-
Music, dance and tradition
This unspoilt and undiscovered part of the island nurtures strong traditions of culture, tradition and heritage. Traditional music and dance is a passion here – don’t leave without experiencing a local trad session or a cracking céilí (dance). Try the Slieve Bloom Traditional Music Sessions in Offaly, or the Singers’ Circle in Roscommon. The Dun na SÍ Heritage Centre at Lough Ree is a treasure trove of genealogy, music, song, dance and storytelling. For a truly authentic traditional Irish pub, try The Sheelin in Bellanaleck, Upper Lough Erne, which occupies a delightful thatched cottage. While in the neighbourhood, check out The Sheelin Irish Lace Museum, which offers a unique insight into one of Ireland’s most traditional industries.
Literary heritage
Inspiring and captivating, it’s no surprise that the Lakelands are indelibly linked to some of the country’s – and the world’s – finest writers. Oscar Wilde and Nobel Laureate Samuel Beckett both attended Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh; John McGahern spent his childhood in the parish of Aughawillan, County Leitrim; while Oliver Goldsmith beautifully evoked the charms of County Longford and County Westmeath. To understand what made such an impression on these great artists, you have to see for yourself the landscapes that sculpted their minds...
Festivals and events
The festivals are year-round and world-renowned. Music, arts, even gardening is celebrated in style. Trad music lovers will adore Tuam Traditional Music Festival, while the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival celebrates the connections between Irish music and American Bluegrass. Big bands, big DJs and a big heart is the mantra for the wonderful boutique Electric Picnic Festival in County Laois, which has termed ‘everything a festival should be’ by music critics. Those who prefer the written world will be fascinated by the speakers and readings of Athlone Literary Festival, or the tall tales coming from Offlay’s Storytelling Festival.
