The Cairde Festival is Sligo’s annual arts festival celebrating diversity. The festival takes place from 1 – 8 July and includes a series of performances in care settings for those who are not able to attend other venues.

Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo and Liam Ó Maonlaí play the Hawk’s Well on Saturday, 7 July at 8pm (€20/18 concessions).

Other musical content includes the duo Miquel Barceló and Felip Carbonell, bringing melodies and songs from the Mediterranean Sea; Tom Portman on solo guitar; Sketches of Mexico from Morgan Szymanski; Jimmy Gralton’s ‘Dance Hall’ at St. Anne’s, a show combining music and dance under the direction of writer Donal O’Kelly; world music from Assembly Point; the Swagman; Congolese band The Lace; and Madu offer dub reggae.

On Sunday from 12 to 7pm the in ‘Peace Park’ Park Fest will be a free day-long celebration of all communities in Sligo with music, food from all over the world and fun for all the family.

cairdefestival.com.

Meanwhile, Ó Maonlaí and Rónán Ó Snodaigh join with Maria Doyle Kennedy on 18 August to perform an outdoor concert at Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre in Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny.
Tickets, €20 (plus booking) are available from Rollercoaster Records, Kilkenny (056 77 63669) and the Book Centre, Kilkenny. Jack L will also be performing at the amphitheatre this summer on 28 July.

ballykeeffe.com