Dublin Event Guide » 2008 » December

Event Guide 78: Dockland Christmas Market, Food Fair, Car Boot Sale, Carol Singing, Christmas at Farmleigh House/Temple Bar/Tallaght, Gloria Choir

December 12th, 2008

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| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 78
| 12 Dec 2008                      Subscribers: 2846
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Hi all!

The biggest excitement during the last week was provided by the mayhem around the pork product recall. Certainly not exactly the best time – just before Christmas – for any food related chaos, but it does puzzle me a bit that the pork industry immediately demanded that the government would pay them some compensation. If a supplier messes up and affects your business you would think that your supplier is the only one you can get some compensation from. I guess that if you projected the same scenario on the companies you are working for compensation by the state would NEVER be a consideration. Imagine: Arnotts is not supplied with the clothes they could sell before Christmas because the supplier made a mistake. Can they run crying to the government? A little odd that the meat processing companies can! But there are more odd things about this: Did you hear that in 6 months time you might be sold the “old” meat that you didn’t want to buy today because you don’t trust it yet?  Read it here www.rte.ie/news/2008/1211/pork.html. I find that amazing!

More events related stuff: The Point Theatre is opening on the 16 Dec with the first concert in the new venue. Yes, I know, it is CURRENTLY not called “Point Theatre” or even as prior to that “Point Depot”. For as long as the branding contract runs, it is called “The O2″, but let’s face it, this is a totally stupid name and the fact that once the branding contract is over it will probably be called Point Theatre again, makes it even more stupid. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Theatre It is very unlikely that there will be any free events in the Point, so it won’t feature in this Event Guide usually. But if it does, I can still use the proper name ;-) since www.point.ie is forwarded as long as the branding exists. Interestingly, the company that owns the venue is called “Amphitheatre Ireland”.

Last week I told you about Aline Barros, her tragic story and her inspiring personality. www.herald.ie/national-news/aline-puts-a-brave-face-on-tragedy-in-youtube-video-1470133.html. Many of you contacted me regarding Aline. Some to tell me that you had donated some money to Aline, others still plan to do so and others again told me that they found Aline to be an inspiration too and asked me to let her know. I will tell Aline and if you asked for her e-mail address you will hear from me again soon. It is very nice of you that so many care and are prepared to help! Aline will leave Rehab today and any support will still (or even more now) be appreciated. I will keep you posted about her story and if you work in the media world and agree with me on the fact that more people should know about her tragic story, her need of help, but as well of her positive attitude and enthusiastic personality despite all problems, please contact me on dublineventguide@gmail.com!!!

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A special thanks this week to Susanna N and to Kate C, who gave me the welcome and MUCH appreciated surprise of a donation for the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events.)!! And let me tell you I’d love to be surprised more! :-)

And please read this: This Event Guide is sponsored by Esme E., Cliodhna D., Brian L., Padraig S., Kathie S., Orla niF, Jef B., Susanna N., Kate C. and www.stickyfingerstravel.com, the travel guide for parents travelling with their children. The main sponsor is www.kravmagaireland.com, the self-defence training centre for everyone, which provides 12-week or 2-day self-defence training courses for beginners.
I am grateful for the support, but the sponsoring is still well below the cost, so YOUR support is NEEDED! Going to free events saves you a LOT of money. True? ;-) Knowing about these free events is the first HUGE step so that you then can decide if you want to go or not. True as well? This is at least worth 1 Euro per month? Do you agree? Can I count on your 12 Euro per year?
To contribute go to “http ://url . ie/v6z” and just remove the three Spaces in the web address (I have to write it like this, otherwise Spam Checkers complain about the url .ie address.) you then can donate using PayPal or your credit card!
Alternatively you can transfer your donation directly to “Joerg Steegmueller, AIB, SortCode 93-36-78, AccountNo 03556043″ or send a mail to me (dublineventguide@gmail.com) and we can arrange a different route for your donation. This Event Guide is a hobby project and NOT a commercial enterprise, so I do need donations!

All events listed in this Event Guide are free of any admission charges or at least appear to be free unless otherwise stated. I try to find confirmation in all cases and do my best to double-check the information. However errors can happen and therefore no guarantee for correctness can be given.

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______Joerg’s Plans______________

This week my plan is to do this
* On Saturday I will help carol singing at the GPO for the Peter McVerry Trust, then I will go to the SuperNatural Food Market on Pearse Street. After that I will drop over to George’s Dock to the Docklands Christmas Market “12 Days of Christmas” and later I have to go to the brilliant Toe Jam Car Boot Sales. In the evening I will go to a birthday party, so no “public” events on Sat evening.
*Sunday: I need to soak in the Christmas atmosphere a bit in Grafton Street, because next weekend I will probably not be able to, so this Sunday is the day for that. And like every week, in the evening I will help making the the nice people in the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir sound good during the Gospel Mass.
* During the week: On Monday I am double-”booked” (rehearsal with the backing choir I am singing in and training), if possible I will go to the Gloria Choir concert on Tuesday on Wednesday is the Krav Maga Christmas meet-up and on Thursday I am treble-”booked” (Argh!!) AND have an Event Guide to write! But no stress, I will find a solution. ;-)

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______Competition______________

REDEMPTION SONG – BOOK COMPETITION
I had a chance to read some snippets in the book that Liberties Press made available for this competition and I will definitely put it on my reading list for the Christmas Holidays!! The bits that I read make me want to read more and if I didn’t “have” to write this Event Guide today, I would read in “Redemption Song”!
The book “Redemption Song” is written by Niall Stanage, an Irish Reporter inside the Obama campaign. It is “a unique insider’s account of Barack Obama’s journey from fledgling politician in Chicago through his acrimonious tussle with Hillary Clinton and culminating in his momentous victory over John McCain. Stanage also examines this amazing tale from a global perspective. He enjoyed unparalleled access to Obama, including being the only Irish journalist to travel on the candidate’s plane.” Stanage writes for the Sunday Business Post, the New York Observer and the Guardian and has been a regular presence on RTE Radio in recent months, offering analysis on the presidential election for the Tubridy Show, Drivetime and the Late Debate amongst others. “Redemption Song will likely stir up its own share of controversy too, thanks to the author’s trenchantly expressed opinions about the tactics used against Obama by the Clintons and the resistance the Democrat encountered from prominent figures in the Irish-American community.” Check www.LibertiesPress.com for more information about the book and to order it online.
If you want to win a copy of this book, you have another chance: Just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with “Obama” (without the ” “) in the subject line and with your full name and address and your mobile phone number in the body of the mail. The mail has to be with my by 14:00 on Tuesday 16 Dec.

FITNESS CONSULTATION & PERSONAL TRAINER
This is not a competition in the classical sense, instead everybody can be a winner and get something for free, so I decided to include it in this section as well. Cathy Albanese, a personal trainer and long-term Dublin Event Guide Community member, is offering a free fitness consultation and assessment with herself to everybody before Christmas. This is a value of EUR 70, which you can get for absolutely free! You can take this 1-hour sessions with Cathy at home, in your gym or anywhere else convenient.
Obviously and understandably, Cathy would like to support you with personal training lessons after that and she is offering significant discounts of approx. 30% on standard personal trainer rates if booked before the 31st of December. To book the free 1-hour fitness consultation and assessment and to discuss her personal training offering, please ring Cathy directly on 085 738 2422 and mention that you want to take up the “Dublin Event Guide Offer”.

PILATES AND MASSAGE – STUDIO 23
The “competition line” is closed for this competition, but due to too much to do in day job and some other areas of my life this week, I didn’t get a chance to draw a winner yet. So please be patient, I will do it early next week.
In the meantime you can have a look again at the shiny new website of Studio 23 and read about what Aine Crossan has to offer:
Studio 23 is a specialist studio for Pilates, Personal Training and Bodywork Therapy (including Massage and Weight Management) and is run by Aine Crossan. “Studio 23, offers treatments for chronic back, head, neck and shoulder pain, sports injury, remedial and holistic massage, using a rounded approach to treat and alleviate pain, through treatment and then rehabilitation. They also offer regular classes (Pre- and Post-Pregnancy) in Pilates and Yoga. Studio 23 is in Dame House, 24-26 Dame St. Dublin 2. And you can find all the information about the comprehensive therapy and training types on www.studio23.ie. Last week the website was not up yet, but if you go to it now you will see the spanking new web presence of Studio 23.
Studio 23 can help you with pain, injury, training or weight loss and to find out how they can do that you should check the website or ring 01-633 6023.Gift Certificates for Christmas are available as well.

All events in this Competition Section are non-free events, but the organisers are making free tickets available for you to win. I usually get lots of competition entries and unfortunately not everybody can win, so even if you are not the winner, please consider going to an event to support the organisers. :-) If you don’t win, and will go to the event, please help showing the organisers that promoting their event in the Dublin Event Guide is beneficial and mention to them that you heard about the event through “Joerg’s Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. Thanks!

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______Dublin News______________

GLAS VEGAS – AUDIENCE TICKETS
During the week a mail reached me from James from Adare Productions. The are currently looking for audience members for ‘Glas Vegas’, a TG4 talent show to be recorded this Christmas in RTÉ studios in Dublin. Tickets are free and Adare Productions promises that each show should be both weird and wonderful!
There are seven shows in total over the Christmas and New Year period so there’s bound to be one that suits – check the dates and times below for further information, you’ll be well looked after in the RTÉ studios!
Since TG4 is an Irish language station and since many of us in the Event Guide Community do not speak any Irish, I explicitly asked James about this and he confirmed that the show is not just something for Irish speakers, but is a great outing for everyone over the Christmas holidays. Since it is a talent show, you don’t need any Irish to enjoy the performances.
The show dates and times are
- 28 Dec at 13:30
- 29 Dec at 13:30 + 18:30
- 30 Dec at 13:30 + 18:30
- 02 Jan at 13:30 + 18:30
To book your seat in the audience of this TV show you can call James on 01 2843877 or on 087 2698248 or send an e-mail to GlasVegasTG4@gmail.com. The availability of these tickets is advertised in many places, so you should hurry and order your tickets soon if you want to attend the show. Irish speakers can find out more here www.tg4.ie/stud/glas/glas.asp for the rest of us this page helps further www.tg4.ie/bearla/stud/glas/glas.asp

NIGHT SHIFT TO GO
The Channel 6 programme “Night Shift” that is presented by Michelle Doherty and is produced by Elton Mullally will be taken off the air from 31 December as a result of TV3 taking over Channel 6. www.state.ie/blog/channel-6s-night-shift-to-be-taken-off-air. Night Shift showed music videos and did interviews with bands etc and because it is an Irish-made programme it had a particular focus on Irish bands and performers. There is no other similar programme on TV that gives local bands a platform to reach the masses and for this reason an online petition has been started. The petition is in serious need of support, so if “Night Shift” will be missed by you, you can make it known here: www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringbacknightshift You could also email info@channel6.ie if you prefer that. Thanks to Dermot B for this information.

