BRIAN O'CONNELLpreviews festivals and events for the bank-holiday weekend
BLUE STACK SHOES
The Blue Stack Shoes Festival takes place this weekend in Frosses, Co Donegal, with proceeds going to Temple Street Children’s Hospital. The aim is to purchase accommodation for parents of children who attend the hospital. Highlights include a soapbox derby, a sports day, and an Elvis-lookalike mountain climb. For motor enthusiasts, a Formula One car driven by Ayrton Senna will be on site, as well as a vintage-car display. Day tickets are €10 (€5 for children); night-time activities cost ¤10. 087-2451565, bluestackshoes.ie
ZOMBIE PARTY
On Sunday, the Sugar Club is celebrating the undead with a night of monster mayhem. After a screening of Shaun of the Dead, DJ Sinéad Ní Mhórdha will lead some gruesome revelry on the dancefloor. Doors 8pm, tickets €5; dress up as a zombie to get in free. thesugarclub.com
CS LEWIS TOUR
Starting this Sunday and running throughout the summer, a guided bus tour takes participants through the areas and early life of writer CS Lewis and his time spent in Belfast. It begins at 2pm outside the Linen Hall Library and lasts two hours. Tickets are £8-10. 00-44-28-90246609, gotobelfast.com
IN FULL BLOOM
Running until Monday, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event takes place in the Phoenix Park this weekend. It includes free gardening advice, cookery and craft demonstrations, as well as an artisan farmers’ market and a range of other events and entertainment. Tickets are from €15, while kids go free. 0818-300261, bloominthepark.com
CORK CITY MARATHON
Up to 10,000 participants are expected to take part on Monday in this annual race, which is aiming to raise more than €3 million for charities including the Irish Cancer Society. A host of entertainment and family friendly events are planned for the day out, and the line-up includes first timers and professionals, such as Cork’s Sonia O’Sullivan. corkcitymarathon.ie
BANDON MUSIC FESTIVAL
This weekend festival in Bandon in west Cork has been on the go for more than 20 years and features Jack L and local band Fred, as well as a music trail across various venues in the town.
LISTOWEL WRITERS’ WEEK
Highlights at this festival include Joseph O’Connor, Lynn Barber and children’s author Darren Shan, as well as the 2010 Irish Fiction Award and an impressive line-up of workshops. 068-21074, writersweek.ie
YOGA IN THE WEST
The Clare Yoga Centre in Tuamgraney offers weekend courses starting today and running until Monday. Music and set-dancing is also on offer in local pubs in the evenings. A four-day residential stay is €395. 061-640923, eastclareyoga.com
MAYO GAA FESTIVAL
Comórtas Peil na Gaeltachta is a weekend Gaelic football festival held in Belmullet, running until Monday. Teams from Gaeltacht areas all over the country take part. As part of the festival, there are golf competitions and free guided walks. errisbeo.ie, tourismpure.com
FLAT LAKE FESTIVAL
This eccentric festival takes place in the stunning surroundings of Hilton Park in Clones this weekend. The line-up is a mix of established and lesser known artists, and incorporates film screenings, theatre, literature and children’s entertainment. There aren’t too many festival line-ups with Dominic West, Crystal Swing and Lily Allen on the bill. A three-night camping ticket is ¤100; day tickets are €45. theflatlakefestival.com
WRITING WORKSHOP
Tomorrow, renowned travel writer Charlie Connelly leads a one-day course on the essentials of good travel writing. The day consists of advice on the mechanics of the genre, how best to place articles and books, as well as some guided assignments. The course runs at the Irish Writers Centre from 10.30am to 4.30pm and costs €70. 01-8721302, writerscentre.ie
1980s NIGHT
The Savoy Theatre in Cork is encouraging big hair and shoulder pad wearers to the city centre venue tonight. 1980s tribute band The Soda Streams will provide live entertainment, with prizes for best costumes. Doors 10pm, tickets €10. electricdreams.tv
