Event Guide 234: More Christmas Markets, Gloria Choir Christmas Concert, World Peace Party

———————————————————————
| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 234
| 09 December 2011 Subscribers: 10145
———————————————————————

Hi all!

The Budget for 2012 has been announced and many of you might wonder what the panic was all about, but many others have been affected in some shape or another. The annoying and upsetting thing is that there is nothing we can do against the cuts and additional deductions. And we now as well, that the next budget will not get better, but rather will afflict pain again. Before the new government was voted in, many thought that a new government would change everything, but we had to find out that no matter who runs the country, the budget is similarly drastic and upsetting. So, what is there to do? Yes, you could all leave Ireland OR we could weep in sorrow OR we can look for new opportunities to be creative and productive and to find new opportunities to make up for the cuts and tax increases. Is that an easy task? No, for most it isn’t. But I discovered a great video by the Hip Hop Preacher Eric Thomas last week. He talks to students about the secret to be successful and he tells an interesting story. Check out the video in the Feel Good Slot this week!

This week’s Dublin Event Guide will either reach you a little earlier or will not reach you at all. :-) I hope it will be EARLIER. The explanation is that I will be in Germany for the weekend to enjoy the original Christmas market before I come back on Monday to enjoy the Irish Christmas markets next weekend. You have a head start and can already go to the Dockland’s Christmas Market and the Winter Wonderland at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham this weekend. I will think of you when I am at the Thomas-Nast-Nikolausmarkt in Landau/Pfalz: www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/weihnachtsmarkt-landau.html

Thanks to Jo, Ellen and Mervyn for their suggestions for the Feel Good Slot! If you have any suggestions for the This is Odd section or for Dublin News, send them to me as well: dublineventguide@gmail.com Especially for the Dublin News I need some additional (and ongoing help), so if you hear anything interesting, drop me a mail.

I will continue to mark Christmas events with two Christmas stars “**”. ;-) …and all Christmas Markets are listed in the Saturday section.

With Christmas around the corner and you probably still wondering what you should get your friends and family as a gift, you should consider getting them a (free) subscription for the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. What better gift could you get them! 52 times they will think of you next year! How great is that! ;-) Tell them to go to www.dublineventguide.com and they can subscribe there OR send a mail with the subject XMAS to dublineventguide@gmail.com and give me their e-mail address, I will then send invite them and tell them that they should thank you! :-)

Alternatively you can print a few of these A4 pages out and hang them up at strategically good palaces? At work, or in your local community or gym or in the neighbourhood supermarket! www.perfectresults.info/event_guide_tear_off_poster.pdf
Or just send a mail to your friends, colleagues, families and suggest to them to go to www.dublineventguide.com where they can subscribe to the weekly newsletter in the sign-up form on the right side of the page. It’s very easy!

———
We now more than 7100 people on the Dublin Event Guide – Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide and it would be really great if we could be as big on Facebook as we are on this distribution list. 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.

——
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-zine? If your week was great, you might not need it, but most of us had some challenging moments in the last week and this section is for the people that want to remind that despite all, life is great and it is important to be alive!
This week the video clip I found is “Hip Hop Preacher” Eric Thomas talking to a school class. He tells them a story about a “guru” who asks a man “how bad do you wanna be successful”. Then the guru holds the man’s head under water until he nearly drowns and explains afterwards, if you want to succeed as much as you just wanted to breathe when you were nearly drowning, then you will be successful! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fsm-QbN9r8 Is your desire/urge to succeed enough?

–Advertisement————————————
BOOK DEPOSITORY – BETTER THAN AMAZON
Books for lower prices than Amazon, sent to you with no postage cost, individually packed and within 48 hours. And with every book you buy – after clicking on the link below, you directly help the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)!
With Christmas coming up, you better get ordering your Christmas presents in time!
www.bookdepository.co.uk/?a_aid=dubevg
——————————————————–

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

This week nobody Brian L. donated much appreciated money to the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. These donations are important to ensure that you all will continue to get the Dublin Event Guide every week. If you have never helped with a contribution, ask yourself if the Dublin Event Guide has helped you to find events that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about or if it even helped you to save money…and then go to www.perfectresults.info/donate.htm

To join the list of the much appreciated and esteemed supporters of the Dublin Event Guide, go to www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm I appreciate ANY help. EUR 12 would be great, but even if it is just the price of 2 pints it will help me to cover the cost.

