Dublin Event Guide 548: Christmas Markets & Events, Winter Solstice Festival

December 16th, 2017
DEG Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)

No. 548 | 15 December 2017

Subscribers: 24,150

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Hi all!

Christmas is coming closer and closer and this is the last week of Christmas Markets and the last full week of shopping. But it also means that the moment comes closer when we should think about the meaning of Christmas and avert our attention from buying and shopping. Spread some Christmas cheer, smile more, talk to people that might not have anybody who cares for them. Live the love and understanding that would make our world so much more harmonious.

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The Dublin Event Guide is late again, because I went to a great Christmas event on Friday night. So I apologise for that and at the same time would do it again. Sorry! ;-)

The outstanding bill was reduced to EUR 200. A big thanks to some regular donors! Now we have just one week left to find that amount because my experience is that over Christmas you are all busy with other things. I once had this dream that everyone would be prepared to pay EUR 1 per year. Unfortunately we are FAR away from that and that is why a few great people have to pay for the vast majority. Not a great deal, but I need these few great people and I am thinking about how I can reward them more next year. Watch that space!! If you are a great and helpful person, you can help via PayPal here even if you only have a few Euro, everything counts!! I have also added another way for donations if you prefer to use your credit card via GoFundMe here.

And don’t forget that you can also help without spending a cent of your own money, if you buy through the advertisement links that are in the Dublin Event Guide or that are on the Dublin Event Guide Shopping Page at www.DublinEventGuide/shop If you want to buy from Groupon or LivingSocial or Amazon or Bookdepository or eBay or Asos or New Look or PrettyLittleThing or SportsDirect, just go to that website and click on the relevant link and it will bring you to the right place. The company you buy from will take 5-8% out of their profit (depending on the company) and will reward the Dublin Event Guide for promoting that company. But importantly you don’t pay more! Here are the links: www.dublineventguide.com/shop Thanks for using this page!

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The Dublin Event Guide needs your continued help in two areas: Your donations help paying the bills. Just 1 Euro per month (12 Euro per year) would be great, more would be even better. Not many subscribers are prepared (or able) to help, so please don’t rely on others! Your money will be used to pay the monthly EUR 240 bill for sending the newsletter using MailChimp, for web hosting and domain names. I am happy to work 35 hours on the Dublin Event Guide every week without making anything from it, but for the bills I need your help.

You can make your donation at www.perfectresults.info/donate.htm using Paypal or CreditCard or send me a mail at dublineventguide@gmail.com if you prefer to pay by bank transfer. Corporate or enterprise sponsors are very welcome too and will get a bundle of benefits as a thank you for their donation, contact me on sponsorship@dublineventguide.com to discuss the details.

And here is the second area where you can help: Without you spreading the word we would have never reached 24,000 subscribers and 73,000 Facebook Likes. Send your friends to www.dublineventguide.com where they can subscribe as well.

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And here is a great opportunity to help the Dublin Event Guide for absolutely no cost to you:

Without putting your hand in your pocket at all you can help the Dublin Event Guide! Just use the ad links in the Dublin News Section and the banner ads in other sections as often as possible when you buy/order goods. If you buy goods immediately (in the same session) after clicking on a link/ad that you find in this publication (for example for Groupon, LivingSocial, Amazon, Book Depository, LastMinute etc), then you help the Dublin Event Guide everytime.
This is how it works: The company you buy from will give a small commission (5-8%) to the Dublin Event Guide as a thanks for pointing you in their direction. This might only be 30 cent a go, but if many of you did it every time you buy something online, then it could make a big dent into the EUR 240 needed. Importantly, you do not pay more, but the merchant accepts a slightly smaller profit. So clicking on these ads is helping everybody! Thanks!

Have an event-full weekend and week,

–Joerg

Find the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) online presence here:

Website: www.DublinEventGuide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide
Mobile App: m.dublineventguide.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DublinEventG

We are more than 70,000 people on the Dublin Event Guide – Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide and are growing every week. Join in and click LIKE on the Facebook page and tell your friends! You will get last minute updates and event reminders through the Facebook Page and you can share your free events directly there with the other people in the Dublin Event Guide Community.

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Energia

Feel good slot

The “Feel Good Slot” at this place in the Dublin Event Guide is to share some inspirational, motivational or thought provoking quotes, stories or video clips. You wonder why I added this section to this e-mail magazine? If your week was great, you might not need it, but most of us had some challenging moments in the last week and there could be more in the coming week and this section is for the people that want to overcome the hurdles, achieve more and remember that despite all, life is great!

This weeks Feel Good Slot thought is from myself after I looked for a good quote that would express and couldn’t find it:

Christmas is a fest of childhood memories of good news and great joy. As adults, however, we have to translate that into a fest of love and harmony and happiness that is carried through the whole year.

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Support

This part is important to “keep the show on the road”:

To cover the cost for the Dublin Event Guide I need your help and every week generous and nice Dublin Event Guide readers help with a donation.

This week Isidro G, Karen A, Sean S, Melanie M and Zelie McG were so wonderful to help with a donation! Thanks a lot!! You and all the other donors throughout the year are keeping the Dublin Event Guide alive! Your donation will benefit EVERY Dublin Event Guide reader!

The cost for sending the weekly newsletter is EUR 240 per month and a donation from you of just EUR 12 per year will ensure that I will be able to pay the bills.
Has the Dublin Event Guide helped you to find events that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about, or have you saved money by finding great free events? Then please go to here and give something back if you can!

I appreciate ANY help: EUR 12 would be great (that’s just 25 cent per week!), but even if it is just the price of 2 pints it will help.

You can donate online by following this link to the PayPal&CreditCard donation page. If you want to transfer your donation directly to my account, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com and I will send you the details.

In the last 12 months the following wonderful people have sponsored this Dublin Event Guide:
Lisa H, Tim O’N, Isidro G, Laura B, Shane M, Brian McG, Shai C, Margo C, Majella M, Tania Z, Barbara Q-B, Sueanne O’H, Cornelia K, Kevin R, Liz D, Amanda O, Carmel M, Sinead W, Julia B, Rebecca T, Margaret M, Kay G, Darragh D, Carmel C, Derek S, Clodagh O’C, Bernadette B, Ellen B, Cristina B, Breda K, Mary K, Siobhan M, Jan K, Sean O’C, Bernice McM, Raymond M, Henrieta P, Albert McC, Marion K, Barry McD, Oisin B, Rita B, Fiona R, Rachael McC, Tara R, John F, Yvonne K, Katie D (Paperbear), Celina V, Ali McD (Fitality), Catherine G, Catherine F, Dean R, Colum F, Fiona D, Aoife H, Nicola W, Mary C, Valerie W, Pauline R, Sophie P-L, Sinead NiC, Gerard K, Milena V, Richard P, James E, Valerie A, Susan B, Sharon K, Michelle McN, Anita W, Ciara T, Noel R, Bill G, Lisa C, Catherine O’S, Tim O’N, Michael McS, Adrienne L, Niamh O’C, Retrogaming.ie, Danijel S, Noelle H, Barry O’H, Marcus H, Brendan M, Eric F, Caoimhe Ni M, Daniel Le G, Gordon S, Deirdre C, Mark G, Aishling B, Ana R T, Ann Marie S, Gerard B, Luz McC, Nicola R, Caitriona D, Eva B, Ann C, Jutta B-S, Moira dF, Roisin R, Tracey O’C, Donna M, Jessica G, David S,Brendan R, Joan S, Stuart N, Filippo G, Gregory F, Mark C, Deirdre M, Howard L, Paul R, Linda McD, Isidro G, Gemma O’N, Aoife M, Anita W, Mark R, Clodagh O’C, Niamh D, Odhran K, Belinda B, Eimear L, Brian R, Andrew G, Marta T, Linda C, Grainne F, Rita B, Rosemary K, Mary McK, Ger O’B, Alison J, Sinead L, Lesley C, Noel N, Majella M, Mona O’R, Leigh P, Eric C, Anette K D, Aoife G, Aidan C, George K, Rita B, Thomas G, Roy C, Jutta B-S, Lorna O’C, Aisling McK, Miriam L, Fergus O’T, Julia Sch, Helen B, Susan H, Paula R, Justin M, Tony B, Ross M, Daniel L, Susan F, Joan S, Rachel McG, John F, Ann Marie S, Melanie B, Magdalena H, Leigh Ph, Mark G, Joanne M, Louise F, Kathryn H, Ornaigh G, Eamonn U, Gerard Ph, Fiona F, Gabriel K, Laura C, Aislinn T, Barry M, Joan S, Nicole W, Tara R, Denise G, Ann M, Mairin M, Daire O’C, Anne H, Anne H, Comet Records, John F, Nora O’K, David O’K, Karen+Brian F, Estelle K, Ann McP, Noelle H, Pat M, Meav Ni M, Jutta B-S, Jamie C, Leigh Ph, Irene D M, Michael D, Joan S, Melanie B, Anita W, Maria F, Moira dF, Arthur D, Catherine G, Clodagh C, Elaine K, Majella M, Ann M, Clodagh O’C, Claire R, Leigh Ph, Sarah L, Mark G, Erzsebet H, Isidro G, Karen A, Sean S, Melanie M, Zelie McG and Travel Agency “Project Travel” (www.project-travel.ie Ireland’s only Norway and Northern Lights Travel Experts), Arthur’s Pub (www.arthurspub.ie A classic Dublin old-style pub in 28 Thomas Street with a new and buzzing music venue that runs lots of events), the Speedfriending Ireland Meet-up Group (www.meetup.com/Events-Drinks-Talks-Dublin/) (Where you can meet lots of new people and make friends), Cycling Campaign (www.dublincycling.ie), www.FlamencoIndalo.com (A group that supports and promotes the art of Flamenco in Ireland), www.oliviercornetgallery.com (An Art Gallery in 5 Cavendish Row), www.thepaulkanegallery.com (A great Art Gallery, on the search for a new venue), www.cfcp.ie (The Centre for Creative Practices is the the only arts centre in Ireland dedicated to connecting, integrating and promoting immigrant, experimental and emerging artists among the local arts scene and audiences).

EnergiaThe main sponsor is Energia and their support is hugely appreciated! Energia provides cost efficient electricity and gas to Irish homes and businesses. The company is committed to developing renewable energy sources in Ireland and over 25% of the country’s wind power is supplied through Energia. Energia‘s power plants in North Dublin are capable of providing enough energy to power 1.2 million homes.

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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Joergs Picks

This section is intended to provide some help in picking and choosing from the huge number of events by sharing with you what I will/might or would do. This is not a “best of…” list and if an event is not listed here, it by no means implies that the event is not interesting. Instead my “picks” are just based on my personal preferences. All events mentioned here are described in detail further down.

This week, a few Christmas Markets (but nothing super exciting) are on the To Do list. On Friday you can even go to a Fusion Sunday Market on a Friday evening. And on Thursday the Winter Solstice Festival will make it on my list of short listed events this week.

