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Skyfest: Who wouldn’t want to see a fireworks display that promises a 300-metre curtain of cascading silver fire? And for free…

Skyfest:Who wouldn't want to see a fireworks display that promises a 300-metre curtain of cascading silver fire? And for free, too.

The Skyfest – the celebratory fireworks display to mark the St Patrick’s Festival began in Dublin on the Quays but for the past couple of years has been outside the capital.

This year it’s on the Quays at Wexford tonight where there should be plenty of vantage points to see the display.

Events on the ground to keep the crowd amused include ongoing performances by Buí Bolg, the local street theatre group with a growing international reputation, who have devised a water and fire themed performance to match the pyrotechnics.

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The event starts at 6.30pm (broadcast on RTÉ1 from 7.30pm) but it’s advisable to get there well in advance.

National museums

For free child-friendly activities tomorrow, it’s worth checking out the national museums, where there are several unusual daytime events – and they should be an oasis of calm as the streets around Merrion Square will, this weekend, be taken over by a funfair.

At the National Museum in Kildare Street, artist and calligrapher Josephine Hardiman will lead a calligraphy session (from 3pm to 4pm) for children aged eight plus, where they can try their hand at creating beautiful writing using ink and quills.

* stpatricksfestival.ie

* museum.ie

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast