A weekly guide to going out, staying in and generally living the life
music
The BudRising music festival starts in Dublin on Thursday, at the Village, on Camden Street, but Tuesday, August 22nd is the big night, when Morrissey appears at Marlay Park, with Daft Punk. The Dandy Warhols put in an appearance on August 25th. See www.budrising.ie for more information. Singing lessons anyone? There is a week-long academy at An GrianáTheatre, in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, starting on Monday. Cal 074-9120777.kerry gold
It's that time of year to gather round the TV, place your bets and chortle. The five-day Rose of Tralee festival (see My Big Week, above) starts next Friday (www.roseoftralee.ie). There are fireworks and free gigs in the town square, too, featuring Republic of Loose, among other acts. In Ballybunion, Co Kerry, the first World Fleadh runs from Monday to Saturday, with Aslan, Sharon Shannon, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and more (www.worldfleadh.com).
leaving cert results
On Wednesday, remember the golden rule: Don't ask. Wait to be told, be it friend, niece, nephew, neighbour, sibling or parent. Never, ever say: "How many points did you get?" You may ask: "So, what do you hope to do next year?" On the same night, the Republic of Ireland play The Netherlands in an international soccer friendly at Lansdowne Road, which may provide a welcome distraction and a chance to roar.
wheels
Loud cars galore at Punchestown, Co Kildare, today as Slam '06 (www.slamexpo.com) begins. Europe's finest "drifters" battle it out for the first round of the Prodrift European Series, a kind of Speedway for cars. Ulster Grand Prix 2006 bike week commences on Monday in Dundrod,
five miles outside Belfast. Tom Sykes is among the guest riders. (www.ulstergrandprix.co.uk). Racing at the Curragh tomorrow starts at 2.15.
art
Summer Sundays at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery (www.glucksman.org), in Cork, continue tomorrow with Japanese music recitals (2-5pm), children's workshops (noon-5pm), tours of the galleries (on the hour), special offers in the museum shop and a market selling only fair-trade goods. Call 021-4901844. In Dublin, don't miss a visit to Imma (www.modernart.ie), to see the Barry Flanagan hare sculptures.
sailing
Cruinniú na mBád, or "the meeting of the boats", will run from Thursday to Sunday in Kinvara, Co Galway. The event, which has been around since 1979, celebrates the tradition of Galway hookers bringing turf from Connemara to Kinvara. On Thursday the local fleet of traditional boats travels to Galway city; the Claddagh race, on Friday, sees the boats race back to Kinvara. See www.kinvara.com for more.