Weekend of sport and festivals galore

It’s a case of something for everyone this weekend with the beginning of Heritage Week coinciding with the Rose of Tralee festival and the Fleadh Cheoil in Co Cavan.

Sports enthusiasts are not being left out and can enjoy the Ireland-France rugby game tomorrow evening and Mayo taking on Kerry in the All Ireland Senior Football Championship on Sunday afternoon.

More than 370,000 people are expected to attend events nationwide (the majority of which are free) as part of National Heritage Week.

The week runs for nine days and has expanded annually since its foundation in 2005 to a point where a record 1,400 activities are taking place this year.

Events include learning how the 1916 Proclamation of Independence was printed at the National Print Museum, discovering lighthouses along the coast, medieval weapons displays in Co Donegal, exploring the Hill of Tara in Meath or following in US president Barack Obama’s footsteps around Offaly.

With so many things taking place find out what’s going on in each area by picking up an event guide available from Fáilte Ireland Tourist Offices; Libraries; OPW Sites; Heritage Centres & Historical Societies; CNCI Members; NPWS Sites; Heritage Officers and County Councils; An Oige Hostels; Museums; Bus Eireann Stations; Various Hotels.

Alternatively search what's on using the Heritage Council's online tool at http://www.heritageweek.ie or for the first time ever use the free iPhone app for listings on the go.

The Heritage Council is also running two competitions during the week. Budding photographers could win a €500 voucher by taking a shot that captures "Your History, Your Culture and Your Nature" and uploading them to http://pix.ie/group/heritageweek

While those with the gift of the gab can enter the Tell Tale Storytelling Competition by recording an audio or video file and sending it to heritageweektelltale@gmail.com. The stories can be either fact or fiction about a place, memory, folk tale or connected to heritage. Prizes include a weekend for two at Kinnitty Castle and a €300 One4All voucher.

Continuing with the gift of the gab theme a gang of self-confessed liars and myth-makers will assemble for an evening of storytelling in Cavan’s town hall at 8pm on Sunday night as part of the county’s ongoing fleadh festival. Among the well-known ranconteurs attending the event will be Pat Speight, Audrey Dunphy and KJ Sweeney.

The fleadh ends on Monday but there is still plenty more ceoil agus caint to catch before then, so check out http://www.fleadh2011cavan.ie for a list of what's on.

This year’s Rose of Tralee festival is taking place in Co Kerry. Although the 32 roses may be concentrating on impressing judges, their escorts and the rest of the public can relax by enjoying the fashion show, air display, fireworks, parades and music.

The winner will be unveiled when Dáithí Ó Sé opens the golden envelope in the festival dome on Tuesday.

Speaking of roses, why not grit one between your teeth and join the Dublin International Argentine Tango Festival.

Run in conjunction with the second Dublin Latin American festival highlights include the Tango Café at the Stag’s Head pub in the city centre tomorrow afternoon and dancing to the music of the great Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla in the National Concert Hall on Sunday.

For full details of workshops and classes go to ww.tangofever.net.

Passions of a different kind will be stirring in the Aviva tomorrow when Ireland take on France in the second game of a two-match series at 5pm.

Last weekend’s 19-12 loss in Bordeaux means its advantage Les Blues heading into this game but Declan Kidney will be hoping the good second half performance in that game will establish some momentum and get the World Cup preparations back on track.

Finally Mayo will be hoping to generate some momentum of their own when they meet Kerry in the first of this year’s All-Ireland SFC semi-finals on Sunday.

It is a question of which Mayo turns up, the one that beat last year’s champions Cork in the previous round or the one that surrendered to Kerry in the 2006 final.

It’s been 60 years since the Connaught men last won an all-Ireland but records are there to be broken and all told it's probably better to meet Kerry in a semi-final than the main event.

Throw in for the game is at 3.30pm.