To cover the cost for this Event Guide, I need about 4 donations every week and to improve the Event Guide, I need another bit more. – I am giving 25 hours every week for no pay, so that you get the Dublin Event Guide every week. I need you to help with just 25 cent per week or EUR 12 per year. Where else can you get sooo much value for soo little money!? If you have a company that would like to sponsor the Event Guide talk to me!

BTW: If you think that I make money from advertisement because you see a few ads here or on the website, then please note that only if YOU click on the link in this newsletter/e-zine AND then buy or order (for example, order books from bookdepository) a (very) small amount (EUR 0.30 on average!) will be paid to me. If you don’t BUY, I get nothing and if you don’t click on the link here every time you want to purchases something, I don’t get anything either. Have a look at the website www.dublineventguide.com and if you want to book a hotel at hotels.com or buy something from any of the other advertisers, make sure you click on the ad on the website just before you buy, only then I will get some money for the ads.

You can donate online by following this link to the PayPal&CreditCard donation page www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm 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: Stephanie C, Catherine G, Linda C, Anna O’D, Karen K, Eilis C, Robin S, Olwyn F, Rainey D-G, Gordon S, Irene H, Ellen B, Joe O’D, Geraldine D, Brian L, David L, Mary K, Alison P, Mary McK, James O’C, Joe C, Alan G, Svatka V, Zelie McG, Sean S, Claudia D, Christian K, Cathy G, Barbara Q-B, Anto K, Maria F, Tom D, Orlaith niB, Pauline R, Marta T, Anna O, Stephen Q, Kiera M, Claire McM, Corina R, Sylvie S-M, Julie H-C, Rebecca T, Arthur D, Laura B, Brenda McP, Fiona D, Keeva H, Nihar B, Brendan M, Donna M, Arthur D, Selina McC, Katrin H, Gil H, Padraig P, Melina Z, Cathy A, Thomond C, Raymond R, Nicola R and Noemi V, Ciaran W, Isabel F, Brendan M , Tom D, Luke, Monika K, Janine McK, Tom D, Sebastian B, Paul T, Anne G, Marc F, Camelia P, Nicola B, Ciaran H, Ryan M, Ellen M, Gerard C, Laura G and Fergus G, Emma S, Tara R, Karen L, Catherine T., Rainey D-G, Sally P, Johan S, Lorraine F, Eimear MacH, Elzbieta D, Monika E, Tracey OC, Julia Sch., Isabelle F, Barry P, Alan G, Gerard Ph, Irial G, Louise M, Milena V, Fanny T, Clodagh O’C, Fiona F, Yvonne S, Loretta K, Lauren O’R, Charles C, Caoimhe L, Adrian Ph, Sandi C, Elva O’G, Sally Ph, Thomas D, Emilie Ch, Hans Martin W, Eamonn O’R, Patrick O’C, Eamonn U, Fiona O’R, Louise B, Serena F, Paul M, Louise F, Colin D, Philip McK, Catherine E, Mélanie B, Irene H, Jo H, Ronan K, Clodagh O’C, Alison P, Claire H, Brian L and www.GravitationalFX.ie (An Irish Web Design, SEO and Internet Marketing who offer affordable web design.), www.FlamencoIndalo.com (A group that supports and promotes the art of Flamenco in Ireland.), www.olliart.com (An art curator and seller of art to businesses and private collectors.), www.thepaulkanegallery.com (A great Art Gallery, located at 6 Merrion Square, which supports contemporary Irish artists.) and www.a1computers.ie in Dun Laoghaire/Cabinteely (…who repair computers, printers and sort out Internet problems fast and who sell computers, laptops and lo w priced printer cartridges). The main sponsor is www.KravMagaIreland.com, the self-defence training centre for everyone, which provides regular 12-week or 2-day self-defence training courses for beginners.