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BUY FROM AMAZON VIA THIS LINK TO HELP THE DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE
Postage to Ireland is free for most orders if you buy for more than GBP 25! And with every order via this link, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) gets a small commission: HERE It doesn’t cost you anything more, but you help the Dublin Event Guide. Use the link as often as possible!

Competitions

Sounds Like Christmas – Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Concert – Ticket Competition

Tuesday 19 Dec – 20:00
St. Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street Upper, Dublin 2

Some of you know that I am involved with the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir. I am looking all technical aspects for the choir for the last 13 years or so after I had originally planned to just help for 4 weeks. ;-)

For Tuesday 19 Dec we have a great concert planned in Gardiner Street Church (St. Francis Xavier Church). The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir will sing our Christmas Songs and some other uplifiting special songs that fit this season. In addition the Larkin & Gardiner Street Youth Gospel Choir, the Musikmakers and the Arkajana Polish Group who all have a link with Gardiner Street Church will perform.

It will be a great concert of soulful and uplifting songs and it will get you in the perfect mood for a wonderful Christmas!

You can buy tickets here for EUR 12/10 (Kids under 12 can get free tickets) and if any tickets are left over you can also buy them at the door, but last year our Christmas Concert was completely sold out and it was such a great event that people still talk about it a year later. :-O

I worked hard on your behalf and managed to get one pair of tickets for a Dublin Event Guide reader competition. If you want to win this pair, you have to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with “GSGC Concert” in the subject line and with your name and mobile phone number in the body o f the mail. Your mail has to be with me by 13:00 on Monday 18 December and PLEASE only enter if you are available on Tuesday 19 December.

www.facebook.com/TheGSGC/

The Beast – Bouncy Castle Experience for adults – Update

15-17 December – 10:00-23:00 on Saturday and Sunday and 16:00-23:00 on Friday.
National Basketball Arena, 24 Tymon Cres, Oldbawn, Tallaght, Dublin 24

The world’s biggest inflatable obstacle course, called The Beast, is a bouncy castle experience for adults like there has been no other. Have you been at a child’s birthday and you envy the kids having fun on a bouncy castle because you would like to be bouncing too? Now you have the opportunity to do that over a whopping 272m.

This experience is coming for just three days to Dublin and will be indoors in the National Basketball Arena. Challenge friends, colleagues or family to run, bounce and dance your way around 32 great obstacles before the clock runs out.

There will also be a DJ, street food, craft beer and whiskey tasting and even a Christmas Market, Karaoke Room, Human Foosball game and inflatable photo booth.

The time slots on the Beast are 20 minutes each, but with all the other events around it, you can spend the whole day there.

Tickets are EUR 16.59 – 21.79 and can be bought from www.thebeastdublin.com

And a short video is here.

The organisers of this great event have made 5 pairs of tickets available for a competition in the Dublin Event Guide and winners have been notified directly.

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Dublin news

Help the Dublin Event Guide! It won’t cost you a cent!

Do you enjoy free events? Does it help you to find out about all these free events simply in one e-mail magazine or on one website? Does the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) deliver all this for you and maybe even more? In that case, you probably also would want it to continue forever, right?

To achieve that some money is needed. Donations are a great help, but not everyone feels they can donate at the moment. So here is the solution: If you could help with a donation without having to pay a cent from your own money wouldn’t that be cool? You can!!

When you buy books online, buy them from Book Depository or from Amazon and use these links to go to the website:

Book Depository
Amazon

And when you buy from Living Social or Groupon use these links:

Groupon
LivingSocial

Or when you buy from eBay or you want to buy holidays or clothes or anything else, check first

www.dublineventguide.com/shop

When you click on the link and then buy, your books/products/holidays etc cost exactly the same as if you went to the website directly. But if you go via the links above, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) will get 5-8% of what you spend as a commission. That’s not a lot, but if you and lots of other people used that link every time, it would amount to a fair amount of crucially important money. Use the links often, actually EVERY time you buy from the relevant site, not just once!

Giving money for free! That’s how easy it is. ;-) THANK YOU!!!

And if you want to donate money directly, then you can do that here: www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm or www.GoFundMe.com/DublinEventGuide

Dublin Event Guide Smartphone App “Dublin For Free”

Find all details on how to use the Dublin Event Guide Smartphone web app at www.dublineventguide.com/mobile.html

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DublinChristmasMarkets.com

Every year I compile a list of all Christmas Markets and publish it on www.DublinChristmasMarkets.com . You will find nearly all the Christmas Markets in Dublin on that list. And if a Christmas Market is not on it, then it is either not a proper Christmas Market ;-) OR the organisers should rapidly work on their marketing (and also send me an e-mail with the details so that I can add their market).

The list is long, but most of the markets are “Markets with a Christmas Theme” as again this year, there is no proper Christmas Market happening in Dublin. Parameters for “proper Christmas Market” in my book are: It has to be outdoors, at least 20 stalls with a mixture of a variety (!) of food stalls and Christmas related craft stalls and other goods. There has to be a Market atmosphere AND a Christmas atmosphere (a long row of stalls usually fails the “atmosphere” criteria).

But even if there is no proper Christmas Market, I still recomment the markets that we have. THey are not awful, they are perfect in their own individual way, it is just that I really miss a PROPER Christmas Market and I still can’t believe that Dublin can’t hack it to have one and to keep it! Look at Waterford or Belfast or Galway and Cork and even Dun Laoghaire tried harder than Dublin does.

So, the list is at www.DublinChristmasMarkets.com and please feel free to tell your friends, colleagues and family about it.

More Dublin News from next week!

The last two or three weeks the need to raise money to keep the Dublin Event Guide going monopolised this section. Advertisement on the Christmas Market website and the few cent here and there that your purchases through my Christmas Shopping site will bring are so crucial that I had to hold back with all the other news.

The financial situation has not changed, but once Christmas is over, all will go back to normality again…at least for a while until the need for money will get sooooo urgent that I might have to write about nothing else but about how to find money. :-O Hopefully it won’t come to that! ;-)

Christmas Shopping Online

If you still have to buy some Christmas presents online, please do so by going to www.dublineventguide.com/shop click on the relevant link and then carry out your shopping. You will not have to pay a cent extra but you will help the Dublin Event Guide hugely!! (Typically a 5% reward will be paid if you order after getting to a shopping site from www.dublineventguide.com/shop and these funds are essential to keep the Dublin Event Guide going.

On the that website you will find links for Amazon and Ebay, Book Depository, Living Social and Groupon, Asos, New Look, Get the Label and Pretty Little Thing, Schuh and My Protein. And even your holidays via eBookers, Trivago and Late Rooms can be booked there.

Thanks for using www.dublineventguide.com/shop :-)

By buying through the ads in this Dublin Event Guide, you help the Dublin Event Guide! Thanks!

Say NO to Adblockers!

I use the Internet all the time and know how annoying advertisment can be. But I also spend close to 35 hours every week on this Dublin Event Guide where getting donations is hard work and where it would be sooooo much easier if you just clicked on the links in this Dublin Event Guide when you buy products or services. You are buying anyway and it doesn’t cost you any extra, so it would be cool to help the Dublin Event Guide.

BUT this plan ONLY work if you don’t use adblockers when you look at the Dublin Event Guide.

So, please, give ads a chance HERE. Free services are NEVER free, but they are ad funded. And if you don’t help funding them then soon they won’t be free anymore.

Opportunities

The Energia Map of Free events in Ireland will be back in March.

Exhibitions

Based on your feedback, I have decided to do the following with the Exhibition section in this newsletter from now on: I will provide you with a link to a near-comprehensive listing of exhibitions provided by www.visualartists.ie . For me to list all exhibitions would only be doubling their good work and would be an inefficient use of my resources. The link is www.visualartists.ie/category/listings/dublin/

On top of that I will every now and then include here a small selection of exhibitions that either are not mentioned in the Visual Artist listing or are note-worthy to be mentioned separately.

Käthe Kollwitz: Life, Death and War – National Gallery

08 Sept – 10 Dec

National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

Prints and drawings by German artist Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) will be shown for the first time in the National Gallery of Ireland. “Käthe Kollwitz: Life, Death and War” will give the Irish public an opportunity to discover this important woman artist who created almost 300 prints, around 20 sculptures and some 1,450 drawings during her long career. 38 prints and drawings from the rich collection of the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany will be shown. Kollwitz’s work reminds us of the horror and ultimate futility of war.

Admission is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/

Saturday 16 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Sat 16 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Honest2Goodness Food Market

09:30 – 16:00, Sat 16 Dec

Honest2goodness, 136 Slaney Close, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11

The weekly Honest2goodness food market in Glasnevin has fresh meat, vegetables, fish, baked goods, and wines. It is open from 09:30-16:00. It is behind Lidl in the Industrial Estate just after the Glasnevin Cemetary coming from the City Centre.

www.honest2goodness.ie

Park Runs: Malahide, Cabinteely, Shanganah, Marlay, Raheny

09:30 – 13:00, Sat 16 Dec

Malahide Park, Dublin Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin

Parkrun Ireland is organising free weekly runs in parks. It is a timed run over 5km and participation is completely free, but registration before your first parkrun is required.

A whole range of Parkruns take place every week (and if you know some more, please tell me):
+ Malahide Park, Dublin Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin
+ Cabinteely Park, Old Bray Road, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
+ Shanganagh Park, Shankill, Co. Dublin
+ Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin, Co. Dublin
+ St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5
+ Father Collins Park, Donaghmeade/Clongriffin, Dublin 13
+ Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24
+ Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6
+ Corcagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

www.parkrun.ie/

SuperNatural Food Market

09:30 – 15:30, Sat 16 Dec

St. Andrews Resource Centre, 114 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

The SuperNatural Food Market is taking place every Saturday from 09:30-15:30 in St. Andrews Resource Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

www.supernatural.ie

The Green Door Market

09:30 – 16:00, Sat 16 Dec

18 Newmarket, Dublin 8

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

www.facebook.com/thegreendoordublin

Belgard Weekend Market

10:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

Belgard Road, Dublin 24

The Belgard Weekend Market is an indoor market with stalls with handcraft (incl. designer jewellery, aran jumpers and wool, christening robes and shawls, cards and cross stitch), household items, bric and brac, furniture, flowers, make-up, clothes, shoes, showers, upholstery, toys, kitchens, cafe, army memorabilia, collectors items, sweets, handbags books, blinds, party shop, tools and more.

