'Tis The Season To Be Festival

The second part of Joe Kavanagh's look at the best of the summer festivals in Ireland. This week Joe looks at some of the more celebrated events on display from August to October, which offer fun, frolics and festivities for everyone from the music-addict, to the more refined palate. Just don't depend on the weather!

Mantua Festival
August 1-3

Billing itself as a celebration of "Music, Art & Food" this festival is held annually in the relatively remote surrounds of Ballinagare, Co. Roscommon, undoubtedly instilling revelers with the collective feeling that they are all in it together. Having attended the event last year, I can fully attest to the disarming friendliness of the colorful crowds who ensure that this festival remains one of the better run and certainly one of the most convivial on the island; no small task given the fact that a couple of intoxicated, local rednecks tried to spoil it for everyone last year by taking a tractor for a spin through the camping ground last year. Thankfully, they missed their mark - through no fault of their own- and their idiotic actions only served to reinforce the sense of pride and community among those on hand. Along with a host of innovative art installations and the type of quality dining that is sadly lacking at most festivals, the event prides itself on attracting some of the most acclaimed names from the Irish and UK underground music scenes. From folk to reggae, punk to pumping club music and beyond, this festival is one of the most musically educational experiences available in the country. www.mantuaproject.com

Castlepalooza
August 2-3

Another event that takes place in Ireland's unlikely festival capital of Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Castlepalooza is entering its third year and steadily moving from its all-Irish roots to attracting more international artists such as UK act, Mystery Jets and South Africa's, The Parlaphones. And why wouldn't it? Whether it is the limited number of tickets that put punters before profits, the fact that it is held in the breathtaking surrounds of Charleville Castle or even that it lays claim to having "the handsomest cocktail barmen in the occidental hemisphere", this event is the anti-Oxegen in terms of friendliness, facilities and bang for your buck. Along with the aforementioned international acts are a host of the cream of Ireland's music crop, with names like Republic Of Loose, Luan Parle, Laundry Shop and The Flaws just some of the dozens of acts ensuring that variety and quality remain earmarks of a festival that will surely sell-out long in advance.www.castlepalooza.com

Puck Fair
August 10-12

Depending on which story you believe, the origins of one of Ireland's oldest festivals link it directly to the harrowing time of Cromwell or to the Great Liberator, Daniel O'Connell. Whatever its roots, there can be little doubt of the three-day event's eccentric identity and commitment to being "a time when old friends meet, when new friendships are forged and the cares of everyday living are put on hold." Held in the stunning surrounds of Killorglin, in south Kerry, the festival centers around the coronation and dethroning of a wild mountain goat known as "King Puck", but locals also deliver on their promise to provide 12-hours of entertainment each day. From dancing exhibtions, horse and cattle fairs, firework displays and a plethora of concerts, Puck Fair offers something for everyone while remaining an inherently Irish phenomenon. www.puckfair.ie

Fleadh Ceoil
August 17-24

When a group of Irish traditional music enthusiasts gathered in 1951 to create an event that would both set standards and promote the growth of the genre, they decided to give it the moniker of Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann (Festival of Music in Ireland) in the hope that it would one day grow into something befitting of such a grand title. Surely not even they, however, could have envisaged the behemoth that this cultural celebration would become over a half century later. The numbers speak for themselves really, with over 200,000 people attending the event last year, the week-long festival can also lay a legitimate claim to being one of the biggest gatherings of musicians on the planet, with estimates of the number of performers ranging from 10,000-20,000 depending on who you ask. Aside from the competitive aspect, which sees the best Irish traditional musicians from around the globe face off against each other, the gathering also offers musical workshops, parades, street sessions and céilís (dances) galore as the nomadic festival sets up camp Tullamore for the second year running. Many come simply for the craic, tall tales and late-late-night sessions (of music and drinking) but if you consider yourself a lover of Irish music then you simply must attend the Fleadh Ceoil at least once in your lifetime.www.fleadh2008.com

Rose Of Tralee
August 22-26

Inspired by a 19th Century song of the same name that tells a tale of forbidden love, the Rose of Tralee contest as it is currently constituted began in 1959, with an initial budget of about $1,000. Since then it has grown into a festival of world renown, celebrated by much of the Irish diaspora as central to the national identity and lampooned by TV shows such as Father Ted for its somewhat begosh and begorrah nature. From its modest beginning, when only local girls were permitted to compete, the competition now includes any lady who has an ounce of Irish blood in them, allowing contestants from as far afield as the US, Australia and even Dubai to enter in the hope that they might be unveiled as the "lovely and fair" winner who walks away with the crown. Despite the almost saccharine-sweet quaintness of it all, the fact remains that this five-day occasion remains one of the most popular of Ireland's social events, with Tralee literally crawling with parades, fireworks displays and musical events from gigs in sweaty pubs to such luminaries as INXS and the late-great James Brown, in years gone by.www.roseoftralee.ie

Electric Picnic
August 29-31

From its debut as a one-day event back in 2004, the Electric Picnic has now grown into a three-day musical extravaganza, whose reputation as one of the friendliest and best-run festivals in Ireland saw it recently added to the TimesOnline list of "Europe's 20 Best Summer Music Festivals". Held on the 600-acre Stradbally Hall Estate, in Laois, the festival prides itself on being a cut above the rest, retaining an intimate feel and offering entertainment that includes a comedy tent, theater, cinema, family entertainment and gourmet food. Despite all the add-ons, the festival's focus is squarely on music, offering almost a hundred acts over a range of stages, tents and venues, catering to a wide range of musical tastes. Aside from modern acts such as CSS, Duffy and the Gossip, there are classic names such as Sex Pistols and George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars, in addition to others like Christy Moore and Sinead O'Connor. Simply put, the best of all the larger scale festivals.www.electricpicnic.ie

Cork Jazz Festival
October 24-27

Finally, we finish up with one of Europe's biggest and most popular jazz festivals, which has a pedigree that is second to none, having welcomed such legendary names as Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Dave Brubeck, Cleo Laine and many others, during its 31-year history. Known as "the friendliest jazz festival in the world", organizers have built their reputation by integrating events and the city so seamlessly that the entire festival creates something that is greater than its parts and a central element of the Cork City's identity. This year is no different, with over 1,000 musicians converging for a series of concerts held in excess of 80 venues throughout the city. Names such Dave Liebman, Martial Solal and The Yellowjackets are just some of the big names that have already been announced with many, many others to follow, in addition to a full schedule of fringe events that has sprung up around the main affair. I'll be totally honest with you, ordinarily I would prefer to indulge in a slap-fight with Edward Scissorhands than listen to jazz but I've traveled there for two just to soak up the legendary atmosphere. Also, if you think it's too early to be talking about October festivals then you've never tried to book a hotel in Cork for the Jazz Festival. www.corkjazzfestival.com