festivals Tomorrow, head to the Kingdom for the Blennerville Windmill Threshing Festival to see old-time steam threshing and flour milling first-hand.
For information call 066-7121064. Artisit, an alternative festival taking place from Thursday in various locations around Galway city, will showcase work by emerging Irish and international artists. See www.artisit-festival.com for details.
music The Heineken Green Synergy Festival starts on Wednesday and continues for five days in venues along Dublin's Wexford and Camden streets - including Whelan's, The Village and Anseo. Top DJs, including Rob Da Bank, will be there. Details at www.heinekenmusic.ie. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Point will host Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening of Leonard Cohen Songs. Booking for all events at www.ticketmaster.ie.
books The nationwide Children's Book Festival starts on Wednesday and continues until October 28th. See www.childrensbooksireland.com. Writing as Benjamin Black, John Banville will read from his new crime novel, Christine Falls, on Wednesday at 7pm in the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire. Tickets are €3 and are available from the Pavilion and Hughes & Hughes, Dún Laoghaire. Call 01-2312929 or visit www.paviliontheatre.ie.
dance On Monday, Cork Opera House welcomes Ballet Spectacular 2006 to its stage. Ellen Kent and Ballet International present the premiere tour of the Russian Classical Ballet Theatre. The company will perform Romeo & Juliet until Wednesday, and from Thursday Coppelia, the tale of an eccentric toy-maker. For details on these performances call 021-4270022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie.
history The travelling museum exhibition Our People Our Times: A History of Northern Ireland's Cultural Diversity charts the growth of civilisation in the North, from ancient settlements to the present day, explaining how Celts, missionaries, Vikings, Anglo-Normans, Scots, Jewish and other cultures have contributed. It will run from Tuesday in North Down Heritage Centre, Bangor, Co Down (028-91271200)
food The 30th Kinsale Food Festival begins on Friday at the Trident Hotel, hosted by members of the Kinsale Good Food Circle and master of ceremonies Derek Davis. The harbour town is crammed with good restaurants and there will be plenty of food markets, plus music to keep diners entertained. For ticket information, check out www.kinsalerestaurants.com.