Kilkenny International Arts Week (Aug): includes recitals, poetry readings, art exhibitions.

Rose of Tralee International Festival (Aug; www.roseoftralee.ie ): a massive event, centred round a beauty contest.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Aug; www.comhaltas com ): the most important of all the traditional music festivals, held in a different town every year.

Oul' Lammas Fair (Aug): four hundred years old and still going strong, Ballycastle's traditional market fair is a major crowd-puller with music, dancing, sports and entertainment.

All Ireland Hurling and Football Finals (Sept): the biggest sporting events of the year, separated by a fortnight, in Dublin.

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (Sept/Oct): plenty of traditional entertainment accompanies the lonely hearts side of the festivities.

Cork Film and Jazz Festivals (Oct; www.corkfilmfest.org ): Ireland's major film event and an enormously popular jazz festival.

Wexford Opera Festival (Oct/Nov; www.wexfordopera.com ): a large gathering of international renown.

Derry Halloween Carnival (Oct/Nov): street theatre, music and mayhem, especially during the fireworks display on October 31.

Belfast Festival at Queen's (Oct/Nov): major arts festival, Ireland's equivalent to Edinburgh, nowadays complete with its very own Fringe.

Saint Patrick's Day (March 17; www.stpatricksday.ie): celebrations all over Ireland, including a national festival in Dublin and major events in all the larger towns and cities.

Irish Grand National (April): horse racing at Fairyhouse (Meath).

Cork International Choral Festival (April/May; www.musweb.com/corkchoral.htm ): one of the big ones.

Foyle Film Festival (April/May): the best of new Irish and international film, Derry.

North-West 200 (May): the island's biggest motorcycle road racing event takes place on a circuit at Portstewart, Co. Derry.

Music Festival in Great Irish Houses (June): just what it says, classical music at venues around the country.

Irish Derby (June): and other important races at the Curragh (Kildare).

Willie Clancy Summer School (July): one of the biggest traditional music events of the year, based in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

James Joyce Summer School (July; www.artsworld.ie/joyce-school ): strictly for Joyce buffs, Dublin.

Galway International Arts Festival (July; www.galwayartsfestival.ie ): festival of music, theatre and general partying - one of the best.

Galway Races (July/Aug): another important race meeting which is very popular.

Yeats International Summer School (Aug): this Sligo event has often courted controversy through its exploration of nationalistic themes.

Ireland