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 promise for correctness can be given.

______________________________
______Joerg’s 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.

–Advertisement————————————
BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED WITH LIFE?
Are you bothered, bewildered or just bogged down with life at the moment? – Mary Keating, MA, trained psychoanalytic psychotherapist, is available for appointments in Custom House Medical Centre, IFSC or at 20 Lower Baggot Street. Please phone 01-6776253 or 0868783086 or email mkeating@iol.ie for enquiries or to make an appointment. Her fees are appropriate to circumstances, so talk to her if you could do with some help and support. www.agalma.ie/therapists/mary-keating
——————————————————–

I guess you won’t be surprised that the Christmas Markets now have taken over completely.:-) This weekend you can not turn anywhere without bumping into a Santa or a Christmas Market. But this is no complaint! I like Christmas Markets. So much so, that I will be in Germany this weekend for some. But Dublin has a few nice ones for you as well if you are not going anywhere. The Docklands Market has started and the new and impressive sounding Winter Wonderland at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham are the main ones. Try some out!
All Christmas related events are marked again with “**” and you will see that this e-zine is FULL with Christmas-related events. Many Christmas Markets will run every day from now until Christmas, but I have the markets only listed on Saturday, so make sure that you check them out.

If I were here, I would definitely go to as many Christmas Markets as possible. Docklands, Royal Hospital Kilmainham and Dun Laoghaire (even with fireworks on Sunday!) would be on my list. Check out as well the Smithfield Christmas Market (only on this weekend) and the Filipino Christmas Concert on Saturday.

On Thursday one of the most popular pre-Christmas events is taking place: The Christmas Concert of the LGBT choir Glória is every year packed with people. And on Friday the first World Peace Party will take place in the Convention Centre. Check it out because you need to register for this event.

Have a great Christmassy weekend!

______________________________
______Competition______________

COIN CUFFLINKS – WIN A PAIR FROM 1968
This is a hugely popular competition and if you haven’t entered yet, you can still put your name in the hat: Every now and then there are other competition items available here, not just tickets to events. With Christmas coming up and you possibly thinking about suitable presents, you should have a look at the Coin Cufflinks! Unique, rare and therefore special, they could be exactly the present you were looking for. Have a look here: www.birthdaycufflinks.ie/ The cufflinks are made from Irish coins spanning 84 years until 1928, so regardless of the occasion, if you would like to mark an important year in some special person’s life www.birthdaycufflinks.ie has the perfect gift for you. The cufflinks feature authentic Irish coins which have been cleaned, polished, shined and mounted by hand in Dublin. One lucky winner will be able to win a set of beautiful 1968 Threepence cufflinks and you can see a picture on www.birthdaycufflinks.ie
The (virtual) mail bags were FULL with entries for this extremely popular competition, and the lucky winner is Marta Torre. Congratulations, Marta!

______________________________
______Dublin News______________

DUBLIN WHEEL GONE!
The Dublin Wheel (a.k.a. Revolver) at the Point Village next to the Point Theatre(The O2, was once meant to become one of Dublin’s greatest tourist attraction. But after just 16 months of operation, it has disappeared without a trace. Tara R. contacted me yesterday and told me that she had discovered that the 60m high Dublin Wheel had disappeared and was wondering what happened. It turns out that at the end of November the Dublin Wheel was packed up and shipped to York in the UK, where it will become the York Wheel! When it started operating in July 2010, I gave it a max of three years, but the combination of wrong place and wrong price ended the venture a lot sooner and added another failure to the story of the Point Village, which has seen Farmer’s Markets, Car Boot Sales and any other attempted venture in that are fail disastrously. The Dublin Wheel lost money left, right and centre and its existence was not viable anymore. Harry Crosbie, the developer of the Point Village is talking about bringing another more modern observation wheel back to Dublin next year, but I will eat my hat if that will really happen. Even the attempted sale of 12,000 tickets on Groupon for a family ticket price of EUR 6 instead of the normal family ticket price of EUR 18 or EUR 23 didn’t go as planned and so Dublin’s copy of the London Eye was terminated. The opening attracted big headlines, the departure only got a tiny mention here www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1126/1224308188413.html
(Thanks to Tara R for bringing this news to my attention! If you find out anything interesting, just send me a mail.)

