Festivals

Don't hook up with someone at a Halloween party... the walk of shame isn't worth it. Photo: Picture posed

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Halloween costume ideas: Last-minute options - and the ones to avoid at all costs

It’s almost Halloween; that magical time of year where you can eat endless amounts of Stinger bars and spend hours angsting over fancy dress ensembles.

The major attraction for this year’s festival will be Prince’s band, New Power Generation. Photo: Jan van Hecke

Cork Jazz Festival to deliver €45m boost to local economy

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is set to prove a sell-out success with heavy hotel bookings and the biggest jazz attendance for almost a decade set to deliver a €45m boost to the local tourism economy.

Festival-goers at the Throwback Stage during the last Electric Picnic in 2019 at Stradbally in Laois.

Electric Picnic traffic, stage times and weather: tailbacks towards Stradbally and M50 amid flood warnings

Major tailbacks are continuing on the way to Electric Picnic, as the festival kicks off amid warnings of possible flooding this weekend.

Electric Picnic returns to Laois next weekend

Electric Picnic 2022: Everything you need to know from parking to campsite information

With just a week left until Electric Picnic returns to Co Laois, many people will be starting to pack their bags and plan their weekend of events.

Performers Lady Long Bottoms and Foxy P-Cox at a preview ahead of this weekend’s Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois. Photo: Mark Condren

Ballet, burlesque and bigger than ever – expanded Electric Picnic gets ready to bounce back after a tough three-year wait

It has been three years in the planning after being put on ice by the pandemic. But it looks like the wait will be worth it for the record 70,000 revellers dining out on the new and improved Electric Picnic festival this weekend.

Jessie Morrissey and Clare O'Gorman from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, at Electric Picnic in 2019 at Stradbally in Laois

All you need to know ahead of Electric Picnic: weather and traffic updates, what to expect from Stradbally, and what to pack

It has been three years in the planning after being put on ice by the pandemic. But it looks like the wait will be worth it for the record 70,000 revellers dining out on the new and improved Electric Picnic festival this weekend.

Niamh O'Flannagain, Ainhoa Segrera, Julia Razquin and Herman Keim of Ballet Ireland rehearse on stage at Stradbally ahead of this weekend's Electric Picnic festival. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

‘Drugs are not any less illegal at Electric Picnic,’ says festival organiser as HSE pilot scheme will be in place in Stradbally

Electric Picnic boss Melvin Benn has insisted “drugs are not any less illegal” at the festival as Stradbally prepares to welcome in 70,000 revellers for the first time in three years.

Is gourmet coffee replacing plastic cups of beer at music festivals?

Gourmet coffee is replacing plastic cups of lager at music festivals as concert-goers look for a more discerning drink.

The Knockbridge Vintage rally will be held on September 11th

Knockbridge Vintage rally to welcome John Deere Lanz baler that lit up TikTok

The John Deere Lanz baler which lit up TikTok will be a guest star at the Knockbridge Vintage rally taking place on September 11th.

Electric Picnic 2019 at Stradbally. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

Electric Picnic is ready to spark again after Covid pulled the plug

The cost of putting on a concert or music festival has tripled in the past three years, according to Electric Picnic boss Melvin Benn.

Fiadh McDonald and Alessandra O'Callaghan with the Louth Rose, Emma Barry in The Townhouse. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics

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Louth Rose Emma Barry embraces community spirit on her journey to Tralee

When Louth Rose Emma Barry first moved to Drogheda from Dublin at the tender age of seven, one of the first things that struck her was the hospitality and welcome her family received.

‘You get a great sense of pride out of playing music on the street’: Joe Connaire, chairman of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann organising committee. Photo by Tom O’Hanlon

Fleadh Cheoil : the street artists who bring light amidst the chaos

Place yourself in the centre of a city of a town. Perhaps you’re searching for a birthday gift, or you need to get a key cut. You are distracted, edging on stressed, and you hear — or see — something unexpected; a street performer, or a musician, and it stops you for a moment.

Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team "The Red Arrows" .

Bray Air Display out to inspire as it makes its big comeback this weekend

After a three-year pandemic-enforced break the Bray Air Display returns this weekend for an event Festival Director Sé Pardy hopes will inspire the next generation of engineers and pilots.

Bodies flying through the air in wrestling spectacular.

Seabreeze Festival breathes life back into Arklow after hiatus

Glorious sunshine added to the vibrant carnival atmosphere at this year’s Arklow Seabreeze festival.

An Aer Lingus jet flies low over Bray during the Bray Air Display.

What’s on and where: Bray Air Display guide

The Bray Air Display begins on Saturday with the official practice day for all aircraft accompanied by a food and craft village and seafront fair open, then the main event lifts off on Sunday, July 24 starting the a celebration of an Irish Air Corps century.

