Music and more: an eventful October bank holiday weekend

This October bank holiday looks set to be another jam packed weekend up and the down the country with many festivals and events for people of all ages and interests kicking off in towns and cities throughout the 3 days in most of the counties of Ireland. In cork city the annual Guinness Cork Jazz festival is in full flow, expect to listen to the best in national and international jazz music in over 90 pubs, clubs and venues around the city, the vast majority of which are free and open to all. Continue reading

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Samhain – Halloween Fancy Dress and Music Festival in Ireland

Yet another Halloween festival to look forward to this year in Ireland but this one has a twist as it doubles up as a music festival. On Sunday the 27th of October of what is a long bank holiday weekend in Ireland, the commencement of Samhain 2013 begins. Samhain takes place at Glendalough House Co. Wicklow and boasts an impressive line up of live musical guests as well as encouraging guests to arrive dressed in full fancy dress halloween costume! Continue reading

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U2 play surprise gig in Bray!

It was raining, windy and grey, but the town of Bray was cheered up by a live session from international rock band U2 on the promenade this Tuesday.
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Steven Spielberg to work on Daniel O’ Connell Movie in Ireland?

Well known director Steven Spielberg has expressed an interest in working with actor Daniel Day Lewis on a film about famous Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell.   According to reports, the award winning director has his sights set on filming the project currently titled ‘The Liberator’ in Ireland. Continue reading

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Halloween Traditions in Ireland

Halloween is said to have originated in Ireland, so with this spooky time approaching, we thought we would share a few of our favourite traditions and customs, some of which are still practised, before the celebrations on 31st October begin.

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Population of the ‘Pine Marten’ in Ireland Increasing

According to recent reports from Ryan Institute’s Mammal Ecology Group in NUI Galway, the population of one of Ireland’s hardest to catch mammals, has increased. The population of the ‘pine marten’ has returned to a ‘healthy’ number thanks to tests which analysed the number of the mammals in the midlands and east of the country. The numbers are also higher in Ireland than other parts of Europe. Continue reading

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Much more in Cork this weekend and the weeks ahead

Cork Rebel Week continues to roll on with a Naval festival in Cork Harbour today and a big parade through the streets of cork city led by World champion and Corkonian Robert Heffernon scheduled for tomorrow. As well as more events in the successful inaugural running of Cork Rebel Week highlighting all things Cork related to look forward this weekend, for film lovers this is an extra treat as this week also sees the first running of IndieCork (16- 20 October) a new film festival highlighting independent films, documentaries and shorts running this week until Sunday evening. Developed by some of the organisers of the Corona Cork Film festival which will be itself running in a few weeks time (November 9th -17th), this new festival celebrates original, arty and independent films, whilst bringing the short films and documentaries, the hidden gems of the original Cork film festival to a bigger audience. Continue reading

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Looking for something different to do in Ireland this Halloween?

Why not visit County Meath this year for Halloween? Not many people know that the origins of Halloween began here over 2,000 years ago. The festival was known as Samhain and was an old Celtic tradition where they celebrated the end of the year as well as the beginning of the new!

Just outside Athboy in Co. Meath, a sacred fire was started from which torches were lit and were carried to seven other hills around the county. Eventually the torches went on to light up hills around the country. Continue reading

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U2 will release their new album in 2014!

Irish rock band, U2 are near to completing the end of the recording for the 13th studio album.
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National landmarks and poems to appear in designs for new Irish passport

What does the Aviva Stadium have in common with the Cliffs of Moher? Well aside from both drawing in vast crowds daily to marvel at attractions and awe inspiring sights (modern rock gods, sporting stars vs wild untamed seascapes forged eons ago– take your pick) both now also are featured in a redesign of our Irish passport.

Launching the new passports in Dublin recently the Tánaiste (Irelands deputy prime Continue reading

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