August Agenda

Today

BIRR Vintage Week: The festival continues this week with music, crafts, sport and, on Thursday, a spectacular fireworks display. The finale, from 3 p.m. on Sunday, is a Great Fun Day, with music and dance on the streets of Birr, Co Offaly - and the release of over 1,000 balloons. Tel: (0509) 20293.

Limerick Good Food Festival: Enjoy cookery demonstrations, gourmet dinners and the Guinness pub trail until Saturday. And flowers too, as the cathedral is the venue of the flower festival.

Kilkenny Arts Week: The arts festival continues until Sunday with music, theatre, film, workshops, exhibitions and readings. There is an extended programme of activities for teenagers and children. Other events include a literary cabaret with Patrick McCabe and Jack Lukeman, an evening with Pauline McLynn and special guests, and open air performances of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Tel: (056) 52175.

Tomorrow

Children's theatre: For children aged over nine, and their parents, the Little Red Kettle company from Waterford performs a theatrical extravaganza. Tonight at 7.30 p.m. and Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. in the Ark Cultural Centre for Children, Temple Bar, Dublin. Tel: (01) 6707788.

The White Knights of Summer: Enjoy the full glory of the "white knight of summer" as the white flowering tree, the eucryphia, is called, with a special evening tour of the Mount Usher Gardens led by head gardener, John Anderson. At Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co Wicklow, from 8 p.m. Booking essential. Tel: (0404) 40205.

Wednesday

Humbert Bicentenary School: After tonight's official opening, the school in Ballina, Co Mayo, gets underway on Thursday with "New Perspectives on the Humbert Expedition". On Thursday evening, speakers on "1998 The New Irish Identity" include Sean Duignan, P.J. Mara and Mary Holland. The title of Friday's Humbert Foreign Policy Forum is "EU Expansion, Reform and Local Development" and the final session on Saturday 22nd focuses on the "The Republican Ideal Today". Tel: (096) 34742/71473.

Thursday

Aonach Paddy O'Brien: Celebrating the legacy of acclaimed accordion player, Paddy O'Brien, this traditional music and arts festival in Nenagh, Co Tipperary kicks off with an open air concert tonight at 7.15 p.m. Other events include workshops, concerts, instrument and craft exhibitions and, on Sunday afternoon, the grand parade takes place. Until Tuesday 25th. Tel: (067) 31716.

Classical music in West Cork: Tonight only, St. Barrahane's Church in Castletownshend, Co Cork is the venue for this performance by William Dowdall, principal flute of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and John Feeley, internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso. Starting promptly at 8.30 p.m., admission is £6, with proceeds going to church funds and charities.

Michael Shanley Traditional Weekend: Workshops, a concert by Sean Keane and his bands (Friday night), set dancing and a ceili (Saturday)in Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim. Tonight sees folktales and drama for children followed by storytelling for adults in McGriskin's Hotel. Ending on Sunday with a fancy-dress parade and open-air ceili. Tel: (072) 54222.

Friday

Storytelling festival: Irish and American storytelling talent, for three days, at the Ulster American folk park, Castletown, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Tel: (0801-662) 243292.

Music in the Square: Sit outdoors in Temple Bar's Meeting House Square and enjoy the RTE Concert Orchestra Wind Ensemble. At 9 p.m. Collect free tickets from Temple Bar Properties, Eustace St, Dublin 2 from Monday. Tel: (01) 677 2255.

Toland Summer School: The second summer school organised by the Ulster Humanist Association is entitled "Secularism: the lost legacy of 1798" and takes place over the next three days at Redcastle Hotel, near Moville, Co Donegal. Lectures include "Presbyterians in the 1798 Rebellion" and "The Theft of the Republican Ideal". Tel: (0801-846) 677264.

Shakespeare Summer School: "Language and Style of Shakespeare" is the theme of this weekend's summer school in Dublin run by the Speech and Drama Teachers' Association. Tel: (01) 4944340.

The Rose of Tralee Festival: Carnival atmosphere in Tralee, Co Kerry as the most famous Irish festival in the world celebrates its 40th anniversary. Until Thursday next. Tel: (066) 21322.

Teatime Summer Sounds: The RTE Concert Orchestra performs music from Mozart, Mendelssohn, Grieg, and Schubert at the National Concert Hall at 6.30 p.m. Tel: (01) 4751527.

Killala remembers 1798: The commemorative programme begins at Kilcummin in Co Mayo, with the Humbert March, which retraces the footsteps of the General and his army and ends on Killala pier with street entertainment. Saturday is multi-cultural day and features a battle re-enactment, traditional folk dancing and a pageant. Events continue until August 27th. Tel: (096) 32166.

Saturday

Tall Ships Carnival in Dublin: A four-day "mardi gras" begins today to welcome the crew and 100 ships of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race. Street entertainment along the quays, live bands on three dockside stages and Saturday, a colourful parade through city streets. Culminating in a spectacular Parade of Sail on Tuesday when the ships sail out of Dublin Bay.

Donegal Dances: A week of dancing at the Oideas Gael, for all levels - with evening sessions open to the public. At Gleann Cholm Cille in Co Donegal until 29th. Tel: (073) 30248.

Sunday

Merriman Summer School: Lectures at this popular school will cover a range of topics, including "From local to global: the midWest in Europe" and "Comely maidens surf the Net - from the Crossroads to the Information Superhighways". There will also be Irish language classes, folklore and dancing. Running until August 30th, in Ennistymon, Co Clare. Tel (01) 4531818, or email cmerri@indigo.ie

Open sea-angling competition: A family day out combined with the most popular sport in the world - fishing. The competition begins at 10 a.m. from Rosses Point Pier, Co Sligo. Entry: senior citizens £15, juniors £7. All proceeds go to the National Life Boat Association. Tel: (071) 68003