June 30th - July 6th
Gigs
What a week for music. REMare at the Olympia, D2, this week for a five-night "working rehearsal". And today there's Bell X1(Malahide Castle, Co Dublin), Justin Timberlake(RDS, D4) and The Who(Live at the Marquee, Cork). Tomorrow: Al Greenand Joe Cocker(Malahide). Monday: Status Quo(Marquee). Tuesday: Ozzy Osbourne(the Point, D1). Wednesday: 50 Cent(Marquee). Thursday: Madness(Marquee).
Sport
The Smurfit Kappa European Openstarts at the K Club, in Co Kildare, on Thursday, with Padraig Harrington aiming to become the first golfer to win both Irish tournaments in the same year. The Tour de Franceprologue starts on Saturday in Trafalgar Square, London, before moving to Dunkirk on Monday. Cork take on Kerry in the Munster football finaltomorrow; in the Leinster hurling finalKilkenny take on Wexford. The West Coast Sailing championshipstake place in Clifden, Co Galway, from Wednesday until July 7th. The premier event in Irish men's tennis, the Shelbourne Irish Open, starts at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin 6, on Monday, with the final next Saturday. Admission is free.
Literature
On Monday (2pm-5pm) and Tuesday (10am-5pm) Sotheby'sis showing pieces from its next literature sale, in London on July 12th. Highlights include first editions of Ulyssesand Dubliners, an important record of Irish song from the years before the Famine and an extensive series of letters from Samuel Beckett to his uncle and aunt. Call 01-6711431.
Last chance
Your final chance to savour the atmosphere of Andrews Lanecomes with Tardy Lasso's production of three short Harold Pinter plays, Party Time, The New World Orderand Precisely, directed by Catherine McFadden. From Monday until July 14th. Call 01-6759720. The Irish Baroque Orchestraperform their last concert until November tonight in the magnificent Borris House, Co Carlow, performing the original baroque version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. 056-7761497.
Festivals
As part of Belfast Maritime Festivalthis weekend, the city hosts seven of the world's most spectacular ships. Other highlights in this free event include live music, continental and seafood markets and a "try a dive" tank. See www.discovernorthernireland.com. Also this weekend (deep breath): Patrick Kavanagh Writer's Weekendin Iniskeen, Co Monaghan; Ennis Street Festival, in Co Clare; Drogheda Samba Festival, in Co Louth; Ballybunion International Bachelor Festival, in Co Kerry; Wexford Strawberry Fair Festival, in Enniscorthy; Kilkenny International Hot Air Balloon Festivaland Cáirde Summer Festival, in Sligo. See www.ireland.ie for details.
And finally . . .
Monday sees Ireland's first Farmers' Market Conference, at the Radisson SAS in Athlone, Co Westmeath, to discuss the future of the sector. It starts at 9am. Tickets from Western Organic Network, 071-9640688. Wimbledonremains on the agenda, as does, alas, hay fever.