Weekend Guide: 6 great events (including a festival of crisps) happening around Ireland

Sharon Shannon

17, 18 & 19 August, Whelan’s, Dublin

Sharon Shannon returns to Whelan’s for a trilogy of shows celebrating the extensive career she’s built since 1992. Each night will offer something different, and overall, more than 50 different pieces of music will be played at the venue, the different performances only seeing two pieces in common between the shows.

The Big Grill 2023

17—20 August, Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin

Europe’s biggest BBQ & Food Festival is back for four days of fire, food and fun. After a wildly successful event in 2022, Big Grill returns to Herbert Park, where the very best Irish and international chefs, restaurants and barbecue experts come together to celebrate and explore the delicious challenges, skillful techniques, and pure magic of cooking over live fire.

Eatyard Crisp Festival

17—20 August, The Bernard Shaw & Eatyard, Dublin

Us Irish folk really love crisps, be it wafer thin slices of deep fried spuds or corn shaped snacks with filthy, delicious flavours. The darlings of our nostalgic taste buds, we eat them as snacks, in sandwiches, as a stopgap dinner in the pub and party food. Crisps have always been there for us, so the folks at Eatyard decided it was about time we celebrated them once again.

Far West Fest

18 & 19 August, Geesala, Mayo

This brand new music festival is set in the beautiful village of Geesala, Mayo, with the scenic Achill Islands as the backdrop. Headliners over the weekend include Basement Jaxx, Gavin James, Lyra, and The Academic.

Ol’ Times & The Gulls

19 August, Róisín Dubh, Galway

Hailing from Galway City, Ol’ Times is a classic rock outfit that’s on a mission to bring rock ‘n’ roll back to the forefront of music. The band draws inspiration from legendary acts like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and The Rolling Stones while putting their own spin on the genre to create a sound that’s fresh and exciting.

National Heritage Week

Until 20 August, All around Ireland

National Heritage Week is a nine-day celebration of Ireland’s natural, built and cultural heritage. The main aim of the week is to promote awareness of our heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. This year’s theme invites you to explore the traditions and practices, knowledge and skills passed down through generations.

Featured image via Unsplash