It is open every Saturday and Sunday and is located in the Glen Abbey complex (opposite Jacobs) on Belgard Road.

www.facebook.com/belgardmarket

Farmleigh House Christmas Programme

10:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

Farmleigh House, Castleknock end of Phoenix Park, Dublin 15

This year’s Christmas Programme at Farmleigh House will run every weekend before Christmas and will include:

+ Christmas Food & Crafts Market 10:00-17:00
+ Live Crib from 10:00-17:00
+ Christmas Puppet Show at 12:00, 13:45, 15:30
+ Christmas Storytelling 12:45-17:00
+ Horse and Carriage Rides on Sunday 13:00-16:00
+ Christmas Carol Singing with the Firhouse SingersBoru Choir on Saturday 13:30-15:30
+ Christmas Carol Singing with the Ossia Youth Choir on Sunday 13:30-15:30
+ Barbershop Melodies with The Mellow Chords 14:00-16:00 on Saturday and 12:00-16:00 on Sunday.

You can download the full programme here.

All events are free, but tickets are required for most of them and they will be given out on the day.

phoenixpark.ie/calendar-of-events/

Jamestown Market

10:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

Jamestown Market, 90 Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8

Jamestown Flea Market + Car Boot Sale takes place every Sat+Sun from 10:00-17:00. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on the red Luas line. There is free parking.

www.jamestownmarket.com/

Marlay Park Market

10:00 – 16:00, Sat 16 Dec

Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

The County Council Market (CoCo) in Marlay Park is taking place every Saturday and Sunday. You will find a wide range of products. There will be food to eat there and food to cook at home but also crafts and arts and books and lots more.

www.dlrcoco.ie/en/parks-outdoors/markets

Temple Bar Markets

10:00 – 16:30, Sat 16 Dec

Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Temple Bar Markets (Food Market on Meeting House Square, Book Market on Temple Bar Square and the Designer Mart near Cow’s Lane) are taking place every Saturday from 10:00-16:30.

www.templebar.ie

Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market

10:00 – 19:00, Sat 16 Dec

Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market will run from Thurs 14 – Mon 18 December with the following opening hours: Thurs 10:00-21:00, Fri+Sat+Mon 10:00-19:00, Sun 12:00-18:00 The market is organised by the people behind the monthly “Fabulous Market” in The George Pub.

You will find about 11 stalls with Christmas Gift ideas. The list of stalls can be found on the Facebook Event Page below.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/144961356153298/

The Story of the Capital – Exhibition in Dublin City Hall

10:00 – 17:15, Sat 16 Dec

City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Dublin City Hall has a museum/exhibition in the basement, called “The Story of the Capital”, it is an exhibition that you should definitely check out at some stage.

To celebrate the Easter Rising Anniversary, admission to that exhibititon was free in 2016, but lucky for us, Dublin City decided to also waive the admission charge for 2017.

Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:15.

www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-recreation-culture-cityhall/exhibition

Art, Bites, Crafts – Drumcondra Market

10:30 – 15:30, Sat 16 Dec

Arts and Business Campus, 40 Drumcondra Road Lower

The Drumcondra Village Market is now the “Art, Bites, Crafts Drumcondra Market”. And as you guessed it, it is an arts and crafts fair in the centre of Drumcondra. :-) There will also be some food and music. And this week there will also be the Drumcondra Christmas Market from 12:00-16:00.

The market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30-15:30.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/abcdrumcondramarket

Blackrock Market

11:00 – 17:30, Sat 16 Dec

Blackrock Market, 19 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you’ll find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food & there’s free popcorn, ballons & facepainting for the kids.
Open on Saturdays and Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30, and Sundays: 12:00-17:30.

www.blackrockmarket.com/

Camino Society Ireland – Photo Exhibition

11:00 – 15:00, Sat 16 Dec

St. James’ Church, 53 James’ Street, Dublin 8

A Camino de Santiago Photo Exhibition will take place on Saturday in the Parish Centre of St. James’ Church.

Admission is free.

www.caminosociety.com/

Christmas Saturday Storytime – National Gallery

11:00 – 12:00, Sat 16 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

Come to the Gallery Shop in the National Gallery for a special Christmas Storytime, with readings of ‘Twas the night before Christmas and other festive favourites.

Admission is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/christmas-saturday-storytime

Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market

11:00 – 18:00, Sat 16 Dec

Pavilion Quarter, The Metals, Seafront, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market will open on 18 November and run until 23 December every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market area is quite small along the “Metals”, which is from the Dun Laoghaire’s MarineRoad near the City Hall towards the LexiCon library along the Queen’s Road, along the harbour, but at least it is an outdoor Christmas Market, something Dublin can’t manage to organise! ;-)

The market is open from 12:00-19:00 on Fridays and from 11:00-18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is free.

events.dlrcoco.ie/event/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-christmas-festival-2017

Intercultural Tour in Arabic – Chester Beatty Library

11:00, Sat 16 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

An Intercultural Tour in Arabic Language with Community Ambassador Bayan Musallam will take place.

Meeting point in the atrium of the Library. Admission is free.

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

Intercultural Tour in Mandarin – Chester Beatty Library

11:00, Sat 16 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

An Intercultural Tour in Mandarin Language with Community Ambassador Vicky Wang will take place.

Meeting point is in the atrium of the Library. Admission is free.

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

11:00 – 18:00, Sat 16 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Sat 16 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

A Fabulous Market

12:00 – 18:00, Sat 16 Dec

The George, South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2

To help you with your Christmas presents, the Fabulous Market is this month coming to the George a second time with their Fabulous Christmas Market.

You will find all sorts of art and crafts at this market and there will be live music.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/AFabulousMarketdublin/

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Sat 16 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Ha’penny Flea Market

12:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey Street (near Ha’Penny Bridge), Dublin 1

The weekly Ha’penny Flea Market is an indoor market in the Grand Social Pub, which offers vintage Men and Women’s clothing, contemporary crafts, books, DVDs, vinyl records, vintage and handmade jewellery, vintage hair styles, art, photography and much more. Grand Social’s Bar and Gourmet Coffee options are available.

www.thegrandsocial.ie/

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY – Science Gallery Exhibition

12:00 – 18:00, Sat 16 Dec

Science Gallery, Pearse Street, TCD, Dublin 2

The current exhibition in the Science Gallery is called “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” and it will run from 12 October until 11 January. The exhibition looks at doomsday and emergency scenarios. How can we prepare for such a worst case situation? It is a very interesting exhibition that I recommend. Some exhibits need you to think/reflect a little, but that is a good thing! :-)

Exhibits are for example
+ 22 Doomsday Clocks that show how close we got to the end of the world in the period from 1945-2017
+ a series of drawings teaching basic skills for challenging situations
+ Pandemic Spreading patterns in a globalised world
+ Microbiome Ark (a small satellite that carries human microbiome on board to kickstart life on earth again after a disaster)
+ a selection of Manuals for Civilisation
The website below lists all exhibits and provides their explanation so that you can either before or after your visit check further details.

There is also a Situation Room where you can partake in a Catastrophe Citizen Assembly to decide on complex questions that could affect the survival of humanity. The Situation Room assembly will convene every hour. Check with the mediators how you can take part.

All Science Gallery exhibitions are suitable for ALL ages, even younger children will be able to take part/follow. For this exhibition, though, younger kids might need your help to understand some of the context.

I strongly suggest to use the help of the amazing mediators, who can explain everything you see, especially if you don’t want to read all the explanations that are next to every exhibit.

The Science Gallery has very visitor friendly opening hours of Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00.

Admission is free.

dublin.sciencegallery.com/icoe/

Mart’s Green Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Sat 16 Dec

The MART, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Mart’s Green Christmas Market will be in the Old Fire Station in Rathmines on Fri, Sat and Sun.

Admission is free.

www.mart.ie/market/

Qi gong – Drop-in class – Chester Beatty Library

12:00, Sat 16 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

Qi gong is a traditional Chinese form of meditation coordinating slow flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm state of mind.

Come to this gentle Qi gong practice outdoors on the Roof Top Garden of the Library (weather permitting) or indoors with a view of the roof garden. Suitable for all ages.

Admission is free and no booking required, but numbers are limited. Meeting point is in the atrium of the library.

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

The Bernard Shaw Xmas Design Market

12:00 – 17:00, Sat 16 Dec

The Bernard Shaw, 12 Richmond Street South, Dublin 8

This week’s Bernard Shaw Flea Market is a “Bernard Shaw Xmas Design Market”.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/374767329635301/

Kilmainham Christmas Craft Fair

12:30 – 17:30, Sat 16 Dec

Kilmainham Gaol, Inchicore Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8

A Christmas Crafts Market will take place at Kilmainham Plaza, next to Kilmainham Gaol. The St. James’s Brass & Reed Band will also play from 15:30-17:00.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/229915214209582/

Archive at Lunchtime – IFI

13:00, Sat 16 Dec

Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

www.ifi.ie/

Chester Beatty Library – Guided Tour

14:00, Sat 16 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

Every Saturday a free guided tour will take place in the Chester Betty Library. The tour starts at 14:00.

In addition there is another free tour every Wednesday at 13:00 and one on Sundays at 15:00

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

Coca Cola Christmas Truck

14:00 – 20:00, Sat 16 Dec

Smithfield Plaza, Dublin 7

The Coca Cola Christmas Truck will be at Smithfield on Saturday. You can see the truck, take photos and get a free Coca Cola sample.

Admission is free.

www.cocacola.ie/TruckTour2017/

Eason Story Time for children

14:00, Sat 16 Dec

Eason, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1

Every Saturday a kid’s book will be read in 27 Eason’s stores all over Ireland. In O’Connell Street the reading takes place at 14:00. In the other Eason Stores, the times vary between 11:00 and 15:00 (see website below). Suitable for age 0-6 with their parents.

Admission is free.

www.easonedition.com/events/

Ecumenical Carol Singing 2017

14:30, Sat 16 Dec

St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2

An Ecumenical Carol Singing will take place outside St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street.

The event supports the Black Santa at St Ann’s and the Live Animal Crib at the Mansion House. The music and singing will be led by St Agnes’ Crumlin Community Choir (CCMA). Seasonal Readings will be given by the Mayor, Canon David Gillespie (St Anns’s), Rev Rosemary Lindsay (Methodist Church), Dr Iva Beranek (The Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland), and Ms Anne Griffin (General Manager, World Meeting of Families 2018).

Everybody is invited to come and join in the singing. Admission is free.

Cult Called Man – Gig

21:00, Sat 16 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Cult Called Man are playing a gig in Bray. Expect Alternative and Indie.

Admission is free.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/cult-called-man4

Live Music – Stillorgan Orchard

21:00, Sat 16 Dec

Stillorgan Orchard, The Hill, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

The Stillorgan Orchard has live music every Friday and Saturday. Many of the performers are established and very good bands. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below. Admission is always free.

www.stillorganorchard.com/specials/

Scentless Apprentice – Nirvana Tribute Gig

21:00, Sat 16 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Scentless Apprentice are a tribute band for grunge band “Nirvana”.

Admission is free.

sin-e.ie/events/scentless-apprentice/

Stone Triggers – Gig

21:00, Sat 16 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Stone Triggers will play glam rock and covers in the Mezz. The start time could be significantly later than 21:00 though!