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______Exhibitions_______________

SMOKERS – PROJECT ART CENTRE
Only until Sat 13 Dec (since 09 Dec) the video and sound installation by John Byrne and Stephen Gardner entitled “Smokers” can be visited in the Cube in Projects Art Centre. It is open from 11:00-20:00. This new video and sound installation marks the early 21st century banishment of smokers to the great outdoors. The installation is a homage to those who have remained committed to the pursuit of the ritual…al fresco. (Venue Details: Project Art Centre, 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, www.project.ie)

LONNIE V. BRUMMELEN & SIEBREN DE HAAN – PROJECT ARTS CENTRE
Project Arts Centre is presenting the newly commissioned installation of two films by Lonnie van Brummelen & Siebren de Haan, one 35mm and the other 16mm, in the exhibition ‘Monument to Another Man’s Fatherland’. The exhibition will be open from 11 Dec- 31 Jan. (Venue Details: Project Art Centre, 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, www.project.ie, Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00)

GROUP SHOW – SEBASTIAN GUINNESS GALLERY
From 09 Dec (no closing date is specified) a group show by gallery artists will feature James Nares, Kenny Scharf, Herbert Hamak, Helen Chadwick, Mike Bouchet, Gavin Turk and The Hilton Brothers. (Gallery Details: Sebastian Guinness Gallery, 18 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, www.sebastianguinnessgallery.com, Open: Tues-Fri: 10:00-18:00, Sat: 12:00-18:00)

GROUP SHOW – CROW GALLERY
The Crow Gallery invites you to their Christmas Group Show by gallery artists. The show will open on 11 Dec and will continue until the end of December. (Gallery Details: Crow Gallery, 6 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, www.crowgallery.net, Open: 12:00-18:00)

GROUP SHOW – TAYLOR GALLERIES
From 11 Dec until sometime in January, Taylor Galleries will show their Christmas Group Show with new work by gallery artists (Martin Gale, Janet Mullarney, Seán McSweeney, Colin Harrison, Pat Harris, Louis le Brocquy, William Crozier, Patrick Scott and Fionnuala D’Arcy, amongst others). (Gallery Details: Taylor Galleries, 16 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, www.taylorgalleries.ie, Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:30, Sat 11:00-15:00)

GROUP SHOW – THE JOINERY
“Pieces of Eight” is the Christmas show in The Joinery from 13 Dec – 16 Dec. The show is featuring the work of eight photographic artists. (Gallery Details: The Joinery, Arbour Hill, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, www.thejoinery.org, Open: ???)

CROSS PROCESS – LANTERN CENTRE
From 11 Dec – 14 Dec the Lantern Centre at 17 Synge Street, Dublin 8, will host exhibition of photographic work by the Cross Process group of independent photographers. The exhibiting members of the group are Enagh Farrell, Ray O’ Brien, Ruth Tutty, Elena Gallotta, Stefano Togan, Martin Keiz, Lucy Nuzum, Jan Zeman and Stefano Voss. (Venue Details: Lantern Centre, 17 Synge Street, Dublin 8, www.crossprocess.org, Open: see website)

MICHAEL KANE – RUBICON GALLERY
The Rubicon Gallery is inviting to an exhibition of work by Michael Kane and has launched a book detailing Michael Kane’s major works from the 1950s to the present. The exhibition runs from 10-20 Dec. (Gallery Details: Rubicon Gallery, 10 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, www.rubicongallery.ie, Open: Tues- Sat 12:00-18:00)

TEXTURES – DEBBIE PAUL STUDIO
Debbie Paul is inviting you to the opening of her ‘Textures’ exhibition at her studio at Unit 1, Music Hall, Cow’s Lane, Dublin 2. The exhibition of silver, gold and platinum jewellery will run from 10-24 Dec. www.debbiepaul.com

JACK PAKENHAM – ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENTS
The Alternative Entertainments Gallery at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, invites you to ‘Here It Is’, an exhibition of paintings by Jack Pakenham. The exhibition runs until 12 Jan 2009. www.altents.ie

GROUP SHOW – MOLESWORTH GALLERY
The Molesworth Gallery is inviting to its Winter Group show, featuring gallery and invited artists Clodagh Murphy, Bridget O’Rourke, Patrick Redmond, David Browne, Maeve McCarthy, Jennifer Trouton, John Hearne, Una Sealy, Blaise Smith and Michael Wann. The exhibition will be on show until 24 December 2008.
(Gallery Details: Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, www.molesworthgallery.com, Open: ??)

SARAH PIERCE – FOUR
“A thing of beauty, colour and love” is an exhibition by Sarah Pierce from 11 Dec – 31 Jan. Pierce presents both the practical remnants of institutional organisation, including redundant pedestals and archival documents; and the broader concerns of political organisation and protest through interviews and documentation, including video of a workshop where participants acted out gestures and recited quotes from bystanders at political demonstrations in the US between 1968-2008.” (Gallery Details: Four Gallery, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1, www.fourdublin.com, Open: Tues+Wed+Fri: 11:00-17:00, Thurs: 11:00-19:00, Sat: 12:00-17:00)

LAUNCH08 – THE LAB
The LAB and Four are inviting to “Launch 08″, an exhibition supporting recent graduates. Peter Cabocky (IADT), Sabina Mac Mahon (NCAD) and Ian Slattery (DIT) are showing their work. The exhibition opens on Wed 17 Dec at 18:00 at the LAB, Foley Street, Dublin 1. For more information contact sheena.barrett@dublincity.ie. Incredibly and amazingly The Lab has still no website! Probably a sign of how important it is for them to get visitors to their exhibitions. :-S (Gallery Details: The LAB, Foley Street, Dublin 1, www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/ArtsandFacilities/Pages/TheLabFoleyStreet.aspx, Open: Mon-Sat: 10:00-17:00)

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On Friday 12 Dec the 12 Day of Christmas at George’s Dock, Dublin’s only real Christmas Market will start. The Blanchardstown Brass Band will entertain on Friday evening and on Saturday there will be the brilliant face painters and balloon modellers from Marvellous Faces (www.marvellousfaces.com). Open from 12:00-20:00 every day until 23 Dec. Find out more about the Christmas Market here www.dublindocklands.ie/12daysofchristmas/index.jsp

AISLING RYAN – THISISNOTASHOP:
Aisling Ryan presents ‘Creative Spaces’ based on the principle “no stage, no set list, no (traditional) audience” allowing performers freedom from the constraints of scheduled performances. This event is not programmed and involves musicians and performing artists. The event will take place on Friday 12 Dec 2008 at 20:00. For more information email Aisling at: aislingcryan@gmail.com.
www.aislingcryan.wordpress.com (Gallery Details: Thisisnotashop, 26 Benburb Street, Dublin 7, www.thisisnotashop.com. Open: 11:00-19:00)

REGULAR EVENTS – FRIDAY
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading in Chapter and Verse on Parnell Street at 13:15. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* Sahaja Meditation program every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street (bell 3, next to the IFI), Temple Bar. For more information contact Seamus on SHarten@upc.ie www.templebar.ie/home_ns_9_action_view_nid_229.html

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SUPERNATURAL FOODMARKET – PEARSE STREET
Every Saturday from 09:30-15:30 a quite new and interesting food market is replacing the food co-op in St. Andrews Resource Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin 2. When the food co-op moved away, Beibhinn Byrne realised that the gap had to be filled and she organised and started the SuperNatural Food Market. www.supernatural.ie
13-20 Dec are the last two markets before Christmas and special Christmas services and goodies are enriching the market even more. This indoor market in a beautiful hall of a listed building has no admission fee or membership and is open to everybody.
Organic, biodynamic, vegetables, olives and cheeses, non-mass produced Lamb, Chicken and Beef, organic turkeys for Christmas, a magical array of breads, scones and cakes, Christmas Cakes & Puddings  are some of the foods available. In addition to that, eco-friendly household products, vintage clothing, tableware and household linen and many many more items complement the products on offer.
Extras’s on the 20 Dec are Bauble-Raquel Schwarz’s unique jewellery (www.baublejewellery.com), Marrit from Amsterdam will be there with her eclectic collection of surprises and Helen Vella’s paintings and sketches sold by the
artist herself. www.supernatural.ie.
I will go this week to the market to experience it myself, and maybe I will meet some of you there. ;-)

LORNA BYRNE – BOOK SIGNING
Lorna Byrne will be signing copies of her book “Angels in my hair” in Hughes&Hughes in St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre on Sat 13th Dec from 10:00.
www.hughesbooks.com/

CAROL SINGING FOR PETER MCVERRY TRUST & SLI EILE
Therese Deegan, who is a very long term Dublin Event Guide Community Member, is asking you all to help raising money for the Peter McVerry Trust by joining them for a carol singing at the GPO in O’Connell Street from 10:30-13:00. You can just show up and song sheets will be provided. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=654030808&ref=profile#/event.php?eid=52501786487 By the way, if singing is not your thing, then just “buy freedom” ;-) by contributing to the collection. The Peter McVerry Trust supports young homeless people (www.pmvtrust.ie)
And if you are not frozen yet at 13:00, you can walk a few hundred meters south to the Liffey and sing with the Sli Eile crowd on O’Connell Bridge until 15:00. They are collecting money for volunteering projects in Zambia, Colombia and Jamaica. sli-eile.com/calendar_dec_08.html

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS – CHRISTMAS MARKET
The “12 Day of Christmas” Christmas Market is open from 12:00-20:00 at George’s Dock near the IFSC. It is Dublin’s only real Christmas Market and on Sat 13 Dec the brilliant face painters and balloon modellers from Marvellous Faces (www.marvellousfaces.com) will entertain the children while the parents enjoy their Bratwurst (German Pork is not affected by the problems in Ireland!) and the Gluehwein. Find out more about the Christmas Market here www.dublindocklands.ie/12daysofchristmas/index.jsp

CHRISTMAS STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN – CITY CENTRE
The Dublin City Business Improvement District (BID) is inviting children to free Christmas Storytelling Sessions as part of its BIDs for KIDs programme. From 22 Nov to 14 Dec special Christmas storytelling sessions will take place each Saturday and Sunday in St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and The Gresham Hotel.
The storyteller, Susie Minto, will draw in listeners around the imaginary hearth and warm their hearts with Christmas and Winter themed stories from many traditions – Irish, Native American, European, and Japanese.
The storytelling sessions will last 30 minutes and all children aged four to ten years old, accompanied by an adult, are welcome. The sessions are free but pre-booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please telephone the Dublin City BID on 01-6334680 or email bidsforkids@dublincitybid.ie to reserve a space. See www.dublincitybid.ie for more information.
Storytelling Session Details:
The Gresham Hotel – 11:00, 12:00, 13:00
St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre – 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
Each Saturday and Sunday from the 22nd November to 14th December.

