The weather
A lot of dry weather to come for the rest of the week and probably into next weekend though still a few drops of rain around. The best temperatures look to be on Wednesday and Thursday. (Data courtesy of Met Éireann, see met.ie for more)
The telly
The season finale of True Detective is on Sky Atlantic tonight at 9pm. The second series, starring Colin Farrell as detective Ray Velcoro, Rachel McAdams as detective Ani Bezzerides and Vince Vaughn as crooked businessman Frank Semyon, has disappointed fans of first series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but the programme makers promise a "satisfying" finale in contrast to the first series's rather limp ending.
The theme day
World Youth Day falls on Wednesday. As world leaders prepare to set global goals later this year, to end poverty, inequality and climate change, a UN campaign seeks to harness the voices of younger people across the world to "make sure those promises are kept". "Today on International Youth Day, stand proud and call for a better future for people and planet," says the organisation. The campaign invites people to download graphics and imagery and share them on social media, among other initiatives. And no youth-focused event would be complete without a hashtag. This one has two: #YouthPower and #action2015. Find out more here.
The movies
1. In The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Henry Cavill (Superman in the better-than-expected Man of Steel) is Napoleon Solo alongside Armie Hammer (the twin antagonists of The Social Network) as Illya Kuryakin in Guy Ritchie's updating of the 1960s TV series. Richie keeps the action in the early 1960s, during the Cold War, as CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin try to put aside old grievances and work together to combat a (wait for it) mysterious international criminal organisation. If nothing else, Richie's a man who knows what cliché looks like.
2. Also opening is the children's film Pixels. Extra-terrestrials intercept video-feeds of classic arcade games and mistake them for a galactic declaration of war – and the only people who can save the world are a bunch of former arcade-game champions led by Adam Sandler. And if you think that's far-fetched, wait till you see Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) as the leader of the free world.
The sport
After their comfortable win over Wales at the weekend, Joe Schmidt’s side continue their World Cup preparations as Scotland visit the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland v Scotland
Saturday, August 15th
Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 5pm)
The gigs
1. Human League play Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin on Thursday. The Bulmers Live at Leopardstown 2015 series of gigs concludes with an always-welcome performance by the Sheffield band, who even 35 years on from their once-major chart presence, manage to make those hits of yesterday appear totally now. Expect to throw shapes of every kind to the likes of Don't You Want Me, The Sound of the Crowd, Human, Open Your Heart and Love Action (I Believe in Love).
2. Kelly-Anne Byrne, Swoon. Even in an era when anyone can be a DJ thanks to Spotify housing nearly every song ever recorded, there's still nothing like getting a steer from a fantastic radio DJ. Every Saturday night, Kelly-Anne Byrne's Today FM show The Beat Goes On is appointment radio. It's a superbly tended selection of disco, funk and house put together by a true believer who knows how to join the dots between the tunes. Expect similar delights as she hits The Hanover, Cork at 11pm on Friday.
The news event
On Friday, US secretary of state John Kerry will visit Cuba for a ceremony to open the US embassy in Havana. It was closed for 55 years. There's a shift under way in Cuba, whose government is making strides to open the ailing economy to world markets and re-establish relations with the United States for the first time in half a century. The embassy has actually been in business for a few weeks, but Kerry's visit will make it official.
The anniversary
Saturday is the 17th anniversary of the Real IRA car bomb attack in Omagh in 1998, killing 29 people and injuring more than 200. The device exploded in the centre of the town on a busy Saturday and killed shoppers from Ireland, Britain and Spain. A woman pregnant with twins and nine children were among the dead.
The festival
Rose of Tralee festival officially begins in Co Kerry. This year's festival will feature non-traditional events such as Charity White Collar Boxing (Thursday), the more regular Rose Ball (Friday), and novelties like 2014 winner Maria Walsh dropping into Tralee Town Park by parachute as part of the Skyfest air display (Sunday next). And if that's not enough, the giant inflatable minion that went on the loose and disrupted north-Dublin traffic last week, is also expected to put in an appearance at the upcoming festival. This time it should be securely tethered. The televised interrogation of the 32 Roses by Dáithí Ó Sé kicks off next week, on Monday August 17th.
By Jim Carroll, Tony Clayton-Lea, Kevin Courtney, Conor Goodman, John Lane, Dominique McMullan
