TRAVEL: An island of autumn festivals

SUMMER may be over but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some great craic before the winter really kicks in.

In fact, there’s lots of fab, fun festivals taking place around the country over the coming weeks.

Fáilte Ireland has compiled a list of the top festivals happening this autumn to whet our appetites.

Vodafone Comedy Carnival

The annual funny fest takes place in Galway from October 23-29. Comedy legend Dylan Moran is one of the headliners, but with over 100 acts performing across eighteen venues in the city of tribes, there is something to suit everyone’s comedic tastes.

Richard Harris International Film Festival 

As part of the Global Irish Festival Series, the IFTA affiliated Richard Harris International Film Festival takes place in Limerick, the home of Richard Harris, from October 25-29. It marks the life and works of Ireland’s first leading man. This is currently the only film festival in Ireland that specifically encourages Irish filmmakers living abroad to return and showcase their work.

Celebrating its 6th year, it is an international film festival, that collaborates with Newport Beach Film Festival in California. With a unique VOD platform (in association with Shift 72), there will be live performances and a sports documentary section as well a side conference (Interactive Media & Entertainment Technology Summit -  iMET).

And of course, the live-streamed Red Carpet (black-tie) Awards Night and numerous after parties.

Savour Kilkenny

From October 25-29, Savour Kilkenny returns for four days over the Halloween Bank Holiday Weekend. The festival will host unique events for all the family including Yoga, Storytelling for Kids, Introduction to Bee-Keeping, and wellness talk, ‘Unlock Your Full Potential’ with rugby analyst Brent Pope and former Irish international track & field athlete David Gillick.

The historical medieval city will transform into a foodie haven with interactive cooking demonstrations, quirky dining events, beer and wine tasting, live entertainment and a bustling food market full of Kilkenny’s best local produce. There will also be masterclasses and interactive demos hosted by award-winning chefs including Kevin Thornton and JP McMahon, as well as Rosanna Davidson and The Happy Pear.

Bram Stoker Festival

Experience four days of deadly adventures at this ghoulish festival from October 26-29, which takes inspiration from Dublin horror novelist and author, Bram Stoker.

There’s a great selection of frightfully fun events including theatre performances, street animation, film, and literary events, just in time to get in the spooky spirit of Hallowe’en.

Don’t miss world-renowned aerial performance company ‘Loosysmokes’ who present the world premiere of a thrilling new circus show, ‘Night of the Shifting Bog’, a night-time performance in St Anne’s Park, Clontarf.

Using the woodlands in the park as their stage, the dark and frenetic aerial acrobatics show in the centuries-old trees will wow and spook!

Also, the stunning ‘NYsferatu: Symphony of a Century’ by Andrea Mastrovito will be screened, accompanied by a live score by internationally celebrated composer Matthew Nolan, in St Anne’s Church, Dawson Street.

Kilkenny Kilkenomics

It promises to all add up to be a truly intellectual fun-filled weekend in Kilkenny with Kilkenny Kilkenomics from November 8-11.

This unique festival combines economic discussion panel shows liberally sprinkled with comedy.

A weekend where the world is put to right, turned upside down and righted again.

Kilkenny, of course, is a city worth visiting at any time of the year with its wealth of great craft shops – including the National Craft Gallery and The Kilkenny Design Centre. Or call into one of Ireland’s best-known potters, Nicholas Mosse at his workshop in Bennetsbridge or take the short trip to Thomastown and watch sand being turned into beautiful glassware before your eyes at the Jerpoint Glass Studios.

Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival

Now in its seventh year, this wonderful festival in the picturesque village of Sneem on the Ring of Kerry, takes place November 9-11 and celebrates storytelling, Ireland’s oldest art form.

This year’s line-up includes storytelling pub trails, storytelling guided countryside walks, Story Swap sessions, lunchtime theatre, lectures, adult and children’s workshops. There is a Storytelling concert on Friday night with tellers from the USA and across Ireland with special guest singer/songwriter John Spillane.

On Saturday evening, you can enjoy a Young Tellers Concert followed by Fishamble’s ‘Silent’, performed by Pat Kinevane. If you have a yarn, bring it along. If you don’t sit back and just be a part of the magic in the heart of Sneem. 

Cork Film Festival

Get your tickets and popcorn for the Cork Film festival (November 9-18), very much a film lovers’ festival, and every year it attracts directors, actors, and film fanatics alike.

One of Cork’s most significant annual cultural events and Ireland’s largest film festival, it celebrates local, national, and international cinema. The programme includes screenings of features, documentaries, and shorts from new discoveries to old cinema classics.

Cork Film Festival takes place across Cork city-centre venues including The Gate Cinema, The Everyman and Triskel Christchurch. With over 80 percent of the films shown during the festival being the only opportunity for audiences to see them on the big screen, it’s a festival not be missed for cinema lovers!

The Jonathan Swift Festival

At the end of November, The Jonathan Swift Festival runs in Dublin (November 29 – December 2), exploring the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s most treasured authors and creator of Gulliver’s Travels.

The festival hosts a range of events across Dublin including masterclasses, markets, workshops, and exhibitions, all celebrating the life and times of Jonathan Swift. You can join in on one of the public debates taking place, have a ‘Swift Beer’ at their 18th century tasting session and enjoy the magic of “Gulliver’s Fair”, a market place where Swift’s most famous work comes to life.

With such as wealth of festivals to choose from this year, there is simply no excuse not to enjoy a fantastic experience with family and friends.