FARMLEIGH HOUSE – CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME
The Christmas Programme in Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park is starting this weekend on Sat 06 Dec. The schedule for the day is
* Christmas Food Market – 10:00-17:00
* Live Crib & Childrens Christmas Room – 10:00-17:00
* Storytelling for Children – 12:00-13:15, 14:45-15:30, 16:45-17:30
* Childrens Magic Show – 13:30-14:30, 15:30-16:30
* Carol Singing with Coro Italiano Di Dublino – 13:30-15:30
* Barbershop Harmonies with ‘The Mellowchords’ – 14:00-16:00
www.farmleigh.ie

IRISH COINAGE – NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLINS BARRACKS
Michael Kenny, Keeper of Art & Industry at the National Museum, will be giving a talk entitled ‘History in your Hand, The story of Irish Coinage’, on Saturday 13 December 2008 from 12:00-12:30. This talk will take place in the Museum Gallery at Collins Barracks and will seek to explore elements of the collections’ care, display and history. The talk will start at the Main Reception. It is free of charge and no booking is required. www.museum.ie/en/intro/arts-and-history.aspx
www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=231

LIVE ANIMAL CRIB – MANSION HOUSE
The Live Animal Crib brought to you by Dublin City Council and the Irish Farmers Association returns to the Mansion House this year. Admission is free and the Crib will open from 08-24 Dec. For Details please contact 01 222 6200.

TEMPLE BAR – CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME
On Saturday 13 Dec a number of events take place in Temple Bar:
* 12:00-13:00 Music performance: “Discovery  Gospel Choir” in Curved Street
* 13:15-14:15 Christmas Themed Book Reading: ‘Warming Words at Christmas Time’ in The New Theatre (inside Connolly Books) East Essex Street, Temple Bar.
Children’s Author Catherine Ann Cullen will weave together extracts from the classics including The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clark Moore, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant along with excerpts from her own publication, The Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat and a specially written Christmas poem. Booking Essential: 01-6772255
* 14:30-15:30 Have Yourself a Sustainable Kind of Christmas
Presented by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust in association with Cultivate Centre in Cultivate, West Essex St, Old City, Temple Bar. – Booking Essential: 01 677 2255
Speaker, Declan McCormac from CODEMA, will discuss saving electricity with decorations; eco presents; socially aware presents; social inclusion such as charity work, what to do with left-over Christmas-wrap/food/extra presents; disposal of Christmas tree; a sustainable forest tree (certified); making your own decorations; finances at Christmas, shopping locally for presents and sourcing local food for your Christmas feast.
Also check out Cultivate’s Christmas Gift Display featuring a wide range of sustainable and educational gifts available through the Centre.
templebar.ie/home_nav_2_t_17.html

TEMPLE BAR – ONGOING CHRISTMAS EVENTS
In addition to the weekly special events, there are two events that will run from 06 Dec to 20 Dec:
* Christmas Customs around the World: A Schools Project Competition & Display
The multi-cultural nature of Dublin today brings with it a myriad of traditions and customs. We have invited Secondary schools in Dublin to submit projects describing Christmas customs, traditions and beliefs in different countries around the world.
Venue: Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar
* Jesus in Context: A Modern Nativity. Presented by Seleck Imagery, Designer Mart at Cow’s Lane. (In aid of the Dublin Simon Community)
Traditionally, a valued part of Christmas is the erection of a nativity crib. If the Christmas scene was played out in Dublin today, the holy family would be desolate on the streets of Dublin, turned away from accommodation and forced to shelter wherever they could find. Through digital media, a nativity scene will be created using modern representations of the traditional scene. This reconstruction aims to highlight the plight of many who find it impossible to meet modern expectations at Christmas time. Venue: Smock Alley Café, West Essex Street, Old City Temple Bar
templebar.ie/home_nav_2_t_17.html

TOE JAM CAR BOOT SALE
In June or July I went to the Toe Jam Car Boot Sale the first time and it was a surreal experience. Since then I didn’t manage to make it to it, but this weekend I will try again. In the back yard of the Bernard Shaw Pub in South Richmond Street (between Bleedin’ Horse Pub in Camden Street and Rathmines) and the weird and wonderful car boot sale is taking place and it has to be seen to understand. The event has a Christmas theme this week and while you can’t apply anymore to sell goods (the deadline is gone), you can still watch, buy and be amazed. :-) So, come on Sat 13 Dec between 13:00-18:00 to the Bernard Shaw, enter the pub, look for the back exit to the smokers section and then go out through the emergency exit to find the Car Boot Sale. Enjoy! :-)
www.bodytonicmusic.com/events/other/2008/nov/03/christmas-carboot-sale/
Kellie Dalton told me that Stitch will be at the Car Boot Sales as well:
Stitch brings knitting to the City Centre for one day only…This Saturday, Stitch will be at the ToeJam Christmas Carboot Sale in The Bernard Shaw. Wool, needles, knitting kits, tea cosies, mug warmers, vouchers, knitting lessons and lots of fun. Come down and keep warm with us. For more information check out www.stitchireland.com/contactus.html

FESTIVAL OF CAROLS & CHRISTMAS MUSIC – CENTRAL LIBRARY
The Newtown Chamber Choir in association with the Music Library presents “A Festival of Carols & Christmas Music” on Sat 13: Dec from 14:00-15:00 in the Central Library in Ilac Shopping Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1. More information on 01 8734333 and www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie.

ROSS O’CARROLL KELLY – BOOK SIGNING
Ross O’Carroll Kelly aka Paul Howard will be signing copies of his new book ‘Mrs S and the Secrets of Andorra’s Box’ in the Hughes&Hughes Bookshop in Dundrum on 13 Dec at 15:00.

TALLAGHT CHRISTMAS SPARKLE
Last week I already included this link to a programme brochure of the South Dublin Libraries about upcoming events. libraries.southdublin.ie/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=151. It includes the Christmas events and if you live in the Tallaght area, please have a look at this brochure. This week I found another link that describes the Tallaght Christmas Sparkle event specifically. www.southdublintourism.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=266&Itemid=263. During the week Sarah Brooks from South Dublin County Tourism sent me a nice looking brochure about the same event, but unfortunately I can’t forward it to you and didn’t find it on their website. Instead here a description of the main event “Deck the Walls…” from Sat 13 Dec at 16:30 and daily from that time until 24 Dec festive images, done by local children, will illuminate the walls of the County Library on Library Square in Tallaght. Entertainment on Sat will include a Magical Carousel, Tallaght Youth Band, Aerial Performance by The Dream,
seasonal hospitality and much more. Leading up to Christmas week, the new County Library Tallaght is running a variety of free workshops on all things Christmas from making angels to flower arranging. www.visitsouthdublincounty.ie/thingtodo.asp?ID=114

FAMILY EVENTS – NATIONAL MUSEUM
All events are in this documents www.museum.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=77841bfe-3b9a-40e4-8830-aed0cb22f325 and individually they can be found here www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx

CLAIRE-LOUISE BENNETT – THISISNOTASHOP:
‘The Surrounding’ by Claire-Louise Bennett in thisisnotashop is a living text project which will include a live performance on Sat 13 December 2008 starting at 19:00 and a sound installation which will be open on Sat+Sun 13+14 December 2008 from 14:00-19:00. (Gallery Details: Thisisnotashop, 26 Benburb Street, Dublin 7, www.thisisnotashop.com. Open: 11:00-19:00)

WORDLVIEW FILM CLUB
The Worldview Film Club is inviting you to their next screening and discussion on Sat 13 Dec at 18:00. The film this week is “Chariots of Fire” (2001) and the theme of the discussion afterwards is “Faith”. More information is here: worldview.project.googlepages.com/invitation and here www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27560436112
The Worldview Film Club is inspired by the Bahá’í Religion and you can find more information about it here www.bahai.ie

SPECTRUMS – SPAWELL TEMPLEOGUE
The great 80s band “The Spectrums” www.thespectrums.net/ will play on Sat 13 Dec in the Spawell in Templeogue. www.dublinpubscene.com/thepubs/thespawell.html I am told that admission is free. If you like 80s music in the slightest, go to that gig, you will enjoy the Spectrums!

TEMPLE BAR MARKETS
And as always: Don’t forget that the Temple Bar Markets (Temple Bar Food Market on Meeting House Square and the Temple Bar Designer Mart near Cow’s Lane) are taking place every Saturday from 10:00-16:30.

______________________________
______Sunday __________________

5KM FUN RUN – PHOENIX PARK
A festive 5km Fun Run is taking place on 14 Dec between 11:00 and 12:00 in Phoenix Park. It is the Donore Harriers Jingle Bells 5km road race.
www.donoreharriers.com/home_nav_9.html
If you are driving and need to pass through Phoenix Park, expect some road and gate closures.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS – CHRISTMAS MARKET
The “12 Day of Christmas” Christmas Market is open from 12:00-20:00 at George’s Dock near the IFSC. www.dublindocklands.ie/12daysofchristmas/index.jsp

FARMLEIGH HOUSE CHRISTMAS
The events on Sunday in Farmleigh House are:
* Christmas Food Market – 10:00-17:00
* Live Crib & Childrens Christmas Room – 10:00-17:00
* Storytelling for Children – 12:45-13:30, 14:30-15:15, 16:15-17:00
* Christmas Puppet Show – 12:00-12:30, 13:45-14:15, 15:30-16:00
* Horse & Carriage Rides – 13:00-16:00
* Carol Singing with The Portmarnock Singers – 13:30-15:30
* Barbershop Harmonies with ‘The Mellowchords’ – 12:00-16:00
www.farmleigh.ie

SUNDAY AT NOON CONCERT – HUGH LANE GALLERY
The Sunday at Noon Concerts are free, 1-hour concerts in the Hugh Lane Gallery. Every Sunday at 12:00 a free concert will take place in the gallery. No booking is required. This week Con Tempo are playing works by the Romanian composers Paul Constantinescu, Doru Popovici, Sabin Pautza, as well as Romanian folk music. The music selection is in celebration of the National Day of Romania (01 Dec).
www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=200

BOTANIC GARDENS – CHRISTMAS
On Sun 14 Dec the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin (free admission) are celebrating Christmas. At 14:00 Santa Claus and his helpers are coming to Glasnevin for this traditional seasonal celebration. Activities in the Gardens on the day will include Storyteller, Niall De Burca who will have you on the edge of your seats with his magical storytelling. Special Christmas music will also be performed.
Already from 12:00 on the same day a Christmas Farmers Market will take place.
www.botanicgardens.ie/news/events.htm

BEA McMAHON: ARTIST TALK – GREEN ON RED GALLERY
On Sun 14 Dec 2008, Bea McMahon will talk about her current exhibition ‘Present’ at the Green On Red Gallery at 14:00.  In her exhibition she explores philosophical and scientific texts on how we inhabit the present. The exhibition includes drawings, video and sculpture. (Gallery Details: Green On Red Gallery, 26-28 Lombard St. East, Dublin 2, www.greenonredgallery.com, Open: Mon- Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 11.00 – 17.00)

