Are you a pubber? A clubber? An arts festival lover? Whatever your style, Ireland has a site to help you kick back and relax this July. The sunny weather may not always last through the summer here, but join us anyway as we keep one eye on those clouds, one hand on that pint, and two fingers crossed for a heatwave. We can dream, can't we?

Always a favourite, the Galway Arts Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, with more than 40,000 visitors expected for this raucous gala of theatre, film, music and street spectacle, kicked off on July 13 by the infamous Macnas, parade- makers extraordinaire. This year's festival offers twelve days of wildly varied performance: from puppet shows to Soviet documentary film, from the comedy of Jo Brand to readings by Roddy Doyle. Personally, we can't wait to see how a Dutch theatre troupe uses "260,000 litres of water and a succession of outrageous props" to simulate a nationwide flood. Better book early -- Galway accommodation fills up fast.

Culture fests are all well and good, but if you're one of those happening club types, a better fit is probably the stylish Live from Dublin, a hip-hoppin', thump-thumpin' collection of music and news from Dublin's best nightclubs. Crank up your Real Audio and tune into DJ sets recorded live at clubs like Ri Ra and The Kitchen, including groovy, chilled-out sounds and drum-heavy sets to get you up from that keyboard. Includes gig reviews, an on-line discussion board, info on upcoming gigs -- even photographs of sweaty dancers, snapped mid-bop on the dance floor. Our favourite: the collection of "flyer art" culled from the gigs.

Getting thirsty....Can't...dance...anymore. How about some free Guinness? O'Reilly's Pubs, a family of Irish taverns in Dublin, Brussels, Heidelberg and Amsterdam, gives you the chance to claim your free pint of Guinness at any of its locations by filling out a web-based form and printing out the special certificate. The site has a very Euro, multinational feel, right down to the list of upcoming events at each O'Reilly's location, from Boyzone in Brussels to Dutch Liberation Day in Amsterdam. Includes handy maps and photographs of each pub.

Well, it's a pity about the hangover, but no one said that free Guinness was a licence to binge. Shake off that foggy head with a round of golf at one of Ireland's outstanding courses, all categorised and searchable at Golf Club Ireland. Look for a course by county or by the green fee you'd like to pay, check out course reviews by golfers who've been there, or join the genuinely enjoyable virtual golf games online. The site also links into the excellent booking and accommodation service at Golfing Ireland, where they will book your tee times, arrange equipment hire and find a place for you to stay...finding a caddy is up to you.

Pints, pubs, parties...isn't anybody doing any work this summer? Yup. The tireless staff at the Central Statistics Office continue to compile important statistical information about Ireland and Irish life. Although complete statistical reports are only available for purchase, the CSO's homepage provides dozens of key charts and statistics for free: including figures on Irish population, climate, income, life expectancy, consumer price index, value of the punt, the number of new buildings and a great deal more. For anyone who needs to keep useful Irish information to hand, this is one for the bookmarks.

So, you've been bewitched by the golf, the theatre, the nightclubs...even the consumer price index has caught your fancy. Thinking of moving to Ireland for good? No problem. A&L Goodbody solicitors have amassed all the information you could possibly require about setting up shop in Ireland. Educate yourself on the Irish quality of life, the government and tax structure, laws governing real estate, and a wealth of details on labour laws -- from a potential employee's first medical examination to the terms of dismissal. Recent company appointments and events are also provided, including news of a recent A&L Goodbody seminar on the legal aspects of Internet trading.

That's all, folks. And don't forget this month's maxim: thou shalt not bake thyself in the sun if thou hast Irish skin. Thou shalt, on the other hand, seek out a shady spot, a floppy hat, and a good book.

Sites featured in Irish Picks

• Galway Arts Festival - west of Ireland arts gala.
  
• Live from Dublin - funk it up online.
  
• O'Reilly's Pubs - free Guinness in four European cities.
  
• Golf Club Ireland - choose a course, any course.
  
• Central Statistics Office - vital stats on Ireland.
  
• A&L Goodbody - it's all perfectly legal.
  

Yahoo! is a trademark of Yahoo! Inc.
Copyright © 1994-2000 Yahoo! All Rights Reserved.