August 18th - 24th
music
Today: The Rolling Stones(Slane, Co Meath). Tuesday: Lloyd Cole(Cyprus Ave, Cork). Wednesday: Foo Fighters(Marlay Park, Dublin). Thursday: Norah Jones(Point, Dublin), Damien Rice(Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo).
summer schools
The theme for this year's 40th Merriman Summer Schoolis "Changed Utterly? Ireland 1967-2007", with discussions on wealth and its consequences, 40 years of politics north and south and the changing role of women. The school runs from tomorrow until next Saturday in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare (www.merriman.ie). The Charles Wood Summer School, in Armagh from tomorrow until August 26th, includes concerts, choral services and tuition with the Ulster Orchestra (www.charleswoodss.org).
freebie
From noon until 8pm today, Euroculturedat Smithfield Plaza offers a choice of European street art, dance, food and workshops, with more than 150 performers from 10 European countries, including France, Portugal, Italy and Greece (www.eurocultured.com).
film
The Irish Film Institute continues its Marlon Brando retrospectivewith Last Tango in Parisall this week, then has a grand finale of The Godfather(25th) and Apocalypse Now(26th) next weekend (www.ifi.ie). On Friday at 9pm at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Future Shorts Irelandpresents eclectic short films from around the globe (www.futureshorts.com).
bluegrass
The 13th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival, which starts next Thursday and runs until August 26th, features more than 50 free bluegrass and country gigs at six venues in the Co Waterford fishing village. Headlining this year are New Orleans roots act the Jeff and Vida Band and The Boxcar Preachers from Texas (www.waterford-dunmore.com).
next top model
Judges will be looking for good legs, a nicely shaped back and well-proportioned udders at possibly the most competitive beauty pageant of the year, the Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition, which takes place at the Virginia Show, Co Cavan, on Wednesday (www.virginiashow.com).
sport
The professional men's cycling Tour of Irelandstarts in Kilkenny on Wednesday, with the final stage from Athlone to Dublin on August 26th. Ireland take on Italy in their second rugby World Cup warm-upmatch on Friday in Ravenhill, Belfast. Meath play Cork in the first of the GAA Senior Football semi-finalsat Croke Park tomorrow.
and finally
The eight-day 2007 All-Ireland Fleadhstarts in Tullamore, Co Offaly, tomorrow, with the Scoil Éigse (summer school), Seachtain na hÉigse and up to three concerts nightly (www.fleadh2007.com).