Power of sevenMark Scanlon, a 24-year-old Mayo man, plans to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven months in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, and will enter the Guinness Book of Records if he achieves his goal.
The first marathon is in San Francisco tomorrow and the last will be in Mumbai, India in January 2008. In between he will be running marathons in the heart of Kenya and inside the Arctic Circle, as well as Longford, Sydney and Buenos Aires. In the process he aims to raise over €50,000. If you want to support this truly superhuman endeavour, or indeed join Mark for one of the marathons, log on to www.777challenge.com. Michael Kelly
Bubblicious
The sun had better get its hat on next Thursday, when the ultra-cute Taittinger Champagne van pulls up outside Ely chq wine bar and restaurant at George's Dock in the IFSC, Dublin 1. The van, a replica of a 1940s delivery van, will be dispensing four champagnes from the house of Taittinger, including a vintage and a pink, by the glass as well as the bottle. Ely chq chef Franco Caparra will be sending out complimentary canapes to those treating themselves to a glass, or two. Marie-Claire DigbyHenri mania
Truly potty about Potter? Why not use the adventures of Harry, Hermione and Ron to improve your linguistic skills? Translated versions of latest instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, won't be available for several months, but Modern Languages Ltd on Dublin's Westland Row can order in JK Rowling's previous works for you. Spanish, Italian, German and French versions can be ordered and delivery takes approximately three weeks. www.modlanguagesbooks.com, 01-6766103. Gillian Hamill
Artist in residence
Artist Elizabeth Cope opens the doors of her home and studio at Shankill Castle in Paulstown near Kilkenny city for the first three days of the Kilkenny Arts Festival (August 10th-19th). You'll be able to take a peek at the beautiful house, and its moated and walled gardens, and enjoy the tranquillity of this special place where the artist finds inspiration for her acclaimed domestic scenes and still lifes. A selection of Cope's new work, including Lobster, Owl and Lemon Roses (above) will be on show at Shankill Castle, as well as at Gormley's Fine Art gallery, which will have new works by more than 30 artists on show at the Lyrath Estate hotel on the outskirts of the city for the duration of the festival. www.gormleys.ie. Marie-Claire Digby
bang on the money
Retailer and artist Pia Bang has recruited an interior designer, Sarah Burke, and together they're offering an nterior decorating service. As anyone who has ever visited her shop, Pia Bang Home, on South Anne Street in Dublin 2 knows, Pia's trademark look is a mix of her native Denmark and New England style. It's a light and bright look, usually in soft, pale colours. A dull climate, such as we are enjoying, is perfect for this kind of thing.
Burke will visit your home (for a consultation fee of €100) to discuss what you'd like to achieve. She will photograph the house, clarify the brief and come back with initial concept drawings. "We'll do the concept right through to the fit-out," Burke says. "It could be just finding a particular piece of furniture, or doing up a whole room." She qualified with a BA in design seven years ago, so she can look after electrical plans or knock down a wall or two if need be.
The nicest part? "We can work to almost any budget." Obviously, much of the furniture that will be recommended, and the style inspiration, will come from Pia Bang Home, but other suppliers are used, too. www.piabanghome.ie, 01-8883777. Eoin Lyons
dancing shoes on
Light up your weekend with a spot of dancing at Lughnasa. Cloghane and Brandon Féile Lughnasa celebrates the Celtic harvest festival with a four-day extravaganza running until Monday on the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry. Jam-packed days include hill-walking, a pilgrimage to Benagh fort, beach and field camps, fancy dress competitions and of course, poetry, music and song. More information from 066-7138137 or www.irishcelticfest.com. Carrickfergus, Co Antrim also celebrates its Lughnasa Fair today and tomorrow. Magicians and sword-fights will create contemporary ambience, along with local crafts, historical demonstrations and food stalls. Carrickfergus Castle, noon-5pm, 048-93351273. Gillian Hamill
carpet of flowers
Try to catch Perfect Imperfect, an exhibition of photographs of fallen rhododendron flowers, taken by Tim Durham at gardens around Ireland. Until August 25th at Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co Meath.
Bogorrah
"We have no prairies to slice a big sun at evening" said Seamus Heaney, but he reckoned we more than made up for this shortcoming with our beautiful bogs: "bog that keeps crusting between the sights of the sun." The poet is not the only admirer of Irish bog. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) celebrates its 25th birthday tomorrow, on International Bog Day. A series of events will be held from 1-5pm at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre in Lullymore, Rathangan, Co Kildare, including a trad music session, an illustrated slideshow of beautiful bogs, a guided walk, and a crafts workshop, along with a chance to visit the Peatland museum. As part of the IPCC's Save the Bog Campaign you can even purchase your own acre of bogland by visiting www.ipcc.ie/sharecert.html and doing your bit to conserve these endangered habitats. Dungannon celebrates today, with the Northern Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships and Peatlands Family Fun day, from noon-5pm. Cheer on brave and barmy competitors at Peatlands Country Park, 33 Derryhubbert Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Gillian HamillTop 10 tips for galway racegoers
1 You have to go to Galway race week at least once. Book the babysitter, send the dogs on their holiday and take a few days off, if not the whole week. Equip yourself with a copy of Galway Now magazine.
2 Get a crash course in betting. If you're not a dedicated follower, don't worry, you are bound to find someone who is happy to part with their insider knowledge. Poker is the other form of gambling prevalent during race week, as a walk around Eyre Square will reveal.
3 "The Big Bash" in the Guinness and Oyster marquee on Monday night sets the tone for the rest of the week. It is a quieter evening and popular with the locals.
4 Cosy up with the movers and shakers in the hospitality village. There's the Fianna Fail tent, of course, but this year the corporate suites in the new Killanin Stand (artist's impression above) are expected to have a certain je ne sais quoi, too.
5 Wednesday is the first full day's racing and it's best to get there early to study the form for the William Hill Galway Plate.
6 The traffic during race week is legendary and will test your endurance. Even booking a heli has become impossible, despite 600 flights a day and one landing every 40 seconds. Fetching up to Ballybrit on a horse may be your best bet.
7 Thursday is Ladies' Day and it's important to understand beforehand that an extraordinary number of women take this "race" very seriously indeed. Go easy on the fake tan. Make sure you wear, or at least carry with you, a pair of comfortable shoes to get to and from the car/heli park, and insert "Party Feet" inside your heels, so you don't go lame. The winners' enclosure is the Anthony Ryan tent, where the best dressed will be announced at 4pm.
8 Places to be and be seen during race week include the Radisson, if you can face the scrum; the Ardilaun, where Paddy Cole plays on Wednesday night; the Hotel Meyrick, formerly the Great Southern, on Eyre Square. The bar at the g hotel will also be a good place for a gawk. The Clayton is another new hotel likely to be popular as it's located opposite the race course. That's one way to skip the traffic.
9 Highlight of the week, for some, is the Race Ball on Friday, which goes on well into the night at the Radisson.
10 The queues at McDonagh's chipper in Quay Street are fast moving should you be in need of soakage. Bring your own water.