Admission is free.

www.mezz.ie/events/

Sunday 17 Dec

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Car Boot Sales – Ballymun

08:00 – 13:00, Sun 17 Dec

Trinity Comprehensive Secondary School, Ballymun Road, Ballymun, Dublin 9

In addition to the Saturday Car Boot Sale in Tallaght, Irish Car Boot Sales run a weekly Sunday Car Boot Sales in Ballymun.

Admission for buyers is free.

www.facebook.com/irishcarboot

Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Sun 17 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Christmas at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre

09:30 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8

The Christmas events at the Phoenix Park Visitor centre include

+ Live Crib (09:30-17:00)
+ Tanya Carruth Christmas Choir (12:30-13:30)
+ Puppet Theatre (13:30-15:00)
+ the Woodturners Guild will demonstrate their work in Ashtown Castle (12:00-16:00)
+ and there is a talk about Christmas Deers and Winter Birds at the Papal Cross (11:00 + 14:00), which is MOST LIKELY booked out (Check via 01-6770095).

Admission is free.

phoenixpark.ie/calendar-of-events/

Belgard Weekend Market

10:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Belgard Road, Dublin 24

The Belgard Weekend Market is an indoor market with stalls with handcraft (incl. designer jewellery, aran jumpers and wool, christening robes and shawls, cards and cross stitch), household items, bric and brac, furniture, flowers, make-up, clothes, shoes, showers, upholstery, toys, kitchens, cafe, army memorabilia, collectors items, sweets, handbags books, blinds, party shop, tools and more.

It is open every Saturday and Sunday and is located in the Glen Abbey complex (opposite Jacobs) on Belgard Road.

www.facebook.com/belgardmarket

Farmleigh House Christmas Programme

10:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Farmleigh House, Castleknock end of Phoenix Park, Dublin 15

This year’s Christmas Programme at Farmleigh House will run every weekend before Christmas and will include:

+ Christmas Food & Crafts Market 10:00-17:00
+ Live Crib from 10:00-17:00
+ Christmas Puppet Show at 12:00, 13:45, 15:30
+ Christmas Storytelling 12:45-17:00
+ Horse and Carriage Rides on Sunday 13:00-16:00
+ Christmas Carol Singing with the Firhouse SingersBoru Choir on Saturday 13:30-15:30
+ Christmas Carol Singing with the Ossia Youth Choir on Sunday 13:30-15:30
+ Barbershop Melodies with The Mellow Chords 14:00-16:00 on Saturday and 12:00-16:00 on Sunday.

You can download the full programme here.

All events are free, but tickets are required for most of them and they will be given out on the day.

phoenixpark.ie/calendar-of-events/

Jamestown Market

10:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Jamestown Market, 90 Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8

Jamestown Flea Market + Car Boot Sale takes place every Sat+Sun from 10:00-17:00. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on the red Luas line. There is free parking.

www.jamestownmarket.com

Marlay Park Market

10:00 – 16:00, Sun 17 Dec

Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

The County Council Market (CoCo) in Marlay Park is taking place every Saturday and Sunday. You will find a wide range of products. There will be food to eat there and food to cook at home but also crafts and arts and books and lots more.

www.dlrcoco.ie/en/parks-outdoors/markets

Merrion Square Open Air Gallery

10:00 – 18:30, Sun 17 Dec

Merrion Square, Dublin 2

Every Sunday, the Merrion Square Open Air Art Gallery takes place. Up to 200 artists exhibit their paintings on the railings on three sides (West, North and East) of Merrion Square and you can just enjoy the exhibition or even buy.

www.merrionsquareart.com/

Art, Bites, Crafts – Drumcondra Market

10:30 – 15:30, Sun 17 Dec

Arts and Business Campus, 40 Drumcondra Road Lower

The Drumcondra Village Market is now the “Art, Bites, Crafts Drumcondra Market”. And as you guessed it, it is an arts and crafts fair in the centre of Drumcondra. :-) There will also be some food and music. And this week there will also be the Drumcondra Christmas Market from 12:00-16:00.

The market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30-15:30.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/abcdrumcondramarket

Bray Beach Christmas Market

11:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Jim Doyle’s Pub, Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

A Bray Beach Flea Market will take place in Bray. There will be food, frink, crafts and vintage.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/188092685087878/

Dublin Comic Arts Festival

11:00, Sun 17 Dec

Token, 72-74 Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7

Small press comics of Ireland will be represented at the Dublin Comic Arts Festival on Sunday.

There will be a workshop, swaps and exhibitors.

Admission is free.

dublincomicarts.ie/

Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market

11:00 – 18:00, Sun 17 Dec

Pavilion Quarter, The Metals, Seafront, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market will open on 18 November and run until 23 December every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market area is quite small along the “Metals”, which is from the Dun Laoghaire’s MarineRoad near the City Hall towards the LexiCon library along the Queen’s Road, along the harbour, but at least it is an outdoor Christmas Market, something Dublin can’t manage to organise! ;-)

The market is open from 12:00-19:00 on Fridays and from 11:00-18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is free.

events.dlrcoco.ie/event/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-christmas-festival-2017

Dun Laoghaire Market

11:00 – 16:00, Sun 17 Dec

People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

A weekly market with lots of food, but also many other products (art & crafts, books, etc) takes place every Sunday in the beautiful People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. It is a very popular market and with around 50 vendors also one of the bigger markets.

www.dlrcoco.ie/en/parks-outdoors/markets

Jazz + Bluegrass for Brunch on Sundays

11:00 – 16:30, Sun 17 Dec

Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street, Dublin 2

The Kilkenny Shop Cafe is inviting to a Jazz Brunch Sunday every Sunday from 11:00-14:00 and from 14:30-16:30 a Bluegrass Band is taking over. Unfortuantely they don’t specify who the bands are.

Admission is free.

www.kilkennyshop.com/restaurant-jazzsundays

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

11:00 – 18:00, Sun 17 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

Palestrina Choir

11:00, Sun 17 Dec

St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 83 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

The well known Palestrina Choir sing every Sunday at the mass in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. They sing complete masterworks by Mozart, Haydn, Dvorak, Palestrina, de Victoria, usually accompanied by Prof. Gerard Gillen on the organ, who often also plays a solo piece.

www.procathedral.ie/music/this-week

Family Drop-in Creative Corner

11:30 – 13:30, Sun 17 Dec

National Gallery, Clare Street, Dublin 2

The National Gallery is running a series of free themed family drop-in workshops from 11:30-13:30 every Sunday.

Inspired by the collection and the exhibitions in the National Gallery, these workshops are suitable for all ages from approx. 18 months to age 8. You can choose to stay for as long or as short a time as works for you.

The space will be divided by age and ability, and each child will be encouraged by Artist and NGI Education Assistant Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire and the week’s guest artist to create their own work on the week’s theme.

Admission is free and no booking required. Numbers are limited to 40 people at any one time but you can drop in and out whenever it suits you and as long as there is still space. Children have to be supervised at all times. The event takes place in the Atrium.

www.nationalgallery.ie/drop-workshop

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Sun 17 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Pop-up Crib Talks – Dublin Castle

11:45, Sun 17 Dec

Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2

On Sunday Pop-Up Crib Talks will take place at 11:45, 14:45 and 16:45.

Discover the story behind the beautiful Neapolitan crib by attending one of Dublin Castle’s short pop-up talks in the Chapel Royal.
These talks are suitable for all ages and are free. No booking required.

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Sun 17 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Blackrock Market

12:00 – 17:30, Sun 17 Dec

Blackrock Market, 19 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you’ll find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food & there’s free popcorn, ballons & facepainting for the kids.
Open on Sundays: 12:00-17:30. Open on Saturdays and Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30.

www.blackrockmarket.com/

Crafty Christmas at Rathfarnham Castle

12:00 – 17:00, Sun 17 Dec

Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham Road, Dublin 14

Come to this Crafty Christmas Drop-in event for children. Also the Encore School of Performing Arts will sing Christmas songs and there will be a reading corner. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/304759400038599/

Guided Walks – Botanic Gardens

12:00 – 15:30, Sun 17 Dec

National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Every Sunday, the National Botanic Gardens invite to two guided walks. The first one is at 12:00 and the second one at 14:30.

Admission is free.

www.botanicgardens.ie/educ/info.htm

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY – Science Gallery Exhibition

12:00 – 18:00, Sun 17 Dec

Science Gallery, Pearse Street, TCD, Dublin 2

The current exhibition in the Science Gallery is called “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” and it will run from 12 October until 11 January. The exhibition looks at doomsday and emergency scenarios. How can we prepare for such a worst case situation? It is a very interesting exhibition that I recommend. Some exhibits need you to think/reflect a little, but that is a good thing! :-)

Exhibits are for example
+ 22 Doomsday Clocks that show how close we got to the end of the world in the period from 1945-2017
+ a series of drawings teaching basic skills for challenging situations
+ Pandemic Spreading patterns in a globalised world
+ Microbiome Ark (a small satellite that carries human microbiome on board to kickstart life on earth again after a disaster)
+ a selection of Manuals for Civilisation
The website below lists all exhibits and provides their explanation so that you can either before or after your visit check further details.

There is also a Situation Room where you can partake in a Catastrophe Citizen Assembly to decide on complex questions that could affect the survival of humanity. The Situation Room assembly will convene every hour. Check with the mediators how you can take part.

All Science Gallery exhibitions are suitable for ALL ages, even younger children will be able to take part/follow. For this exhibition, though, younger kids might need your help to understand some of the context.

I strongly suggest to use the help of the amazing mediators, who can explain everything you see, especially if you don’t want to read all the explanations that are next to every exhibit.

The Science Gallery has very visitor friendly opening hours of Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00.

Admission is free.

dublin.sciencegallery.com/icoe/

Magazine Fort – Guided Tour

12:00, Sun 17 Dec

Magazine Fort, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8

The Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park is unusually neglected and at the same time unusually rich in history. Many have seen it as a barred off concrete fortress in a corner of Phoenix Park and even more don’t even know or have forgotten that it exists. The old Phoenix House, the home of the British Viceroy, was on the site where the fort was built from the early 17th century and then in 1734 the Fort was built and extended in 1801.

In 1916 the Fort was raided by the rebels who expected to find a lot of explosives there, but found the Fort nearly empty. In 1939 the IRA raided the Fort and stole more than a million rounds of ammunition, but most of it was recovered over the following weeks.

Since 1988, the Irish Army doesn’t use the Fort anymore and gave it back to the Office of Public Works (OPW), but not much good has happened to the Fort in the last 28 years (!!) and there were numerous speculations about the reasons for that.

Finally since last year, guided tours are provided with four tours on Friday and Sunday over the Summer and a reduced schedule in the winter. From 01 October until March 2018, the only tour is on Sundays from 12:00 and 20 places are available on that tour.

