7 things to do this week
TODAY Here's another chance to see The Fallen Angels Cabaret, which deservedly took the Best of the Spiegeltent Award at last year's Dublin Fringe Festival. Not for the squeamish, the prudish or the easily offended, it tells tall musical tales about sex, shopping and one-night stands. For anarchic Irish comedy, this can't be beaten. Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, 8pm. Tickets €12 from www.ticketlord.com or 01-2312929.
TOMORROW The August bank-holiday weekend doesn't exist in Co Waterford. In local parlance it's the Spraoi weekend. The festival peaks tonight with the Oz that Waz parade. Dorothy has emerged after years of seclusion to write her autobiography, revealing the gritty truth about life over the rainbow. For floats, fire, music and special effects, it's worth heading down to the merry old land of, er, Waterford. www.spraoi.com.
MONDAY Organisers insist there is nothing grey about Greystones (boom, boom!) today. Indeed, Greystone Arts Festival promises a wide range of entertainment, from Europe's leading street entertainers to the theatre company Bedlam Oz, from Australia. Co Wicklow's biggest fireworks display takes place tonight as the three-day event comes to a close. www.greystonesartsfestival.com.
TUESDAY Music at the Crossroads presents Irish traditional music and dance in a unique way, incorporating gypsy, classical and bluegrass influences. These talented young people are performing three shows a day, at 12.30pm, 3pm and 6pm, at An Taibhdhearc, Middle Street, Galway. Tickets are 8 for children and 15 for adults. Call 091-563600. Continues until August 18th.
WEDNESDAY More fun in Co Waterford with the Copper Coast Geopark summer walk. Each week you can visit a different section of the 25km coast to explore rocks that date back 460 million years - 400 million years more than the Giant's Causeway, in Co Antrim. Although all sites are easily accessible, wear shoes that will allow you to scramble over rocks to get to the beach. Today it's the area around Stage Cove and Tankardstown engine house. Meet at 7.30pm at the Rock Garden car park. Visit www.coppercoastgeopark.com for details.
THURSDAY David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party will open this year's Brendan Kennelly Festival, in Ballylongford, Co Kerry. Based on the theme of difference, the festival features reading, painting and creative writing; the monks from Holy Hill Hermitage are also offering a meditation workshop. Other participants include Nell McCafferty and Rose Doyle. For more information call 068-43557 or visit www.brendankennellyfestival.com.
FRIDAY Have fun with nature at Brigit's Garden in Rosscahill, 20 minutes from Galway city. Every Friday morning there's a children's event, with nature games, scavenger hunts and arts and crafts, between 10.30am and 1pm. Each session costs €7. Call 091-550905 for more details.