The beat of the millennium drum will be echoing in the west this week, with festivals running in both Westport, Co Mayo, and Clifden, Co Galway.
The two events are among 17 earmarked for special funding from Millennium Festivals Ltd, the organisation established last year by the Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid.
A 100-day countdown to the new century begins on Thursday in Clifden when the town will "set the darkness echoing" with 2,000 candles on the quay and the illumination of Monument Hill.
That evening, poets Michael Hartnett and Josie Gorham will join in a sean nos night in the Alcock and Brown Hotel.
Many performers have descended on Clifden for the community arts festival running until Sunday. The celebration of music, literature, theatre and film will include poetry readings, exhibitions, workshops and partying.
Tonight, Luka Bloom plays in the Alcock and Brown Hotel and on Thursday, Widgeon Holland, who is long associated with the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead, gives a blues evening in Griffin's Bar.
On Saturday night, a millennium parade with Macnas, Spraoi, the Belfast Circus, the Diced Carrots and participants from national schools and community groups aims to "startle, stun, enthral and entertain", and there will be a display by Fireworks Ltd.
Connemara Community Radio Ltd will be broadcasting live from the festival on 87.8 and 106.1 FM, and the arts week office can be contacted at (095)21164 or 21295 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. It also has a website at www.clifdenartsweek.com.
The millennium drum was in Westport this past weekend and its full programme of events also runs until Sunday, with readings, recitations, music and more.
Galway singer Tony Small plays tomorrow in the Clew Bay Hotel, and Deirdre O'Callaghan will sing Moore's Melodies at the Holy Trinity Church on Newport Road at 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, Mary Staunton, Garry O Briain and Maire O'Keeffe play in Matt Molloy's on Bridge Street, and on Thursday the Tempus Fugit Theatre of Australia presents The Christian Brothers in the Westport Leisure Park.
Next Saturday, Frank McDonald, the Environment Correspondent of The Irish Times, will speak on "Tiger! Tiger! Burning Bright . . " in the Atlantic Coast Hotel on the Quay at 7 p.m., and the Ben Prevo Band will strike up the blues an hour later in the Central Hotel.
Again, this is just a taste of a rich feast: more details from the Westport Arts Festival at the Resource Centre, Mill Street, at (098)26787 or e-mail: rcwestport@anu.ie.
This Friday, the fifth autumn weekend gathering in honour of Lady Gregory opens in Coole Park, Gort, Co Galway.
Held to celebrate the work of one of Ireland's foremost dramatists, the gathering will including walking tours, a visit to the Kiltartan Gregory Museum, an exhibition in Gort library and a coach tour from Gort to Galway exploring the Persse family connection, with local historian Mr Paul Duffy.
There will be readings and lectures by actor Barry McGovern, the journalist and author Bruce Arnold, Dr Caitriona Clutterbuck of UCD, and Dr J.M. Hassett, lawyer and author from Washington DC.
For further information, the director, Ms Sheila O'Donnellan, can be contacted at (091)521836.