FAMILY EVENT – HUGH LANE GALLERY
“Sunday Sketching” is a workshop for 7+ year olds. It will take place on Sun 30 Nov from 15:00-16:00. The title this week is “Create an Impressionist snow scene – a study of reflections”. No booking necessary. Early arrival is recommended. www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=137

FAMILY PROGRAMME – NATIONAL MUSEUM
* “Christmas Cribs” for the age group 6+ is this week’s family programme on Sun 14 Dec from 15:00-16:00 in the Decorative Arts & History part of the National Museum (i.e. Collins Barracks). Get into the festive spirit by making your own Christmas Nativity set. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=232
* “A Medieval Christmas” is title of the programme on the same day from 14:00-17:00 in the National Museum in Kildare Street. It is suitable for all ages and is described like this “Enjoy the fun of a Medieval Fair with Irish Arms Living History Group”. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=206

REGULAR SUNDAY EVENTS
There are a number of regular live events every week and over the coming weeks I will try to gather more of them and include them as a regular feature:
*The Mary Stokes Band (Blues) from 18:30 in Bruxelles near Grafton Street and near the Westbury Hotel. I listened to them a few times and they are brilliant!
*Jazz in The George in George’s Street from 16:30-18:00: Jazz Band Zrazy.
*Sunday Roast is the event in Thomas Reads “The Oak” in Dame Street/Parliament Street every Sunday from 19:00. Provided are free live music, games & roast potatoes.
* Loose Change play in Gibneys Pub, New St., Malahide every Sunday from 18:00-20:00.
* Songs of Praise, a Rock Karaoke is taking place every Sunday from 21:00 in The Village in Wexford Street, Dublin 2. www.getpraise.com
* Gardiner Street Gospel Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. Everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness. www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com
* Ballymun Gospel Choir Mass at 19:00 in Virgin Mary Church, Shangan Road, Ballymun.

WEEKEND EVENTS
If you are just looking for Sunday events, please check the event list for Saturday as well. A good few events are taking place on Saturday AND Sunday, but it wouldn’t make sense to list them twice.

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______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

REGULAR MONDAY EVENTS
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading in Chapter and Verse on Parnell Street at 13:15. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* Pint&Picture or Cine Café. From 19:30 Howard Linnane is screening short films and full-length films in his fortnightly alternating movie event in the Portobello Pub in South Richmond Street. Ring Howard (086-3614787) for more information. The film screenings are free.
* From 21:30 in the International Bar, Wicklow Street: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Jacqueline Tuck. Entry is free. The music styles vary from pop to folk to traditional. www.myspace.com/jacquelinetuck

———Tuesday————————

DIT LUNCHTIME CONCERTS – RATHMINES LIBRARY
The DIT Convervator of Music and Drama is inviting to lunchtime concerts in the library in Rathmines. The next concert will be on 16 Dec at 13:15. Steve Cooney (guitar) and Odhran O Casaide (fiddle) will perform. Admission is free. www.dit.ie/conservatory/Events/

MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTRE – REPORT LAUNCH
The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland’s Restaurant Workers Action Group is launching a report entitled “Exploitation in Ireland’s Restaurant Industry” on Tues 16 Dec at 11:00 in Buswells Hotel, 23-25 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.
The report includes a survey of 115 migrant workers employed in restaurants across Ireland. Findings show that more than half of restaurant workers surveyed receive less than the minimum wage, and 85% receive no overtime or Sunday pay.
Contact Delphine O’Keeffe on 087 241 0039 for more information. www.mrci.ie/

MARY ROBINSON – ABBEY TALKS
The “Bearing Witness” series of the Abbey Talks in Abbey Theatre will be continued on Tues 16 Dec from 18:00-19:00. Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and founder of ‘Realising Rights, The Ethical Globalisation Initiative’ and former President of Ireland examines the future of human rights. Admission is free but booking essential on 01 87 87 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie/whatson/talks.html

GLORIA CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT – ST ANNE’S CHURCH
The le s bian and g ay choir “Gloria” is having a Christmas Concert, entitled “Breath of Heaven”, in St- Anne’s Church in Dawson Street on Tues 16 Dec and Thurs 18 Dec. The concerts start at 20:00, however the doors open already from 18:00 and from past year’s experience it is most likely that the church will fill up extremely fast and if you don’t arrive early you will not get in. Free tickets will be available at the door. www.gloria.ie

REGULAR TUESDAY EVENTS
* In the Bankers Inn on Trinity Street (off Dame Street) at 21:30: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Dave Murphy. A contribution is requested but not required. This is a listening club so is very quiet and features a lot of experienced songwriters trying out new material. www.myspace.com/davemurphyandfriends

———Wednesday———————-

NIGELLA LAWSON – DUBRAY BOOK SIGNING
Nigella Laswon will be in Dubray Books in Grafton Street on 17 Dec from 12:30-13:30 to sign her book “Nigella Christmas”. www.dubraybooks.ie/news.asp?

FILM SCREENING – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
The Spanish Cultural Institute in Dublin invites regularly to interesting talks and film screenings. All talks and screenings are usually in Spanish but translation into English or subtitles (for films) will be provided.
The next film screening will be on Wed 17 Dec at 18:30 and the film will be “El viaje a ninguna parte” (1986). dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha51311_16_2.htm
The Instituto Cervantes is in Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2 (at the back of TCD near the National Gallery).

MESSIAEN ORGAN CONCERT – ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of organ composer Olivier Messiaen, David Leigh and Tristan Russcher have presented the entire corpus of organ works throughout the year. The final concert of the series is on Wed 17 Dec at 20:00 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral where Tristan Russcher (Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral) will play “La Nativité” by Olivier Messiaen. I read before that the concerts are free, but didn’t find any recent confirmation, so please be aware that it MIGHT not be free. www.cccdub.ie/music/organ/2008/messiaen-flier-DL.pdf

REGULAR WEDNESDAY EVENTS
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading at 13:15 or Whitehouse Poets Reading at 09:00. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* “The Zodiac Sessions” is a regular open mic event from 20:30 in Bruxelles (between Grafton Street and Westbury Hotel) for unsigned musicians. Admission is free and there is a different line-up every week. www.thezodiacsessions.com/
* “The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 on Wednesdays as well. www.myspace.com/thesongroom

———Thursday————————

GLORIA CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT – ST ANNE’S CHURCH
See the listing on Tuesday about this Christmas concert. Gloria will perform their second concert on Thursday 18 Dec.

———Friday————————

OUT TO LUNCH READING – IRISH WRITERS CENTRE
On Fri 19 Dec Patrick Deeley will read at the Out to Lunch Reading in the Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 between 13:15 and 14:00. www.writerscentre.ie

______________________________
______This is odd!!______________

ETIQUETTE HANDBOOK
1962 was 46 years ago, so quite some time, but it wasn’t centuries ago, it is JUST 46 years. This year a book called “Etiquette Handbook” has been republished. It was originally written by Barbara Cartland, who died in 2000 at the age of 99, but just 46 years ago, she wrote in her book “In my experience the happiest marriages are always those in which the man has the brains, the money and the ambitions. Emancipation may have brought women votes…but it has certainly not brought them the happiness of being a fragile, delicate little woman protected and looked after by a big, strong man.” What a peculiar opinion! To me it sounds like a 200 year old way of thinking. …or could it be that I am wrong and it is not peculiar a tall, but completely normal and quite current? ;-) Mysterious women! :-) www.amazon.co.uk/Barbara-Cartlands-Etiquette-Handbook-Behaviour/dp/1847945341

—————–
Have a great run up to Christmas. Listen to ChristmasFM.ie (89.9) if you like Christmas songs and enjoy lovely decoration in some parts of the city centre. Despite the pre-Christmas hectic that might grab you, try to remember that Christmas is really meant to be a peaceful time.

Enjoy the weekend!

–Joerg

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You are receiving this newsletter because you have subscribed to it. If you don’t want to receive this mail anymore, just click on the link at the bottom of this mail. It would help me if you told me in an e-mail why you decided to unsubscribe, but that is not a “Must”. If you only want to stop receiving the newsletter temporarily, let me know by e-mail and I will make sure that you will be taken off the list for as long as you want.  This Event Guide (the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”) is an Event Guide with a difference. It covers mostly free events based on the thinking that free events deserve additional support and that non-free events have the money to pay for advertisement. The Guide is a _guide_ and not just a listing and is therefore at times quite extensive. It is sent for free to anybody who is interested and if you want to be added to the mailing list or know somebody who would like to receive this guide, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject “Subscribe”.
If you have feedback – good or bad – PLEASE tell me via the same e-mail address.
BTW: I am not paid or otherwise rewarded for compiling and distributing this Event Guide it is purely a hobby. However, I won’t say No to donations ;-) and if you want to help me with the running of it (no minimum amount!) just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the word “Donation” in the subject and I will reply with a link that will allow you to make your donation by PayPal or per credit card or follow the link just above this section. Advertisement in or sponsorship of the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) is possible, please contact me for more information.
Please note: The Dublin Event Guide (for Free Event) is not related or connected to the fortnightly printed publication “the event guide” that you find in pubs and other venues.
Copyright 2008 by Joerg Steegmueller.
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Event Guide 77: Christmas Markets, National Museum Open Day, Protest Marches, Independent’s Day, Fingal Buisness Day, Sunglasses Party

December 5th, 2008

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| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 77
| 05 Dec 2008                      Subscribers: 2812
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Hi all!

