Five things to do in Offaly

Double live music treat - There are two quality live music shows on in Tullamore this weekend. First up is Diarmuid O"Leary and the Bards playing in the Bridge House Hotel (tomorrow) Saturday night. Or if you can"t make that, see if any tickets are left for Tommy Flemming in the Court Hotel on Sunday night from 8pm. Fundraising time for Special Olympics The Offaly branch of the Special Olympics has started its fundraising drive to help those who are going to compete in the next world games. There"s plenty of fundraising events and ideas around and to get things moving Taoiseach Brian Cowen will officially launch the Offaly Special Olympics fundraising campaign in the Tullamore Court Hotel in the Goodbody Suite next Monday, February 9, at 6pm. Go along and get all the inspiration you need to help our local athletes. New art exhibit Edenderry"s Louise O"Brien launches her new exhibition in the Offaly County Council offices in Tullamore on Monday, February 9, at 6.30pm. "Orange Red Art Bi-Voo" is Louise"s first solo exhibition and there"s plenty of colour on display to get us through the last of the winter blues. After having a brief spell of "artist"s block" Louise now describes her art as 'disconcerting and subversive in its implications'. The exhibition continues until March 6. Alive with the sound of music The annual Gallen CS musical takes place next week for four nights, from Tuesday to Friday at 8pm in the school. The students have been busy rehearsing for many weeks and it"s all hands on deck as they put on the family yuletide favourite "The Sound of Music". Tickets are available at the door. Mind children? There"s a coffee morning taking place for all Tullamore childminders in Jumpin" Jacks next Thursday, February 12, organised by the Offaly Childminding Initiative. It"s for all childminders and potential childminders who want to mix and find out more. Contact Fiona McHugh the Childminder Advisory Officer on 057 9370630 for more details.