When Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease 250 years ago for the Guinness Brewery at St. James’s Gate, an icon was born. And, as part of this auspicious anniversary, the Guinness Storehouse is putting on an inspired programme of traditional music, lectures, tours and cookery demos designed to entertain and enlighten its well-timed visitors. All events are free and booking is not required, but on a first come, first served basis. So, if you're here from June to August, check out the following guide to what's on when. Weekday events take place at 11:00.

Mon: Guinness Storehouse Head Chef Justin O’Connor will be teaching participants the art of Cooking with Guinness and giving away a Guinness Cookbook. Impress your loved ones back home with your new-found culinary prowess... or just enjoy a free sample or two of Justin's tasty work.

Wed: For those who consider themselves true Guinness connoisseurs, check out the Guinness Variants Tasting Sessions and learn to appreciate the delicacies and nuances of the different Guinness variants (you might need to book your taxi home before you begin!).

Thurs: The Guinness Advertising Tour looks back at some of the company's most memorable campaigns from the past 80 years.

And two tours and talks take visitors even further into Guinness' fascinating past; the specially-commissioned Guinness 250 Tour (Fri) and Top 10 Golden Moments of Guinness History (Tues).

Then, each Saturday a Céilí Mór (traditional Irish social dance) will be held featuring a live Céilí band and troupe of professional Irish dancers. And, on Sundays, the Storehouse’s fifth-floor Source Bar will be home to an Irish music session or “seisún” of jigs, reels and ballads. Both weekend hooleys take place at 13:00.

ARTHUR'S DAY
Events will culminate on Arthur’s Day - 24th September 2009 - when cities across the world will come together to mark this milestone in the life of a remarkable Irish brand. Celebrations will begin in Dublin where renowned music acts and local talent will be performing at locations across the city - from pubs, bars and music venues to the St. James’s Gate brewery itself where one of its most historic buildings, Hop Store 13, will be converted into a live music studio.

At 17:59, local time, (1759 being the year the lease was signed) Dubliners will raise a Guinness to Arthur. Other international cities, including New York, Lagos, Yaoundé and Kuala Lumpur, will simultaneously host events. And when New York raises a glass 17:59 local time, the curtain will come down on 24hrs of global celebrations. For more info on this unique event, and to find out how you can take part, log on to www.guinness-storehouse.com.