Tickets are available at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on a first come, first served basis and can not be pre-booked. A shuttle bus will bring the ticket holders to the Fort.

phoenixpark.ie/tours/

Mart’s Green Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Sun 17 Dec

The MART, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Mart’s Green Christmas Market will be in the Old Fire Station in Rathmines on Fri, Sat and Sun.

Admission is free.

www.mart.ie/market/

Sunday at Noon – Classical Concerts

12:00 – 13:00, Sun 17 Dec

Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1

The Sundays at Noon Concert Series continues in the Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. This series of free (mainly classical) concerts continues to present the best of Irish and International music and musicians. Concerts run from September to June.

The next concert will feature Christmas and Operatic Favorites with Rachel Croash, soprano; Kate Allen, mezzo-soprano;
Patrick Hyland, tenor; Rory Musgrave, baritone and Dearbhla Collins, piano.

www.hughlane.ie/past-sunday-concerts/1913-sundaysnoon-christmas-a-operatic-favourites

Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market

12:00 – 18:00, Sun 17 Dec

Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market will run from Thurs 14 – Mon 18 December with the following opening hours: Thurs 10:00-21:00, Fri+Sat+Mon 10:00-19:00, Sun 12:00-18:00 The market is organised by the people behind the monthly “Fabulous Market” in The George Pub.

You will find about 11 stalls with Christmas Gift ideas. The list of stalls can be found on the Facebook Event Page below.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/144961356153298/

Christmas in the Trenches – Words & Music

12:30, Sun 17 Dec

Glasnevin Cemetery, Finglas Road, Dublin 11

The event “Christmas in the Trenches” is a remembrance of “Patriots and Passchendaele” in prose, poetry, music and song in the Chapel of Glasnevin Cemetery Museum.

Admission is free, but booking is requested via clarevillecentre@hotmail.com

Family Tour – National Gallery

12:30 – 13:15, Sun 17 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

This is a free tour specially designed for children and their guardians, parents and carers that will make the works on display fun and engaging for kids.

No booking is necessary. Meet at the Merrion Square information desk.

www.nationalgallery.ie/family-tour-12

Support the Dublin Event Guide – Buy your books here!

13:00, Sun 17 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

If you regularly or occasionally buy books online, you can help the Dublin Event Guide hugely even without having to pay cent directly. In fact you even save money this way:

Buy your books from The Book Depository and get better prices and free (!!) delivery for all orders independent from the volume and when you click on the picture here before you buy, then 5% of what normally The Book Depository would get, they give back to the Dublin Event Guide. Everybody wins!

www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=dubevg

If you prefer Amazon to buy your books (for free postage you need to order a minimum of GBP 25), then use this Amazon link to help the Dublin Event Guide. Thanks!

Dublin Sketchers – Sunday Meet-up

14:00, Sun 17 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

The “Dublin Sketchers” is an informal group of (hobby) artists who go somewhere different in Dublin every Sunday (e.g. National Museum, Maritime Museum, Dublin Flea Market, Farmleigh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin Castle, Science Gallery, …), sketch for one to two hours and then meet up for coffee afterwards and discuss their sketches.

There are some hugely talented people among them and it is a great idea to meet up with others who have the same hobby. Find out on their website below or on their Facebook Page where they will meet and join them if you do some sketching/drawing yourself. I know that the Dublin Sketchers often use the Dublin Event Guide to find interesting free events and I am delighted to be able to help!

www.dublinsketchers.blogspot.com/

Hugh Lane Gallery – Guided Tour

14:00, Sun 17 Dec

Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1

Every Sunday a free tour takes place in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

Admission is free and booking is not required, but places are limited, so early arrival is recommended.

www.hughlane.ie/lectures/current/1431-free-sunday-tours-at-2pm-2016

Lady and the Tramp – Film Screening

14:00, Sun 17 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

On Sunday a film screening of the 1955 version of the animated Disney movie “Lady and the Tramp” will take place. It will be preceeded by the screening of short film “The Lost Letter”. Narrated by Kate Winslet, this short film tells the tale of a young boy as he prepares his neighbourhood for Christmas. Films are G rated.

Admission is free.

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

Stella Bass Jazz Trio

14:00 – 16:00, Sun 17 Dec

Café en Seine, Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Afternoon Jazz in Café en Seine. The Stella Bass Jazz Trio play every Sunday from 14:00-16:00 in Café en Seine in Dawson Street. Admission is free. A video is here www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8aKqtOB5S8

www.stellabass.com

Sunday Family Sketching – Hugh Lane Gallery

14:00 – 15:00, Sun 17 Dec

Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1

Sunday Sketching for the whole family takes place every Sunday in the Hugh Lane Gallery and admission is free.

Families are invited to explore and respond together the gallery’s collection and temporary exhibitions through discussion and drawing. Bring your own sketchbook along or use the drawing materials provided. There will be a different topic every week and all topics until 28 Jan are listed on the website below.

Admission is free and no booking required, although numbers may be limited. Suited for ages 6+.

www.hughlane.ie/childrens-workshops/forthcoming/1787-sunday-sketching-sept-jankidsclub

Oh Christmas Tree – Drop-in Activity

14:30 – 16:00, Sun 17 Dec

National Museum, Kildare Street (Archaeology), Dublin 2

“Oh Christmas Tree!” is a drop-in activity on Sunday. Come to the Learning Resource Room to help decorate the Christmas tree by making your own Christmas decoration that is inspired by the museum collections and make one to take home! No booking required. Located in the Learning Resource Room, first floor.

Admission is free.

www.museum.ie/Visit-Us/Events?id=3438

Chester Beatty Library – Guided Tour

15:00, Sun 17 Dec

Chester Beatty Library, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

Every Sunday a free guided tour will take place in the Chester Betty Library. The tour starts at 15:00.

In addition there is another free tour every Wednesday at 13:00 and one on Saturdays at 14:00

www.cbl.ie/Plan-A-Visit/What-s-On.aspx

Museum Tour – National Print Museum

15:00 – 16:30, Sun 17 Dec

National Print Museum, Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin 4

Unlike the three branches of the National Museum, the National Print Museum is normally not free, but every Sunday there is a free public tour for the next few weeks. Every visit begins with a short audio-visual presentation where the audience can observe active retired printers providing practical demonstrations of machines from the Museum’s collection.

www.nationalprintmuseum.ie/guided-tours.html

Bal Folk – European Folk Dance Session

16:00 – 18:30, Sun 17 Dec

The Cobblestone, 77 North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7

Travel around European traditional dancing culture without a ticket at the weekly Bal Folk Dance Sessions.

And if you don’t know how to dance, don’t worry! Workshops are provided and admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

This week’s event is the Bal Folk Christmas Party, for more details follow the link below.

www.facebook.com/events/1986326351608723/

Blues Got Soul – Gig

17:00 – 20:15, Sun 17 Dec

The International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

Blues Got Soul, a four-piece blues band from Dublin is performing the music of the founding fathers of blues and blues masters in the International Bar every Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Diva Voices Christmas Concert

17:00, Sun 17 Dec

St Stephen’s Church (The Pepper Canister), 2 Mount St Crescent, Dublin 2

The Diva Voices are inviting to their “Christmas Music & Carols” concert in the Peppercanister Church on Sunday.

Admission is free and donations are appreciated in aid of the RNLI.

www.facebook.com/Diva-Voces-183559591680926/

The High Leeson – Bluegrass Gig

18:00, Sun 17 Dec

Leeson Lounge, 148 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

The High Leeson is a Bluegrass band that plays every Sunday in the Leeson Longe.

Admission is free, donations are appreciated.

www.facebook.com/The-Leeson-Lounge-114810058553792

Wiley Fox Trad Session

18:00 – 20:00, Sun 17 Dec

Wiley Fox, 28 Eden Quay, Dublin 1

Every Sunday evening from 18:00-20:00, the Wiley Fox is hosting a trad session, where some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians will play for you.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/thewileyfox

Dixieland Jazzmen – Gig

18:30 – 20:30, Sun 17 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

The Dixeland Jazzmen play a weekly gig in Sin E. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/Sin.E.Pub/

Jawbone – Acoustic Folk & Blues Night

19:00 – 21:00, Sun 17 Dec

Arthur’s Pub, 28 Thomas Street, Dublin 8

At the Jawbone Gig night in Arthur’s Pub, Acoustic Folk & Blues will be performed every Sunday. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/pages/Jawbone-Dublin-Acoustic-Folk-Blues-Commune/724102984268967

www.facebook.com/ArthursPub

Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Mass

19:30 – 20:30, Sun 17 Dec

St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street, Dublin 1

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir sings every Sunday from September to June at their “Gig in God’s Gaff”, a Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street.

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, one of the best known gospel choirs in Ireland will give you a chance to experience a mass with a difference. It is uplifting and inspiring and everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness or your relationship with the Catholic Church in other contexts.

Disclaimer: I am involved with the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, so the description above MIGHT not be totally unbiased. But just take it from me, they are brilliant! ;-)

www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com

Apollo Sessions

20:30, Sun 17 Dec

Bleeding Horse, 24 Upper Camden St., Dublin 2

Every Sunday this singer-songwriter night takes place in the Bleeding Horse in Camden St. from 8.30pm. It is an Open mic night and performers can just turn up and put their name on the list for that night.

www.facebook.com/apollosessions

Comedy Crunch

21:00 – 00:00, Sun 17 Dec

Stag’s Head (downstairs), Dame Lane, Dublin 2

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy downstairs in Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of that there is some free ice cream. The line-up can be found via the Comedy Crunch Facebook Page (see link below).

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330

Rhythm Rocker

21:00, Sun 17 Dec

The Globe, 11 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2

“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event on Sunday night in The Globe with live music (Rockabilly) and DJs. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/rhythmrocker

Samyel – Flamenco Folk Gig

21:00, Sun 17 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Samyel is playing acoustic Flamenco Folk in the Harbour Bar.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/samuel

The Jive Cats – Gig

22:00, Sun 17 Dec

Mercantile, 28 Dame Street, Dublin 2

The Rock ‘n’ Rock and Swing Band “The Jive Cats” will perform in the Mercantile every Sunday from 22:00.

Admission is free.

dublinsessions.ie/the-mercantile-hotel/

The Dublin Blues Cartel – Gig

22:30, Sun 17 Dec

Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2

The Dublin Blues Cartel will be in Whelan’s again and will perform mostly a version of New Orleans R’n’B with a classic rock twist, sandwiched with swing, Rock’n’Roll, Soul, Funk, Blues and rap of all eras. Admission is free.

www.whelanslive.com/index.php/live-from-the-window-w-the-dublin-blues-cartel-32/

Monday 18 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Mon 18 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market

10:00 – 19:00, Mon 18 Dec

Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Temple Bar Pop-up Gift Market will run from Thurs 14 – Mon 18 December with the following opening hours: Thurs 10:00-21:00, Fri+Sat+Mon 10:00-19:00, Sun 12:00-18:00 The market is organised by the people behind the monthly “Fabulous Market” in The George Pub.

