Festivals

The Loughcrew

Autumn Equinox Festival

24-25 September: This festival celebrates the changing of the seasons, with the sun shining down the passageway of Cairn T at the Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns. Available for anyone to witness, on a clear morning the movement of the sun over the back stone lasts long enough for each visitor to see this spectacle for a few minutes. To celebrate the Equinox, the local community of Oldcastle have come together to organise a series of events, including archaeological talks, participative workshops, guided meditations and guided walks. For more visit www.irelandsancienteast.com

BELMONT HARVEST & VINTAGE FESTIVAL

25 September: Lios Dearg Vintage Club Belmont Birr, Co Offaly, will be holding their annual Belmont Harvest and Vintage Festival on Sunday 25 September from 12 noon in Belmont village, Co Offaly. This year’s special event is a celebration of 70 years of the Zetor tractor in Ireland. There will be traditional threshing demonstrations, a vintage show, large children’s entertainment area and many more attractions.

Taste of Togher

24 September: The annual Taste of Togher food festival will be held at the Linn Duachaill restaurant in Louth. Enjoy locally produced food and drinks on display. Tara Walker of The East Coast Cookery School will stage cookery demonstrations and kids’ cookery workshops throughout the day. The chowder of the year competition will be hotly contested by some of the Northeast’s best restaurants. One of the Northeast’s best bands playing from 9:30pm to kick off the entertainment. The event begins at 12 noon and admission is free. For more information visit www.tasteoftogher.com

Great Irish Beer Festival

22-24 September:The festival will highlight the diversity of modern Irish brewing, including a chef and full kitchen at City Hall over the weekend, pairing great culinary dishes with each brewery. The festival will also feature some of the best that Cork music has to offer, with sets from The Frank & Walters, Crow Black Chicken, Slow Motion Heroes, and many others. Tickets from €11, to €22.50 for a three-day weekend ticket, are available online at www.greatirishbeerfestival.ie

Music

Andrea Bocelli

28 September: Andrea Bocelli will play at the 3 Arena. The international superstar will perform his whirlwind show accompanied by an orchestra and choir. Tickets range from €55 to €155 and can be purchased on www.ticketmaster.ie

Cinema

The Magnificent Seven

23 September: Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns: Sam Chi-solm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money

Dancing diary

Connacht

Galway: Ballinasloe, Shearwater Hotel, Sun 25th September, Derek Ryan

Mayo: Claremorris, McWilliam Park Hotel

Kavanagh’s Bar: Sep. 26th, John Staunton. Sep. 27th, Stuart Moyles. Sep. 28th, Shane Moore. Social Dancing: Sun 25th September, Steppin Out

Leinster

Kilkenny: Pilltown, Pilltown GAA Complex, Sun 25th September, Twice Shy

Meath: Navan, Ardboyne Hotel, Mon 26th September, Jim Devine

Waterford: Tramore, O’Sheas, Sun 25th September, Eugene French

Munster

Cork: Mallow, The Hazel Tree, Fri 23rd September, Gerry Guthrie

Limerick: Bulgaden, Bulgaden Castle, Wednesday 28th September, Michael Collins

Limerick: cappamore, sun 16th. October, Louise Morrissey; Mick Flavin and Sean Wilson

Tipperary: Tipperary, Times Hotel, Sun 25th September, Eddie Carey

Tipperary: Newport, Aherns, Sat 24th September, Tom Healy

Ulster

Donegal: Bundoran, Allingham Arms, Sat 24th September, Lisa McHugh

Donegal: Letterkenny, Josies, Fri 23 rd September, Jimmy Buckley

Monaghan: Monaghan, Four Seasons Hotel, Sun 25th September, Patrick Feeney

Tyrone: Moy, The Ryandale, Sat 24th September, Jimmy Buckley