It's the end of the summer, the last weekend of August and that means one thing, Electric Picnic!
With 80,000 attendees or Picnickers, there has never been a larger edition of Ireland's largest music and arts festival.
This year sees headlining performances from Hozier on Friday, Sam Fender on Saturday and Kings of Leon on Sunday night.
And we will be there again covering this unique three days in the fields of County Laois.
With more than 50 acts playing the main stages and countless other events from cooking demonstations to yoga to raves in the woods, Electric Picnic will once again not be short of excitement and interest.
Kilkenny Arts Festival – Ten Days of Pure Magic
One night you might hear a haunting violin in a candlelit chapel. The next, you could be watching world-class theatre under the stars or discovering a jazz trio tucked away in a hidden courtyard. Everywhere you turn, something unexpected is waiting.
From spellbinding classical concerts to bold contemporary creations, the Festival mixes tradition with daring innovation. It's a celebration where history and creativity meet, and the whole city becomes part of the story.
Whether you're here for the big names, the intimate moments, or the sheer joy of wandering between events, Kilkenny Arts Festival is your ticket to a summer filled with art, adventure, and a touch of magic.
With events on throughout the small city and a few in the county too, there's something for everyone.
Here are some of Panoramic Ireland's favourites to look out for
And that's only just some of the world class talent on offer at Kilkenny Arts Festival.
Ready to experience the magic?
For more information and the complete festival programme:
View Full ProgrammeEurasian Blackbird, Turdus Merula or Lon Dubh Under Threat From Usutu Virus
- Darren McLoughlin
- Category: Guide
One of the most common garden birds in Ireland, the blackbird Turdus merula or Lon Dubh in Irish, is coming under threat from a mosquito-borne virus known as Usutu virus.
Now in Ireland, the virus has been the cause of significant population declines in the UK and other countries, London lost 50% of it's blackbird population between 2019 and 2020.
The blackbird was seen as a symbol of good luck in Ireland, especially in pairs or when it enters a house.
It was said that Saint Kevin of Glendalough, while praying inside his small cell, arms outstretched through an opening, had a blackbird land on his hand. The bird made a nest on it and laid eggs, the saint it is said, remained in position long enough for the eggs to hatch and fledge.
Seamus Heaney even wrote a poem on the legend.
Blackbirds were said to have been brought to Ireland by the legendary Finn MacCool, famous in mythology for creating the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, from a visit to Norway where he heard their sweet whistle.
Indeed modern studies and evidence from ringed birds show that many blackbirds migrate to Ireland from Norway in winter for the milder climate.
Because it sings so loudly at dusk and dawn, the blackbird is often associated with the Otherworld, being messengers or symbolising reincarnation.
It would be sad to think of a further decline in blackbird numbers here in Ireland so let's appreciate these beautiful ground-hopping songbirds.
The ARM Cuauhtémoc, one of the world's finest tall ships seen here in Dublin Bay 2012.
Under sail this is one of the most impressive of the touring training ships, seen here with dozens of cadets working the rigging high on the ship's masts as it leaves the safety of Dublin's River Liffey for the Irish Sea as the tall ships leave Dublin.
The Cuauhtémoc has made headlines recently due to the bridge strike on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York where unfortunately two of its crew died and its masts were damaged.
A bright and colourful sunrise at the coast for Saint Patrick's Day 2025 in Ireland.
The Sun peeks over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the tranquil waters of the Irish coast, sand dunes in shadow waiting to warm up with the morning light.
The soft, pastel sky reflects on the calm sea, creating a mirror of colour and light on the day of Ireland's patron saint.
Enjoy the view and enjoy the following poem sent in to me by David P. Carroll.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day.