Time to party like it’s 2007
 Christmas
has come and gone but 2007 is set to be a year to look forward to. With
hundreds of festivals dotted all over Ireland and Britain in the coming
months here is a list of the ones not to be missed. From oyster eating
in Galway to toe-tapping in Listowel or dancing the night away in Glasgow
there is fun to be had at any time of the year.
For 2007 Ireland is expecting another tourist boom and its festivals of
growing international acclaim are promising to help it along.
Both the Dublin Fringe Festival in September and the Guinness Cork Jazz
Festival on the October Bank Holiday weekend continue to attract record
visitors from all over the world.
And the North of Ireland is not to be missed in the next 12 months with
a huge array of events set to keep you entertained.
Britain will also be painted green, white and gold on several occasions
throughout the year. But no event more so than St. Patrick’s Day
on March 17 for which every city comes alive.
London celebrates
St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the capital promises to be bigger
and better than ever in 2007.
This year’s London parade is set to take place on Sunday, March
18. The parade will see marching bands from Britain, Ireland and America
and countless community groups, sports cubs, schools and street theatre
groups taking to the streets of central London for a fun-filled family
spectacle.
There will be lots of events across London during the St. Patrick’s
Festival Week from March 10-18. Events will include an Irish Art Exhibition
at City Hall, a number of Blue Badge Guided Walks and a performance from
the Irish Symphony Orchestra.
For more information, visit the London St Patrick’s Day website
at www.londonstpatricksday.org.uk.
Festivals in Ireland 2007
The Belfast Festival at Queen’s October 1 to November
30 is Ireland’s biggest international festival and boasts an energetic
mix of music, talks, comedy, exhibitions and film — as long as funding
is secured within the next three weeks the 40-year-old festival is on
path to take place.
The Galway Races July 30 to August 5, The Rose of Tralee
Festival August 17 to September 21, Puck Fair August 10-12 in Killorglin,
Kerry and the Oul’ Lammas Fair August 27-28 in Ballycastle are world
famous and offer a great chance to enjoy life and laughs with the locals.
Food festivals are now a big draw in Ireland with local produce scoring
high among international food-lovers. Head to the famous oyster festivals
in Clarenbridge September 2007 in Galway, or Hillsborough in August and
September in Co. Down.
Tune in to a spot of music with the Open House Festival in Belfast September
28 to October 2, the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera September
1 to October 31, or the Feile an Phobail in August in West Belfast. In
October the world-renowned Cork Guiness Jazz Festival 26-29 hosts a huge
line-up from the jazz world.
If you prefer your festivals small and intimate, try the harp festivals
in Roscommon — O’Carolan’s Harp Festival runs from August
2-12 — or the rough and ready horse and pony fairs from Cavan to
Cork too numerous to name.
At the other end of the scale lies the Wexford Opera Festival May 31 to
June 17 with full-scale opera productions, concerts, recitals, talks,
cabaret, fireworks, and, of course, parties.
For something a little different, try the Magnus Barelegs Festival May
19 and 20 in Downpatrick offering a slice of Viking life or the Eagle
Wing Festival June 30 to July 1 in Groomsport, Co. Down which celebrates
Ireland’s cultural links with America.
Thesps should head to Dublin for both the Dublin Theatre Festival
May 7-20 and the excellent Dublin Fringe Festival Septmber
1 to October 31 with exciting performances taking place in fabulous venues.
Around March 17 the country turns a shade of green for a host of St.
Patrick’s Festivals. All over the country, from the Saint’s
hallowed burial place in Downpatrick to the more carnival atmosphere of
parades and exceptional fireworks in Dublin and Belfast.
Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Listowel, Kerry August 24-26,
is a weekend of céilís, street and pub sessions, gig rig
entertainment and competitions all on traditional instruments with over
4,000 competitors taking part. More than 10,000 musicians normally participate
in the Fleadh Cheoil while the overall attendance at the event is usually
in excess of 200,000 people. Contact: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Tel:
01 2800295 www.fleadhcheoil.com
Slane Festival 2007. The final date for the one-day
concert is yet to be confirmed but it will be the end of the summer. Rumour
has it that AC/DC may headline and even Oasis could make an appearance.
