Something for the weekend: Five things you need to check out (15 June – 18 June)

It's not ALL about the World Cup.

Well, okay, let's not get carried away. Of course it's ALL about the World Cup, but not to everyone. Here are some things you can do which do not involve roaring at a television at countries you've never been to over the coming days.

Irish Maritime Festival 2018

The banks of the Boyne have their biggest weekend of the year when the Irish Maritime Festival arrives into Drogheda this weekend. The Tall Ships will be there and you can get on board and explore them.   There will also be 21 different acts performing on the Ballast Quay stage over two days, 250 brave swimmers taking on the 2.7km of the Boyne Swim and a host of other great activities to get involved in.

Cork Midsummer Festival

Running until 24 June, the Cork Midsummer Festival is a ten-day multi-disciplinary arts festival that takes place each summer and uses Cork City as its backdrop and inspiration. Amongst the highlights of the 2018 edition of the Cork Midsummer Festival will be the premiere of a brand new stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s 2015 novel, Asking For It, at the Everyman Theatre. Each summer, a variety of venues around the city will present music, theatre, dance, installations, and talks from both emerging and established artists.

Taste of Dublin

Located in the beautiful surroundings of the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin, Taste of Dublin is one of the big social festivals of the year in the city. This ultimate foodie festival will bring the most innovative flavours to one place over four delicious days. This year’s theme, Food Lovers Playground, will bring a playful and vibrant twist to the event, brought to life by the varied array of stallholders. If you love food, this is one event you can't afford to miss.

Dalkey Book Festival

Dalkey Book Festival, running from 14 June to 17 June, was described by Salman Rushdie as “the best little festival in the world”. It takes place in June of every year and is an intimate small-town festival with a global pull, attracting some of the best writers in the world, including Booker Prize winners, a Nobel Laureate, Impac winners, Oscar winners and Costa winners. The charm of this festival is undoubtedly the intimate nature of the numerous events, which take place in pubs, cafes, shops, schools and the local town hall as well as the medieval graveyard, the secret garden marquee and the Masonic Lodge. Some of the speakers this year include Neil Jordan, Robert Fisk, Susannah De Wrixon, Blindboy, Stefanie Preissner and many more.

Immrama Festival of Travel Writing 2018

The beautiful town of Lismore in Waterford is the host of the annual festival, Immrama, which has been dedicated to the art of Travel Writing, Good Music, and Fine Entertainment since its inception in 2003. Running till 17 June, the festival features a stellar line-up of authors and journalists in various venues across the town of Lismore. It is one of the highlights in the Irish literary calendar and an event not to be missed if you have any interest in the writings of those who travel.