This year's Galway Early Music Festival is a feast for ye-old senses with a programme full of the sounds, sights, smells and tastes of the medieval, renaissance and baroque eras.

Sights include music by candlelight, in a church or castle, with rich apparel; smells include church incense, a feast cooking, the countryside or a tavern, while tastes include musicians at a feast, bawdy songs over a tankard of ale.

I Furiosi.

Lisa Regan has the low down on the 13th Galway Early Music Festival, which will take place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 May in various venues throughout the city

Highlights of this year include:

Friday 16 May - Chapel of the Poor Clares, Nuns Island - 1pm

Javier Sainz presents Silva Caledonia, a masterful performance of Scottish music of the 17th century played on two harps: the gut strung renaissance harp played in the Scottish lowlands and the silver and brass strung harp played in the highlands and in Ireland.

Friday 16 May - Busker Brownes, Cross Street - 2.30pm

The concert will be followed by an official opening of the festival and the Irish launch of Javier Sainz's long awaited CD Silva Caledonia in Festival Official Club in Busker Brownes.

Friday 16 May - Meyrick Hotel Ballroom - 8pm

The young and audacious Canadian ensemble 'I Furiosi' (presented in association with Music for Galway) with a programme Addicted to Love unleashing the gay and the not-so-gay Baroque: carnal love, forbidden love, unrequited love and pure, unbridled lust - some people just don't ever get enough of a good thing (featuring works by Handel, Geminiani, Dowland and others).

Friday 16 May - Meyrick Ballroom - 9.30pm

The 'I Furiosi' concert will be followed by the first Irish Classical Club with a DJ spinning all your favourite baroque chart toppers, low light and all the club trappings! Come and enjoy the very first Galway Classical Club!

Saturday 17 May – The King's Head – 11am

Noah's Ark will be performed by the Moonfish Theatre Company at 11am in The King's Head. This is a free event - a medieval mystery play for the whole family! Noah has to build an ark and gather all the animals into it. To add to his woes, Mrs Noah doesn't want to come! An Irish approach to a 14th century English play with fun, music and a part for the audience!

Saturday 17 May – Galway City Museum - 12pm to 4 pm

Free events in the City Museum, which will include Simon O'Dwyer's fascinating talk on the ancient Irish horns. Seoda and The Red Earl's Consort will give the audience a chance to learn a couple of bransles with their Medieval and Renaissance Music and Dance programme.