SMALL PRINT:Sick of all the Oxegen talk? Not a fan of wellies, tents, warm cans of beer or the Black Eyed Peas? Then here's a guide to the other festivals happening around the country this weekend.
WEST CORK LITERARY FESTIVAL
This one finishes tomorrow, so you're just in time to catch the end of a great week. A highlight tomorrow will be Justin Cartwright reading from his new novel, Other People's Money, in Bantry Library at 1pm. Cartwright is a Booker shortlisted and Whitbread Novel Award-winning writer, and best of all, this is a free event. westcorkliteraryfestival.ie.
BRAY SUMMERFEST
This seaside gathering, which kicked off yesterday, claims to be the largest free festival in Ireland. Paddy Casey plays a gig on the bandstand tonight; for a change of pace tomorrow, check out the knitathon at the Mermaid Arts Centre at 2pm. braysummerfest.com.
EARAGAIL ARTS FESTIVAL
One of the most eclectic and fun festivals in the country starts tomorrow. Don't miss the brilliant Ponydanceat Letterkenny Shopping Centre tomorrow at 3pm or the Prodigal Theatre Company presenting the Urban Playground's parkour display at the Town Park in Letterkenny from 1pm on Sunday. eaf.ie.
GALWAY FILM FLEADH
Galway Film Fleadh wraps up this weekend, making room for Galway Arts Festival – God forbid there's not a festival in Galway every five minutes – but you've still time this weekend to pore over some exciting cinema. The Lotus Eaters, Alexandra McGuinness's black-and-white debut feature, starring Antonia Campbell-Hughes (pictured), screens in the Town Hall at 9pm tomorrow. Sunday's highlight is An Afternoon with Martin Sheen, featuring an interview with Sheen by Sean Rocks and a screening of Terrence Malick's Badlandsat 3.10pm in the Town Hall. galwayfilmfleadh.com.
BALLINA SALMON FESTIVAL
Sunday is a bit of a grease-monkey day at Ballina Salmon Festival, from the custom motorbike show to the RNLI raft race, not forgetting the Honda Step Thru – plenty of revving to keep motor-lovers happy. Not sure what any of that has to do with salmon, but nevertheless 200,000 people engulf north Mayo for this eight-day family-oriented shindig. ballinasalmonfestival.ie.