Last Saturday I went to the Aline Barros Fundraising Concert in Ranelagh, which I had mentioned in last week’s Event Guide. The concert was really great, but nothing prepared me for meeting Aline. Aline is such an amazing and inspirational person that I just HAVE to tell you about her here again. She is from Brazil and was in Dublin to learn English and to earn a bit of money by handing out the Herald AM in the morning. But then in July 2008, on her way to work, she was in a hit-and-run accident with a truck and was seriously injured. Her spine was broken twice and both legs were broken. Luckily she survived, was for two months in the hospital and then for two months (until today!) in Rehab. Aline is paralysed from the waist down and the doctors think that she will never be able to walk again. These are the tragic facts. But then meet Aline!
Aline Barros is 26 years young, loves travelling and enjoying life and you would think what happened and being confined to a wheel-chair – possibly forever – could throw someone in her situation in the deepest depression imaginable for the rest of her life. But not so in Aline’s case! She is HUGELY positive, won’t give up and is full of smiles and laughter. Have a look at this clip from a Brazilian TV station: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewGtCz1dgJM
Sure, there are tears and sad moments especially when her life before the accident is mentioned (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO8JOjIubcw) but you can’t imagine how Aline radiates a mesmerizing happiness that leaves you absolutely speechless AND that makes you think twice about the relative insignificance of our little complaints in life, which seem so terribly depressing to us!
Aline has decided to stay in Ireland until her court case is over and it could be another 1-2 years until it only starts. When I was talking to her, she knew she would be out of rehab in 5 days, but had no clue yet where to live and without the huge help of the Brazilian Community and many other helpers and supporters she would not have the money to survive in Ireland.
Have a look at the YouTube videos and remember Aline and especially her smiles when you are feeling down. Remember her when you do your daily “random act of kindness” that I started suggesting a few weeks ago and be happy about your life and make the best of it! – And if you would like to help, you can make a donation to AIB’s Aline Noguiera de Barros account 07636182, sort code 93-32-95. Here are two more articles for you to read. The first one I had linked to in last week’s Event Guide www.herald.ie/national-news/herald-am-worker-left-paralysed-by-hitandrun-1447774.html, the second one I only found later: www.herald.ie/national-news/aline-puts-a-brave-face-on-tragedy-in-youtube-video-1470133.html

This week the Christmas events start in a big way :-) and I will list as many as I can get good information for, but I am aware that there are many more, so keep an eye and an ear out and if you find something that you think is interesting and if it is free, let me know about it!
—–
And please read this: This Event Guide is sponsored by Esme E., Cliodhna D., Brian L., Padraig S., Kathie S., Orla niF, Jef B. and www.stickyfingerstravel.com, the travel guide for parents travelling with their children. The main sponsor is www.kravmagaireland.com, the self-defence training centre for everyone, which provides 12-week or 2-day self-defence training courses for beginners.
I am grateful for the support, but the sponsoring is still well below the cost, so YOUR support is NEEDED! Going to free events saves you a LOT of money. True? Knowing about these free events is the first HUGE step so that you then can decide if you want to go or not. True as well? This is at least worth 1 Euro per month? Do you agree? Can I count on your 12 Euro per year?
To contribute go to “http ://url . ie/v6z” and just remove the three Spaces in the web address (I have to write it like this, otherwise Spam Checkers complain about the url .ie address.) you then can donate using PayPal or your credit card!
Alternatively send a mail to me (dublineventguide@gmail.com) and we can arrange a different route for your donation. This Event Guide is a hobby project and NOT a commercial enterprise, so I do need donations!

All events listed in this Event Guide are free of any admission charges or at least appear to be free unless otherwise stated. I try to find confirmation in all cases and do my best to double-check the information. However errors can happen and therefore no guarantee for correctness can be given.

______________________________
______Joerg’s Plans______________

This week Christmas is REALLY arriving!
* Saturday is completely packed with possible activities. I plan to go to the Alliance Francaise Christmas Market, then onwards to Temple Bar for the New Voices Choir performance and maybe afterwards to Farmleigh House. On the way, I will indulge in the atmosphere in Grafton Street and will drop in to the Temple Bar Food Market. I still didn’t make it to the RHA Gallery Exhibition at 15 Ely Place despite numerous attempts, so it is still on my to-do list. I would like to go to the Open Day in Collins Barracks, but I can’t do everything. Oh and I will ring SOMETHING (it will probably not be a bell) at 14:00 for the Climate Change event. The protest marches I will this time give a miss, but if you are more affected by the reasons for the protests than I am, you should spend a bit of time and lend your support.
*Sunday: Don’t count me in for many events on Sunday. I have to do some work for the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir during the day and will meet some friends afterwards. In the evening I will be at that Gospel Mass in Gardiner Street again.
* During the week: I will be at a non-free or at least non-open event with the Gospel Choir on Monday, will train on Tuesday, will be away on Wednesday and on Thursday I will try to go to the Sunglasses in Dublin Party. But Thursday is already Event Guide night again, so I have to be home early! :-)

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______Competition______________

PILATES AND MASSAGE – STUDIO 23
If you haven’t entered this competition yet, you have another chance:
Studio 23 is a specialist studio for Pilates, Personal Training and Bodywork Therapy (including Massage and Weight Management) and is run by Aine Crossan. “Studio 23, offers treatments for chronic back, head, neck and shoulder pain, sports injury, remedial and holistic massage, using a rounded approach to treat and alleviate pain, through treatment and then rehabilitation. They also offer regular classes (Pre- and Post-Pregnancy) in Pilates and Yoga. Studio 23 is in Dame House, 24-26 Dame St. Dublin 2. And you can find all the information about the comprehensive therapy and training types on www.studio23.ie. Last week the website was not up yet, but if you go to it now you will see the spanking new web presence of Studio 23.
Studio 23 can help you with pain, injury, training or weight loss and to find out how they can do that you should check the website or ring 01-633 6023.Gift Certificates for Christmas are available as well.
Studio 23 has made available a special and very valuable competition price: You can win a 1-hour Massage in Studio 23 and all you have to do to win is to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject “Studio23″ and your name and mobile phone number in the body of the mail. Your mail has to be with me by 17:00 on Wed 10 Dec.

REDEMPTION SONG – BOOK COMPETITION
I know how much you like the book competitions in our Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) and the nice people from Liberties Press (thanks to Caroline) have made again two copies of their brand new title available for a competition. This is promises to be a really interesting book again and I expect an avalanche of competition entries. :-)
The book is called “Redemption Song” and is written by Niall Stanage, an Irish Reporter inside the Obama campaign.
“Redemption Song by Niall Stanage is a unique insider’s account of Barack Obama’s journey from fledgling politician in Chicago through his acrimonious tussle with Hillary Clinton and culminating in his momentous victory over John McCain. Stanage also examines this amazing tale from a global perspective. He enjoyed unparalleled access to Obama, including being the only Irish journalist to travel on the candidate’s plane.” Stanage writes for the Sunday Business Post, the New York Observer and the Guardian and has been a regular presence on RTE Radio in recent months, offering analysis on the presidential election for the Tubridy Show, Drivetime and the Late Debate amongst others. “Redemption Song will likely stir up its own share of controversy too, thanks to the author’s trenchantly expressed opinions about the tactics used against Obama by the Clintons and the resistance the Democrat encountered from prominent figures in the Irish-American community.” Check www.LibertiesPress.com for more information about the book and to order it online.
If you want to win a copy of this book, you just have to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with “Obama” (without the ” “) in the subject line and with your full name and address and your mobile phone number in the body of the mail. The mail has to be with my by 14:00 on Tuesday 16 Dec.

EVERYBODY LOVES SYLVIA – THEATRE
The theatre company “Randolf SD – The Company” are still performing their much praised play “Everybody Loves Sylvia” in the Project Arts Centre. The play is an updated adaption of the classic French comedy “La Double Inconstance” by Pierre de Marivaux and is a look at the question ‘ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t have’. The performance is taking place in “Project Cube” in the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar (39 Essex Street) at 20:15 every evening but ONLY until Sat 06 Dec, so you better book your tickets immediately! Tickets are EUR 18 and you can book online following www.project.ie/cgi-bin/eventdetail.pl?id=790 or on 01-8819613.
Exclusively for the Dublin Event Guide Community, Randolf SD had made a pair of tickets available and the winner of these tickets was Claire Doherty. Congrats!
Since it is Friday today, you have just another TWO evenings (if they are not already booked out) to see this play! Hurry!

JOSE PARRA FLAMENCO CONCERT
Unfortunately the flamenco ‘cantaor’ José Parra had to cancel his concert in Dublin at the last minute. Apologies if you entered the competition and didn’t even have a chance to win anything. I will make sure that we will have more competitions for you going forward. Please inform your friends, if they had planned to go. Tickets were sold via www.tickets.ie and I would expect that they will handle the refunds as well.

All events in this Competition Section are non-free events, but the organisers are making free tickets available for you to win. I usually get lots of competition entries and unfortunately not everybody can win, so even if you are not the winner, please consider going to an event to support the organisers. :-) If you don’t win, and will go to the event, please help showing the organisers that promoting their event in the Dublin Event Guide is beneficial and mention to them that you heard about the event through “Joerg’s Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. Thanks!

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______Dublin News______________

CHRISTMAS RADIO STATION
Do you feel already christmassy?? ;-) If not then quickly tune your radio to 89.9 on FM and listen to ChristmasFM, a temporary Christmas Radio Station that ONLY plays Christmas songs and will disappear again after Christmas. The station is put together to raise funds for the ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) and I understand that all the radio presenters do this for free. You can listen online too: www.christmasfm.ie

CHILDREN FRIENDLY AIRPORTS CAMPAIGN
Do you have children or want/will have children at some stage in your life? Then you should check out www.stickyfingerstravel.com, the travel guide for parents travelling with their children. But don’t leave it until you actually have children ;-), because Sticky Fingers Travel are currently running a campaign for Family Friendly Airports (www.stickyfingerstravel.com/community/forums/t/132.aspx) and you better start campaigning NOW rather than when you urgently need the family-friendliness of an airport.

PUBS FREEZE DRINK PRICES
During the week the Vintners Federation & Vintners Association, which are the organisations that represents the pub owners in Ireland and – despite the name – have NOTHING to do with wine producers, announced proudly that the 5700 pub owners in Ireland have decided to freeze the drink prices for one year with immediate effect. And announcement stressed the generousness of the pub owners by saying that the move was made to provide value for money to customers at a difficult time. (www.rte.ie/business/2008/1201/pubs.html) “Value for money” in the context of drink prices? That concept has looong been abandoned. Interesting is that the drink prizes are frozen at the highest level ever, not reduced maybe. Even petrol is getting cheaper! However when you follow the news a bit further, then you will realise that maybe this drink-price-freeze is wishful thinking on the side of the pub owners, because there IS trouble ahead! The first pub group is fighting for survival: www.rte.ie/news/2008/1204/thomasread.html. (Other pubs that the Thomas Read group owns, but which are not mentioned in the article are Bodega, Searsons, Pravda and the Thomas Reads pubs.) In fairness I should stress that the Thomas Reads group is one of the “better” pub groups because in many of their pubs, live music is provided and entrance is always free. So, I hope they will survive, but maybe we should tell them that lowering prices would get more people back into pubs!

POSTAL DELIVERY FROM OUTSIDE THE EU
I mentioned two weeks ago that the customs limit has been increased from EUR 22 to EUR 150 for goods received by post from outside the EU. I got confirmation for this now, but was told that it ONLY applies to the customs duty. VAT is still due on anything that is sent to you with a value (including postage!!) of more than EUR 22!! So in reality the raising of the limit is not as much use as it appeared initially! But it still saves you the penalising customs duty of up to 12% in ADDITION to the VAT as it was charged before 01 Dec.

CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN TALLAGHT
Is Tallaght near you? Then you might be interested in the Christmas Events in Tallaght described here: libraries.southdublin.ie/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=151 Thanks, Will, for sending this link!

