January 26th to February 1st
Sports
The National Basketball Arena, Tallaght is the venue for the 2008 National Basketball Cup Finals. The senior finals take place tomorrow - Team Montenotte Hotel Cork and Waterford Wildcats compete in the women's final at 1pm, followed at 3.15pm by the men's final between Abrakebabra Tigers and DART Killester. The Irish Senior Indoor Athletics Championshipstake place at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast this weekend, while the National U19 Boxing Championship Finalsare at the National Stadium on Friday.
Theatre
The Heightsis a re-imagining of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights by Cork-based theatre company Playgroup which moves the action to the 1980s and to a city obsessed with celebrity, scandals, and planning corruption. Ring any bells? It debuts at Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar on Tuesday and runs until February 16th. Boy Soldieris the story of John Condon, a 14-year-old from Waterford who was the youngest Allied soldier killed in the first World War. A Red Kettle production of a Ben Hennessy play, it begins a nationwide tour in Garter Lane, Waterford on Wednesday. See www.red-kettle.com
Flipping giving
The Odlums National Pancake Partystarts this Friday (Pancake Tuesday is February 5th). This annual fundraiser in aid of the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght invites you to host a pancake party in your home, school or office. Register at www.pancakeparty.ie or call 01-4142375 and get flipping.
Gigs
The NME Shockwaves Tour 2008, which features The Cribs, Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong and Does it Offend You, stops off at The Ambassador, Dublin on Wednesday. Other musical highlights include James Blunt(Waterfront, Belfast, Monday and RDS, Dublin, Tuesday); David Ford(Cyprus Ave, Cork, Thursday; Sugar Club, Dublin, Friday), and Explosions in the Sky(Tripod, Dublin tonight). The monthly comedy revue Barrel O' Laughsat Crawdaddy, Dublin on Thursday is headlined by Australian Steve Hughes, with support from Robbie Bonham.
Mummy, yummy
Mother's Day (Sunday, March 2nd) is weeks away but time is of the essence if you want to book for the 11th annual UNICEF Ireland Mother's Day Lunchat the Conrad Hotel, Dublin on February 28th. All money raised is donated to UNICEF's Safe Motherhood programme. Tickets (€150 per head or €1,500 per table of 10) are available from 01-8783000.
Literary award
The recipient of this year's Irish Pen/AT Cross Awardis playwright and novelist Thomas Kilroy. Last year's winner, Jennifer Johnston, will present him with his award at a ceremony at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on Friday.
and finally
Hearing Awareness Weekruns from Monday until February 3rd and is organised by Hidden Hearing in association with the Irish Deaf Society. See www.hearingawarenessweek.ie for information on the issues surrounding hearing loss, or call 1800-882884.