OLYMPIC TORCH WILL COME TO DUBLIN
The Olympic torch will come to Dublin on 06 June 2012 on a brief detour during its four-day trip around the Northern Ireland. Under IOC (International Olympic Committee) rules, the torch is not allowed to leave the host country before Olympic Games, but an exception is made in Ireland to recognise the fact that the Irish Olympic team represents all 32 counties and not just the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. The 2012 Olympic Games will start on 27 June in London. jrnl.ie/299950

–Advertisement————————————
BOOK DEPOSITORY – BETTER THAN AMAZON
Books for lower prices than Amazon, sent to you with no postage cost, individually packed and within 48 hours. And with every book you buy – after clicking on the link below, you directly help the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)!
www.bookdepository.co.uk/?a_aid=dubevg
——————————————————–

OPERATION FREEFLOW 2011 CANCELLED
Since 1996 every year Operation Freeflow helped to organise traffic in Dublin a bit better in the weeks before Christmas. Around 160 gardai stood at junctions to make sure that drivers wouldn’t stop on yellow boxes etc. Somewhat surprisingly the presence of a garda at junctions did have a positive impact on maintaining traffic movement. However the garda recruitment ban means that these probationary gardai are not available this year. www.rte.ie/news/2011/1205/traffic.html

———Opportunities—————–

In order to beat an economic downturn not governments can help, but individuals are needed that take the initiative and create new markets and new opportunities for themselves and for their customers and hopefully employees. The Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) will help you if you have recently started a company and if you could do with spreading the word. Being mentioned here and being seen by the 9000+ readers of the Dublin Event Guide should help to kick start something big for you. In return I expect you to tell your clients and friends about the Event Guide and once you have made a nice bit of money, a donation would be very much appreciated. ;-) (This offer is for start-ups in relatively early stages only. Established companies can contact me regarding very affordable advertisement options in the Dublin Event Guide.) If you want to promote your start-up/young company here for free, let me know: dublineventguide@gmail.com.

______________________________
______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 visualartists.ie/category/listings/exhib-lein/
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.

MADEYby DESIGN – POPUP SHOP
MADEby design (MAD Art Gallery, 56 Lower Gardiner St Dublin 1) present their new design and craft popup shop in Dublin city center this Christmas. From 07-11 Dec (11:00-20:00) you can find the best in new design, cottage industries and quirky ideas. From handmade jewellery and accessories to children’s toys, ceramics and furniture. As well as fine art prints, cards and much more. Everything sold will be original artwork and hand-made by professionals.
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=280931028618387

THE ALCHEMIST’S CHAMBER – FILMBASE
09-18 Dec: Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
“The Alchemist’s Chamber” is a Christmas group show organised by Olivier Cornet (Olliart). It will feature new work by Catherine Albieth, Lian Callaghan, Mark Doherty, John Fitzsimons, Jordi Forniés, Yanny Petters, Adrienne Symes, Emily Symes, Sarah Symes and Hanneke van Ryswyk. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00-18:00. www.olliart.com

WANDERINGS – ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
02 Dec-18 Feb: Alliance Francaise, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
The exhibition “Wanderings in France” by Joe Sterling will take place in the Alliance Francaise. Wanderings in France is a series of photographs taken between 1980 and 2011. The pictures were taken in various locations throughout France and celebrate the cultural diversity of everyday life there, with each region having its own individual identity, customs and rituals. Admission is free. Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 08:30-18:30 / Friday: 08:30-17:00 / Saturday 08:30-14:00. www.alliance-francaise.ie

______________________________
______Friday___________________

CHRISTMAS MARKETS
For all information about Christmas Markets, check the Saturday section.

