Five things to do this week

Help keep Vintage week alive - The next meeting of the 41st Annual Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival will take place this evening (Friday March 6) at 8.30pm in Dooly"s Hotel. The festival is dependent on volunteers to help run events over the coming months and throughout the week itself. Anyone interested in becoming involved should contact Michelle on 086 8551937 or come along to this meeting. Check out local filmmaker"s talents A film preview of 'Out of Tune' will take place in the Tullamore Court Hotel tonight (Friday) at 9pm. This is a 25 minute short film written and directed by local man Paddy Slattery. The film is about a young struggling musician who has a nervous breakdown and decides to quit chasing his dreams. Champagne reception is at 8pm and the film will be shown around 9pm. All are welcome. Support Special Olympics The Offaly Special Olympics organisers are busy fundraising ever since the successful launch by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and tomorrow night (Saturday) there"s a benefit show in Tullamore not to be missed. The Café Orchestra come to Hugh Lynch"s Bar for a night of excellent music and entertainment. Tickets are €20 and are available from the Special Olympics office in the Bridge Centre, and of course, all proceeds go to Special Olympics Offaly. See one man and his cat Head over to Moate with the kids this Sunday and catch the last matinee show of 'Dick Whittington' presented by the Tubber Variety Group. It starts at 3pm in the Tuar Ard Arts Centre. Phone 090 6482042 for more details. Go see this Check out the Mike Leigh film showing at Tuesday"s Birr Film Club. 'Happy go lucky' is a thoroughly enjoyable character-driven comedy drama, and very uplifting during these doom-ridden times. Poppy may be an annoying optimist, but it"s hard not to like this London primary school teacher, especially when her hidden inner-depth come to the fore when she"s dealing with the darker sides of life. The film starts at 8pm, phone Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on 057 9122911 for more info.