CELEBRATE Cork city’s array of talented artists and diverse mix of music at the Right Here Right Now Festival from 21 to 23 February. The festival will take place across three venues around Cork; Cork Opera House, Coughlan’s and Cyprus Avenue. This is the third year of the festival and it has moved to the new February slot in the calendar. The line-up includes Mick Flannery, Valerie June, Cormac McCarthy, Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, TOUCAN and many more. See Right Here Right Now Festival on Facebook for tickets and more information.
ENJOY the Rathmullan Film Festival in Co Donegal from 20 to 23 February. This is a volunteer led, not for profit, participatory festival set in the seaside village of Rathmullan and is now coming into it’s fourth year. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy from feature films, documentaries, guided walks through the village, claymation classes, kickboxing clinics, live music and sing-alongs. Full-length feature films include Disney’s Pinocchio and Mulan, stop motion classic Chicken Run, all-time classic Casablanca and a broad range of documentaries, shorts and films shot on smartphones. For tickets and more information see www.rathmullan.ie.
EXPERIENCE Ireland’s rich artistic and cultural tapestry displayed at the Mother Tongues Festival on 22 and 23 February in Tallaght, Dublin. This festival is now in it’s third year and aims to shine a spotlight on international artists now living in Ireland and connect the audiences with their respective mother tongues. There will be a wide variety of workshops and shows in different languages to give participants the opportunity to use their own language and to show the linguistic diversity that is in Ireland. The programme also includes contemporary theatre, poetry, dance, music, literature, visual arts and more. Admission is free. For more information see www.mothertonguesfestival.com.
GO ON, go on, go on to Tedfest on Inishmore, off the coast of Co Galway for the annual fan convention of Father Ted from 20 to 23 February. The event is limited to just over 100 people. Tickets cost €155 plus €3.50 booking fee and gives you access to the Tedfest venues. Tickets do not include transport, accommodation, food or drink. If you can’t make it out to the island, why not go to the Róisín Dubh in Galway city for stand up comedy from The Stars of Father Ted, Father Damo and Eoin McLove, on 21 February. For tickets and more information see www.tedfest.org.
BRING the kids to the Magical Oceans Lab in Powerscourt Estate, Wicklow until 23 February. Kids will experiment with the pH scale and create bubbling chemical reactions. They’ll make a splash using colour changing experiments and fizzing potions and come away with a real understanding of the science of C02 and how nature based solutions can help protect and restore our ocean’s ecosystem. The event is suitable for six to 12 year olds and tickets cost €17.50 per person. For tickets and more information see www.coolplanetexperience.org.