The week ahead.
Music
This is gig number 2,501 for Bon Jovi, who will be conducting another giant karaoke session at Croke Park today; the other 2,500 concerts have been in front of 32 million people in more than 30 countries. Led by Jon Bon Jovi (right), the New Jersey rockers pack them in: when it comes to stadium anthems and amping up the sound and rockin' it out, they have few equals. Don't forget your air guitar. Try www.ticketmaster.ie or 0818-719300.
Family
Not that anyone needs an excuse to eat ice cream, but tomorrow is HB Ice Cream Sunday, an annual countrywide event in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. Lay on a mountain of ice cream, invite a gang over to demolish it and charge €2 a head (or more if you get fancy with sprinkles, cones or milkshakes). Register on www.downsyndrome.ie or call 1890-373737. At Clontarf Castle Hotel, in Dublin, there's a toy and train sale, 10am to 5pm.
Festivals
Fleadh Nua (tomorrow-May 29th) celebrates its 33rd year in Ennis next week - it was too much for Dublin after 1979 - with concerts, ceilithe, music, song and dancing in the streets. See www.fleadhnua.com. In Warrenpoint, Co Down, the Blues on the Bay Festival (Thursday-May 29th) has 70 gigs, including Van Morrison (right; alas, sold out). Find out more from www.bluesonthebay.com or 048-41754093.
Sport
"Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God." If you are looking forward to a quiet weekend, head to Munster, as most of its inhabitants will be in Cardiff for the Heineken Cup final, at Millennium Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm and pre-match entertainment includes pipers, Welsh choirs, Paddy Casey and, em, can-can girls. Be prepared to paint the town red when they beat Biarritz. After all, "to the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible."
Watersports
Poles crewing a currach? Why not? Four Poles who navigated Cork's first Ocean to City race, last year, will be back next Saturday to renew those blisters. The 15-nautical-mile route, from Crosshaven to Roches Point and back to the Lee, is open to currachs, skiffs, kayaks, dragon boats and anything without an engine. Entries close on Tuesday (Meitheal Mara at 021-4316813). Watch from Cobh, Monkstown and the Marina on the Lee.
Art
The British artist Richard Long is having his first solo show in Ireland at Lismore Castle Arts; the duke and duchess of Devonshire open it today. Long's work is on permanent display in the likes of the Guggenheim and MoMa. This show is based on a dry seven-day coast-to-coast walk across Ireland. "This global warming seems to be doing us some good," he says. Until October 1st. www.lismorecastlearts.ie