_____________________________
______Exhibitions_______________

SOFT BLONDE MOUSTACHE – MONSTER TRUCK GALLERY
“Hold Your Breath While You Draw” is the title of a show by the Dublin based art collective Soft Blonde Moustache. The collective consists of Nessa Darcy, Mary-Jo Gilligan, Julia MacConville and Aileen Murphy. The exhibition will feature drawings, installations and sound-work. The show will run from 04 Dec – 16 Dec 2008. Accompanying the show will be a Favourite Food Picnic at 13:30 on 07 Dec 2008 and a live a-capella Sound Performance on 12 Dec 2008 at 19:00.
www.myspace.com/softblondemoustache (Gallery Details: Monster Truck Gallery, 73 Francis Street, Dublin 7, www.monstertruck.ie, Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun: 13:00-19:00, Wed closed, Thurs: if opening night 18:00-20:00)

DANA WINDER – NO GRANTS GALLERY
The No Grants Gallery in the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 is inviting to “Paintings” by Dana Winder. The exhibition runs from 04 Dec – 17 Dec. www.danawinder.com
NGG (No Grants Gallery) is a Temple Bar Cultural Trust initiative to support artists who do not have grants or other public funding to support their work.

LEIGH SAN JUAN – PIEDASCALSO ART CAFE
‘Flight of the Shadow Bird’ is the exhibition of paintings, collage and photography by Leigh San Juan. It will be on show from 04 Dec – 24 Dec. (Gallery Details: Piedescalso Art Cafe, 78 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, no website, Open: Mon-Sat: 10:00-22:00)

GROUP SHOW – TALBOT GALLERY
“treat ’08″ is the Talbot Gallery’s third annual Christmas Exhibition. It will run from 04 Dec – 20 Dec. All work on show will be small and everything will be priced at EUR 250. Over 30 artists have been invited to take part in the show, including Eimear Jean McCormaic, Anne Hendrick, Mars Wright, Matthew Cave, Clare Henderson, Claire Halpin and Laura Fitzgerald. (Gallery Details: Talbot Gallery, 51 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, www.talbotgallery.com, Open: Tues-Fri 10:30-17:00, Sat 10:30-14:00)

GROUP SHOW – GRAPHIC STUDIO GALLERY
“Little Christmas” is the exhibition at the Graphic Studio Gallery from 04 Dec – 22 Jan. Participating artists are Charles Cullen, Stephen Lawlor, Carmel Benson, Robert Russell, Constance Short, Yoko Akino and James McCreary and many more. “All work shown in the exhibition is a response by the more than 80 artists exhibiting to a piece of poetry of prose allocated to them from the donated manuscripts used for the Graphic Studio Gallery fundraising art and literature auction held at the gallery in November last year. All prints are 20 x 25cm editions of 20. A limited edition run of photo etchings of the written works published at graphic Studio Dublin will also be on show.”
A donation to the Peter McVerry Trust will be made from all sales made from the show on Sat 13 Dec 2008 between 14:00-18:00. (Gallery Details: Graphic Studio Gallery, Through the Arch, Cope Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, www.graphicstudiodublin.com, Open: Mon-Fri: 10:00-17:30, Sat: 11:00-17:30)

DEM VIDJOES – MARKET STUDIO
“dem vidjoes” is a video art exhibition that will take place in the Market Studio, Dublin 7. It will run from 04 Dec-12Dec. Niamh Murphy and Meabh Redmond have organised this exhibition to showcase their individual video practices.
(Gallery Details: The Market Studios, corner of Mary’s Lane & Halston St, Dublin 7 (Turn onto Mary’s Lane at Slattery’s Capel St, it is opposite Dublin City Council fruit markets), www.themarketstudios.wordpress.com))

ROBERT DOISNEAU – MONDRIAN’S ROOM
“Robert Doisneau – Three Seconds of Eternity” is an exhibition of 15 iconic photographs from 1945-58 by Robert Doisneau (1912-1994). This exhibition is currently on show at Mondrian’s Room on South Anne Street. All the photographs are signed by Doisneau and for sale. They will be exhibited at the gallery until 11 December 2008. www.mondriansroom.com

GROUP SHOW – LEMONSTREET GALLERY
Lemonstreet Gallery is inviting to their Winter Show from 01 Dec. – 30 Jan. The exhibition will feature work by artists Kristian Krokfors, Barbara Freeman, David Kiely, Stephen Rothschild, Miriam Mc Connon, Bartosz Kolata, Damian Magee, Sinead Rice and more. (Gallery Details: Lemonstreet Gallery, 24-26 City Quay, Dublin 2, www.lemonstreet.com, Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-16:00)

GROUP SHOW – BAD ART GALLERY
The Bad Art Gallery Christmas Show from 06 Dec-24 Jan will open with a mulled wine and mince pie reception on 06+07 Dec (12:00-18:00). Gallery artists will exhibit and their names are listed on the website. (Gallery Details: Bad Art Gallery, 79 Francis Street, Dublin 8, www.thebadartgallery.ie, Open: Mon-Sat 10:30-18:00)

ANNE RIGNEY – FRONT LOUNGE
“Daitheanna as mo chroí” by Anne Rigney will be on show at The Front Lounge Pub, 33 Parliament Street, Dublin 2 from 04 Dec-31 Dec. www.annerigney.com

GROUP SHOW – AXIS ARTS CENTRE
“Observations, Meditations and Vibrations” is a collaboration of music, photography, poetry, painting and film installations by visual artist John Duffy, photographer Bob Dixon and musician Q aka Colm Quearney. The exhibition will open at 18:30 on 08 Dec 2008 and will run until 30 Jan 2009.
www.axis-ballymun.ie

______________________________
______Friday___________________

GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK – OUT TO LUNCH
Gabriel Rosenstock was born in Kilfinane, Co Limerick in 1949. He writes primarily in Irish and is the author or translator of over one hundred books. His children’s poetry is selected as Dánta Duitse (Cló Iar-Chonnacta, 1998). A member of many literary societies and organisations, he has been widely published abroad. He lives in Dublin and is a member of Aosdána. Out to Lunch is an Irish Writer’s Centre Event (19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1). It takes place on Fri 05 Dec from 13:15. www.writerscentre.ie

WORDLVIEW FILM CLUB
The Worldview Film Club is inviting you to their next screening and discussion on Fri 05 Dec at 19:00. The film this week is “I am David” (2003) and the theme of the discussion afterwards is “Dare to Make the Change”. More information is here: worldview.project.googlepages.com/invitation and here www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27560436112
The Worldview Film Club is inspired by the Bahá’í Religion and you can find more information about it here www.bahai.ie

REGULAR EVENTS – FRIDAY
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading in Chapter and Verse on Parnell Street at 13:15. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* Sahaja Meditation program every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street (bell 3, next to the IFI), Temple Bar. For more information contact Seamus on SHarten@upc.ie www.templebar.ie/home_ns_9_action_view_nid_229.html

______________________________
______Saturday_________________

AWARE 10K CHRISTMAS FUN RUN
Participation in this event is not free (Late Registration takes place in the Garda Boat Club on the Chapelizod Road from 07:30- 09:30. Cost  EUR 25), but watching is! :-) A 10km fun run is taking place in Phoneix Park on Sat 06 Dec from 10:00.
www.aware.ie/fundraisingPAges/fundraisingItem.asp?strPageID=63

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE CHRISTMAS MARKET
The Alliance Francaise is inviting to a Christmas Market with a French touch on Saturday 06 Dec from 09:30-16:00 in the Café des Amis in Alliance Francaise, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. You can relax with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and escape the hustle and bustle and you can choose from a variety of different products: French food, wine, delicatessen, jewellery, bags, luxury tablecloths, napkin sets and more. Admission is free.

INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY EXHIBITION
I had mentioned the previous exhibition of these three jewellery designers at the end of November in the Central Hotel in Dublin and since that event was a great success, Kathie, Carole and Raquel are inviting to another exhibition before Christmas. On Sun 07 Dec you will be able to see their creations in Carrick Hall Hotel, 69 Orwell Rd., Rathgar from 10:00-17:00. This is the last opportunity before Christmas to see
* Kathie Stamou – New York designer creates inspired accessories with eclectic materials gathered all over the world. www.kathiestamou.com and online store www.kathiestamou.etsy.com
* Les Perles d’Ysikem – Carole Debut from Paris designs this beautiful collection – a range of pieces made from Swarovski crystals, Venetian and Bohemian glass, pearls and beads. carpalysa@yahoo.fr
* Bauble Jewellery – Raquel Schwarz from Tel Aviv has introduced this stunning line to Ireland. Silver, semiprecious stones and crystals blending into harmonious works of art. www.bauble.ie/

CHRISTMAS STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN – CITY CENTRE
The Dublin City Business Improvement District (BID) is inviting children to free Christmas Storytelling Sessions as part of its BIDs for KIDs programme. From 22 Nov to 14 Dec special Christmas storytelling sessions will take place each Saturday and Sunday in St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and The Gresham Hotel.
The storyteller, Susie Minto, will draw in listeners around the imaginary hearth and warm their hearts with Christmas and Winter themed stories from many traditions – Irish, Native American, European, and Japanese.
The storytelling sessions will last 30 minutes and all children aged four to ten years old, accompanied by an adult, are welcome. The sessions are free but pre-booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please telephone the Dublin City BID on 01-6334680 or email bidsforkids@dublincitybid.ie to reserve a space. See www.dublincitybid.ie for more information.
Storytelling Session Details:
The Gresham Hotel – 11:00, 12:00, 13:00
St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre – 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
Each Saturday and Sunday from the 22nd November to 14th December.

FARMLEIGH HOUSE – CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME
The Christmas Programme in Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park is starting this weekend on Sat 06 Dec. The schedule for the day is
* Christmas Food Market – 10:00-17:00
* Live Crib & Childrens Christmas Room – 10:00-17:00
* Christmas Puppet Show ‘Rudolf’s Silly Billy Christmas’ – 12:00-12:30, 13:45-14:15, 15:30-16:00
* Storytelling for Children – 12:45-13:30, 14:30-15:15, 16:15-17:00
* Carol Singing with the Dublin City Council Choir – 13:30-15:30
* Barbershop Harmonies with ‘The Mellowchords’ – 14:00-16:00
www.farmleigh.ie

CHRISTMAS OPEN DAY – NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLINS BARRACKS
On Sat 06 Dec an open day in the National Museum in Collins Barracks provides entertainment and education for the whole family.
The museum describes “For many visitors to the Museum, Christmas starts with the Christmas Open Day at Collins Barracks!  If you haven’t been before, we hope you’ll drop in this year, to enjoy a day of Carols with the Lassos Scholars with Piccolo Lasso, family workshops, Adult Gallery Talk and the Twelve Days of Christmas Trail. Everyone is welcome and admission is free!”
The programme is this:
* 11:00-12:30 ‘From Nollaig to Navadad’ Art Workshop in Education Room
Make your own Christmas ceramic decorations based on customs and festive traditions from around the world, in an art workshop with ceramic artist Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire. Afterwards you can add your decoration to the Museum Christmas Tree if you like. Numbers limited to 15. Booking Essential. Meet at Main Reception. Age 8+
* 11:00-11:30 and 12:30-13:00 12 Days of Christmas trail at Main Reception
Take a journey through the galleries with the 12 Days of Christmas trail, a fun and seasonal activity sheet for children. Numbers are limited to 15. Booking Essential. Meet at Main Reception. Age 7+
* 12:00-12:30 Adult Gallery Talk “Christmas in the Trenches” at Main Reception
Talk by Lar Joye, NMI, in Soldiers and Chiefs – The First World War
Booking is not required but places are limited to 20 and are allocated on a first come first served basis, by signing in at Main Reception. Ages 8+
* 14:00-14:30 and 15:00-15:30 The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso at Reception
A seasonal performance of classic Christmas carols with the famous choir, The Lassus Scholars and their younger partners, Piccolo Lasso. Booking is not required.