Sean Fox, Mary Kirwan and Paul Burke - all winners at the final of the Swinging Pubs in Arklow.

Swinging Pubs finale lights up Bridge Hotel on Arklow Seabreeze Festival weekend

This year’s Swinging Pubs competition has been a resounding hit with locals, with each of the seven participating venues absolutely packed to the rafters.

Fergus Finlay, Chair of Lakers, with Cllr. Melanie Corrigan and daughter Rebecca Corrigan checking out some of the Kilmacanogue Show's 50th anniversary cupcakes.

Kilmacanogue Show adds free workshops on ‘sniffaris’ and cupcake decorating to packed schedule

Wicklow’s Kilmacanogue Show is coming back with a bang on Saturday, July 23 and has announced this week that there will be two new free activities on the already packed schedule.

Seabreeze Festival’s Swinging Pubs at The Gin Mill hits all the right notes

On Monday night The Gin Mill pub in Arklow hosted an evening of entertainment to remember.

Mini Seabreeze Princess Arklow. Grace and Lily Higgins

Lift off for Arklow Seabreeze Festival after ‘trojan work’ from shrinking volunteer pool

SEABREEZE Festival volunteers are working double shifts to put the finishing touches to the big comeback of Arklow’s biggest weekend of the summer.

Agricultural Show, a first edition of the August Bank Holiday event since before the pandemic began. Photo: Joe Byrne

Country stars and ‘Best of Wicklow’ exhibit to boost Tinahely Agricultural Show return

Country music legend Michael English and a 'Best of Wicklow' exhibit are among the new attractions launched last week to celebrate the return of the Tinahely Agricultural Show in 2022.

Orla Redmond, Soirse O'Reilly, Angela Heffernan and Ciara O’Briain at the last Taste of Wicklow held in 2019.

Largest food festival on the east coast to make a return to Wicklow town

THERE is plenty of excitement building up in Wicklow town for the return of the Taste of Wicklow this weekend.

Exciting line-up for the return of the Dunlavin Arts Festival

THE Dunlavin Arts Festival makes welcome return this weekend after an absence of two years, with Mary Coughlan set to perform on the Sunday night.

Shelagh vintage tractor and car run returns

The return of the Shelagh vintage run on Sunday, June 26 will is set to brings hundreds of spectators out along the 15 mile route to see first hand the vintage car display and tractor run.

Lyra will be at the Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival in Bundoran

Festival season finds its feet again – and bigger doesn’t always have to mean better

The music did not die in February 2020 but it was certainly put on mute. And when hopes of a return last year were dashed as the Covid outbreak took another turn for the worst, some festival organisers had to count their losses as plans were put back on ice.

A weekend to be filled with magic

A free mini family day, part of Mythical Midsummer Festival will take place on Saturday, June 25 at Old Abbey Lane from 12pm – 3pm, and at West St from 12pm – 4pm.

Free events for young people to be held all over County Wicklow as part of Cruinniú na nÓg

CHILDREN and young people across County Wicklow are invited to get creative and take part in Cruinnú na nÓg 2022 which takes place on Saturday, June 11.

Conor Kerley and Nicola McNamee got engaged at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre's Beauty and the Beast The Musical Garden on the final day of this year's Bord Bia Bloom Festival. Beauty and the Beast will be staged at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from November 24 until January 8, 2023. Photo: Gillian Temple

‘Our future is going to blossom’ – Real-life fairytale at Bloom as couple get engaged at Beauty and the Beast garden

A real-life fairytale was told at the Bloom festival’s Beauty and the Beast show garden yesterday when a young prince popped the question and made his real-life princess his fiancée.

Brooke Scullion at the Minions’ Garden for Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Frank McGrath

Lockdown long forgotten as green-fingered fans descend on Bloom festival

Eurovision’s Brooke Scullion was explaining how she had discovered an aptitude for weeding in her aunt’s garden during lockdown; well-known architect Hugh Wallace revealed plans to grow red and white dahlias in memory of his late father; and RTÉ’s Marty Morrissey was gazing intently into a shrub in one of the show gardens.

Founder of Rye River Brewing Tom Cronin. Photo: Cathal Noonan

‘I had a vision to create the best little brewery in the world’: Brewer Tom Cronin is bringing his craft beer to Bloom

As Bord Bia Bloom returns to the Phoenix Park this week it is important to note that it is not only a retreat for garden enthusiasts but also for food and drink lovers alike.

Olwyn Greene and her brother Noel set up the Friends of Dublin Samaritans Forest of Hope Garden at Bord Bia's Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys

‘Nobody plants a tree without hope’ - Dublin Samaritans spread important message at Bloom postcard garden

The Dublin Samaritans will be spreading an important message at their postcard garden at Bloom 2022 – that a sliver of hope can even be found in the darkest of times.

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October 2022