The thought of leaving in your car, and arriving at your holiday destination after a modest drive is convincing a lot of people to holiday in Ireland. The independence of it all…. Deciding where to go without the dread of airport queues and chaos is joyful, you can forget about Car Hire, Travel Insurance, luggage restriction’s etc. Some people who want to take this new independence one step further are choosing a self catering holiday.

Picture the scene, you speak the language (maybe), you love the scenery, and as for the pubs and culture, the crack is mighty. There really is something for everyone if you choose an Irish Holiday Home Rental.

Russell Cultural Centre & various venues in Doolin, Co. Clare

The Russell Memorial Weekend is a traditional festival held in Doolin on the the last full weekend in February each year. Enjoy a weekend of traditional music, song and dance with workshops in several instruments. The festival began in 1995 as a remembrance ceremony to Micho Russell, the world-famous traditional musician, who died in 1994.

http://www.michorussellweekend.ie

Cork City

UCC Irish Traditional Music Society (Tradsoc) is proud to announce that UCC Tradsoc Tradfest returns to venues around Cork city this February. It offers the best of traditional acts from Cork and around the country taking part. Events include free lunchtime concerts, a céilí, sessions and much more.

http://www.ucctradsoc.com

28th to 31st October 2011

The annual Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception over 30 years ago. It is now one of Ireland’s flagship festivals and attracts jazz fans from all over the world.

Over the years, the Festival has featured a galaxy of jazz ‘greats’ including Ella Fitzgerald, George Shearing, Cleo Laine, Art Blakey, Gerry Mulligan, Mel Torme, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, B.B. King, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and a host of other top jazz names.

In 2010, over 50,000 people attended the event and listened to great jazz which featured over 1,200 musicians from 35 countries. The spread of world-class stars performed in most of the city’s major theatres.

There’s also non-stop music, day and night, in 90 clubs, pubs and hotels citywide, plus master classes and many fringe events. Over 90% of the music is free of entrance charges.

http://www.corkjazzfestival.com

28th September to 2nd October 2011

The Kilkenny Celtic Festival is dedicated to encouraging a wider and deeper appreciation of all things Celtic, expressed through language, poetry, song, music, dance, food, theatre and sport. We celebrate all aspects of the shared history, traditions and culture of the Celtic world. By embracing these shared traditions we hope to continually provide quality entertainment and performances for the people of Kilkenny and surrounding areas. Through these media we also hope to further educate both ourselves and others about the different nations of the Celtic world. Simultaneously, our friendships with these nations will deepen and provide a never ending source of knowledge.

http://www.celticfestival.ie

15th to 25th September 2011

Clifden Community Arts Week celebrates its 34th anniversary in 2011 and once again offers a superb range of poetry readings, lectures, recitals, traditional music, concerts, comedy and school programmes.

And as a further bonus, this culture fest takes place in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere in one of the most beautiful places on the West Coast.

Time to take walks during the day, enjoy the lovely Autumn colours, eat in a great choice of restaurants, and then be inspired by Ireland’s best artists as they mingle and talk with the local community and visitors alike.

www.clifdenartsweek.ie

9th to 18th September 2011

A Taste of West Cork Food Festival in the bustling Cork town of Skibbereen is a unique mix of food markets and demonstrations, cookery competitions, special dinners, brunches, banquets, food-tastings, talks, exhibitions, children’s events, guided walks, boat tours and some great live music!

Celebrating the quality and diversity of local restaurants, talented and innovative chefs, the superb independent food producers and the many artisans that abound in West Cork, the Festival is a must for anyone with an interest in good food.

http://www.atasteofwestcork.com

3rd to 11th September 2011

Waterford Harvest Festival is a city wide festival celebrating food heritage and culture in Waterford. Join us for nine days of fun filled foodie events with cookery demonstrations, food tours, foodie films, tastings, taste workshops, restaurant trails, quayside markets, barbecues, street performances and big outdoor music gigs. Our midweek Food For Thought menu is bookended by two wonderful weekends of Street Parties basking in the glory of the delicious good, clean food on offer in a city surrounded by such rich resources as The Bread Basket, The Golden Vale and The Atlantic Ocean.

Waterford Harvest Festival recreates a modern version of the traditional harvest celebratory and feasting period, with foodie fun and educational events for all the family and children’s entertainment across the city. The festival takes place from the 3rd – 11th September 2011 and encourages people from Waterford, the rest of Ireland and beyond to gather together and experience an exciting range of culinary delights.

Waterford Harvest Festival involves and educates people in the appreciation of good, clean, fair food while showcasing the region’s ever expanding network of dedicated, enthusiastic producers and all the gastronomic delights the region has to offer.

www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie

2nd to 4th September 2011

Three day Music & Arts Festival Electric Picnic. The festival boasts ten stages representing world class artists in all genres from hip-hop to electronica, soul & funk to rock, dance to reggae + a very popular comedy tent. But the Electric Picnic is about much more than music… There is theatre, arts, circus, burlesque can-can girls, 1950s cocktail oudoirs, pantomime, a healing village, silent disco, weddings and confessionals in an Inflatable Church, Soul Kids, political debate, cinema, global green and very, very tasty and healthy food.

Here, imagination is everything – from ad hoc performances in natural amphitheatres to giant caterpillars up trees. The beautiful way in which the grounds are decorated really gives the feeling that you are entering another world for the weekend, which in a sense you really are.

Kids: Electric Picnic welcomes all accompanied children under-12 to the festival. For free!

Entertainment: Soul Kids…contained in the walled gardens of the estate, dynamic, playful and ridiculously colourful kids field will house fun games, creative workshops, movies, arts and crafts, puppet making and circus skills.

www.electricpicnic.ie

25th to 28th August 2011

Once a year in August music pilgrims come from all over the world to the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival to listen to authentic bluegrass music. Bands play to ecstatic crowds, spread out comfortably at 6 venues, both indoors and outdoors. There also fine dining, sunbathing, swimming, dancing and jamming all day and night – a Bluegrass picker’s paradise

A full programme will be available at the pubs and hotels prior to the start of the festival. There is no entry fee and each of the groups play at all of the venues throughout the weekend – and from as early as 12 noon on the Saturday and Sunday.

http://www.discoverdunmore.com/festivals