A guide to what's going on this week
Barberstown Castle, Co Kildare, plays host to the Designer Dig, featuring major fashion labels at reduced prices, from noon to 5.30pm today and tomorrow, with proceeds going to the Marie Keating Foundation and local primary schools.
Seachtain na Gaeilgestarts today, with hundreds of events nationwide, including céilís, workshops, music nights and speed dating. For details, see www.snag.ie. One highlight is the launch of a double CD, Ceol '07, with Bell X1, Declan O'Rourke, Mundy and Gemma Hayes singing Irish-language versions of their songs.
On Thursday, Ardkeen Library in Waterford hosts Girls' Night Inat 7pm. Fiction writers Sarah Webb, Martina Devlin, Tina Reilly and Tara Heavey will do readings and offer tips to aspirant novelists. Call 051-849844 (See also p22-24)
A busy week at the National Concert Hall: tomorrow at 3.30pm, A Musical Circussees the premiere of The Lion Tamer's Night Off, narrated by The Den's Kathryn McKiernan and a programme of circus-themed music with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. On Thursday at 8pm Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Trondheim Soloists Chamber Orchestraplay a benefit concert in aid of education and outreach projects. On Friday, former BBC Young Musician competition winner Nicola Benedetti performs Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gerhard Markson. See www.nch.ie
Integration of African Children in Ireland hosts an International Food Fairat Saint Agatha's Hall in Dunne's Street today, 2-5pm, launched by Mary Davis from Special Olympics Ireland (01-8552143).
Plenty of heckling debate promised when Ireland's political cabaret Leviathan returns to the Crawdaddy in Dublin on Thursday. Last month's topic was the Irish language in the 21st century. This week's has yet to be announced, but some serious quick-wittage is guaranteed.
Over at the Helix, it's all things Othello. Second Age's production, directed by Alan Stanford, stars US actor Johnny Lee Davenport as Othello and Simon O'Gorman as Iago. It runs until March 9th. At The Space, also in the Helix, until Wednesday, DCU Drama presents Iago, a comedic re-write of Othello written by comedian Aislinn O'Loughlin and directed by Stephen Grimes. See www.thehelix.ie.
Sundrive Players return to the Pavilion in Dún Laoghaire with Brian Friel's Philadelphia Here I Come!from Monday until March 10th. www.paviliontheatre.ie
On Wednesday at 6pm, catch Eddie Hobbsat the RDS Concert Hall as part of the Speaker Series with a lecture entitled The Legacy of the Tiger. Call 01-2407256.
Neil Delamerehas made a name for himself on RTÉ's The Panel and takes his live show to Vicar Street tonight and tomorrow night, followed by additional gigs on March 8th, 22nd and 25th. The doyenne of American cable TV, comedian Joan Riversplays Vicar Street on Friday and Saturday, March 9th and 10th. See www.aikenpromotions.com
Tonight you can catch Mastodonat the Ambassador and New York quartet The Rapture at Tripod. On Monday and Tuesday, Arcade Fire play the Olympia. Duke Special plays in Tripod, Dublin, on Thursday. See www.dukespecial.com
Queens University hosts the GAA intervarsity Sigerson Cup weekendwith the final this afternoon. More than 5,000 fans are expected to travel to Belfast for the event. www.sigerson2007.com