A roundup of this week's other stroies in brief.
Great music and grand houses
Some of Ireland's most beautiful and historic houses will be opening their doors in June for this year's IIB Bank Music in Great Irish Houses festival.
Among the venues are Castletown House, Co Kildare; the 18th-century Beaulieu House, Co Louth; and Dromoland Castle, Co Clare. Following renovations by the Office of Public Works, Castletown House (below) will host the the Belcea Quartet, playing the music of Schubert and Beethoven. See www.musicgreatirishhouses.com or call 01-6642822.
Read all about it
A new-look Cara, Aer Lingus's in-flight magazine, has been on the carrier's aircraft since the start of the month. Edited by Irish Times arts and travel writer Tony Clayton-Lea, this issue focuses on Barcelona, Nice, Washington DC, Ireland's islands and the 50th anniversary of transatlantic flights. Meanwhile, Fáilte Ireland has sold Ireland of the Welcomes to Harmonia. The magazine, which was first published in 1952, has a circulation of almost 84,000, mainly in the US and Canada.
On his bike for India
This summer a Tipperary maths teacher will cycle for 55 days from San Francisco to Providence, to raise funds for a school in India. Richard Walsh, who teaches at Abbey CBS in Tipperary town, has worked with the Providence School in India since 2000. Last year he cycled around Ireland for the school, raising €18,000. Log on to www.abbey india.com/usacycle.htm.