Festivals and exhibitions fill this month, keeping your weekends busy with books, art and music…
Elizabeth Strout in conversation with actress and author Minnie Driver, actor Ciarán Hinds reading from The Letters of Seamus Heaney and an evening with Margaret Atwood, Laurie Anderson and Mary Robinson – the line-up for Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas, sponsored by The Doyle Collection, looks interesting: June 7-9; www.festivalofwritingandideas.com.
Dalkey Book Festival, June 13-16, where the Fonz (aka Henry Winkler) will rub shoulders with acclaimed writers such as Jan Carson, Colm Tóibín, Anne Enright and Claire Keegan. www.dalkeybookfestival.org.
Belfast Book Festival, June 6-13, includes events with authors Jacqueline Wilson, Margaret Drabble and Cecelia Ahern. www.belfastbookfestival.com.
Bantry’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival, June 28-July 7, will feature works by Schubert, Beethoven and Shostakovich; www.westcorkmusic.ie.
“Women Impressionists” at the National Gallery of Ireland, from June 27, marks the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874; www.nationalgallery.ie.
“Veins of Other” is Dorothy Cross’ first solo exhibition for five years, and examines the relationship between living things and the natural world. At the Kerlin Gallery until July 6; www.kerlin.ie.
The Crawford Gallery in Cork will close this September for renovation, so do visit during the summer months. We held THE GLOSS X Goodbody “In Women We Trust” Female Founders event at The Crawford in May, with a panel that included Goodbody’s Niamh O’Neill, Dr Alison O’Shea of NeuroBell, Hilary O’Shea of Ottonomee, and Peigín Crowley of Ground Wellbeing. See www.thegloss.ie for more details on this event.
As June is Joyce’s month, it’s that time of year when we all reattempt to read Ulysses. Alternatively, simply partake in the Bloomsday festivities on June 16 in Dublin, where a range of activities will be taking place. See www.bloomsdayfestival.ie for more details.
For those who enjoy live music and are interested in upcoming Irish artists, The MoLI Bloomsday Garden Party, held across the museum’s stunning exhibition spaces and gardens, is being held the evening of Sunday June 16. Celebrate 102 years of Joyce’s Ulysses with a glass in hand and experience the performances of Ireland’s most exciting musicians and rappers. www.moli.ie
We will be checking out “Godard Bardot”, an intriguing exhibition by Irish hand dye-transfer artist Jean Curran at The Horse Gallery, Bethesda Place, Dublin 1. For more info, visit www.thegloss.ie.
THIS MONTH WE’RE …
ADMIRING: The late Princess Diana’s gowns at the “Elegance and a Royal Collection” exhibition at the Museum of Style Icons, Newbridge Silverware, Co Kildare, from June 11, prior to auction by Julien’s Auctions on June 27. www.newbridgesilverware.com.
SUPPORTING: Hospice Sunflower Days on June 7-8. Hospices nationwide need €20m to provide patient care each year. Remember a loved one and make a donation online at the virtual Sunflower Remembrance Garden. www.sunflowerdays.ie.
RECONNECTING: With nature at Killeavy Castle Estate, Co Armagh on a Nurturing Nature Retreat, June 16-18. The two-night stay includes forest bathing and farm-to-fork dining in Gullion at Killeavy restaurant. www.killeavycastle.com.
CHECKING OUT: A new art gallery at Mount Congreve Gardens, Co Waterford. Its inaugural exhibition “Bucolica” explores the landscape via artworks by Ciara Roche, Michael Wann, Bernadette Kiely and Lee Welch. www.mountcongreve.com.
WEARING: A pink linen dress from “A Gentle Life” collection by the Tweed Project; www.thetweedproject.com.