You will find about 11 stalls with Christmas Gift ideas. The list of stalls can be found on the Facebook Event Page below.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/144961356153298/

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Mon 18 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Mon 18 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Mon 18 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Archive at Lunchtime – IFI

13:00, Mon 18 Dec

Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

www.ifi.ie/

Low priced books with free delivery!

13:00, Mon 18 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

If you regularly or occasionally buy books online, you can help the Dublin Event Guide hugely even without having to pay cent directly. In fact you even save money this way:

Buy your books from The Book Depository and get better prices and free (!!) delivery for all orders independent from the volume and when you click on the picture here before you buy, then 5% of what normally The Book Depository would get, they give back to the Dublin Event Guide. Everybody wins!

www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=dubevg

If you prefer Amazon to buy your books (for free postage you need to order a minimum of GBP 25), then use this Amazon link to help the Dublin Event Guide. Thanks!

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

14:00 – 18:00, Mon 18 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

Drunkard’s Hiccups – Old Time String Band Music

20:00, Mon 18 Dec

Thomas House, 88 Thomas Street, Dublin 8

This is a weekly gig with authentic old-time fiddle tunes and Appalachian music.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/drunkardshiccups/

Song Cycle

20:00, Mon 18 Dec

Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2

Song Cycle is a weekly Singer/Songriter showcase. The line-up is not always easily findable on the Whelan’s website, but admission is always free.

www.whelanslive.com

The Champion’s Portion – Candlelit Tales

20:00, Mon 18 Dec

Arthur’s Pub, 28 Thomas Street, Dublin 8

Storytellers Candlelit Tales will shed some light on one of the greatest quarrels in Irish mythology and they will tell you about Irish Mythology’s own Scrooge. Doors open at 19:30.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/188694111682397/

The Circle Sessions – Open Mic

20:00 – 23:30, Mon 18 Dec

The International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

The Circle Sessions is an “Open Mic” that provides an opportunity for up and coming musicians, spoken word artists, poets and comedians to perform.

Come to this weekly show to perform or to simply watch a great mix of music, poetry, spoken word and comedy.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/thecirclesessions/

The Comedy Shed

20:30, Mon 18 Dec

Woolshed Bar & Grill, Parnell Street, Dublin 1

Every Monday the Woolshed Bar hosts “The Comedy Shed”, usually with 3 headline acts.

Admission is free.

www.woolshedbaa.com/dublin/

Comedy Crunch

21:00 – 23:00, Mon 18 Dec

Stag’s Head (downstairs), Dame Lane, Dublin 2

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of good comedy you will get free ice cream. Admission is free. The line-up can be found via the Comedy Crunch Facebook Page (see link below).

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330

Donal Kirk & Anto Drennan – Gig

21:00, Mon 18 Dec

Leeson Lounge, 148 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

Donal Kirk and Anto Drennan will play music from Lowell George Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, Free, Bad Company, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Beatles, Bobby Bland, Vince Gill, Ray Charles, Etta James, Elvis, Ry Cooder, Dobie Gray, Guy Clarke, early ZZ Top, Dave Edmunds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/The-Leeson-Lounge-114810058553792/

Jazz Jam Session – Grand Social

21:00, Mon 18 Dec

Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey Street (near Ha’Penny Bridge), Dublin 1

Every Monday a Jazz Jam Session will take place in the Grand Social and you are invited to listen or even to participate. Admission is free for musicians and audience.

Instruments are supplied (drums (no cymbals), double bass, guitar amp, bass amp, PA system) and ideas and themes will be proposed prior to the session to the musicians who join the event on Facebook (see Facebook Page below).

www.facebook.com/pages/Jazz-Jam-Session-at-The-Grand-Social/224553674385198

The Address – Gig

21:00, Mon 18 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Address are playing a gig in the Mezz. Admission is free.

www.mezz.ie/events/

Trad Sessions

21:00 – 23:30, Mon 18 Dec

Mother Reillys, 26/28 Upper Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

An Open Trad Music Session is taking place every Monday in Mother Reilly’s. Admission is free.

dublinsessions.ie/mother-reillys/

That’s It Recordings – Open Mic

22:00, Mon 18 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

That’s It Recordings is an open mic every Monday at Sin E. Just turn up and play. Sign up before 22:00 to ensure you get a slot. Bring a USB stick along and you will get a recording of your music to take home.

Admission is free.

sin-e.ie/events/thats-it-open-mic-2/

Tuesday 19 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Tue 19 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Tue 19 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Tue 19 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Tue 19 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

The Funeral of Patroclus – Art Pop-up Talk

13:15 – 13:45, Tue 19 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

Join Sarah Wilson for a pop-up talk in front of Jacques-Louis David’s painting “The Funeral of Patroclus”. Admission is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/funeral-patroclus

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

14:00 – 18:00, Tue 19 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

The Dublin Language Exchange – Meetup

19:00, Tue 19 Dec

Czech Inn, Essex Gate, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

EveryTuesday at 19:00, The Dublin Language Exchange takes place in the Czech Inn. It is the biggest free meeting of people from all around Dublin that are interested in learning languages and communicate with speakers of other languages.

Admission is free and the meetup is completely informal. No booking required.

www.facebook.com/Dublin-Language-Exchange-131803433533696/

Camden Comedy

20:00 – 22:30, Tue 19 Dec

Anseo, 18 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2

Camden Comedy is a weekly comedy night on a Tuesday that I only found recently.

Every Tuesday they have a whole range of comedians and admission is free.

www.facebook.com/CamdenComedyDublin/

Dublin Bluegrass Collective – Gig

20:00, Tue 19 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Rumours have it that the Bluegrass Collective will perform in Sin É on Tuesday and there might even be an open Bluegrass Jam! Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/Sin.E.Pub

Kerry Hart – Gig

20:00, Tue 19 Dec

Workman’s Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2

Kerry Hart is a singer, songwriter, recording artist and performer from Los Angeles, California and she will be in Dublin for a gig in the Workman’s Club.

Admission is free.

theworkmansclub.com/events/kerry-hart/

Ukulele Tuesday – Jam&Gig

20:00 – 23:30, Tue 19 Dec

Stag’s Head, Dame Lane, Dublin 2

Every Tuesday an informal sing along with Ukulele and Toy Musical Instruments takes place in the Stag’s Head. Just bring your instrument and come along. Beginners are welcome. Admission is free and further details (and a big book of songs) are available on the Facebook Page below.

www.facebook.com/UkuleleTuesday

Light House Sessions – Open Mic Night

20:30, Tue 19 Dec

The Bowery, 196 Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

The Light House Sessions is an Open Mic Night in the Bowery. There will be music, comedy and spoken word and admission is free.

thebowery.ie/calander/

Comedy Crunch

21:00 – 23:00, Tue 19 Dec

Stag’s Head (downstairs), Dame Lane, Dublin 2

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of good comedy you will get free ice cream. Admission is free. The line-up can be found via the Comedy Crunch Facebook Page (see link below).

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330

Tetris – Gig

21:00, Tue 19 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Tetris are back in the Mezz for a gig. Admission is free.

www.mezz.ie/events/

The Lounge Quintet – Jazz Gig

21:00, Tue 19 Dec

Leeson Lounge, 148 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

The Lounge Quintet plays this gig every Tuesday: Jazz Standards, Latin and Bebop. Often guest musicians and singers join them. Admission is free, donations are welcome.

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Leeson-Lounge/114810058553792

The Trad Stage – Open Mic

21:00 – 23:30, Tue 19 Dec

Tivoli Backstage, 18/19 Francis Street, Dublin 8

The Trad Stage is a weekly Open Mic event in the Tivoli Backstage venue. Musicians are invited to perform live in front of an interested audience. Performances are primarily of Irish Traditional Music and Folk Singing, however it is possible to also see performances of traditional music from all over the world as well as performances of original compositions from local and international musicians.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/thetradstage/

International Bar Jazz Night

21:30, Tue 19 Dec

The International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

Every Tuesday and Thursday the International Bar invites to a Jazz night in the Lounge.

Groups led by Cote Calmet, Sean Maynard Smith, Dominic Mullan, Paddy Groenland, Georgia Cusack & Alex Mathias are performing regularly with occasional guest players, but there are also other bands from all over.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of EUR 5. The website clearly says that there is no entry fee, but – and that makes a lot of sense – that your donations are very much appreciated (Musicians need to pay for rent and food too!) Be generous after the gig if you liked it, but if someone wants to charge an admission charge, please point out that the “rules” as described on their website are like I have explained.

www.international-bar.com/jazz/

Woolshed Pub Quiz

21:30, Tue 19 Dec

Woolshed Bar & Grill, Parnell Street, Dublin 1

Every Tuesday, a pub quiz is taking place in the Woolshed.

Admission is free. Max team size is 6 people.

www.woolshedbaa.com

Wednesday 20 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Wed 20 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Creative Den Drawing Session – Rua Red

11:00, Wed 20 Dec

Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, D24

Did you ever want to give drawing a go? Or maybe you are a budding artist looking for like-minded people to draw with? The Creative Den in Rua Red runs free weekly drawing sessions on Wednesdays at 11:00.

ruared.ie/

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Wed 20 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Wed 20 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Wed 20 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Mart’s Green Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Wed 20 Dec

The MART, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Mart’s Green Christmas Market will be in the Old Fire Station in Rathmines on Fri, Sat and Sun and in the last week from Wednesday until Saturday.

Admission is free.

www.mart.ie/market/

Archive at Lunchtime – IFI

13:00, Wed 20 Dec

Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

www.ifi.ie/

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

14:00 – 18:00, Wed 20 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

Havana International Language Exchange

16:30 – 19:30, Wed 20 Dec

Havana Tapas Bar, Georges St, Dublin 2

The “Havana International Language Exchange” is taking place every Wed from 16:30-19:30 in Havana Tapas Bar in George’s Street. There are many Spanish speakers and English-speakers are explicitly invited, but everyone else is certainly very welcome too, to meet for a chat to improve your Spanish or English.

www.facebook.com/pages/Havana-Tapas-Bar/10503361821

Christmas Guerrilla Tour – Dublin Castle

19:00, Wed 20 Dec

Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2

A Dublin Castle Christmas Guerrilla Tour will take place: hear the alternative histories of Dublin Castle and of the Georgian and Victorian eras with a Christmas twist.

