Summertime

For those interested in photography and architecture, there's just one day left to view an exhibition entitled Architectural Optics at the Gallery of  hotography in Dublin's Temple Bar.

Daytimes

The main gallery has been transformed into a large-scale, walk-in camera, known as a camera obscura, to see the world turned upside down. This special installation in the Gallery of Photography is the result of a collaboration between architect John Tuomey and American artist, Richard Torchia.

Nighttimes

Cellist Eoin Quinlan and pianist Lance Coburn play sonatas by Beethoven and Rachmaninov and Britten's Suite No 1 for Solo Cello. The music starts at 8 p.m. in the John Field Room at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. To book, tel: 01-4170000 or go to www.nch.ie

Childtimes

Before the summer is out, visit a bottle museum, an old farmhouse, which dates back to the 16th century, a farm museum and a maze, all at the same venue in the Wicklow mountains. Greenan Museum and Maze are in Ballinanty, near Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. For more information go to www.greenanmaze.com or contact curators Jonathan and Will Wheeler at 0404-46000 or 0402-36308.

My Native County: Longford

Eugene McGee, managing editor of The Longford Leader

Three of my favourite places:

1 My first favourite spot is the strangely named Molly Hill from which height there are magnificent panoramic views over Lough Gowna, including Inch Island with its ruins of a monastery founded by St Colmcille and, further away, the hills of counties Cavan and Meath. Lough Gowna stretches narrowly for 20 miles and is grossly underdeveloped in tourism terms.

2 I move down about 500 feet for my second choice, which is the Tarmonbarry/Clondra conflux of waterways, five miles from Longford town. Here we have the Royal Canal, the Camlin river and the river Shannon coming together, including the spectacular weir at Tarmonbarry. There are boats everywhere and peace abounds. A drink or meal in the 200-year-old Keenan's hostelry, in Tarmon, on the Roscommon side of the Shannon, completes the tranquility.

3 Corlea Interpretative Centre near the village of Kenagh is the home of a preserved section of man-made trackway, which dates back to 148 BC, dug up from nearby Corlea bog . It is said to be the oldest such sample in Europe. The original trackway is reputed to have been one of Queen Maeve's routes on her travels from Connacht to Louth. - Catherine Foley

Just-in-times: Lateoffers

The days last longer for the 'Daughter of the Baltic': Helsinki. In a city where the sea can be frozen until May, this is a time for fun and enjoyment. Formerly part of the Russian empire, Helsinki retains evidence of its past in its architecture. It is a small comfortable city to get around. Check out Stockman's Department Store. You can even take a quick boat trip to Tallinn, but my favourite place is Suomenlinna, the military fortress island in the harbour with lots of interesting museums.

Citiescapes can take you to Helsinki for three nights in the Radisson SAS hotel, well located to explore this Baltic treasure from €373. More information from (01) 677 5533 or www.citiescapes.ie.

Joan Scales (jscales@irish-times.ie)

All About August is edited by Angela Long and Sheila Wayman, august@irish-times.ie