AT 8 p.m. this evening, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands Eamon O Cuiv will officially open the 21st Clifden Community Arts Week, which features readings by Seamus Heaney, John McGahern, Bernard Farrell, Billy Roche, Paul Durcan and many others. The RTE Concert Orchestra will be bringing its Proms tour to the town, with soloists Majella Cullagh and Justin Lavender, while the traditional music programme includes Moving Cloud, Jim McKillop and Seamus Tansey. A special concert with the combined choirs of Portadown and Drumcree colleges and Anuna takes place in St Joseph's church. Down the road in South Conamara, the Gaeltacht community festival Plearaca Chonamara is currently in full swing - tomorrow will see Mairi Smith from Scotland and Julie Murphy from Wales combining with box players Joe Burke and Tony McMahon for the festival's big concert in Ostan an Doilin, an Cheathru Rua, while Belfast reggae band Breag will top the bill at Rave na Ronnachai, an outdoor concert at Ceol na Mara, An Spideal, on Sunday, when a mackerel barbecue will be set up to feed the masses.

For information on the Clifden Arts Week phone 095-21184; for information on Plearaca Chonamara, phone 091-574341