sitting and now more than 100,000 are devoured every year. The official opening (on Saturday 26) is a free event in the city’s main square, Eyre Square, featuring a parade, musical bands, vintage cars, and crowning of the Oyster Pearl. Other highlights include the ever-entertaining World Oyster Opening Championships, a champagne and oyster reception with the Mayor of Galway, a parade of flags, street entertainment and an all-night disco.
In addition, there is plenty of live music – with the focus on traditional Irish song and dance – best-dressed competitions, a Mardi Gras party with jazz, and a black-tie Gala ball. Some events are free to the public; others require tickets, with a proportion of the proceeds going to charity.
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