For further information keep a look-out on the website www.slanecastle.ie
or phone Tel:+353 41 988 4400.
Literary lovers should head to Dublin in June for the intriguing Bloomsday
Festival June 1-30, where fans of Joyce’s gargantuan Ulysses
dress up in traditional gear and scoff old Dublin food like “nutty
gizzards” and “urine-soaked kidneys”. Alternatively,
seek out the delights of the Aspects Literature Festival September 20-
24 in Bangor, an annual celebration of Irish literature with lectures,
discussion and music.
Event Spotlight: Dublin
Temple Bar Trad — Irish Music & Culture Festival Jan
25-28 —
Based in Dublin’s Cultural Quarter, the Temple Bar Trad Festival
celebrates Irish traditional culture and shows how these art forms continue
to enthral and mesmerise audiences. While the primary focus of the festival
is on traditional music, other aspects of Irish culture are celebrated
such as story-telling.
Irish Festivals in Britain 2007
Birmingham: The festival committee is proud to announce
the dates for next year’s St. Patrick’s Festival bonanza,
beginning on March 9 and culminating with the Parade on Sunday, March
11 2007. On March 10 there is a special treat for football fans as the
Birmingham Irish Club hosts the Sam Maguire Cup for the evening.
Info: www.birminghamirishclub.co.uk or 0121 624 2314.
Halifax: The 16th Halifax and District Festival is one
of the biggest on the summer calendar. This three-day festival attracts
revellers from all over Britain in June. For more information contact
the centre on 01422 380 498.
Manchester: The Manchester Irish Festival is on from
March 3-18. The highlight of the festival will be the search for Manchester
Irish Festival Comedian of the Year 2007. Heat one took place on January
8, heat two will be held on February 8 in M19 Bar and the final will take
place on March 19 in the Pack Horse. More information on: 0161 257 2484
and www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk.
Liverpool: One of the longest festivals of the year,
running for almost a month with big names like Van Morrison making an
appearance last year. A date is yet to be set for the Liverpool St. Michael’s
Irish Festival but it will take place as usual towards the end of October.
For further updates contact 0151 263 1808 or see www.stmichaelsirishcentre.org.
London: Following on from the huge success of last year
the 9th Return to Camden Irish Festival is set to kick-off again on October
19-28. Keep yourself updated on www.return
tocamden.org or call 07871 088 121.
Crawley: The Irish will paint Crawley green as the fourth
annual Fleadh kicks off at the end of November. The Crawley Fleadh is
a celebration of Irish culture that includes music, theatre, sport and
year two of a new schools programme. For more information call David Nolan
on 07740 358221 or see www.celtic-irish.co.uk.
Leeds: A re-launch of the popular Leeds Irish Festival
at the John Charles Centre for Sport will take place on July 21-22. Free
admission, all welcome. Please contact 0113 2489208 or see www.theleeds
irishcentre.co.uk.
Glasgow: Boasting 260 events and 12 venues Celtic Connections’
massive festival has just kicked off. Celtic features artists from around
the globe alongside the very best Scottish talent. Now entering its 14th
year with a new Artistic Consultant Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw,
it runs from January 17-February 4. For further information call 0141
353 8000 or see www.celticconnections.com
Tyneside: In its 21st year the Tyneside Irish Festival
takes place from October 11-21 with a host of music and entertainment.
For further information please contact Tony Corcoran at the centre on
0191 261 0384 or visit www.tyneside irishcentre.com.
Watch out here for future news on the Carling Reading and Leeds Festivals
August 24-26 — and of course the low-down on the highlights of the
year to come in a special pull-out for St. Patrick’s Day.
Focus on Belfast
With the North recently been put forward as one of the hot places to
go for 2007 here is just a taste of what you can see.
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Belfast
March 22-April 2: The Belfast Film Festival
April 7-April 14: Titanic Made In Belfast Festival Week
May 3-May 13: 8th Cathedral Arts Festival
June 29-July 1: Belfast Maritime Festival
August 1-August 31: Féile An Phobail
October 1-November 30: Belfast Festival At Queen’s 2007
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