"Girl wing-walkers", French air force jets and Army parachutists are billed as the main attractions for the annual Salthill Air Show next Sunday. The Garda Air Support Unit, the Air Corps, the Irish Marine Emergency Service Sikorsky helicopter from Shannon and the Aer Arann Islander plane will join the US Air Force and the "Cadbury's Crunchies Flying Circus" in a display over the bay from 3 p.m.
Following this will be a week of traditional music in various venues along the "prom" and lunchtime readings by poets and writers in the Salthill Hotel.
On July 10th, Mike McCormack will read from his new novel, Crowe's Requiem, in association with Magpie, the west's new events guide.
The programme also includes several children's events, one of the highlights being a demonstration by Danish gymnasts.
Roundstone, the village which voted No to the Amsterdam Treaty last month, opened its arts festival yesterday. The Connemara Theatre Company presented The Alternative, a new play by Ann Henning Jocelyn, in the village hall, and the programme continues throughout the week with music, lectures, workshops and readings on themes ranging from bat anatomy (with Dr Kate McAney, field officer for the Vincent Wild Life Trust) to confessions of a sean nos singer (Brian O'Rourke, Eldon's Hotel on Thursday at 8.30 p.m).
Local artists will also exhibit works inspired by an environment which has some 250 acres of beach.
Further information and programme from Richard de Stacpoole, the director, at Roundstone Information Centre, Errisbeg House, Roundstone, tel: (095) 35834 or email marquis@connemara.net
In Mayo, a bronze sculpture to honour the county's exiles has been unveiled in Ballyvary by the Mayo Emigrant Memorial Committee. The sculpture, which is four feet tall and symbolises the swallow, is the work of Colm Brennan, a native of Ballina, now living in Dublin.
Mayo is having its own marching season later this week. Participants from Japan, New Zealand, Israel, Norway, Australia and Canada will take to bog and mountain for the Portwest Castlebar International Four Day Walks.
Now in its 32nd year, the event is on the annual calendar of the International Marching League and is billed as the "walking United Nations". This year members of the Dutch military are flying into Knock for Thursday's opening and the event will run until Sunday. Further information from Elaine Devereux at (094) 24102.