Sunday July 31 2011Megan Fox -- not the actress, but the daughter of nightclub owners Robbie and Martina Fox -- is launching a festival for "bands with balls" next month that will give Irish alternative acts a chance to bring their music to the masses.
The rising star has a number of alternative indie, rock and electro-pop bands lined up for the two-day music extravaganza, including Readers Wives, Kid Karate and A Plastic Rose.
The homegrown acts will take to the stage at Dublin's Crawdaddy on August 5 and 6. Speaking about the festival, entitled 'Crackity Jones Lost Weekend', Fox says: "Music has become a fashion accessory these days rather than something people believe in.
"I want to broaden people's minds and surprise them with what's out there."
And although her father is a close pal of MCD boss Denis Desmond, she is determined to succeed on her own: "I'm too stubborn to ask for help. I like doing my own thing," she says with a laugh.
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Veterans hit the road for shows
Country veterans Diarmuid O'Leary & The Bards take to the road in August, with shows in: Talk of the Town, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow on Saturday, August 13; Regency Hotel, Whitehall, Dublin, on Saturday, August 20; and the Central Hotel, Donegal Town, on Saturday, August 27.
Fastest ferry to France on Horizon
Celtic Link Ferries has announced that a new vessel, the Celtic Horizon, will travel between Rosslare and Cherbourg, France. Celtic Horizon, which is launching this October, will be the newest and fastest vessel sailing the busy sea route and the only ship with a 12-month service.
Students protected if courses go bust
A bond system to protect more than 100,000 students who have no comeback if those providing courses in further and higher education go out of business will be introduced by Irish Course Providers Association (ICPA).
The ICPA's inaugural council meeting last week decided to put in place a fund for members offering courses lasting at least three months. The fund will indemnify students if any member ceases trading or is unable, for whatever reason, to finish or even deliver an enrolled course.
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Currently private course providers, offering Fetac or Hetac courses of three months' duration or more, must get a guarantee from two other registered providers that, in the event of the course provider going out of business, they will take over and guarantee to finish out the course.
Prize Bonds' €1m jackpot goes north
A Monaghan resident last week won €1m in August's Prize Bonds Millionaire draw. In addition, more than 7,400 other Prize Bond holders across the country won prizes worth €1.5m. The winning bond number is NA 301751 and it was bought last year.
In addition to the €1m awarded every month, there are weekly draws with a top prize of €20,000, five prizes of €1,000, 10 prizes of €250 and over 7,400 prizes of €75.