Page 342 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

340  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Bunratty Castle (see pp196–7)
was the first and is the liveliest,
with year-round performances.
From April to October, there
is a medieval banquet at
Knappogue Castle (see p193),
and at Dunguaire Castle (see
p218) there is a quieter, more
intimate programme of music
and poetry. From March until
November, the highly enjoy able
Killarney Manor Banquet, held
at the stately manor on the
Loreto road just south of
Killarney, creates an early
Acrobats performing at the annual Galway Arts Festival 19th-century atmosphere.
Festivals
gardens. In mid-June, the
The Irish are experts at organ i- Great Music in Irish Houses Cultural Breaks
zing festivals, staging a week of festival opens the doors to A break in Ireland focused on any
street entertainment, theatre, many of Ireland’s historic homes one of the cultural aspects of Irish
music and dance to celebrate to which the public seldom has life is enriching as well as fun.
almost everything under the access, with classi cal music Choose from a variety of cultural
sun (see pp52–5). performed by top-rate topics and study courses: Irish
In mid-July the lively town of musicians. Venues include music and literature, great houses
Galway is host to the Galway Killruddery House, Co Wicklow and gardens, Irish language and
Arts Festival, one of the largest (see p137) and Christ Church folklore, crafts and cookery.
festivals in Ireland. Here you will Cathedral, Dublin (see pp84–5). One of the most fascinating
find Irish and international theatre possibilities is the exploration
and music, street entertainment of Ireland’s 5,000-year history
and events for children. Taking as revealed in the many relics
place over one week in late July strewn across the landscape.
and early August is the Boyle The Achill Archaeological Field
Arts Festival. The events here School in County Mayo, for
include art exhibitions, poetry example, runs a course that
and drama performances as includes the active excavation
well as classical, traditional, folk of ancient sites.
and jazz concerts. Creative To learn the secret of Irish
workshops are run for both Kilkenny Arts Festival street theatre cooking, there is no better place
adults and children. Traditional Banquets than the Ballymaloe School
Kilkenny Arts Festival in of Cookery in County Cork; it is
August, another major festival, with Entertainment run by Darina Allen, Ireland’s
features poetry, classical music Ireland’s banquets have gained most famous cook.
concerts, movies and a range of international fame and are great For literature enthusiasts, the
crafts. The Cork Film Festival fun. Each of the banquets Yeats International Summer
takes place either in October or features costumed waiters and School studies the works of
November when international performers, as well as traditional Yeats and his contemporaries,
feature, documentary and short food and drink of the chosen while Listowel Writers’ Week
films are screened at venues all period. Most famous are the brings together leading writers
over the city. The Belfast Festival medieval banquets – the one at for lectures and workshops.
at Queen’s is held for two weeks
in October to late November.
The lively and cosmopolitan
programme includes a mixture
of drama, ballet, comedy,
cabaret, music and film. These
take over the Queen’s University
campus plus theatres and other
venues throughout Belfast.
In May, June and July the
County Wicklow Gardens
Festival entices gardening
enthusiasts to wander around
the county’s most beautiful Folk dancers in traditional Irish costume

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 5th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm