GET ROUND TO ROUNDSTONE: Few tastes will be left un-catered for at the Roundstone arts week, which begins today in the Connemara village.
Promising a week of art, music and magic, this year's festival features over 30 gigs including The Saw Doctors and Frances Black. The poster image for the festival (above) was painted by Suede, one of last year's artists-in-residence. Street performers, literary events, artists-in-residence as well as visual art exhibitions will fill up the village. There is also a daily children's programme, with everything from puppet theatre to human draughts. Tickets for each event are sold separately, and some are free. The festival runs until July 3rd. For further information see www.roundstoneartsweek.com, 095-35977.Lauren McCreery
GO TO THE PROMS
From July 23rd to 29th, Farmleigh is facing the music. As part of the Farmleigh Public Access Programme, a marquee in the house's stately grounds will play host to the RTÉ Farmleigh Proms. These eight lively concerts will see the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Big Band, and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland performing everything from Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saen to Celine Dion and Doris Day. There's even a special family event, A Cavalcade of Clowns, which promises to turn the marquee into a big top. More than 10,000 free tickets to these amazing events will be available to the public through a postal lottery. You can apply via the RTÉ Guide (closing date July 13th), online at www.farmleigh.ie, or by post (closing date July 1st. See www.farmleigh.ie for more details. Anna Carey
JUNIOR MASTERCHEFS
If you're a little shame-faced about the number of times your children end up eating chicken nuggets - never mind turkey twizzlers - you could do worse than begin their conversion to healthy eating over the summer holidays. Aoileann Garavaglia of Yumee, RTÉ 2's children cookery show, wants to sign up budding Jamie Olivers for her summer school, which starts on July 11th in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The first week, whose menu includes gingerbread biscuits, smoothies and Caribbean fruit salad, is for nine- to 12-year-olds; the second, from July 18th to 22nd, will show 12- to 16-year-olds how to make quiche, bread pudding and noodle salad, among other dishes. By the end of the 15 hours of tuition, which costs €175, they should be able to rustle up a decent lunch for themselves, at the very least. They also get to keep their chef's hats and aprons. To book, call Garavaglia on 086-8075620 or e-mail yummyparties@eircom.net. Liam Stebbing
HEAD TO HOWTH
When you have worked up an appetite following one of the guided walks, historical trails, or bird watching expeditions as part of the Howth Peninsula Festival in Co Dublin next Friday to Sunday, you can call in to the Taste of Howth gourmet food event in the festival marquee, or sample some seafood at the East Pier fish shops. The programme for the festival is a comprehensive one, designed to showcase the areas's many attractions, and a full event list is published on www.howthpeninsula.com. Marie-Claire Digby
JEZ IT UP
The appointment of Jez Cooper as resident Master of mind, body and physical wellbeing programmes at the SÁMAS spa at the Park Hotel Kenmare is another reason, if any were needed, to visit the award winning Co Kerry hotel. Cooper will host daily classes as well as one-to-one sessions in oriental movement and meditation, and is experienced in Tai Chi, yoga, pilates, Thai massage and Vipassana meditation.
DIVERSE DESIGN
Shoppers in Cork will find a mix of original jewellery, knitwear, photographs, mirrors and other interesting pieces at the Vision Centre in North Main Street. The Cork Craft and Design Market takes place on the second Saturday of every month between now and Christmas (excluding October), and the next one is on July 9th, 11am to 4pm. Carol James's bowls made using mixed media and found objects such as leaves and seaweed are among the quirky items on the stalls. The band of craftspeople - Corkonians to the last - guarantee that you will find a diverse selection of items, many of which you won't find anywhere else. For more information contact organiser Celina Dixon on 087-7768763. Nicoline Greer
TASTE OF THE MED
Superquinn stores nationwide are celebrating summer with a taste of the Mediterranean promotion, FiestaMed, beginning on July 6th. There will be speciality foods from Spain, Greece, Morocco and Italy to taste in-store, and recipe cards to collect. No need to don a sun hat to pick up some of the flavours and aromas of the Med, including speciality cheeses, cured meats and an extended and enhanced summer vegetable and fruit selection. This Milano Shake and Make salad dressing set (below, €9.99) will ensure you get just the right proportions of oil and vinegar in your salad dressing, and there's also a Mediterranean dipping set for crudites and dips (€9.99).
Marie-Claire Digby