All day activities:
Make Christmas Origami Decorations at the Activity Area or take the 12 Days of Christmas trail, a fun and seasonal activity sheet for children.
For booking and further information contact the Education and Outreach Department on 01 6486 453 or bookings@museum.ie

TEMPLE BAR – CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME
On Saturday 06 Dec a number of events take place in Temple Bar:
*12:00-14:00 Christmas Elf stilt walkers at and near Meeting House Square
*13:00-14:00 Music performance: “New Dublin Voices”
The New Dublin Voices Choir will perform Christmas classics. This 3-year old choir, with over 20 members, will perform outdoors in the Old City Area of Temple Bar (Cow’s Lane area) with their own unique style of both jazz and classical influences.
* 14:00-14:15 (just after the choir) Outdoor Christmas Theatrical Performance
Take a magical sleigh ride with the Gaiety School of Acting as they celebrate Christmas traditions throughout the world! A theatrical festive fusion of movement, mime and music!
*15:30-16:45 Children’s Workshop: Create your own Christmas Decorations from Recycled Materials
Using reclaimed and recycled materials, invent and create your own handmade, unique and sustainable decorations for your Christmas tree along with Christmas-crackers from toilet-rolls! Venue: Bagel Haven (Upstairs), Cow’s Lane, Old City Temple Bar. Booking essential on 01-6772255. Open to 8-12 year olds. Please note a selection of materials will be provided but children are encouraged to bring old paper/decorations.
templebar.ie/home_nav_2_t_17.html

TEMPLE BAR – ONGOING CHRISTMAS EVENTS
In addition to the weekly special events, there are two events that will run from 06 Dec to 20 Dec:
* Christmas Customs around the World: A Schools Project Competition & Display
The multi-cultural nature of Dublin today brings with it a myriad of traditions and customs. We have invited Secondary schools in Dublin to submit projects describing Christmas customs, traditions and beliefs in different countries around the world.
Venue: Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar
* Jesus in Context: A Modern Nativity. Presented by Seleck Imagery, Designer Mart at Cow’s Lane. (In aid of the Dublin Simon Community)
Traditionally, a valued part of Christmas is the erection of a nativity crib. If the Christmas scene was played out in Dublin today, the holy family would be desolate on the streets of Dublin, turned away from accommodation and forced to shelter wherever they could find. Through digital media, a nativity scene will be created using modern representations of the traditional scene. This reconstruction aims to highlight the plight of many who find it impossible to meet modern expectations at Christmas time. Venue: Smock Alley Café, West Essex Street, Old City Temple Bar
templebar.ie/home_nav_2_t_17.html

RICHARD CORRIGAN – DUBRAY BOOK SIGNING
Richard Corrigan was originally meant to sign his book on 15 November, but had to reschedule he is now expected in Dubray Books in Grafton Street on Sat 06 Dec at 12:30. He is signing his new cookery book “The Clatter Of Forks And Spoons”. www.dubraybooks.ie/news.asp?

GOK WAN – EASON’S BOOK SIGNING
Gok Wan is signing copies of “How to Dress” in Eason’s in O’Connell Street on 06 Dec from 12:30. www.eason.ie/events

EDUCATION CUTS – PROTEST
The Irish National Teachers Organisation is appealing to parents and teachers (but surprisingly not to students?) to come to a demonstration on Sat 06 Dec in Dublin City Centre. The rally will assemble on Parnell Square from 12:00 and move off at 13:00 to Merrion Square. www.educationcuts.ie/ and www.into.ie/ROI/

And if there is already one protest in the area, why not protest against something COMPLETELY different at the same times as well and even better, let the march to Merrion Square and the march from the Dail to the Registry Office cross each others path! (By the way, I think BOTH protests are fully justified, but it is not the wisest move to have them in the same area on the same day!)

G AY MARRIAGE BAN – PROTEST
The organisation LGBTNoise is fighting for equality and inviting to a protest outside the Dail Eireann in Kildare Street on Sat 06 Dec from 13:45-16:00. LGBTNoise are demanding that g ay and les bian people have a civil right to have their relationships, and their families, protected by the State and therefore should have the choice to enter into civil marriage in a Civil Registry Office. Speakers will be Senator David Norris, Ross Golden-Bannon (MarriagEquality), Eddie Matthews (Noise) and others. And a walk “from the Dáil to the Civil Registry Office on Grand Canal Street to stand up for the Civil Institution of Marriage” is planned as well. lgbtnoise.ie/

RING THE CHANGES – ACTIN DAY AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Saturday 06 Dec marks the Global Action Day Against Climate Change coinciding with the United Nations Climate Talks in Poznan, Poland (from 01-12 Dec). Events will be held around the world on that day to call on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change. In Ireland at 14:00 people will get involved by ringing bells in their communities to ‘Ring the Changes’ and herald in a new era of urgent action on climate change. www.cultivate.ie/community/partners/ring_the_changes.html

RTE THE CLINIC ACTORS IN DUNDRUM
RTE’s The Clinic Actors are in Hughes&Hughes book store in Dundrum on Sat 06 Dec from 14:00-15:30 for a cookery demonstration and a book signing. Rachael Pilkington, Norma Sheahan, Tomas Suilleabhan plus TV CHEF Andrew Rudd will be there. www.hughesbooks.com/

FAMILY EVENTS – NATIONAL MUSEUM
All events are in this documents www.museum.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=77841bfe-3b9a-40e4-8830-aed0cb22f325. On Saturday the Christmas Open Day will be the main event. On Sunday there is a Family Tour in Collins Barracks at 14:30 and for the events during the week, please check on www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx

CAP PAS CAPS – RECORD RELEASE
Skinny Wolves Records are inviting everybody to celebrate the release of Cap Pas Cap’s new ‘We Are Men’ 12″, with them on Sat 06 Dec in Twisted Pepper (formerly Traffic), Middle Abbey St, Dublin. They have organised a free party in the new Twisted Pepper venue (Doors at 20:30 and admission free before 23:00!) and invited some of Ireland’s freshest and most exciting bands to play on the night. Belfast’s thrash dance stars, Not Squares (www.myspace.com/notsquares) and electro pop queen, Babybeef (www.myspace.com/babybeefmusic) alongside Skinny Wolves + guests Djs, along with Cap Pas Cap (www.myspace.com/cappascap).
Check out the new Cap Pas Cap Video for ‘We Are Men’ here :
www.vimeo.com/2299778 or www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4c10qRZsEk
www.skinnywolves.com

TEMPLE BAR MARKETS
And as always: Don’t forget that the Temple Bar Markets (Temple Bar Food Market on Meeting House Square and the Temple Bar Designer Mart near Cow’s Lane) are taking place every Saturday from 10:00-16:30.

______________________________
______Sunday __________________

HORSEMARKET – SMITHFIELD PLAZA
Normally the Dublin Horse Market is taking place on Smithfield Plaza every first Sunday of the month, however, in December AND in January Smithfield Plaza is occupied by the ice skating rink, so I am not sure if the horse market will take place or not. If you want to check it out on Sunday, then let me tell you that according to new and inofficial information that I was able to get hold of ;-) it starts around 09:30 in the winter time and is over by approx. 14:00. I might give it a miss another time, but will definitely be there in February. :-P

FARMLEIGH HOUSE CHRISTMAS
The events on Sunday in Farmleigh House are:
* Christmas Food Market – 10:00-17:00
* Live Crib & Childrens Christmas Room – 10:00-17:00
* Magic Show with Carl Campbell – 13:30-14:30, 15:30-16:30
* Storytelling for Children – 12:00-13:15, 14:45-15:30, 16:45-17:30
* Horse & Carriage Rides – 13:00-16:00
* Carol Singing with ‘Dolce’ – 13:30-15:30
* Barbershop Harmonies with ‘The Mellowchords’ – 12:00-16:00
www.farmleigh.ie

SUNDAY AT NOON CONCERT – HUGH LANE GALLERY
The Sunday at Noon Concerts are free, 1-hour concerts in the Hugh Lane Gallery. Every Sunday at 12:00 a free concert will take place in the gallery. No booking is required. This week Concorde are playing pieces of Composer Elliott Carter, whose 100th birthday is on 11 Dec (www.carter100.com).  www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=198

INDEPENDENT’S DAY – DUBLIN FOOD CO-OP
“Independent’s Day! – A Celebration Of DIY Culture” is taking place on Sunday from 12:00-17:00 in the Dublin Food Co-op, 12 Newmarket, Dublin 8. This event is a day long fair of independent records, d.i.y. zines, radical books, info stalls, workshops, crafts and more. Along with stalls there will also be workshops focusing on self-publishing and community media. And a film screening by young Irish film maker Dylan Haskins of his documentary about Do-It-Yourself culture “Roll Up Your Sleeves: The DIY Counterculture” will take place. Refreshments on the day will be provided by the Amnesty Freedom Café.

FAMILY EVENT – HUGH LANE GALLERY
“Sunday Sketching” is a workshop for 7+ year olds. It will take place on Sun 30 Nov from 15:00-16:00. The title this week is “Words as art”. No booking necessary. Early arrival is recommended. www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=136

REGULAR SUNDAY EVENTS
There are a number of regular live events every week and over the coming weeks I will try to gather more of them and include them as a regular feature:
*The Mary Stokes Band (Blues) from 18:30 in Bruxelles near Grafton Street and near the Westbury Hotel. I listened to them a few times and they are brilliant!
*Jazz in The George in George’s Street from 16:30-18:00: Jazz Band Zrazy.
*Sunday Roast is the event in Thomas Reads “The Oak” in Dame Street/Parliament Street every Sunday from 19:00. Provided are free live music, games & roast potatoes.
* Loose Change play in Gibneys Pub, New St., Malahide every Sunday from 18:00-20:00.
* Songs of Praise, a Rock Karaoke is taking place every Sunday from 21:00 in The Village in Wexford Street, Dublin 2. www.getpraise.com
* Gardiner Street Gospel Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. Everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness. www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com
* Ballymun Gospel Choir Mass at 19:00 in Virgin Mary Church, Shangan Road, Ballymun.

