FOLLOW YOUR HEART Niamh de Búrca's first solo CD, An áit a bhfuil do chroí . . .Where your heart lies, includes a number of songs so old and rarely heard, they could have been "pulled out of the attic", as musician Séamus Brett, the album's engineer, commented.
The collection of 12 songs includes De Bharr na gCnoc, a Jacobean song from Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill. This is one of the oldest, dating back to the 17th century, while The Fairy Boy was written by Samuel Lover in the early 19th century. De Búrca learned it from her mother, Síghle.
The album's title is taken from the old seanfhocal, An áit a bhfuil do chroí is ann a thabharfaidh do chosa thú (where your heart lies is where your feet will take you). It's not clear where this place is, but the sea features strongly in all the songs on the album, which is produced by Máire Breatnach and is released under the Gael Linn label. De Búrca is a long-standing singer of folk, traditional and Irish songs, and has performed and recorded with a range of groups over the past 20 years. Catherine Foley
THE ORIGINAL OF THE SPECIES There's no better way to celebrate the survival of the fittest than by taking a trip to "the Dead Zoo", aka the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Darwin was born on February 12th, 1809, and his groundbreaking study, The Origin of the Species, was published in 1859, just two years after the Natural History Museum opened in Dublin. The museum is celebrating Darwin Day with a series of talks and tours this weekend. There will be an adult tour on the theme of evolution today at 2pm, while tomorrow, on the anniversary itself, a "Cheeky Monkey" kids' tour will take place at 3pm. The main event will be a lecture by Prof Rebecca Stott, author of Darwin and the Barnacle, in which she will give an insight into Darwin's life and research. It takes place at 3pm tomorrow and, to facilitate the expected crowd, it will be at the National Museum, Archaeology and History, Kildare Street. Events are first-come, first-served, and admission is free. More details: 01-6777444. Eimear McKeith
IN THE SOUP The Ould Cod in Westland Row was one of Dublin's best-loved restaurants and nightspots in the 1960s. Its original chef/partner Regis Robinson went on to open Hatters Restaurant in Dún Laoghaire and has worked as a caterer, food writer, lecturer, cartoonist and professional chef for 40 years. Now retired and in his late 70s, he enjoys cooking as much as ever and has brought a lifetime's gastronomic experience to a new cookbook engagingly titled Slurping Through Europe. In it Robinson has assembled some 200 soup recipes from nearly 40 countries throughout Europe. Among the contents are recipes for chilled cucumber soup from Estonia, fruit and nut soup from Macedonia, bean jahni soup from Albania and Galician black bean soup from Spain. Slurping Through Europe is published by Ashfield Press at €22.50 and is beautifully illustrated by artist Alwyn Gillespie. Deirdre McQuillan
DRESS TO IMPRESS "I design for women who go to work and then go on out somewhere - clothes with double lives," says Caroline Charles, one of the UK's most successful designers. Charles, who started her career with the legendary Mary Quant, is known for classy clothes, particularly prints, patterns and beaded fabrics. She will be in Ireland to show her spring/summer collection at a charity lunch in Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin on February 22nd. Guests will see pretty floral dresses in sweet-pea prints, pearl-covered brocades and cute patterned jackets. Tickets are €150 each, including lunch, and proceeds go to the Kildare-based children's charity, Barretstown Gang Camp. For tickets contact Helen O'Malley at 045-864115. Deirdre McQuillan
DÜRER ENDURES UNTIL APRIL No fewer than 35,000 people have been to see the Albrecht Dürer exhibition since it opened at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, in November. It was meant to close last week, but due to the exhibition's record-breaking popularity, the library has decided to extend the show until April 16th. So, if you are not one of the many who have already been to the exhibition, you still have a chance to see it. While some of the overseas loans have to be returned, the library's own collection of more than 120 prints will remain on display. This is about one third of Dürer's entire graphic works, and covers almost every aspect of his career. They are usually kept in storage, so it is the first opportunity in more than 20 years to see them together. More details: 01-4070750. Eimear McKeith
PLASTIC-TASTIC Urban Outfitters always puts a retro twist on its modern shabby chic and, with its newest furniture and home accessories line, Kartell, the US chainstore has found a friend. Kartell is the Italian design house responsible for the Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair - the label attaches itself to world-renowned designers to create modern plastic lights, chairs and other furniture inspired by centuries past. We like the range of storage cylinders, the Componibili, which has been designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri. From €95, Urban Outfitters, Cecilia Street, Dublin 2. Nicoline Greer
TRIPPING Summer 2006 would be one to remember if you won an EIL Intercultural Learning Award. As a volunteer on one of the programmes, you could find yourself working with women in rural Guatemala, practising martial arts in Japan, or in a South African township. Some projects are for teenagers, others for over-18s. Most volunteer trips require a hefty payment, but the people selected for these will have their expenses paid. Applications welcome from the Republic and from Northern Ireland. Closing date: March 23rd. see www.eilireland.org for more details. Nicoline Greer
FAMILY STONE Julie Danz and Vincent Tynan are the partnership behind Juvi Designs. Tynan's knowledge as a gemologist, combined with Danz's eye for colour, gleaned through years working as an interior designer in New York, combine to create their stunning, chunky necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They started making the jewellery together two years ago, after travelling through Mexico and Brazil, where they found semi-precious stones such as aquamarine, chocolate agate and fossilised coral. Tynan is also a skilled silversmith - "People buy our jewellery especially for the clasps," says Danz. They have managed to combine an ethnic look with sophistication, and create pieces that are both delicate and chunky. Available from the Bridge Gallery, Ormond Quay, noLita, Carlow; The Pink Room, Carlingford and Cabinteely and The Old Curiosity Shop, Mallow. For a full list of stockists and to browse the 2006 collection, see www.juvidesigns.com or phone 01-4990644. Nicoline Greer
We love: Dan Hillman's hand-crafted wooden hobby horses They are made by Hillman in his workshop in Co Leitrim, and cost around €100 from Leitrim Design House, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim; Cat & The Moon, Sligo; Town & Country, Athleague, Co Roscommon; The Shaker Store, Ballitore Quaker Village, Co Kildare, and from Hillman at 071-9632212/087-2038385, www.hobbyhorsetoys.com