This week we were

. . . reading

Brilliant

: Roddy Doyle’s short story for young readers is the inspiration for this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade. It’s not just set in Dublin: its streets are characters. Download it free at roddydoyle.ie.

Joseph O'Neill's 2008 novel Netherland, about an Irish cricket obsessive finding an uneven pitch, and uneven friendship, in New York, has a renewed resonance thanks to the Irish cricketers' victory over England this week.

. . . booking

There are some gems at Cork French Film Festival, which kicks off today, but among its highlights is a less traditional event: the Dublin band Solar Bears and the artist Lionel Palun at the Pavilion next Saturday night promise to produce something special; See corkfrenchfilm festival. com.

. . . planning

The book festivals. Dublin Book Festival continues this weekend. Galway’s Cuirt (April 12th-17th) announced its programme this week, including a masterclass with the poet Simon Armitage. And Dublin Writers Festival (May 23rd-29th) has announced an appearance by Michael Palin as a taster of things to come.

. . . bringing the kids to

Where the Wind Blows, a "woodwind and brass family fun day", next Saturday at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, in Dublin; riam.ie.

. . . watching

Liam Neeson's rise as unlikely action hero late(ish) in his career. The hokey but effective thriller Unknownhas already topped the US box office.

. . . enjoying

The Eleventh Hour's mash-up of party leaders, edited so that they are "singing" Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror.Someone in RTÉ deserves a gold star.

. . . scrapping

Over Two Door Cinema Club's Choice Music Prize win. Were Villagers really robbed? Was it worth the consternation from some when the result was announced? Or was it just reward for Tourist History, a cracking album on which every song is a winner?

. . . revisiting

The Frames' 2001 album For the Birds.It remains their finest hour – and they're playing the album in full at Vicar Street, Dublin, on March 30th.

. . . seeing

Nancy Harris's No Romanceat the Peacock: an outstanding debut, "vividly and touchingly realised", according to Irish Timescritic Peter Crawley. After the often astonishing Raoul, co-commissioned by the Abbey, and which received genuine and deserved standing ovations every night, it's been a good fortnight for the national theatre.

"What's to be done? More swearing. More stubborn old blokes. Less reverence for the middlebrow. Maybe they should employ an unfettered Colin Farrell as host More swearing. More stubborn old blokes. Less reverence for the middlebrow. Maybe they should employ an unfettered Colin Farrell as host."

Donald Clarke, in Tuesday’s Life & Culture, after staying up late to watch a dull Oscars