The Galway Cyclestarted 20 years ago when a handful of students cycled from Maynooth to Galway and back in a weekend. More than 200 cyclists now take part in the charity event, with volunteers collecting in towns en route.
This year's, which starts on Friday, is raising money for Stepping Stones Schoolin Kilcone, Co Meath, which educates children with autism. See www.galwaycycle.ie.
From 11am until 5pm each day from Friday until Sunday, April 1st, Deirdre Kearney, a Dublin-based artist, is hosting her first solo exhibition at Lois an Uisce, a beautiful house near the gates of Blackrock Park in Blackrock, Co Dublin. See www.deirdrekearney.ie.
Running until the end of the month at the Nicholas Gallery in Belfast is an exhibition including works by Louis le Brocquy, Paul Henryand Jack B Yeats. See www.nicholasgallery.co.uk.
If you want to check out the next generation of musical prodigies before they hit the big time, head for the Siemens Feis Ceoil, at the RDS Concert Hall until Friday.
The 12th annual Poetry Nowfestival, which runs from Thursday until Sunday, April 1st at the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin, has earned a reputation as a noteworthy international gathering of poets. It includes workshops and the announcement of the winner of The Irish Times Poetry Now Award, as well as a rare reading by Derek Mahon(last year's winner) and first Irish readings for former US poet laureate Robert Hassand Claire Malroux, a French translator of Irish poetry. See www.dlrcoco.ie/arts or call 01-5059582.
As part of the semifinals of the Murphy's Liveband competition, catch Ilya K and Philtre at An Brog in Cork on Thursday. The gig is headlined by Duke Special, in his final Cork date for a number of months.
On Friday the country-music legend Dolly Partonkicks off a series of sold-out shows with a concert at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. The tour also takes in Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co Cork next Saturday, and, on April 2nd, the Point, in Dublin, - which also hosts Sugababeson Tuesday and Lionel Richieon Wednesday.
Another old-timer, Bryan Ferry, plays tonight at Vicar Street. The venue also has Joan Armatradingon Tuesday, Jason Byrneon Thursday and Kelly Joneson Friday. See www.vicarstreet.ie. You can also hear Armatrading's instantly recognisable voice at the INEC in Killarney on Friday. See www.inec.ie.
Can the Euro 2008soccer qualifiers at Croke Park live up to the emotional roller coaster of the rugby fixtures? We will know this week. Ireland take on Wales today at 3pm, followed by Slovakia at 7.30pm on Wednesday.
More than 7,000 boxing fans packed the Point last November to see Bernard Dunnewin the European super bantamweight title. Dunne returns to the venue tomorrow for the first defence of his belt, against Yersin Jailauov of Kazakhstan.