The West Cork Chamber of Music festival takes places in St Brendan's Church and Bantry House in Cork Friday and Saturday. The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary by showcasing landmark chamber music such as Schubert's Trout, Brahms' Piano Quintet, Beethoven's Archduke Trio, Mendelssohn's Octet, Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and Bach's Violin Concertos. Young musicians have the opportunity to learn from international stars in masterclasses while Ireland's only violin and bow making exhibition runs for the duration of the festival. See westcorkmusic.ie
The Tall Ships Festival in Belfast takes place until Sunday. It is officially the largest event to be staged in the city to date and will feature more than 50 vessels including 17 Class A ships. All of the ships will be berthed in and around Belfast Harbour and the Titanic Quarter, where a major maritime festival is also underway to coincide with the Tall Ships race. See tallshipsbelfast.com
The Groove music festival takes place in Killruddery House which is situated between Bray and Greystones in Co Wicklow. Now in its third year, the line up includes Christy Moore, The Darkness, The Riptide Movement, The Delorentos, Kila, Wallis Bird and many more.
The family friendly festival includes outdoor activities for children of all ages. This year, there's a drama workshop, dance and yoga kaleidoscope and a storytelling chill-out time' with children's author David McNiven. An adult day ticket costs €49.50 plus and a family day ticket (2 adults and 2 children) costs €120. See www.groovefestival.ie
The Ennis Street Festival takes place in Clare this weekend with a mixture of, art, culture, heritage, festivities, and local, national and international acts and performances. The festival features street entertainment, circus, theatre, poetry, comedy, music events, dance, visual arts, street art, craft market and a duck race. At night, festival goers can enjoy the 'Ennis Sounds Good' music event with 36 gigs in 15 different venues around Ennis. There will also be a variety of workshops for kids and adults running from until Sunday July 5th in association with Glór music venue. See ennisstreetfestival.com
The Irish America Festival takes place this weekend in Newross Co Wexford. It features a programme of events for Ireland's official July 4th celebrations. It starts on Friday with music on the quay from Frances Black, Sharon Shannon and the Fureys. On Saturday, there will be a reading of the declaration of Independence' by the town crier at the Tholsel building at noon.The festival finishes on Sunday night with a pirate festival day and a fireworks display that evening. See www.visit wexford.ie.
The Waterford 800 Medieval festival weekend continues until Sunday and includes a medieval fair in Cathedral Square on Friday between 10am and 5pm, and a free public lecture on “How the evil King John transformed Waterford” this afternoon by Eamonn McEneaney, director of Waterford Treasures Museums, and a guided walk Saturday at 2pm through King John’s Waterford.