Event of the weekBorris House Festival of Writing & IdeasFrom Friday, June 5th, until Sunday, June 7th, Borris, Co Carlow, various times (sold out), festivalofwritingandideas.comIs this Ireland’s best-connected literature and arts event? With such an impressive line-up of speakers and interviewees, we think so. Elizabeth Strout, Chrissie Hynde, Lara Marlowe, Max Porter, Mary Robinson, Jim Sheridan, Anne Enright, Colm Tóibín, Dorothy Cross, Paul Howard, Lisa Hannigan, Miriam Margolyes, Fiona Shaw and many more will discuss topics that include artificial intelligence and global conflict, public trust, civil liberty, The Beatles, geopolitical morality, healthcare equality and literary encounters. There will be numerous “surprise talks” across the weekend, as well as music (Hothouse Flowers), dance (Michael Keegan-Dolan’s Bothy Band-inspired 1975/Naoi Seachtó Cúig), theatre (Mikel Murfi) and comedy (Dylan Moran).GigsForbidden FruitSaturday, May 30th, and Sunday, May 31st, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, noon, €205 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie Nia Archives The open-air gig season starts here, and, to little surprise, the sold-out signs for Forbidden Fruit were raised about two weeks ago. Now in its 14th year, the bank-holiday-weekend festival has, from the beginning, presented a broad range of cutting-edge artists primarily in electronic, dance, soul, R&B and funk. Additional stages have been added, so keep an eye out for East (featuring performances from Kaytranada, Joy Crookes, Nia Archives and Galway’s Kettama) and Happy Days (featuring emerging Irish artists such as Alex Gough, BBFT, Esmeralda Road, Valerie Rose and Mount Pyrus).Snow PatrolSunday, May 31st, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, 5pm, €69.90, ticketmaster.ieCelebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Eyes Open, Snow Patrol could simply play it in full and be done with it. Between the record’s six hit singles (including the smash hit Chasing Cars) and songs from Final Straw and A Hundred Million Suns, fans might not be able to pause for breath. Special guest is Orla Gartland, the Ivor Novello Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter.Galway Folk FestivalFrom Wednesday, June 3rd, until Sunday, June 7th, Monroe’s, various times and prices, galwayfolkfestival.comRichard Thompson Galway Folk Festival will celebrate its fifth birthday in fine style with its largest line-up to date. Headliners include Richard Thompson (Wednesday, June 3rd, Black Box, 7.30pm, €42), Lisa O’Neill (Thursday, June 4th, Town Hall Theatre, 7.30pm, €39) and The Divine Comedy (Friday, June 5th, Leisureland, 7pm, €54). Gigs and sessions at Monroe’s (taking place from noon to late night) will include Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Saturday, June 6th, 12.30pm, €25), Damien Dempsey (Saturday, June 6th, 8pm, €42) and Notify (Sunday, June 7th, 4pm, €25). Don’t miss the many free gigs on the Monroe’s Tavern Stage and at the Little Room of Folk (Saturday, June 6th, and Sunday, June 7th, 11am-7pm).Bell X1Friday, June 5th, Knocknarea Arena, Sligo, 7pm, €52/€47, ticketmaster.ieThe Sligo Live festival officially runs from Saturday, October 17th, until Sunday, November 1st, but here’s a sneaky pre-festival gig from one of Ireland’s most enduring and consistently innovative bands. Alongside hit songs and album deep cuts from their back catalogue, there might also be a preview of tracks from their forthcoming record, which they recently completed at Dreamland Studios in upstate New York. Also, Saturday, June 6th, King John’s Castle, Limerick, 7pm, €59.05; Friday, June 19th, Live at the Marquee, Cork, 6pm, €52.90; Saturday, July 11th, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, 5pm, sold out; Saturday, July 25th, Heineken Big Top, Galway, 7pm, €49.20, ticketmaster.ieStageThe Whiteheaded BoyFrom Wednesday, June 3rd, until Saturday, July 25th, Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 7.30pm, €54/€39.50/€29.50, abbeytheatre.ieThe Whiteheaded Boy First presented at the Abbey Theatre in 1916, Lennox Robinson’s classic play retains its shrewd quick-wittedness through Annie Ryan’s vibrant contemporary staging. Golden son Denis, studying medicine at Trinity College Dublin, returns to his provincial home to visit his charitable mother and aggrieved five siblings. He brings news, however: he has once again failed his exams. Domestic chaos ensues as the feckless, thoroughly unpleasant favourite child resists demands to emigrate. An ensemble cast includes Clare Barrett, Peter McGann, Fionnuala Gygax and Teddy Moore. ClassicalNSOI: Philip Glass ExploredFriday, June 5th, and Saturday, June 6th, National Concert Hall, Dublin, 7.30pm, €39/€34.50/€29, nch.ieAngélique Kidjo Over two nights, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland focus on the US composer Philip Glass in tandem with perhaps his most respected interpreter, the conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Special guest on Friday, June 5th, is Angélique Kidjo, one of the most inspirational African artists of her generation. On Saturday, June 6th, Davies and the Japanese pianist Maki Namekawa reprise their 2023 world premiere of the Mishima Piano Concerto for its Irish debut. Other Irish premieres include The Light, Ifé Songs and Symphony No 8.In conversationKathryn StockettWednesday, June 3rd, Abbey Presbyterian Church, Dublin, 6.45pm, €20, ilfdublin.comThe Help, Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel, from 2009, was rejected by more than 60 literary agents, so she knows the value of perseverance. Her long-awaited second novel, The Calamity Club, focuses on the lives of three people and their interlinked efforts to regain power over their lives. Stockett will be in conversation with Irish Times columnist Róisín Ingle. (This Off the Page event is part of International Literature Festival Dublin.)Still runningWestport Folk & Bluegrass FestivalFrom Thursday, June 4th, until Sunday, June 7th, various venues, times and prices, Westport, Co Mayo, westportfolkandbluegrass.com Thunder and Rain For almost 20 years this community-driven event has presented leaders of American old time, bluegrass and folk. Most of the weekend’s performers are from the US, which clearly indicates the transatlantic influence of the music. Highlights include Thunder and Rain, Empty Bottle String Band, Big Love Car Wash and Mason Via.Book it this weekEaragail Arts Festival, Co Donegal, July 10th-25th, eaf.ieTom Jones, Palmerstown House, Naas, Co Kildare, August 9th, ticketmaster.ieRoundstone Storytelling Festival, Co Galway, September 18th-20th, bogbodiespress.comIt’s a Wonderful Life, Gate Theatre, Dublin, November 17th-January 10th, gatetheatre.ie