CONKER BASH-OFFS and a ghost poet will welcome the arrival of darker evenings this weekend, as the clocks go back, pumpkins are sized up and sweet hot music warms the Cork night air.
In Virginia, Co Cavan, the Pumpkin Festival runs until Monday for “four days of fearful fun”, with a variety of activities including the pumpkin weigh-in tomorrow from 1.30pm. The Waterboys play in the town tonight.
The Irish Conker championship takes place in Kilkenny where heavy rainfall this year has meant the conker crop is thinner on the ground, according to organiser Grace Kearney.
“This will result in a much more difficult championship as being small means the conkers are harder and will be more difficult to hit and break. This year’s competition will be an even greater test of skill and determination.”
After all that, contestants are bound to be hungry. Luckily, also in Kilkenny, Savour 2011 is expected to bring 10,000 people to an open-air food market on the Parade Plaza.
Among the visiting chefs will be Donal Skehan and Catherine Fulvio as well as Masterchefwinner Mary Carney.
In Belfast, a “spooktacular” day is on offer, at the city’s zoo – made even better by the fact that children under 18 will gain free entry. There will be story-telling as well as fancy dress and carved pumpkin contests.
In Cork, 1,000 musicians from 37 countries last night kicked off the musical highlight of the weekend, if not the season, at the city’s Guinness Jazz Festival.
Headliners include trumpeter and Grammy Award-winning Pennsylvanian Randy Brecker, double-bassist Kyle Eastwood (son of Clint) and French virtuoso jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.
Cork will also feature crossover acts such as Damon Albarn, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and 2011 Mercury prize-nominated singer and electronic producer, Ghostpoet.
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin hosts its annual Eve of All Hallows festival on Monday. There will be special activities for children including mask-making and a quiz from 10am. There will also be tours of the cathedral, at 11am, noon , 2pm and 3pm and a candle-lit organ recital at 4.30pm. Admission: €5.50 for adults, €4.50 for children over seven and €15 for family tickets.
There will be racing at Leopardstown tomorrow with the Group 3 JRA Killavullan Stakes the feature race.
* The Road Safety Authority is urging road-users – on foot and on bike – to ensure they are clearly seen in the darker evenings ahead, by wearing high-vis clothing, carrying torches and ensuring bike lights are working.