This tour is suitable for adults and free, but booking is required via dublincastle@opw.ie

Dwarf Jar Wednesday Jazz

19:30 – 22:00, Wed 20 Dec

The Dwarf Jar Cafe, 1 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2

The Dwarf Jar House Trio (Daniel Rorke (sax), Cormac O’Brien (bass) and Matthew Jacobson(drums)) will play a weekly Jazz gig every Wednesday in Dwarf Jar Cafe and they usually have one or more guest musicians or singers supporting them.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/satumusikk/

The Champion’s Portion – Candlelit Tales

19:30, Wed 20 Dec

The Bowery, 196 Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Storytellers Candlelit Tales will shed some light on one of the greatest quarrels in Irish mythology and they will tell you about Irish Mythology’s own Scrooge. Doors open at 19:00.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/events/188694111682397/

Jesters Open Mic Comedy Night

19:45 – 22:00, Wed 20 Dec

The Front Door, 15 Dame Street, Dublin 2

Jesters is a weekly open mic comedy event where a lot of comedians do 5 minutes of material.

Admission is free. If you would like to perform then send a message to the Jesters Facebook Page via the link below.

www.facebook.com/jesterscomedy/

Brand New Switcharoo – Roots Gig

20:00, Wed 20 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

The Roots Band “Brand New Switcharoo” will perform in the Harbour Bar. Admission is free.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/

Anseo Comedy Club

20:30, Wed 20 Dec

Anseo, 18 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2

The Anseo Comedy Club takes place every Wednesday in Anseo (upstairs).

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

www.facebook.com/StandUpComedyClub

The Song Room (open mic)

20:30, Wed 20 Dec

The Globe, 11 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2

“The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 every Wednesday.

www.theglobe.ie/events

The Zodiac Sessions – Open Mic/Gig

20:30, Wed 20 Dec

Bruxelles, Harry Street, Dublin 2

“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.facebook.com/zodiacsessions

Bad Boy Jake

21:00, Wed 20 Dec

Gypsy Rose Blues & Rock Bar, 5 Aston Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Bad Boy Jake are every Wednesday in the Gypsy Rose Rock & Blues Bar playing their rock, blues and American.

www.dublinsessions.ie/gypsy.html

Los Paradiso – Gig

21:00, Wed 20 Dec

Leeson Lounge, 148 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

Los Paradiso are playing Rockabilly, Tex Mex, Western Swing, Surf in the Leeson Lounge. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Leeson-Lounge/114810058553792

Mikey Mac & Co. – Gig

21:00, Wed 20 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Mikey Mac & Co. will play Folk, Rock and Blues in Bray.

Admission is free.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/mikey-mac-co

Trad Session

21:30, Wed 20 Dec

Hedigan’s (The Brian Boru), 4 Prospect Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 11

Traditional Irish Music Session in Hedigan’s (The Brian Boru) in Phibsborough from 21:30 every Wednesday. If you play an instrument you are especially welcome (all levels are welcome).

The Harleys – Gig

23:55, Wed 20 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Harleys are a popular coverband and they will be in the Mezz every Wednesday at midnight.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/mezzdublin

Thursday 21 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Thu 21 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Thu 21 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Thu 21 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Thu 21 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Mart’s Green Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Thu 21 Dec

The MART, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Mart’s Green Christmas Market will be in the Old Fire Station in Rathmines on Fri, Sat and Sun and in the last week from Wednesday until Saturday.

Admission is free.

www.mart.ie/market/

The Green Door Market

12:00 – 19:00, Thu 21 Dec

18 Newmarket, Dublin 8

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

www.facebook.com/thegreendoordublin

Winter Solstice Tour

13:00 – 16:00, Thu 21 Dec

National Museum, Kildare Street (Archaeology), Dublin 2

This Winter Solstice Tour at 13:00 and at 15:00 with Archaeologist Siobhán Rheinisch is a tour of the Prehistoric Ireland Exhibition to find out about how ancient people marked the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. View grave goods from the Neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange and Knowth Co. Meath and discover the skills used to create some or our most famous monuments and artefacts.

Admission is free, but booking is required via educationarch@musem.ie or call 01 6486332. Meet at the Reception. Suitable from Age 8 and up.

www.museum.ie/Visit-Us/Events?id=3478

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

14:00 – 18:00, Thu 21 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

City of Dublin Winter Solstice Celebration Festival

17:30 – 20:00, Thu 21 Dec

DIT Grangegorman Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7

This year’s City of Dublin Winter Solstice Celebration Festival begins at DIT Grangegorman at 17:30 with an Indoor festival until 19:00 with storytelling, poetry, music, craft-making to work on masks, banners and wreaths for the parade.

At 19:00, the parade will leave for Smithfield Square, where the Winter Solstice Fire Ceremony takes place.

Everybody is invited to celebrate the shortest day of the year at this festival. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/dublinwintersolstice/

Jazz Club at Sweetman’s – Gig

18:00 – 20:00, Thu 21 Dec

J.W. Sweetman’s, 2 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2

A weekly Jazz Club event with live band is taking place at J.W. Sweetman’s.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/jwsweetman/

Little Museum of Dublin – Free Admission Thursday

18:00 – 20:00, Thu 21 Dec

Little Museum of Dublin, 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

Every Thursday the Little Museum of Dublin waives their admission charges for two guided tours thanks to sponsorship from Guinness. The first tour is at 18:00 and the second tour is at 19:00. Make sure that you are there at least 10 minutes before the start of the tour to get one of the limited places.

The Little Museum of Dublin has a fascinating collection of artefacts from the last 100 years Dublin’s history.

On other days and other times, admission is EUR 10 for adults and admission is by guided tour only.

www.littlemuseum.ie/

New to Dublin? Dublin Expats Meeting

19:00, Thu 21 Dec

Living Room Pub, Cathal Brugha Street (off O’Connell Street), Dublin 1

An expatriate or expat is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship.

And this is a weekly meeting for all Expats in Dublin (new and old!). If you are new to the city, this is an excellent way to meet people.

Admission is free (no booking required!), but you are asked to give the same kind of welcoming to new members as is given to you.

www.eventbrite.com/e/dublin-expats-thursday-7pm-tickets-24745493437?ref=devg

Thursday Night Board Gaming

19:00, Thu 21 Dec

Ryan’s, 19 Store Street, Dublin 1

The Thursday Night Board Gaming event is running for more than 10 years already and it is a weekly event for all Board Game enthusiasts. But even if you are a Board Game newbie, you are welcome. Just come along! More information can be found here: www.meetup.com/IrishGamesAssociation/

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/IGAGamesNights/

Haiku – Gig

20:00, Thu 21 Dec

The Bowery, 196 Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Haiku is playing a free gig in the Bowery. Their influences are from west africa, for example Ali Farka Toure, Afel Bocoum, Tinariwen and they are fusing them with rock, hip hop and funk.

thebowery.ie/calander/

Spotlight Presents – Gig

20:00, Thu 21 Dec

Liquor Rooms, 7 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2

Live band “Spotlight Presents” will play soul and funk. Admission is free.

theliquorrooms.com/event/spotlight-presents-funk-you-vol-iii/

Black Bank Folk – Gig

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Black Bank Folk will play Folk with Irish, Americana & Rock influences. Admission is free.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/black-bank-folk1

Gin ‘n’ Juice – Gig

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Gin ‘n’ Juice will play a gig in the Mezz, but don’t trust the official start time. They will begin later.

Admission is free.

www.mezz.ie/events/

Mass Band – Gig

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

Harbour Bar, 1 Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

“Mass Band” are playing a gig in the Harbour Bar with Disco, Funk, Chart Covers.

Admission is free.

www.theharbourbar.ie/whats-on/event/mass-band1

Rockstart Karaoke – Karaoke with live band

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

You always wanted to sing like a Rockstar? At Rockstar Karaoke, you can sing with a band behind you Karaoke style.

Admission is free.

sin-e.ie/events/rockstar-karaoke/

Singer Songwriter Night – Mother Reilly’s

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

Mother Reillys, 26/28 Upper Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Every Thursday a Singer Songwriter Night will take place in Mother Reilly’s in Rathmines. This is YOUR chance to show everyone what you can do, alternatively you can just listen to the talented Singer/Songwriters. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/motherreillysADMIN

The Luna Boys – Gig

21:00, Thu 21 Dec

Mercantile, 28 Dame Street, Dublin 2

The Luna Boys are in the Mercantile for a gig every Thursday night.

Admission is free.

dublinsessions.ie/the-mercantile-hotel/

Brady’s Fun Pub Quiz

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

Brady’s Pub, 5 Terenure Place, Terenure, Dublin 6

A Fun Pub Quiz takes place in Brady’s in Terenure on Thurs. The quiz will be on every Thursday night in the Lounge at Brady’s. Keith McLoughlin is the Quiz Master.

There will be six rounds of the quiz with picture questions, audio questions and general knowledge questions. Admission to the quiz is free and therr will be free drink vouchers for the winning and runner up teams. (No phones to get answers allowed.)

www.facebook.com/pages/Bradys-Pub-Terenure/138965189474826

International Bar Jazz Night

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

The International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

Every Tuesday and Thursday the International Bar invites to a Jazz night in the Lounge.

Groups led by Cote Calmet, Sean Maynard Smith, Dominic Mullan, Paddy Groenland, Georgia Cusack & Alex Mathias are performing regularly with occasional guest players, but there are also other bands from all over.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of EUR 5. The website clearly says that there is no entry fee, but – and that makes a lot of sense – that your donations are very much appreciated (Musicians need to pay for rent and food too!) Be generous after the gig if you liked it, but if someone wants to charge an admission charge, please point out that the “rules” as described on their website are like I have explained.

www.international-bar.com/jazz/

Left, Right & Centre – Blues+Soul

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

Frank Ryan’s Bar, Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7

Every Thursday “Left Right & Centre” play a mix of blues & soul with a bit of rock&roll.

Admission is free.

www.frankryans.com

McLoughlin’s Trad Night

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

McLoughlin’s Bar, 73 Upper George’s Street, Dun Laoghaire

A weekly Trad Music Night is taking place in McLoughlin’s in Dun Laoghaire. It is an acoustic night and all musicians are welcome. Admission is free.

www.mcloughlinsbar.ie

McNeills Trad Music Pub Sessions

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

J. McNeills, 140 Capel Street, Dublin 7

Every Thursday a free Trad Session takes place in McNeills and often there are high profile Trad musicians performing.

www.facebook.com/McNeillsPubSessions

Woolshed Karaoke

21:30, Thu 21 Dec

Woolshed Bar & Grill, Parnell Street, Dublin 1

The Woolshed Karaoke is happening every Thursday from 21:30. Anyone can participate! Admission is free.

www.woolshedbaa.com/dublin/

Friday 22 Dec

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Christmas Markets in Dublin – Comprehensive List

08:45, Fri 22 Dec

Dublin (various locations)

To help you with your Christmas entertainment and Christmas shopping, the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) has a comprehensive list of all (free) Christmas Markets in Greater Dublin for you!

Check it out at www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com and tell all your friends!

If you are involved with any Christmas Market that is not listed there, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject XMAS and I will look at your event and include it in the list if it fits.

www.dublinchristmasmarkets.com/

The Story of the Capital – Exhibition in Dublin City Hall

10:00 – 17:15, Fri 22 Dec

City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Dublin City Hall has a museum/exhibition in the basement, called “The Story of the Capital”, it is an exhibition about Dublin’s History and you should definitely check it out at some stage.

