Roscommon is the county to visit over the next week, as the Boyle Arts Festival offers everything, from recitals by leading classical musicians to a concert with Liam O Maonlai and traditional storytelling. The emphasis is on quality Celtic music from Ireland and abroad in Athleague this weekend.
The 10-day Boyle festival got under way on Wednesday with drama, lectures, comedy, jazz, pop and classical music. Works by many leading visual artists will also be on exhibit and for sale.
Lectures and recitals are being given by the Irish composer Philip Martin, pianist Mabel Swainson, and soprano Penelope Price Jones. The leading soprano Virginia Kerr can be heard on Wednesday.
Liam O Maonlai, with guests Kieran Kennedy and Maria Doyle Kennedy, is the star attraction tonight at Lough Key Forest Park restaurant. The Bard of Armagh, Patsy O'Hagan, will be backed up by a local storyteller, Barry Feely tomorrow. On Sunday there will be jazz with Mike Nielsen and Benjamin Dwyer, and comedy with Jason Byrne as well as recitals, poetry and lectures which will continue throughout the week.
Interesting theatre is promised on Monday night when the London-based Praxis Theatre Company presents a small-cast version of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, written and produced by Sam Dowling. This version is set in late 20th-century Ireland, where a landlord family has to face up to the end of its era.
The festival ends on Friday with a concert by Soul Truth, a seven-piece band from Belfast. Information from (079) 62220.
The South Roscommon Celtic Festival takes place this weekend at Athleague, where tonight's opening concert features Niamh Parsons, the Alan Kelly Band and Cathal Hayden.
Started four years ago with musical exchanges with Scotland and other Celtic countries, it will feature a leading Welsh folk band, Rag Foundation, Cheesy Weasel from Scotland at the ceili mor on Saturday and a four-piece female voice band, Sanfferian. There will be daily sessions and an arts and crafts fair on Sunday. Information on (0903) 22827.
In Sligo a Colombian six-piece Salsa band, Sexteto Cafi, will play at the Blue Lagoon on Sunday night, following the success of salsa nights in the arts festival.