RAIN&SHINE

Something about Mary:A 20-year-old Scottish student has been crowned the 40th Mary from Dungloe, writes Eoin McGarvey.

Kerry Sweeney from Edinburgh fended off 13 other hopefuls to take the title in the Donegal festival's 40th year.

In 1996 she attended the festival's Irish dancing feis, where she took first prize.

"I was in shock when I heard my name, but this is just fabulous. I just couldn't believe it for a minute, until all the girls crowded around and then Marty Whelan took me front stage. It's something that will live with me forever and I will cherish my year as the reigning Mary," she said.

Finns in the hot seat

The Finns managed to retain the laurels in last weekend's ninth annual Sauna World Championship in Finland.

More than 100 competitors from 17 countries slugged it out in the sauna in temperatures of up to 110 degrees. Timo Kaukonen won the male championship for the third year in a row, staying in a sauna heated to 110 degrees for 12 minutes and 26 seconds. Among the women, Leila Kulin endured the heat for 10 minutes and 31 seconds, almost two minutes better than her closest rival, another Finn.

Psst . . .

If fitting holiday gear into the car is impossible, why not rent a roof box? In Cork, Formula 1 rents boxes - tel: 021 4277617. Seek out or avoid: share your holiday tip by email: august@irish-times.ie

TO DO TODAY:Award-winning pianist Barry Douglas will perform with St Agnes' Choral Society at Clonard Monastery at 8pm as part of Belfast's Féile.

For more events listings see: www.ireland.com/theticket/summerevents/