The week ahead.
Sport
The GAA championship gets serious this weekend. In the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, Tipperary meet Limerick (Cork remain the favourites). In Clones, 2005 champions Armagh make their first appearance when they face Monaghan tomorrow. On Wednesday night, Thierry Henry (right) may be playing in an Arsenal jersey for the last time - against Barcelona, the team he is expected to join, in the Champions League final. Que niño.
Art
Reimagining is an exhibition of work by Jacqueline O'Driscoll, whose paintings (including Fort, left) are informed by the landscape and colours of south Co Kerry and west Co Cork. At the Hallward Gallery, 65 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 until May 27th. In London, Aidan Dunne of The Irish Times has selected some formidable contemporary Irish painting and photography for the Purdy Hicks Gallery, 65 Hopton Street, SE1; on show until June 3rd.
Airwaves
For those of us who missed Bruce Springsteen's Dublin concert - and boy, are we sorry - he's on BBC Radio 2 at 9 pm tonight performing songs from his new album. Tomorrow you can catch him (right) on TG4 at 2.50pm; BBC Four is featuring him on Friday, at 10pm and 11pm. TV will also be overtaken by the return of Big Brother (see Róisín Ingle, p3) and Eurovision (see Irishology, p8). Feel a party coming on? Bets are on the Greeks and Swedes.
Cinema
We know The Da Vinci Code opens on Friday, but our critic Donald Clarke's pick of the week is Brick, a detective film by young Californian Rian Johnson. "A lot of The Big Sleep and a very little of Ferris Beuller's Day Off," says Clarke. "It occurred to me that the criminal underworld is a microcosm, where everything is about the social caste system. Well, that describes high school exactly," says Johnson. At Vue, Liffey Valley, and Cineworld, Dublin.
Family
If your children are into robots, take them along to a RoboCup open day (today and tomorrow, 11am-4pm), at the National College of Ireland on Mayor Street, in the IFSC, Dublin. Eight life-sized robots will be on view, one of which will scale a 15m wall, with workshops for eight- to 16-year-olds. Otherwise, Wicklow Garden Festival is but one reminder to visit a garden while spring is at its greenest. See www.gardensireland.com.
Eating out
Two notable openings for avid restaurant sleuths: Charles Guilbaud, son of Patrick, has opened Venu Brasserie at 21 South Anne Street, Dublin 2. Fans of La Maison des Gourmets will recognise Penny Plunkett at front of house. It's open every day, from noon to 11pm, but, like L'Gueuleton, takes no bookings for parties under eight. Grrr. The restaurant at Fallon & Byrne, on Exchequer Street, is now open upstairs, too. Verdicts from Tom Doorley soon.