To celebrate the Easter Rising Anniversary, admission to that exhibititon was free in 2016, but lucky for us, Dublin City decided to also waive the admission charge for 2017.

Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:15.

www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-recreation-culture-cityhall/exhibition

Live Animal Crib

11:00 – 17:00, Fri 22 Dec

Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

The Live Animal Crib at Mansion House is a yearly Christmas feature. It will be open until Christmas Eve and is brought to you in association with the Irish Farmers Association.

And just in case you are worried: The animals in the crib are brought there in the morning and brought back home in the evening, so they are looked after well.

Admission is free, but donations for the charity “Mansion House Fuel Fund” are appreciated.

National Gallery Talks & Tour

11:30 – 16:50, Fri 22 Dec

National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings every day of the week. Currently there is at least one free tour every day. Check their website for details. Some special events will be listed separately.

Admission to the gallery and to most events is free.

www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on

Après Village – Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Fri 22 Dec

George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1

In previous years the biggest Outdoor Christmas Market in Dublin took place around the CHQ Building. In some years it was a very good attempt, in other years less so.

This year, the George’s Dock platform was turned into a Christmas Party venue with big tent. Outside the party bookings, you won’t get access to the platform, but next to the CHQ Building a few Christmas Market stalls form the entrance to the party venue and access to the Après Village is free.

Opening hours are 12:00-19:00 and the opening days are 07-10+14-23 December.

The focus is very much on selling the EUR 16 Euro per person tickets for the party venue “Après Lodge”, so I am not sure yet how good the Christmas Market component “Après Village” is, but I will check it out at the next opportunity.

www.apresdublin.com/apres-village

Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Fri 22 Dec

Pavilion Quarter, The Metals, Seafront, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market will open on 18 November and run until 23 December every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market area is quite small along the “Metals”, which is from the Dun Laoghaire’s MarineRoad near the City Hall towards the LexiCon library along the Queen’s Road, along the harbour, but at least it is an outdoor Christmas Market, something Dublin can’t manage to organise! ;-)

The market is open from 12:00-19:00 on Fridays and from 11:00-18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is free.

events.dlrcoco.ie/event/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-christmas-festival-2017

Mart’s Green Christmas Market

12:00 – 19:00, Fri 22 Dec

The MART, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Mart’s Green Christmas Market will be in the Old Fire Station in Rathmines on Fri, Sat and Sun and in the last week from Wednesday until Saturday.

Admission is free.

www.mart.ie/market/

The Green Door Market

12:00 – 19:00, Fri 22 Dec

18 Newmarket, Dublin 8

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

www.facebook.com/thegreendoordublin

Just a few more hours to the weekend! – Ad

13:00, Fri 22 Dec

Various locations in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire

Get a cup of tea, gather the last bit of energy and then bring this work week over the line! And for next week, get some special teas via the ad below and help the Dublin Event Guide while you are doing that. ;-)

Click on the picture below or use this link and if you order any teas that way, you help the Dublin Event Guide because Twinings will pay a small reward if you order after clicking on the picture or link above.

Orders over GBP 35 are free in the UK and if you use Parcelmotel’s Belfast to Dublin service, you can get it delivered for just EUR 3.95 of postage.

www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=304874&v=3578&q=143760&r=140544

Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate

14:00 – 18:00, Fri 22 Dec

St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

The Moving Crib of the St. Martin Apostolate is a whole basement full of handcrafted figures in front of painted backgrounds of nativity related scenes. There are 14 scenes, beginning with Adam and Eve and finishing with Christmas. Nearly all figures are moving and this historic crib, which was created in 1956, still fascinates children and even adults.

I was there two years ago and it is indeed fascinating. It won’t blow you away, but your kids could be a lot more impressed than you!! ;-)

Admission is free, but for the upkeep of the crib, a donation is very much appreciated.

The opening times are 28 Nov-08 January: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 and Sat+Sun: 11:00-18:00. (Closed on 25+26 Dec and 01 Jan)

www.stmartin.ie/crib/

Fusion (Sunday) Winter Night Market

18:00 – 23:00, Fri 22 Dec

Dublin Food Co-op, 12 Newmarket Square, Dublin 8

Everything is done to bring you as many shopping opportunities as possible and the “Fusion Sundays Market” will even come out on a Friday night for you in the Dublin Food Co-op.

You could be a little cynical about tooooo many shopping opportunities, but for many traders this is the one time of the year when they really have a chance to make money so they take that chance.

Because the Fusion Sunday Market is every month a great event, let’s not be too critical, but just enjoy this unique possibility to have a Friday evening cultural market.

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/fusionsundaysmarket

Cornucopia – Live Music

19:30 – 21:30, Fri 22 Dec

Cornucopia Café & Restaurant, 19/20 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

Cornucopia Café & Restaurant host live music three evenings a week (Thurs, Fri and Sat). The restaurant is a Wholefood & Vegetarian Restaurant and is open until 22:15.
+ Every second Thursday N.C Lawlor, a songwriter, session player and troubadour plays a mix of country, bluegrass & blues from 19:30-21:30.
+ Every Friday (19:30-21:30) Junshi Murakami plays Irish Harp.
+ Every Saturday (19:30-21:30) Nollaig Mann plays a collection of popular and jazz classics.

www.cornucopia.ie

Just Mustard – Gig

21:00, Fri 22 Dec

Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2

Just Mustard from Dundalk will play a gig at this SOMA Clubnight. This will be followed by SOMA DJs.

SOMA originated as a series of house parties in Dublin hosting bands and DJs. The SOMA clubnight carry on the house party tradition, showcasing Dublins best up and coming bands.

Admission is free.

www.whelanslive.com/index.php/soma-014-ft-just-mustard/

Live Music – Stillorgan Orchard

21:00, Fri 22 Dec

Stillorgan Orchard, The Hill, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

The Stillorgan Orchard has live music every Friday and Saturday. Many of the performers are established and very good bands. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below. Admission is always free.

www.stillorganorchard.com/specials/

The Group – Gig

21:00, Fri 22 Dec

The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

The Group will play a gig in the Mezz. The official start time is most likely incorrect though. It will start a good bit later. Admission is free.

www.mezz.ie/events/

Yankari – Gig

21:00, Fri 22 Dec

Sin É, 14 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Yankari, a band from Dublin, is playing Afrobeat with a moden twist.

Admission is free.

sin-e.ie/events/yanakri/

Events Coming Up

Dublin Mountains Partnership – Guided Walks

10+16+17+22+30 December

Every month the Dublin Mountain Partnership runs free guided walks in the Dublin Mountains often on some Saturdays or Sundays, but also on other days during the month. The walks have varying difficulty and duration and the details can be found on the Dublin Mountain Partnership website: www.dublinmountains.ie/news/upcoming_events/?no_cache=1

This month, the walks will be on 10+16+17+22+30 December

All walks are free, but pre-registration is required (details are on the website).

Not free, but interesting nevertheless:

TBA

–Advertisement————————————

Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

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This is odd

Please note: This section contains observations taken from the world I live in that strike me as odd. I express my personal opinion and you might not share it. ;-) If you are easily offended by opinions that are not identical with your own, please don’t read this section and I am VERY serious about that!

Credit Unions in Ireland – Bullying and Arrogance

Many years ago, I became a member of the Sandymount Credit Union. At the time I was advised that it might come in handy to be a Credit Union member if you needed a loan for a short period of time. I never went for the loan and don’t have much money on my credit union account, but curiosity drove me to attend this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

My formerly little Credit Union has undergone a whole range of mergers and now is called “Capital Credit Union” with a whopping 40,000 members and something like 14mio of deposits. Every single member if a Credit Union is automatically a share holder and is therefore invited to the AGM and out of the 40,000 members an extremely disappointing amount of maybe 200 people came to that meeting that votes for the board members, makes decisions about the future and also is meant o hold the credit union accountable.

The age profile and the behaviour of the 200 was very interesting. I would guess that the average was well above 65 years of age and you were wondering of the majority came just for the draw of a few Christmas Food Hampers and cash prizes because the interest in the proceedings didn’t seem to be the main reason for their attendance.

The Board of Directors sat on the stage and – lead by the Chairman and assisted by the Credit Union Manager – they ran through their programme with the clear expectation that there would not be much if any opposition to their running of the Credit Union.

I should mention that Credit Unions in Ireland have a long standing and are not banks, but are cooperative lending institutions. Nowadays, though, they have to become more and more like banks or they will be wiped out. So they are in the unique position of being a cooperative organisation that is owned by the members and a the same time an organisation that is looking after a siezable amount of money and is expected to do that as good as a bank would.

My image of Credit Unions before attending the AGM was that they are a friendly and customer-focused mini-bank that is run highly democratic, but my pretty image got a big dent!

At the AGM was one member who was very much different than the rest. He was contrarian and disagreed or at least questioned nearly everything. Interestingly he asked some very interesting questions that should have interested most members, but he was not very good in representing the interests of others, instead it seemed as if he was out on a crusade against the board of the Credit Union. A bit of a Don Quijote fighting against windmills. Maybe he defines himself through this opposition, maybe it is his yearly hour of fame that he lives for or maybe he really is passionate about the issues that he wanted to bring up.

Either way, he was bullied from the first minute by the chairman of the credit union to the point that he was threatened with being thrown out of the room and any further questions were ignored.

I didn’t agree with many things this gentlemen brought up and his motives were unclear and also he didn’t stick to a number of rules (questions were meant to be submitted before the AGM), BUT he was passionate and (most of) his questions seemed genuine. But the chairman and CEO saw him coming, had previous experience with his approach and were DETERMINED to shut him up.

Right at the beginning of the meeting resolution was voted on that seemed to have been written with the only purpose to shut up any difficult questions and especially from the said gentleman.

Democracy in Credit Unions? Not in the slightest!!! The board behaved in an shockingly arrogant manner against a person that seemed difficult but harmless. They even used the mob to shut up the lone opponent when the chairman asked the “masses” if they agreed that the contrarian gentlemen should not be allowed to continue asking his questions. The 70+ year old grannies and granddads who probably had no clue what the discussion was about anyway and just wanted get home to their hot warm milk were very much siding with the similarly aged chairman.

Instead of an example in cooperative management, it was a masterclass in bullying.

I have no doubt that the history (that I am not aware of) between the contrarian gentleman and the board of management had a LOT to do with the stance that was taken, but I would have expected better from the CEO of the Credit Union. The CEO and the board had no need to be shaken or even afraid, they seemingly did their job during the year in a good and justifiable and fully explainable manner, so why this frightened and dismissive approach when someone dares to question and hold them accountable?

Very odd and quite disappointing!

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Have an event-full weekend and week,

–Joerg

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