June 2-June 8
Girl's day out
Last year 40,000 women took part in the Flora Women's Mini Marathon, raising an estimated €10 million for charities. This year the race kicks off from Fitzwilliam Square at 3pm on bank holiday Monday. Also this weekend, the Womans World Showis in the RDS today and tomorrow, admission €10. The event is organised around three sectors: health and fitness; food and drink; and fashion and beauty. www.womansworldshow.com.
Giving
An evening of 1960s sophistication is promised at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin next Friday as it hosts La Dolce Vita, a summer ball in aid of Educo, an Irish charity set up to educate disadvantaged children in India. www.educo.ie.
"Do Something for Yourself . . . Volunteer" is the title of Dublin City Volunteer Weekwhich runs until Thursday, celebrating volunteers and their work. Events include a volunteer fair in City Hall, migrant volunteer fair in Cultivate sustainable-living centre, Temple Bar and a photographic exhibition, Images of Volunteering, at the Civic Offices. www.dublinvolunteerweek.com.
Arts
Opera 2005 brings Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow, with soprano Mary Hegarty in the title role, to the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork, for five performances from Tuesday. www.everymanpalace.com.
Red Light Winter, Adam Rapp's tense drama starring Dermot Magennis, Stewart Roche and Olga Wehrly, runs from Wednesday until June 23rd at the Mill Theatre, Dundrum (01-2969340).
Art in Actionoffers you the chance to watch more than 100 artists creating their work in the grand setting of Townley Hall, on the N51 between Drogheda and Slane, Co Meath. Today, tomorrow and Monday, from 10.30am to 5.30pm. www.artinaction.ie.
Bank holiday buzz
Castlebar Blues Festivalis Ireland's longest-running blues festival and features acts from the US, Australia, Europe and Ireland. www.castlebarblues.com.
The highlight of the Smithwick's Cat Laughs Comedy Festivalin Kilkenny could be tomorrow's football match, which will see Ireland's funniest performers take on a "Rest of the World" team. Oh yeah, and there are also 93 comedy gigs to laugh at. www.smithwickscatlaughs.com.
This weekend Dublin hosts the Docklands Maritime Festival, with more than 55,000 visitors expected to take a look at the tall ships and other attractions.
Carton House hosts the Royal Irish Automobile Club's Pioneer Run, open only to cars built before 1907. The main group leaves Carton House at 10am tomorrow. www.cartonhouse.com.
Sport
The National Matchplay Championshipsin pitch and putt are held at Stackallen Pitch & Putt Club, near Slane, Co Meath, from today until Monday. www.ppui.ie. The first Cork City Marathonto be held since 1986 takes place on bank holiday Monday. Old rivalries are renewed tomorrow as Dublin take on Meath in the Leinster SFCat Croke Park. The Mullingar Equestrian Showtakes place today and tomorrow, while the All-Ireland Athletics Schools Track and Field Championshiptakes place in Tullamore today. Palmerstown House in Co Kildare hosts the AIB Irish Seniors Openthis weekend - Sam Torrance defends his title.
Gigs
Tonight and Monday: Meat Loaf(Point, Dublin). Sunday: Joe Jackson(Olympia, Dublin). Monday: Ash(Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin). Wednesday: Damien Dempsey(Cyprus Avenue, Cork). Wednesday and Thursday: George Michael(RDS, Dublin). Friday: Kelis(Ambassador, Dublin)