May 5 - May 11
giving
The Irish Heart Foundation's Happy Heart Weekendruns from Thursday until next Saturday. About 3,500 volunteers will be hoping to sell 300,000 heart badges. See www.irishheart.ie. Goal's 30th Anniversary Ballis at Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel next Friday. See www.goal.ie.
learning
MSLiving, at the RDS today, is the biggest event ever held here for people living with multiple sclerosis. The event covers every aspect of the condition through exhibitions, talks and debate. See www.ms-society.ie.
bank holiday buzz
Heineken Green Energytakes over Dublin Castle this weekend. Tonight Kasabian are supported by The Blizzards and Future Kings of Spain. Tomorrow Sinéad O'Connor headlines, with support from Kíla and Delorentos. David Gray plays on Monday. See www.heinekenmusic.ie.
In Kilkenny, Rhythm & Roots, which also runs until Monday, has 88 gigs in 35 venues. Highlights include Shooter Jennings (son of Waylon), Mark Eitzel, Magnolia Electric Co and The Sadies. See www.kilkennyroots.com.
hee-haw
The donkey, so long an integral part of Irish rural life, has been in decline. The Irish Donkey Society National Show, at Woodfield Farm in Kells, Co Meath, from noon on Monday, is a celebration of the beast. See www.donkey.ie.
art . . .
Sotheby's annual Irish sale, featuring paintings, drawings and sculpture since the 18th century, takes place in London on Wednesday. See www.sothebys.com.
Tomorrow, the Hugh Lane gallery celebrates Poland's Constitution Day with a performance by the Warsaw-born pianist Katarzyna Moscicka.
. . . and 'bad' art
Every year artists submit work to the Royal Hibernian Academy in the hope of being accepted for exhibition. The Bad Art Gallery's RHA Unselected Show, which opens on Francis Street, Dublin 8, on Thursday, offers those not included the chance to show their work nevertheless. It's a modern Salon des Refusés. See www.thebadartgallery.ie
sport
Leinstermove to the RDS next season, so tonight, at 7.30pm, is their swansong in Donnybrook, taking on Border Reivers.
Belfast City Marathonstarts at City Hall at 9am on Monday. See www.belfastcitymarathon.com.
Leisureworld in Bishopstown, Cork, hosts the Irish Open Masters Swimming Championshipstoday and tomorrow. See www.corkmasters.ie.
Donegal Links Classic, which starts on Tuesday, is played over three cracking courses: Portsalon, Ballyliffin and Rosapenna. Open to men and women, individual and team. Call 074-9155301 or see www.northandwestcoastlinks.com.
gigs
Diana Rossplays the Point in Dublin on Friday. The Automaticheadline the finals of the Murphy's Live band competition, at the Village, in Dublin, on Thursday.