It's always good to get out and about, and let a little Culture into your system... We've got a quartet of suggested cultural happenings nationwide, for your delectation.
LIMERICK: Limerick Literary Festival, Feb 23rd- 26th
This year is the 33rd edition of this choice literary bash, created in honour of local novelist Kate O’Brien. The event aims to promote Limerick as a hub of literary excellence (which it most certainly is) and allow readers to meet their favourite authors. This year, participants include Irish literary superstars like Donal Ryan, Mike McCormack and Cecelia Ahern alongside Italian author Francesca Melandri, US poet Richard Blanco and Anglo-Irish historian Thomas Pakenham. Also: music performances, talks and wine!
DUBLIN: A Love Supreme, Saturday 25th Feb, JJ Smyth’s, Dublin
One of the greatest jazz albums of them all - John Coltrane's masterpiece A Love Supreme - will be brought to life by a crack squad of Irish and international jazz players: Michael Buckley on saxophone, Ronan Guilfoyle on bass, Kevin Brady on drums and Swedish piano player Lars Jansson. It all goes down at JJ Smyth's the home of jazz in Dublin will host this event, and a second performance has already been added due to popular demand. Any chance of Kind Of Blue?
LEITRIM: Jack Lukeman live, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon
The incomparable Jack L brings his Magic Days tour to venues across Ireland in March and April - check out the dates here. This weekend, he's bringing the magic an intimate show in lovely Leitrim's finest music room. If you've never seen a Lukeman show, you're in for a treat, the man remains one of the great Irish live performers, and his new album The King of Soho might just be his finest hour to date. Hurry - the 'Sold Out' signs will go up early.
BELFAST: Glasgow Girls, MAC Theatre
Described as ‘the most politically engaged and enraged British musical since Blood Brothers’, this award-winning Scots musical is based on a true story of seven Glaswegian teens Their lives are changed forever when their friend and her asylum-seeking family are forcibly taken from their home. Originally produced by the National Theatre Of Scotland, the book is by the mighty David Greig, one of the major Scottish playwrights of the modern era, and a rousing night out is nigh upon guaranteed.
