Seven things to do this week
TODAY An about-to-be-married Elton John has the equivalent of a musical stag night onstage at the RDS Arena in Dublin tonight, with the help of his warm-up men Rufus Wainwright and James Blunt. Expect all the hits and several costume-changes from this tantrum-prone expert in excess. Tickets, €130, from Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide.
TOMORROW The inaugural Tipp FM Food Fair has all the ingredients for a successful annual event, with food producers from across the country getting together to ply their wares. Expect organic, artisan, home-made and some more exotic foods at Thurles Greyhound Stadium today from noon to 6pm. Tickets are €8 for adults, free for children.
MONDAY Celebrate the 4th of July with veteran jazz musician Paddy Cole and guests including Ronnie Drew and Colm "Stride" O'Brien at a charity gig in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. The beneficiaries of "Born on the 4th of July" will include the Alzheimer's unit in St Mary's Hospital, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. Tickets, €1525, from 01-4170000 or www.nch.ie.
TUESDAY The Clonmel Junction Festival is a fast-growing and diverse arts event, covering everything from Indian dance, German theatre, Swiss cabaret, Welsh opera and loads of Irish talent. Tonight at 8.30pm there is Middle Eastern music and dance from Yair Dalal and Friends in the Main Guard (Tickets €15/18) and Malpractice are in Lonergan's at 9pm (Tickets €5/€8).
WEDNESDAY Oxfambooks is producing a fundraising poetry calendar for 2006 and is on the hunt for six undiscovered poets to join the established writers already lined up for the project. To join the likes of Kerry Hardie, Paula Meehan and Sinead Morrissey on the calendar, log on to www.oxfamireland.org or call in to Oxfambooks, 23 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin for an entry form. Poems must be 20 lines or fewer. Entry fee is €5 or one good book.
THURSDAY Fans of the oddly fascinating vintage TV programme One Man and His Dog should head to Tullamore over the next four days for the World Sheep Dog Trials which are being hosted in Ireland for the first time. Organisers should note that calling it the event of the summer might be over-the-top but 30,000 animal lovers will enjoy the canine capers. At Charleville Estate, outside Tullamore. www.worldsheepdogtrials.com.
FRIDAY Free children's cookery demonstrations are taking place today, tomorrow and on Sunday in the Chatham Street branch of Kitchen Complements in Dublin 2 when Ann McNamee will be joined by her 11-year-old niece Siofra. Demonstrations take place from noon each day and are designed to encourage kids to get off the couch and into the kitchen.
