Febrary 9th - February 15th.
for the diary
In advance of our Six Nations clash against Wales in Croke Park on March 8th, start the weekend at the third annual Laugh@Lunch for Barretstown, which aims to raise funds to help children with serious illnesses to have fun at the camp in Kildare. It takes place at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on Friday, March 7th, and will be hosted by comedian Gene Fitzpatrick. Tickets cost €1,500 per table of 10. Book on 01-2842687.
music
Dara O'Briain hosts the Meteor Music Awards 2008 at the RDS, Ballsbridge on Friday with performances expected from Scouting for Girls, Gary Lightbody, Boyzone, Sinead O'Connor and Westlife. See www.meteor.ie. Gig of the week might be tonight's Smashing Pumpkins at the RDS (Kings Hall, Belfast tomorrow). Catch Black Francis (Vicar St, tonight), Foy Vance (Cyprus Ave, Cork on Monday and Dolans, Limerick on Tuesday), The Fureys and Davey Arthur (Pavilion, Dún Laoghaire tomorrow) and Cool Kids (Crawdaddy on Tuesday).
sport
The National Hurling League starts this weekend. Stand-out fixtures include Waterford v Wexford, Cork (we hope) v Kilkenny, and Galway v Clare. Ireland's rugby team are away to France at the Stade de France this evening (kick-off 5pm) in the Six Nations. The other game today sees Wales take on Scotland at the Millennium Stadium, while Italy play England tomorrow. The Hennessy Gold Cup is at Leopardstown tomorrow. First race 1.15pm.
student art
Trinity Arts Festival runs from Monday until Friday 15th, showcasing the talents of the university's students. Highlights include the AAI Awards 22 Travelling Exhibition, I Want to Score with DU Filmmakers and Mercer Island Rodeo, a performance by the Amadeus Octet and a variety of workshops, including beat-boxing with White Noise. www.trinityartsfestival.com.
country living
The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life in Castlebar, Co Mayo, is the first branch of the National Museum to be situated outside Dublin and this month's events include talks and demonstrations on growing vegetables, woodturning and knitting. Aileen Johnston gives an embroidery demonstration tomorrow at 2.30pm, while on Wednesday from 3.30pm NUI Galway's Pádraig Ó Héalaí gives a talk for children aged seven years and over on fairy beliefs in traditional Irish life. www.museum.ie.
classical music
On Valentine's night at 8pm at the National Concert Hall, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra presents Let There Be Love . . . an evening celebrating the music of Nat 'King' Cole. See www.nch.ie. Cellist Steven Isserlis performs with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Dublin (NCH, Wednesday), Limerick (University Concert Hall, Thursday) and Cork (CIT School of Music, Friday). www.irishchamberorchestra.com. This evening, the Irish Aviation Authority Festival of Youth Orchestras brings eight leading youth orchestras together for a special performance at the NCH (01-4170000).
and finally
Unfringed 2008 is Limerick's Spring Performance Festival, which starts on Wednesday and runs until February 23rd. Highlights include comic poet, John Hegley; plays by Limerick-born playwright Padraig Meehan; a George F. Walker play, Problem Child; and the premiere of a new piano concerto by Conor Lenihan. See www.belltable.ie/unfringed.
Michael Kelly
mkelly@irish-times.ie