Ireland Around the Web: 04.30.08

Here are some Ireland items in the news lately:

The film “Mary, Queen of Scots” might be about Scotland, but it’ll be shot in Ireland.
Can you imagine Ireland without Waterford Crystal? Apparently Waterford Crystal can.
Here’s a little article about one couple’s hike along the coast from Sutton to Howth, and how they ended up in “grave danger” en route.
Ireland’s former president, Patrick Hillery, has died at the age of 84.
Hillery’s state funeral is detailed here and here.
Vacation photos are some of the best souvenirs - here’s a guide to taking great photos in …

Date: April 30th, 2008 | No Comments

Clonmel Junction Festival

Clonmel may not be on most peoples’ list of places to visit when they’re planning a trip to Ireland, but sometimes a good festival is enough to make you change your plans. Celebrating with a local community - or even just watching them celebrate - makes a vacation unique and interesting, and helps you get to know a place a little better. So, why not join in the fun of the Clonmel Junction Festival?

First held in 2001, the Clonmel Junction Festival incorporates art, music, theatre and dance in both traditional and more avant-garde settings. The festival takes over the town of Clonmel for its run every July (usually eight-nine days), with performances in the streets as well as performance venues, so it’s impossible to be in Clonmel during the festival and not get into the spirit of things.

Each year the Clonmel festival has a theme - in 2007 it was “Travel and Transport,” and that was worked into every facet of the festival. There’s an effort each year to engage younger audiences, and in 2007 kids were encouraged to think about transportation in different ways. Art installations around town featured the “Travel and Transport” theme as well, although most of the theatre, dance and music performances were not tied to the theme.

Date: April 21st, 2008 | No Comments

Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

If you need an excuse to head to Kilkenny in June, the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is a great one - in addition to the usual sights of Kilkenny, this festival gives you an excuse to laugh yourself silly.

Kilkenny’s Cat Laughs festival has been going since 1995, and has featured lots of famous international comedians over the years - even the likes of Bill Murray and The Daily Show’s Lewis Black have appeared on the Cat Laughs stage in the past. Generally, it’s a great festival for British and Irish comedians to do their stand-up routines.

In addition to the stand-up comedy component, the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival also includes a comedy film element called “Kitty Flicks,” as well as a soccer game that’s held each year where the Irish comedians take on comedians from the rest of the world. This sporting event is just as much comedy as it is soccer. Even before the match in 2007, there was a preview of the match by the entertaining announcer, Barry Murphy, which you can see on video.

Date: April 9th, 2008 | No Comments