July 28th-August 3rd
Cool running
This weekend's Kerry Way 2007 is a 71km walk over three days, taking in Sneem, Kenmare and Killarney in aid of Cork Cancer Research Centre. www.ccrc.ie. At 7pm today Mayo Athletic Club's 10km Balla Road Race is being run in aid of Croí, a Galway-based charity that aims to improve cardiovascular healthcare for people in the west of Ireland. The race is part of the Balla Hyper Festival, in the Co Mayo town this weekend. www.croi.ie.
Galway races
The Galway Races kick off at Ballybrit with the Big Bash on Monday evening. Ladies' Day is on Thursday; the festival's final day, Sunday, August 5th, is Mad Hatter Day. As ever, the big races take place on Wednesday (Galway Plate) and Thursday (the Galway Hurdle). www.galwayraces.com.
Toy stories
The Irish Film Institute's Toys on Film weekend, today and tomorrow at the institute's Dublin base, includes workshops on animation and shadow puppet-making as well as screenings of March of the Wooden Soldiers and both Toy Story films. www.irishfilm.ie.
Alfresco arias
Tomorrow at 3pm at Airfield House in Dundrum, Dublin 14, Opera in the Open sees soprano Sandra Oman and tenor Anthony Norton perform arias and duets by Handel, Verdi, Puccini and Mozart. www.airfield.ie. Throughout August, opera lovers can catch free lunchtime performances each Thursday at the Civic Offices Amphitheatre, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. Shows start at 1pm and include The Merry Widow, Carmen and Tosca.
Freebie
The annual Spraoi festival, which starts next Friday, is a showcase for 19 street-theatre companies from around the world. It culminates on Sunday with the Yee-Haw! parade, a tribute to the Western. All events free. www.spraoi.com. theatre
Lennox Robinson's family drama The Big House, first produced in 1926, was one of the most popular plays of its time. This Abbey Theatre production, directed by Conall Morrison, runs from today until September 8th. www.abbeytheatre.ie.
Family festival
At this weekend's Midlands Music Festival at Belvedere House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, under-12s go free. The kids' area includes arts and crafts and a Lambert puppet show. The music line-up includes Christy Moore, Glen Campbell and Aimee Mann. www.midlandsmusic festival.ie. See page 15.
and finally . . .
The third Dublin City Cycle pedals off tomorrow at 10am from Guild Street, in Docklands, for 10km through the streets of the city. A fun, free cycle for all ages and fitness levels. Register at www.dublincitycycle.ie.