Various venues, Galway Fri-Sun 087-9305506 www.galwayearlymusicfestival.com

This year's Galway Early Music Festival is called Islands and the waters between, and promises "Mermaids, Sirens, Sailors and Romance", with music from Cyprus, Guernsey, Ireland and the Continent.

Andrew Lawrence-King and his Harp Consort are the major visitors, with the big event, at St Nicholas Collegiate Church on Friday evening, being a programme of sea-songs from the 17th century, called The Boatmen. Lawrence-King closes the festival at Kilcummin Parish Church in Oughterard on Sunday afternoon (a 4pm start) with a solo programme titled Tristan's Lament.

Other performers over the weekend include harpsichordist Malcolm Proud and Ensemble Unicorn (offering Music at the Court of Cyprus around 1400) and the festival schedule also includes, workshops, walks, family events and free events.