From the Dublin Theatre Festival to Cork Folk Festival, to the O'Carolan Harp Festival and the Donegal Bay and Blue Stack Festival to the Dingle Food Festival there is so much on for families to look forward to this weekend.
Ireland is a country with a rich history in arts, music and sports.This is never more noticeable than when looking for things to do around the country.
YourDaysOut.ie has thousands of ideas listed and, every weekend, there is always something to do to suit all ages and interests, be it traditional music, theatre, art, fun family events and more.
This weekend is no different and we've selected some of our favourites for you to enjoy.
1) Family SportsFest
The Family SportFest is a one-day event honouring all things sport as part of the celebrations for the European Week of Sport hosted by the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.
Meet Irish sporting heroes, lift famous trophies (Sam Maguire, Liam McCarthy, Pro14 League Trophy, EA Sports Cup), try out loads of new sports, challenge the whole family in the skill challenge zone, bounce around in the inflatable zone and much more.
2) A Taste of Monaghan
Taste of Monaghan is a fantastic local event that highlights top quality local produce, with over fifty-five exhibitors in Monaghan town as well as cooking demonstrations, competitions, tastings, music, entertainment and fun for all the family.
3) Cork Folk Festival
The southern capital will be alive with the sound of music as the 37th Cork Folk Festival runs from the 28th of September to the 1st of October 2017. Headline acts include Donovan and Andy Irvine but there will be lots of sessions, workshops and family events including free storytelling and songs in the Cork City Children’s Library on Saturday afternoon.
4) O'Carolan Harp Festival
The famous composer and harper Turlough O'Carolan was born in Nobber, Co. Meath 1670 and they hold an annual festival in his honour.
This year there will be lots of workshops from some of Ireland's top harpists and performances from Gabriella Dall'Olio, the Meath Harp Ensemble and much more.
5) Dublin Theatre Festival
The Festival starts on Friday and features 18 days of live performance featuring international productions, incredible Irish work like Playboyz and Ulysses, and theatre performances for children with the 23rd year of partnership between Dublin Theatre Festival and The Ark.
6) Westport Arts Festival
The 42nd festival runs for five days up to the 1st October and features a range of performances that will suit all ages and interests across music, theatre, film, literature, art, exhibitions and fun family events.
7) Fingal Festival of History
The Fingal Festival of History will take place in Newbridge House this weekend. There will be talks focusing on historical Fingal figures such as the Kettle Family and Thomas Ashe as well as an introduction and tour of the house. Admission to all events is free.
8) Dingle Food Festival
The festival gets bigger every year with over 50 stalls offering samples of the best local produce as well as demos, workshops, wine-tasting, discussion forums, craft beer and cider fest and the popular Taste Trail, a great way to experience all the flavours on offer in over seventy local venues.
9) IFI Documentary Festival
Documentaries have never been more popular and this year’s IFI Documentary Festival brings the best in new Irish and international documentary filmmaking to Dublin.
Features include 'A Cambodian Spring', the story of three people caught up in the chaotic events shaping modern-day Cambodia and 'Rocky Ros Muc', a profile of Seán Mannion, a talented boxer from the quiet Gaeltacht village of Ros Muc, Co Galway, who left Ireland for Boston in the 1970s and made to New York’s Madison Square Garden.
10) The Irish Hot-Air Balloon Championships
Competitors from all over the world take to skies around Galway all week. The 'Irish Meet' continues with two flights per day totally dependent on the weather but creating a wonderful sight when they do take to the air.
11) Donegal Bay & Blue Stacks Festival
A great programme of events in South Donegal from 29th September to 8th October featuring theatre, live music, poetry, events for children and the popular street carnival next weekend.
Three things to do next week:
Every week we try and give you a head start on your planning. You can always find more things to do on YourDaysOut.ie
1) Belfast Comedy Festival
The 6th Belfast Comedy Festival runs from the 2nd - 8th October in venues across the city with stand-up comedy, theatre, workshops, seminars, circus, film, quizzes, competitions, and events for children.
2) The Big Brent Event Mini Explorers!
The Big Brent Event Returns to Castle Espie on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October when they celebrate the return of 80% of the world’s population of Brent Geese from their summer breeding sites following their long journey of 2500km from Arctic Canada.
Mini Explorers on Sunday, 8th can experience sounds, lights, bubbles, hunt for feathers, explore the Atlantic ocean or become an arctic explorer. Suitable for children aged up between 1-7 years old.
3) A Taste of the Lakelands
Labelled the 'Midlands first food festival' it features over 60 local food producers, cooking demonstrations as well as water sports demonstrations and even a kids disco in the festival marquee in Lanesborough.
