Kerry Film Festival

The East Coast Province

Ireland has produced some of the world’s greatest poets. From Heaney, to Yeats, to Kavanagh, we have a proud poetic tradition. In recent years the Irish spoken word poetry scene has exploded and is growing all the time. This vibrant movement will be celebrated during the second Lingo Festival, which runs from 16 to 18 October.

Dublin city goes gloriously gothic from 23 to 26 October for the Bram Stoker Festival. Landmarks and buildings across the city will light up in blood red while visitors are promised Four Days of Living Stories and Four Nights of Deadly Adventures.

Did you know that there are up to 70 million people with Irish heritage scattered across the globe? Of course you did.You’re reading a magazine about tourism in Ireland. You’re most likely one of those 70 million and one of the reasons you’re here is to trace those Irish roots. If that’s why you’re here then you really can’t afford to miss Back to Our Past, which takes place in the RDS in Dublin from 9 to 11 October.

With 100 acts set to play over three days, the Hard Working Class Heroes festival and convention is the best place to discover new Irish music. The festival takes place in Dublin from 1st to 3rd October in venues across the city, including The Academy, The Grand Social, The Workman’s Club, The Mercantile and Bad Bobs. Since the festival launched thirteen years ago it has acted as a showcase for a plethora of acts that have gone on to national and international recognition, including Delorentos, The Coronas, Fight Like Apes, Villagers, Lisa O’Neill and 2013’s breakout star Hozier.

Head west to Galway to get all loved up at the 19th Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, Ireland’s flagship festival for children and their families. Taking place from October 12 – 18, this seven day creative extravaganza offers a very special journey for the heart and soul.

There are any number of film festivals in Ireland worth attending; some offer red carpet celebrity galas, others show new and independent films; Kerry Film Festival probably doesn’t need anything more than to live up to the promise of its name, Kerry after all is one of the most beautiful places in the country. However in recent years the festival has become the leading short film festival in the south of Ireland attracting some of the highest calibre emerging filmmakers from around the world.

Richard Harris was one of Ireland’s greatest actors. So it’s fitting that a festival that aims to encourage Irish filmmakers, actors and directors to return to Ireland to showcase their talents should bear his name and take place in his hometown of Limerick. The festival runs from 23 to 25 October and is fully supported by the Estate of Richard Harris, with a new contract recently signed that will see the festival run until at least 2020.

Dingle was once cited as ‘The most beautiful place on earth’ by National Geographic and has previously been voted as Best Foodie Town in Ireland. This winning combination makes the Dingle Food Festival an unmissable event. The festival runs from 2 to 4 October, showcasing the region’s quality, locally produced food.

Over 200 national and international acts will perform in ten venues across the city during the Cork Folk Festival, which runs from 1 to 4 October. One of the nation’s favourite festivals, the Cork Folk Festival is now in its 36th year and this year’s line-up is one of the best yet, with the cream of traditional music set to entertain visitors to the Rebel County.

It is fitting that Ireland’s oldest city is also the home of the oldest working theatre in continuous existence in the country. The Theatre Royal in Waterford first opened its doors in 1793 and “the people’s theatre” has been a hub for the city’s creative community ever since.

Galway was recently voted the friendliest city in the world, so you know you’re guaranteed a warm welcome when you visit the city for the Vodafone Comedy Carnival from 20th to 26th October. You’re guaranteed laughs too as the organisers have put together an absolutely stellar line-up that is sure to tickle even the most stoic of ribs.

With 134 events over 24 days in 30 venues, Belfast comes alive this October for the Belfast International Arts Festival. There’s something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s festival, which encompasses theatre, dance, music and so much more.

Discover the scenic views and hidden wonders along the reimagined Gobbins Cliff path.

I didn’t set out to be a photographer, it kind of just happened,” says Rónán McLaughlin of a hobby that has won him acclaim and seen him printed in publications from the UK, the Netherlands, India and Australia as well as Ireland. Having initially started out photographing birds in his home 800 yards from the edge of Ireland, on Malin Head in Inishowen, Co. Donegal, Rónán’s work now includes landscapes, flora and spectacular images of the aurora and night sky and he has become somewhat of an unofficial ambassador for Inishowen tourism.