YOUR BUSINESS DAY – SCIENCE GALLERY
Fri 09 Dec: 09:00-17:00 – Science Gallery, Pearse St, Trinity College, Dublin 2
This is a free event hosted by the Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB). The event is aimed at supporting small business in Dublin City, and will be of interest to those in business and individuals starting up in business or thinking about starting up a business. Amongst other things the day will involve a series of talks from successful clients of DCEB, seminars and several development agencies are taking stands at the event. A key feature of the day will be free business mentoring on the day to individuals attending the event. 20 business mentors from a variety of business backgrounds will be available all day to answer your questions. The mentor slots start from 9.00 and end at 16.30. Booking for the talks is not required, but if you want to meet a Mentor, you better hurry because most slots are booked out. Check it out here www.dceb.ie/event-calendar/Your-Business-Day
The talks start at 09:45 and topics that will be covered are Social Media, Exporting Stories, How to grow web-based business, Sell more – online, Tourism and Recreation, Innovation and Design, Funding your business.
Check out all the details here www.dceb.ie/Your-Business-Day

TOWER RECORDS – IN-STORE EVENT
Fri 09 Dec: 13:00 – Tower Records, 6 – 8 Wicklow St, Dublin 2
Emmy The Great And Tim Wheeler (Ash) will be in Tower Records for an In-Store event. entertainment.ie/venue_information/Tower-Records/32057.htm

LET’S WALK & TALK – CA MARCHE !
Fri 09 Dec: 14:00-15:30 – Meet outside the Alliance Francaise in Kildare Street.
Come for a stroll and chat in French. Within the framework of Dublin City Council’s community initiative “Let’s Walk & Talk”, “Ça marche!” is a great way for everyone to stay healthy, meet other people and practise French. The walk lasts an hour and a half and it’s on every second Friday of the month. Make sure you arrive on time. Participation is free. www.letswalkandtalk.ie
Admission free www.alliance-francaise.ie/culture/

COSMIC RAYS – LECTURE – TRINITY COLLEGE
Fri 09 Dec: 18:00 – Schrodinger Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2
The Royal Irish Academy biennial McCrea Lecture will be held on Friday. The guest lecturer will be Professor Luke Drury, who will give a talk entitled “The Hundred Year Mystery of Cosmic Rays”. Professor Drury will outline the history of Cosmic Ray Astronomy and then focus on recent developments as well as the future projects that are being discussed at the moment.
Admission to the lecture is free, but booking is essential. You can book your tickets here www.ria.ie/Events/Events-Listing/Royal-Irish-Academy-Biennial-McCrea-Lecture-2011.aspx

TREVOR BROWNE & DANNY O’BRIEN – COMEDY NIGHTS
Thurs+Fri 08+09 Dec: Thurs 18:00/Fri 19:30 – International Bar, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. Trevor Browne & Danny O’Brien are presenting and featuring in “Two Comedians-Two Nights-Two Shows”. Danny O’ Brien presents “All My Friends” and Trevor Browne presents “The Essential Trevor Browne” both on 08 and 09 December.
www.facebook.com/events/146074325497063/

CROW BLACK CHICKEN – WHELAN’S
Fri 09 Dec: 20:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
The band Crow Black Chicken began their life as a blues band and are now fusing jazz, blues, punk, folk and rock to create their unique style. www.crowblackchicken.com/ Admission is free. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6189

LADY WINDERMERE’S ART SALON
09-21 Dec: (Wed-Sat 16:00-22:00) – The Back Loft, La Catedral Studios, 7-11 St. Augustine Street, Dublin 8
Lady Windermere’s Caffeinated Art Salon is a “one-of-a-kind pop-up salon offering conversation, cookies and coffees in a relaxed yet glamorous environment filled with chill-out zones, a silent cinema, vintage wares, paintings and artworks, browsable reading matter, holistic healing and curiosities. A perfect place for hanging out, alternative Christmas shopping and spontaneous creativity – the salons will also play host to an eclectic mix of musicians, poets, cabaret performers, dancers, comedians, actors, clowns and DJs. Bring your Christmas gatherings here and let us take care of the details for fuss-free festive fun!” Admission is free. www.windermerecoffee.blogspot.com

