A guide to what's on this week
Dublin Fashion Weekbrings Irish fashion designers and their buyers together at the Fitzwilliam Hotel from Monday until Wednesday to showcase forthcoming autumn/winter collections. On Wednesday at 7pm at the Mansion House, leading designer Matthew Williamson presents his work in Dublin for the first time. Full list of participating designers at www.dublinfashionweek.com.
The Irish Hairdressing Championshipshighlights the best of up-and-coming and established Irish talent. The event takes place tomorrow at the Burlington Hotel, and last year's winner Tony Mulvany from Foundation will be defending his crown. www.irishhairfed.com.
The St Patrick's Day Festival kicks off on Thursday with Luminarium, a dazzling inflatable maze, at the IFSC, running daily from 10am until the 19th. At 7pm on Friday evening the St Patrick's Cathedral choir will perform traditional Irish folk songs (01-8721122). From 11am Friday there is a funfair in Merrion Square West including a 150ft Jubilee Wheel. www.stpatricksday.ie.
On Wednesday at 8pm in Mill Theatre Dundrum, Eurythmyaims to make sound "visible", by using colour, gesture and movement. Nine performers move to music and poetry from Handel, Debussy, Mendelssohn and Yeats (01-2969340).
Local theatre company Arclight bring Thornton Wilder'sPulitzer Prize-winning Our Town to the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire from Thursday until Saturday (01-2312929).
At Dublin City Gallery, the Hugh Lane, on Wednesday at 11am, the ongoing coffee lecture is hosted by Jessica O'Donnell and is entitled Louis le Brocquy and his Masters. Booking advised, contact 01-2225553.
Sam Shepard wrote his play, Kicking a Dead Horse, with Stephen Reain mind for the lead role. The American playwright will direct the Oscar-nominated Irish actor at the Peacock from this Thursday until April 14th. www.abbeytheatre.ie.
The Spring House and Garden Showtakes place at the RDS from next Friday until Monday. Contact 01-2958181.
Catch electronica wunderkind Si Schroederat Crawdaddy in Dublin on Wednesday playing songs from Coping Mechanisms. www.ticketmaster.ie.
Clannadplay the Olympia on Friday night fresh from lifetime achievement honours at the Meteors (www.mcd.ie). In Limerick, catch high-octane Kilatonight in Dolan's Warehouse (061-314483).
Jason Byrne plays the Music Factory in Carlow on Thursday (059-9135920).
Irish punters make their annual pilgrimage to the Cheltenham Festival, which starts Tuesday and finishes on Friday. www.cheltenham.co.uk.
After the euphoria of the England game, it's back to nuts and bolts this afternoon when Ireland travel to Murrayfield to take on wounded Scotland. Will England do us a favour by beating France in Twickenham?
Finally, the Dunmore East Trawler Tragedy Appealis running a series of events in March to raise funds for the families of the crewmen of the Pere Charles. This Friday there is a greyhound night at Kilcohan in Waterford at 7:30pm (051-383136). Donations to account number 122 000 48, sort code 93 44 02 at AIB Ardkeen.
mkelly@irish-times.ie