Stuck for weekend plans? Sheep shearing and Lego display among the options

Wexford

World Sheep Shearing Championships, Gorey

The 16th Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships start tomorrow and run throughout the week. Some 300 competitors and 6,600 sheep will descend on Gorey for the competition. There will also be a "sheep shearing dome", specially constructed on site to seat up to 1,200 people so they can enjoy the competitions, entertainment and bar facilities under cover. goldenshearsireland.com

Galway

Biodiversity Week

The Friends of Merlin Woods Biodiversity Week starts tomorrow with a 3pm launch event at Ballybane Library. Then very early Sunday (4.30am) John Lusby from the Birdwatch Ireland Galway Brach will host a national dawn chorus event at Doughishka Park. Other events will run throughout the week until next Sunday. For more information, look at: on.fb.me/1lo2DEF

Dublin

Dublin Writers Festival

Ireland's premier literary event takes place this week and will bring some of the world's finest writers together in the capital. Visitors can expect readings, discussions, debates, workshops, performance and screenings. Among the many writers participating are Joe O'Connor, Laura Bates, Gruff Rhys, Siri Hustvedt, Nuala Ní Chonchir, John Carey, and Anne Enright. Full programme and details available at: dublinwritersfestival.com

Cork

Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine, Shanagarry

This festival, now in its second year, will host a programme of approximately 100 events, including panel discussions, readings, screenings, workshops, Q&A sessions, foraging walks and talks, craft beer and cider demonstrations, displays, food & wine theatre, cookery demonstrations, wine tastings, competitions, literary lunches and literary dinners. The festival runs all weekend, www.litfest.ie

Belfast

Brick City Lego exhibit

Warren Elsmore brings his recreations of major city landmarks and iconic global images to Belfast. Brick City's scaled down versions of iconic buildings and landmarks from across the globe, include London's Olympic Park and Westminster Abbey, as well as structures from cities such as San Francisco, Tokyo and New York. The exhibition opens tomorrow at Titanic Belfast. titanicbelfast.com