She is not expected to make it, but the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, has been invited to attend an opening by her friend, Mr Fergus O'Hagan, in Galway tomorrow evening.
Mr O'Hagan, a senior counsel, is now better known as owner of an off-licence in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim.
He is due to open From Near and Far, an exhibition of oil paintings by Galway-based artist, Vicki Crowley, who has trekked and climbed in Ireland and beyond in Brazil, China, the Amazon region, Peru, Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand over the last 10 years.
Two days later, another artist stages her first show in Galway's city library. Inside Out is the title of an exhibition of oils by Ms Fidelma Dunne-O'Higgins. A mother of three boys, aged 12, 10, and four, Ms Dunne-O'Higgins took up painting after a friend suggested it might help in her recov- ery from what she describes as a life-altering emotional trauma.
A microbiology graduate of NUI Galway, her career path has already taken her from diagnostic laboratories to working with multinational companies. When it became necessary to stay at home with her sons, she learned how to tap into her creative side and express herself on canvas. She enrolled at the Paint Box studio in Barna, Co Galway, and the director there, Ms Miriam Cronin, is now due to open her exhibition on Thursday. The work will remain on display to the public during library opening times in Augustine Street, Galway.
Shipping a Steinway grand piano to an Aran island is no easy task, but this is the challenge facing the organisers of a classical music initiative later this month.
Irish concert pianist Míceál O'Rourke, who is resident in Paris, is due to embark on a 10-concert tour of Gaeltacht and western regions over the next two months. As well as his work as a solo pianist, Mr O'Rourke frequently appears with leading international symphony and chamber orchestras, and he has been a regular guest with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Billed by the organisers as "the most extensive Gaeltacht tour undertaken by any musician or performer from any artistic discipline", the venues include Inis Óirr (Feb 23rd), Achill Island (Feb 25th) and Belmullet, Co Mayo (Feb 26th), Furbo, Co Galway (Feb 27th), Dingle, Co Kerry (March 1st), and on to Cape Clear Island in Co Cork, Ring in Co Waterford, Ballyvourney in Co Cork, Rath Cairn in Co Meath and Gaoth Dobhair in Co Donegal.
The programme for the tour includes Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition as well as music by Field, Ravel, Chopin, Schubert and Prokofiev. Tickets will be available for each concert at the door and further information can be obtained from the following: Inis Óirr (099-75150); Achill Island (098-45138); Belmullet (097-81418); Furbo (086-2528922 or 087-2860845).
Schoolgirls from north and south of the Border are due to compete in the final of the Business and Professional Women's public speaking contest in NUI Galway, next Saturday.
The debate is open to the public, and takes place at NUI Galway at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Co Mayo estimates it has generated 17,956 bednights in the remote Ballycastle area of north Mayo since it started its fellowship programme in July,1992.
International artists and their families who come to live and work there are also closely involved in the life of the community, the foundation stresses in its latest bulletin.
An educational programme is run with the local national and secondary schools, and last month Karen Butler from New York taught acting to all ages in the national school and with the local Foróige group.
The foundation was established in 1991 and is directed by Margo and Peter Maxwell.
It receives support from the Arts Council, the Ireland Funds and from Mayo County Council's arts section.