LAOIS FOR FURNITURESean Eacrett, long established as an antiques dealer and restorer in Francis Street, Dublin 8, has moved to a purpose-built structure in Ashgrove, Ballybrittas, Co Laois (0502-26290).
Now open for two weeks, it combines the sale of antiques with contemporary furniture, all chosen by Sarah Cruise, the in-house interior designer. Items that stood out include a pale green day bed, attractive white glass table lights, a Puji dining table with low cream leather chairs in a black frame, and some lovely things for children's rooms. There is a fabric library, including Jane Churchill, Colefax and Fowler, Zoffany, and Osborne & Little. Also worth looking at is an interesting range of bathroom fittings (particularly a very neat little Belfast sink, suitable for a small cloakroom). Antique furniture will be auctioned here too, with the first sale scheduled before Christmas. There's also a cafe. Eoin Lyons
STENCIL CASE
Irish artist Patricia Satchwell Paludan will run two two-day courses istencilling, on October 13th-14th and 22nd-23rd at Mariaville House in Maynooth, Co Kildare. Students will design and make a stencil, choosing the colours and executing on walls, paper and fabric. Each course costs €370, including food, and is limited to 12 people. Visit www.satch.dk to see her work and book on 01-6286240. Eoin Lyons
THE KINSALE MUNCH-IN
The self-styled "culinary capital of Ireland" hosts the Kinsale Food Festival next weekend. Highlights include a black-tie evening, a Guinness and oyster tasting, the Mad Hatter's Taste of Kinsale tour, and a New England lobster bake and buffet, prepared by chefs from Newport, Rhode Island, as well as Kinsale. An outdoor family event featuring street theatre, stilt walkers and face painting will also take place. The festival runs from October 7th to 9th. Forget about diets for a weekend and buy a full festival ticket for €245, which includes entry to all events and two dinner vouchers. You can also buy tickets for individual events. They're available from www.kinsalerestaurants.com. Eimear McKeith
WHEELING ACROSS THE WEST
This weekend, Castlebar Cycling Club's sponsored cycle is raising funds for the CARI Foundation, which provides counselling services to people affected by child sexual abuse. Last year they raised €280,000 - enough to open a part-time therapy centre in Galway. Look out for the cyclists and fundraisers, who set off from Limerick yesterday and finish in Castlebar tomorrow. www.cari.ie. Nicoline Greer
PORTABLE ANIMALS
Lazy cats and cheeky monkeys hang off Geraldine Murphy's chains, while elephants meander around necklaces. Murphy has just launched a website where you can browse and buy her jewellery online. The quirky designs reflect her background in animation - she worked on Give Up Yer Auld Sins among other projects, before focusing full-time on jewellery. Her new range of sea creatures, such as octopuses and starfish, uses semi-precious stones. "I love colour and I'm trying to reflect the colour of the sea," she says, "I watch a lot of those deep-sea programmes." www.saba.ie, 01-4903237. Nicoline Greer