What's On This Weekend

Events to look out for over the weekend

OXEGEN

This three-day music festival starts today and features a line-up including Arcade Fire, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z and The Prodigy. Silent discos, funfairs and tribute stages all add to the carnival atmosphere. Tickets still available. 2010.oxegen.ie

FLYING BOATS AND HUNTS

Two of Ireland’s most acclaimed museums, the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and the Hunt Museum in Limerick, have recently joined forces, so visitors can now purchase a combined ticket to the two institutions, while a coach service will operate between both museums. Operating daily during the summer from the Tourist Office on Arthur’s Quay. Tickets €17pp, €40 for a family of two adults and two children. Price includes entry and coach service. flyingboat

museum.com huntmuseum.com

GARDEN FESTIVAL

The first Galway Garden Festival takes place at Claregalway Castle tomorrow and Sunday (11am-6pm) and features environmentalist Gordon D’Arcy, cartographer Tim Robinson, David Jeffrey of TCD, Matthew Jebb of the National Botanic Gardens, along with lots of nurseries and suppliers, birdwatching and beekeeing, Irish Seed Savers, Bóthar, plus music with Mairtín O’Connor, the Galway Baytones and brass bands. Entry €5 in aid of Christian Blind Mission, Ireland. For more, see galwaygardenfestival.com

GALWAY FILM

The visual arts programme at Galway Arts Festival starts next Monday with the Irish premiere of Spike Jonze’s short film I’m Here (above). The film is about the relationship between two robots living in LA. One, a sad-eyed robot librarian Sheldon (Andrew Garfield) leads a lonely and methodical life until one day he meets Francesca, a creative and free-spirited female robot (played by Sienna Guillory). The screening takes place at the Festival Fairgreen Gallery, and admission is free. Festival runs July 12 - 25. For details see galwayartsfestival.com

WATER MUSIC FESTIVAL

The sixth annual Carrick-on-Shannon Water Music Festival is on this weekend and features a range of music, from concert orchestras to traditional Irish sessions. Headliners include Duke Special, a gala proms concert tomorrow night with Fergus Sheil conducting, as well as Dé Dannan and Eleanor Shanley. There is also a festival cruise, puppet shows, late night club and art sales. Tickets range from €6 to €30, concessions available. 071-9650828, carrickonshannonwatermusic.com

MULLINGAR WALKS

Mullaghmeen Forest, which lies close to Ballymanus on the Westmeath/ Meath border, contains 1,000 acres of forest, in particular European Beech.

Many other trees flourish in this region, though, including sycamore, oak and ash. The forest contains several picnic areas as well as designated walks, ranging from one to 13 miles.

Wildlife to be spotted includes jays, badgers, foxes, rabbits and hares. Admission is free. 044-9348650, discoverireland.ie

MONASTIC LIFE

Learn about the life of monks at Inch Abbey, Downpatrick, a 12th century Cistercian Abbey beside the River Quoile this weekend. Admission is free, while guided tours, parking and picnic areas are available. The abbey is part of the Saint Patrick’s Trail, a 92-mile route through 15 key sites such as Strangford Lough and St Patrick’s Grave. For more see discovernorthernireland.com

TEMPLE BAR PICNIC

This Sunday, grab your picnic blanket and head to Meeting House Square for Summer Sunday On The Square, part of Temple Bar Cultural Trust’s ‘Summer Sensational’ programme. The square will be transformed into a green oasis for a day of free entertainment, music, street theatre and storytelling. See templebar.ie

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE ROYAL

This series of variety performances runs throughout the summer at Waterford’s Theatre Royal. Paying homage to the variety shows popular in the Palladium in London and Dublin’s Gaiety for many years, the show this Sunday features Sonny Knowles. Next week is the turn of Tony Kenny. Directed by Brian Flynn, with Richie Hayes as compare. Tickets €20, and the event starts at 7.30pm. 051-874402, theatreroyalwaterford.ie

ABILITY EXHIBITION

Intersection is a summer exhibition that presents the work of Cúig, a group of five artists-in-residence with disabilities, at Mayfield Arts, Newbury House in Cork. The exhibition runs in the Jennings Gallery, University College Cork in association with the university’s Disability Support Service. Works includes dry-point etchings, tapestries, mixed-media pieces, drawings and paintings. Admission is free. ucc.ie/en/jenningsgallery

WORLD CUP FINAL

The Sugar Club on Leeson Street is showing the final of the 2010 World Cup on a cinema screen this Sunday.

Entry is free and the club organisers are also providing table service and a large PA system to add to the atmosphere. On Monday, The High Kings perform at the same venue. Tickets €33.60. sugarclub.com