September 8th-14th
paddle power
This morning, the ESB will release 30 million tons of water from Poulaphouca Reservoir to bring the River Liffey to flood level, thereby creating the course for the annual Liffey Descent. Paddlers from all over the world will negotiate the weirs and rapids along a 28km stretch of river. Key vantage points for spectators are Lucan bridge weir, Palmerstown weir and the finish line near Island Bridge. See www.liffeydescent.com.
harvest fare
The annual Harvest Feast festival is on today and tomorrow in Drumshambo, Co Leitrim. Events include wildflower walks, seaweed cookery, food trails and cookery demonstrations. See www.harvestfeast.ie.
100 free events
This Friday evening is Culture Night in Dublin with over 100 free events at 82 venues. Meeting House Square in Temple Bar will be showing open- air films from 8pm; Gallery Number One celebrates the link between music and art, and there's a free concert by Philip Fogarty at Alliance Française. Try salsa, belly-dance, ballet or hip-hop at Dance Ireland's studios in Foley St, with free introductory classes from 6pm. See www.danceireland.ie.
fringe festival
The 13th Dublin Fringe Festival kicks off today and runs until the 23rd, offering 118 shows spanning theatre, dance, music, live and visual arts. We like the sounds of Marlena Shaw with hip-hop producer Mad Professor at the Spiegeltent; Anne Gildea at the Cobalt Café; Brazilian dance act Lia Rodrigues at the Samuel Beckett Theatre and Guardian Angels, Germany's leading street theatre performers bringing chaos and fire to Smithfield Plaza. See www.fringefest.com.
believe it or not
Lively debate is promised at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin this weekend as the European Congress of Skeptical Organisations holds its annual conference in Dublin for the first time. The event aims to promote science and critical thinking and involves leading scientists including Dr Ben Goldacre, writer of the Guardian's Bad Science column and Prof Vic Stenger, author of God: The Failed Hypothesis. See www.irishskeptics.net.
sport
Ireland play Slovakia in the Group D Euro 2008 qualifier at 7.30pm tonight in Bratislava, while our rugby team kick-off their Rugby World Cup campaign by playing Namibia in Bordeaux tomorrow. Leopardstown Racecourse hosts the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes this afternoon, and from Friday until Sunday the Curragh stages the Autumn Festival of Racing. On Friday the most stylish lady will win a €20,000 prize from Brown Thomas. Cork play Wexford in the All-Ireland Camogie final tomorrow in Croke Park. The Dunmore East Autumn Leaves Golf Classic is a two-person team event played over three courses - from Tuesday until Thursday. For more information call 051-383060.