in Meeting House Square. tickets.ie, templebartrad.com





February



Clonakilty International Board Games 7-9

Backgammon and bridge, chess, sudoku, Monopoly – you name it, you can play it in one of Ireland’s most beguiling towns, with great food and drink. 089-4352675,

clonakiltygamesfestival.com



Other Voices Derry 7-9

The Kerry festival heads to Derry for three days of inspirational cross-Border music-making at the spectacular Glassworks venue, where many of the gigs will be hosted by the actor Aidan Gillen. There will also be a music trail across the city. othervoices.ie



Cork Spring 12-15

Jo Shapcott, Paul Muldoon, Leontia Flynn and the former US poet laureate Billy Collins are among the poets who will visit the Cork Arts Theatre for the Munster Literature Centre’s annual poetry festival. 021-4312955, corkpoetryfest.net



Jameson Dublin Film Festival 13-23

A blackly comic Dutch fable called Borgman is theon offer around the country. 01-8057709, bealtaine.com



Cathedral Quarter 1-11

Music, comedy, theatre and literature events based around St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. 028-90232403, cqaf.com



Dublin Writers’ Festival 17-25

The most historic venues in the city – the National Library, James Joyce Museum and Tower, the Long Room at Trinity College, the Chester Beatty Library – play host to the most dynamic writers from Ireland and abroad as the brilliance of books is celebrated through readings, discussions, workshops and film screenings. 01-2225455,

dublinwritersfestival.com



Fleadh Nua 18-26

A week of traditional music-making in Ennis. This year’s programme includes Four Men and a Dog, The Kilfenora Céilí Band, and a colourful evening of Irish and Bulgarian music and dance. 065-6824276, fleadhnua.com



Dublin Dance Festival 20-31

The international dance group Bodies in Urban Spaces will show you Dublin as you’ve