WEEKEND EVENTS
If you are just looking for Sunday events, please check the event list for Saturday as well. A good few events are taking place on Saturday AND Sunday, but it wouldn’t make sense to list them twice.

______________________________
______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

FINGAL BUSINESS INCUBATION DAY
On Mon 08 Dec the Fingal Business Incubation Day is taking place. Incubation centres across the Fingal region will join in celebration with a series of events open to local SME’s, Incubation Centre Clients, those thinking of setting up their own business and people in the communities in which the centres are housed.
Brody Sweeney of O’Briens Sandwich Bar will give the Keynote address. The schedule for the day is
07.30 Registration and Breakfast
08:00 Official Launch of Fingal Business Incubation Day
08:05 Business Seminar with Brody Sweeney
08:50 Q&A with Brody Sweeney
09:15-10:30 Business Exhibition
13:00-18:00 Open Day in all Fingal Business Incubation Centres
These events will take place at The LINC at The Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown. The LINC is located on the grounds of the college off Blanchardstown Road North in Dublin 15. As spaces for the event are limited please book your place early by emailing Claire.quigley@itb.ie or call 01 8851502 or Assumpta.Harvey@itb.ie or call 01 8851186. Entry is Free of Charge.
www.itb.ie/site/keypages/Fingal_Business_Incubation_Day.pdf

DEFENDING LIFE WITH LIFE – PHOTO EXHIBITION
An exhibition of photographs documenting the lives of human rights defenders on the frontline is taking place from 08 Dec-23 Dec in the European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (Open: 09:00-17:00).
“To mark the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, Front Line would like to invite you to attend “Defending Life with Life”, an exhibition of photographs illustrating the lives of human right defenders on the frontline. These stunning photographs were taken by photographer Mark Condren to illustrate a series of five special features in The Sunday Tribune documenting the lives of human rights defenders at risk in Honduras, Western Sahara, North East India, Serbia and Kenya.”
Front Line is the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk, people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
www.frontlinedefenders.org

AMERICAN VOICES: LIZ LERMANN – ABBEY TALKS
Choreographer Liz Lerman returns to discuss: who gets to dance? What are we dancing about? Where is it happening and why does it matter? As part of the lecture series in the Abbey Theatre. This event takes place on Mon 08 Dec from 18:15-19:00 in the Peacock Theatre (next to the Abbey Theatre). Admission free but booking essential on 01 87 87 222 www.abbeytheatre.ie/whatson/talks.html

REGULAR MONDAY EVENTS
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading in Chapter and Verse on Parnell Street at 13:15. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* Pint&Picture or Cine Café. From 19:30 Howard Linnane is screening short films and full-length films in his fortnightly alternating movie event in the Portobello Pub in South Richmond Street. Ring Howard (086-3614787) for more information. The film screenings are free.
* From 21:30 in the International Bar, Wicklow Street: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Jacqueline Tuck. Entry is free. The music styles vary from pop to folk to traditional. www.myspace.com/jacquelinetuck

———Tuesday————————

DIT LUNCHTIME CONCERTS – RATHMINES LIBRARY
The DIT Convervator of Music and Drama is inviting to lunchtime concerts in the library in Rathmines. The next concert will be on 09 Dec at 13:15. Gavin Ralston will play guitar. Admission is free. www.dit.ie/conservatory/Events/

PEATA CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE – CHRIST CHURCH
Peata, a voluntary association that provides a pet therapy service to human beings in caring institutions, to help combat isolation and loneliness and to bring companionship and social interaction,  (More information here: www.peata.org are having a Christmas Carol Service in Christ Church Cathedral on Tues 09 Dec at 13:15. This 30 minute seasonal service is very suitable for members, clients, Patients, and visiting teams. It will be followed by tea and mince pies. All are welcome.

CAN HUMAN RIGHTS END POVERTY – DEBATE
The debate “Can Human Rights End Poverty?” is taking place on Tues 09 Dec from 15:00-14:30 in the Irish Aid Centre, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. To celebrate 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights leading human rights and anti poverty actors will come together for this important debate.
Speakers will include:
* Her Excellency, Ms. Priscilla Jana, the South African Ambassador to Ireland
* Justin Kilcullen, Trocaire
* Dr Katherine Zappone, An Cosán, Irish Human Rights Commission
* Conor Hickey, Crosscare
* Paul Cullen, The Irish Times
* Connell Foley, Concern
The discussion will be moderated by Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland. Places limited. To register please RSVP to Megan O’Malley at yas@amnesty.ie or tel:01- 8638300
www.amnesty.ie/amnesty/live/irish/news-events/article.asp?id=26620&page=2158

JIMMY MAGEE – ABBEY TALKS
“Boxing Clever: Jimmy Magee” is the title of the next Abbey Talks. Inspired by “Lay Me Down Softly” the legendary Irish Sports commentator reminisces on Irish Boxing.
The event is on Tues 09 Dev from 18:15-19:00 in the Peacock Theatre (nest to the Abbey Theatre) Admission is free but booking essential on 01 87 87 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie/whatson/talks.html

REGULAR TUESDAY EVENTS
* In the Bankers Inn on Trinity Street (off Dame Street) at 21:30: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Dave Murphy. A contribution is requested but not required. This is a listening club so is very quiet and features a lot of experienced songwriters trying out new material. www.myspace.com/davemurphyandfriends

———Wednesday———————-

SURVIVING CHRISTMAS – AWARE LECTURE
Aware, the group of interested patients, relatives and mental health professionals, whose aims are to assist the people whose lives are directly affected by depression , has been holding a Monthly Lecture Series 2008 in Dublin. The final event will take place on Tues 10 Dec and is themed “Surviving Christmas”. A panel of speakers will give advise. The lecture will be in the Lecture Theatre, Swift Centre, St. Patrick’s Hospital, James’s St, D8 at 7.30pm sharp. Paid parking is available in the car park at St Patrick’s Hospital (entrance via Steeven’s Lane), or alternatively take the Luas to Heuston Station. Admission to the lecture is free.

FILM SCREENING – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
The Spanish Cultural Institute in Dublin invites regularly to interesting talks and film screenings. All talks and screenings are usually in Spanish but translation into English or subtitles (for films) will be provided.
The next film screening will be on Wed 10 Dec at 18:30 and the film will be “La buena estrella” (1997). dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha51310_16_2.htm
The Instituto Cervantes is in Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2 (at the back of TCD near the National Gallery).

REGULAR WEDNESDAY EVENTS
* Chapters And Verse Lunchtime Reading at 13:15 or Whitehouse Poets Reading at 09:00. More information: Sarah 0872283351 or sarah@seventowers.ie or www.seventowers.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=27&extmode=cal&date=2008-12-01
* “The Zodiac Sessions” is a regular open mic event from 20:30 in Bruxelles (between Grafton Street and Westbury Hotel) for unsigned musicians. Admission is free and there is a different line-up every week. www.thezodiacsessions.com/
* “The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 on Wednesdays as well. www.myspace.com/thesongroom

———Thursday————————

BEARING WITNESS: COLM O’GORMAN – ABBEY TALKS
The very interesting “Bearing Witness” series of Abbey Talks continues with this: Amnesty International Irish Director Colm O’Gorman invites you to consider the relationship between defending local and global human rights. The event takes place on Tues 11 Dec from 18:15-19:00 in the Abbey Theatre. Admission free but booking essential on 01 87 87 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie/whatson/talks.html

POWERSCOURT TOWNHOUSE CENTRE – CUSTOMER EVENING
The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is inviting its customers to a Customer Evening on Thurs 11 Dec. There will be reductions in the shops and a wine reception will be held. The event is “strictly by invitation only” but you can conveniently download the invitation on the website www.powerscourtopen.com.

SUNGLASSES IN DUBLIN PARTY – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
The Spanish Cultural Institute, Instituto Cervantes is inviting to a “Sunglasses in Dublin Party” with DJ Paz Corral on Thurs 11 Dev from 19:00-22:00. Don’t expect a toooo wild night, but it should be fun. Admission is EUR 5 (includes music and drinks) and you might wonder why it is listed here. Well, the trick is this: If you come with sunglasses, you get in for free!! Café Literario, Instituto Cervantes Dublin, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2. dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha51697_16_2.htm

———Friday————————

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On Friday 12 Dec the 12 Day of Christmas at George’s Dock, Dublin’s only real Christmas Market will start. The Blanchardstown Brass Band will entertain on Friday evening and on Saturday there will be the brilliant face painters and balloon modellers from Marvellous Faces (www.marvellousfaces.com). Find out more about the Christmas Market here www.dublindocklands.ie/12daysofchristmas/index.jsp

——–Pre-Announcement———

FUNKY SEOMRA
This is NOT a free event, but I have to mention it once because soooo many people are talking about it. The event is called “Funky Seomra” and is a dance/music night in a drug and alcohol free environment. The next one is on Sat 13 Dec from 20:00-01:00 and if you want to book you need to hurry. There are only 250 tickets and the last time more than 50 people had to be turned away. I was told it is great fun, BUT it is not cheap: EUR 15/EUR 10. Now, since there is no alcohol sold, it might be understandable that the prices are somewhat higher!? It takes place in the Cultivate Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar. For bookings ring 01-6745773 and find out more here www.cultivate.ie/learning/health_spirit/funky_seomra.html or here www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34897260145

______________________________
______This is odd!!______________

CRAZY BRITS!?
Politically Correctness has gone mad in BBC! After the scandal about the stupid and entirely unfunny “joke” by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, which was totally blown out of proportion and even made in on Wikipedia by now (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Brand_prank_calls_row), the BBC has lost it completely:
The BBC has taken a recording of a show off their website and apologised for the show “overstepping the mark” when Torchwood Actor John Barrowman exposed himself ON RADIO!!!!! Allegedly he took bits out of his trousers, but nobody could see it because it was on RADIO and therefore was only said not shown. Nevertheless the management in BBC was NOT amused! (www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/02/bbc-radio)
Are they gone mad!?

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If you read until here, it seems to indicate that you do enjoy at least parts of this Event Guide. ;-) Now, use one of your “Random Acts of Kindness” and forward this mail to 5 of your friends/family/colleagues, please. The current growth rate won’t let us reach 5000 by October 2009, I need you to help a bit more!!! Tell them to subscribe by sending a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com!

Enjoy the weekend!

–Joerg

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If you have feedback – good or bad – PLEASE tell me via the same e-mail address.
BTW: I am not paid or otherwise rewarded for compiling and distributing this Event Guide it is purely a hobby. However, I won’t say No to donations ;-) and if you want to help me with the running of it (no minimum amount!) just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the word “Donation” in the subject and I will reply with a link that will allow you to make your donation by PayPal or per credit card or follow the link just above this section. Advertisement in or sponsorship of the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) is possible, please contact me for more information.
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Copyright 2008 by Joerg Steegmueller.
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