Festival free-for-all in Ireland this summer

What the Irish do best – other than throwing a large spanner in the EU works – is to host, throughout the summer, more festivals than you can shake a stick at! Music and dance plays a major part in many of these events although visitors can also expect the bizarre – such as the crowning of a goat as king – through to celebrations of food, folklore and farming.

Examples include:

- Killarney Summerfest – through to 20 July – street theatre, art exhibitions and craft workshops, plus for children Teddy Bears’ Picnics and Barney Live Shows.

- Earagail Arts Festival, Donegal – 10-20 July – music from The Fall and Richard Hawley, Sensazione – a human-powered cross between a funfair and a circus, plus art exhibitions and theatre.

- Wicklow Gardens Festival – through to 1 August – more than 30 open gardens at well-known historic houses and smaller, private homes.

- Puck Fair, Killorglin, Co Kerry – 10-12 August – coronation of King Puck (a mountain goat), plus parades, a horse fair, funfair and plenty of foot-tapping music.

- Waterford Spraoi Festival – 22-24 August – the squares and quays of the town are transformed into outdoor stages for performances by top-class, international musicians, dancers and singers, climaxing in a huge parade and firework display on the Sunday.

Irish Ferries, the low fares ferry company, offers regular sailings to Dublin from Holyhead (four times daily) and from Pembroke to Rosslare (twice daily) with summer fares from as little as £98 one way for car and driver.

The company’s website also features a wide choice of accommodation across Ireland for those planning a self-drive tour.

For more information, visit Irishferries.com.