Vodafone Comedy Festival

26 to 29 July: Get ready to laugh your heart out at the Vodafone Comedy Festival in Dublin as some of Ireland’s well-loved and upcoming comedians take to the Iveagh Gardens. Everyone from Alison Spittle to Jason Byrne will be performing and it is a great opportunity to check out other comedians such as Foil, Arms & Hog, Aisling Bea and Danny O’ Brien. The festival is now in its 12th year of bringing laughs to the nation and this year will be no exception. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.vodafonecomedy.com. Ticket range from €20 to €30 for the main events.

Irish Youth Wind Ensemble Summer Tour Cork

30 July: Fill your ears with the sounds of the best young wind, brass and percussion players Ireland has to offer at the Curtis Auditorium in Co Cork. Over 50 of Ireland’s finest young musicians have been chosen to play in this year’s Irish Youth Wind Ensemble. This includes a week-long course where the talented players receive guidance from professional conductors and musicians. There will be two concerts at the end of the course, 29 July in Galway and 30 July in Cork, and the programme itself takes place in the University Tickets are priced at €15 or €10 concession and can be purchased at the door.

The Flaming Lips

26 July: American rock band The Flaming Lips will be taking Galway by storm with supporting act Le Galaxie as part of their current world tour. The three-time Grammy award-winning band is known for hits such as Do You Realize?? and Fight Test. With their huge discography of albums since the 1980s, when they first formed, you are bound to find something to groove along to at this concert. They will be performing on the Heineken Big Top stage as part of the Galway Arts Festival. Tickets cost €49.50 and can be bought on www.giaf.ie.

Kevin and Karen Dance

29 July: Strap on your dancing shoes and get ready to head to the National Concert Hall in Dublin to watch one of the best dance couples from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Kevin and Karen Clifton have both been dancing from a very young age and have worked their way up to become a famous dancing duo. Prepare for a high-energy performance because this duo gives their all during each and every dance. With sparkling costumes, show-stopping choreography and a live band, this show will take your breath away. The show takes place on 29 July at 3pm and tickets are priced from €34.50. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nch.ie.

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, 29th July, Mike Denver

Leitrim: Carrick on Shannon, Landmark Hotel, 28th July, Lisa McHugh

Mayo: Claremorris, McWilliam Park,

Social Dancing: 29th July, Brendan Magee

Leinster

Dublin: Dublin, The Red Cow, 26th July, Jimmy Buckley

Kilkenny: Slievrue, Rhu Glenn, 28th July, John Glenn & The Mainliners

Kilkenny: Piltown, Piltown Gaa Complex, 29th July, Teddy & Cathal Barry

Westmeath: Moate, The Well, 28th July, Jimmy Buckley

Munster

Clare: Ennis, The West County, 29th July, Ciaran Rosney

Cork: Macroom, Riverside Park Hotel, 30th July, Patrick O’Sullivan

Cork: Mallow, The Hazel Tree, 27th July, Robert Mizzell

Cork: Glanmire, Vienna Woods, 1st August, Olivia Douglas

Limerick: Adare, Woodlands Hotel, 29th July, Patrick Feeney

Tipperary: Newport, Ballymackeogh, Aherns, 28th July, Adrian Ryan

Tipperary: Roscrea, Racket Hall, 28th July, Richie Remo

Ulster

Cavan: Cavan, Hotel Kilmore, 28th July, Gerry Guthrie

Derry: Coleraine, Bushtown House Hotel, 30th July, Jim Devine

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, 27th July, Cliona Hagan, 28th July, Michael English 29th July, Gerry Guthrie

Down: Newry, The Mourne Country, 28th July, Joe Davitt

Monaghan: Monaghan, Hillgrove Hotel, 29th July, Derek Ryan

Monaghan: Castleblayney, The Glencarn, 27th July, Michael English

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, 28th July, Mike Denver

Tyrone: Omagh, Silverbirch Hotel, 27th July, Dominic Kirwan & John McNicholl, 28th July, Dominic Kirwan & Stephen Smyth, 29th July, Dominic Kirwan & Barry Kirwan