A weekly guide to going out, staying in and generally living the life.
Fringe
The Dublin Fringe Festival starts off in a blaze today with a free fire installation at George's Dock in the IFSC at 8pm. The Spiegeltent makes a welcome return, too, with its entirely unpredictable programme and star appearances until the curtain comes down on the 24th. For programme details, check out www.fringefest.com. Call 1850-374643 to book your tickets.
Great outdoors
Get on your bike today for the Mayo Coastal 300k Cycle Challenge on Achill Island. This two-day event is aimed at leisure cyclists, and is therefore open to all levels of cyclists. While in Achill, you can also take in the annual Kite Surfing Competition, a fantastic spectacle which is on over the weekend as well. You'll find details about both events from www.achilltourism.com.
Books
All eyes are on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize, to be announced on Thursday. Although there are no Irish authors on it this year, it always provides a great autumnal reading list: so far we like Andrew O'Hagan's Be Near Me and Claire Messud's The Emperor's Children. In Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, the annual Town of Books festival starts on Friday: www.booktownireland.com
Movies
The American Underground Film Season opens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, Dublin 8 this Friday, with rarely-seen films from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s which heralded a new relationship between film, art and music. Until October 1st, cinema buffs will be treated to seven classics as well as the cult TV programme, Glenn O'Brien's TV Party. Admission is free. Call 01-6129900 for information.
Children
Tomorrow is Children's Book Day at Farmleigh House, Castleknock, Dublin 15, with storytellers and illustrators in situ to entertain and beguile young readers. A special bookshop will be open all day in the conservatory. Log on to www.farmleigh.ie for information. On Wednesday, you might want to lock up your daughters. The results of the Junior Cert will be announced, accompanied by the usual annual cacophony.
Music
The Kerry International Chamber Music Festival takes place from Monday in the seaside town of Rossbeigh. Mozart will dominate this year's programme and Bela Bartok is featured too, in honour of his 125th anniversary. Log on to www.cmrl.ie. Longhairs might prefer to go to Longford for the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival on Thursday, for a blast of American Bluegrass and traditional Irish. Tickets from www.ticketmaster.ie.