LIVE MUSIC – CORNUCOPIA RESTAURANT
Cornucopia Café & Restaurant (19/20 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2) 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 (03 Nov, 17 Nov, 01 Dec) 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 that often have customers singing along and requesting their favourites.
www.cornucopia.ie

JAZZ MUSIC – BIANCONI’S BISTRO & RESTAURANT
Fri 09 Dec: Bianconi’s Bistro, 232 Merrion Rd, Dublin 4
Bianconi’s Bistro & Restaurant in Dublin 4 is providing Jazz every Friday night from this week until the end of January. Bianconi’s is an Italian restaurant with delicious food and, while a little outside the City Centre, it is worth the trip into Merrion Road. There is no cover charge. www.bianconisbistro.ie www.facebook.com/pages/Bianconis-Bistro/271041702925005?sk=wall

LIVE MUSIC – STILLORGAN ORCHARD
The Stillorgan Orchard at The Hill in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin has a full programme of live music. The upcoming gigs are:
Fri 09 Cornerstone
Sat 10 Stereofusion
Sun 11 Falnagans 18:00
Fri 16 Murphys Law
Sat 17 Full circle
Sun 18 The Colonials 18:00-20:30
Admission is free and the gigs start at 21:00 unless otherwise stated. www.stillorganorchard.com/live_music.html www.facebook.com/thestillorganorchard?sk=wall

REGULAR EVENTS – FRIDAY
* James Sheeran (Acoustic/Rock/Trad) is playing from 18:00 in Peadar Kearney’s in 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2. And The Eastern Harps (Trad) are playing there from 20:00. Admission is free.
*Graeme McKenna is playing an acoustic gig (Trad to contemporary) every Friday in the Maldron Hotel, Kingswood near CityWest from 19:00.
* Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street, Temple Bar (next to IFI, ring bell no. 3) and every Monday from 19:00 in Blakestown Community Resource Center, Blakestown Way, Dublin 15 (next to Lidl). These are drop in classes, newcomers are welcome. For more information check www.coolspirit.info or www.sahajayoga.ie.
* Ruairi Maguires Bar & Organic Kitchen, Pembroke District, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum has every weekend live music from Friday until Sunday at 21:30. Sometimes the line-up is listed here www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462805646&sk=wall often not.
* The Covers play Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Later: DJ Carlos Irie. Admission is free.
* Songs of Praise, a Rock Karaoke is taking place every Friday from 23:00 in the Mercantile, Dame Street, Dublin 2. www.getpraise.com

______________________________
______Saturday_________________

** DUBLIN DOCKLANDS CHRISTMAS MARKET
08-23 Dec: 12:00-20:00 (Sat+Sun from 10:00) – George’s Dock, IFSC (next to the CHQ building). – This is one of the oldest German-style Christmas Markets in Ireland, and while you expect an age of hundreds of years if someone mentions “oldest market”, the Dublin Ducklands Market is just 7 years young. However it was the first market of its type and no other markets in Dublin managed yet to do better than this granddad of Dublin Christmas Markets. You will find stalls with all type of Christmas presents and there will be food, beer and mulled wine. It is situated on the George’s Dock platform, in the CHQ building and the surrounding walkways and I like that Christmas market and go there every year. Going by recent years, the market can still be improved at a number of angles, but it is as close as it gets in Ireland to a German Christmas market.
The organiser’s original claim that 200,000 people will visit it was grossly overexaggerated and has been reduced in more recent statements to 150,000, which is still slightly on the high side, but it doesn’t really matter as long as YOU enjoy it! :-) www.ddda.ie/index.jsp?p=109&n=341&i=379

** 7UP WINTER WONDERLAND – ROYAL HOSPITAL KILMAINHAM
08 Dec-08 Jan: Mon-Wed 15:00-22:00, Thurs-Sun 12:00-22:00. (In the final week the Winter Wonderland closes at 20:00.) – Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8 (home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art). – The Winter Wonderland at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham is many things and not just a Christmas Market. There is a Winter Wonderland Market (admission is free), an ice rink, a circus tent, cafes and there will a fun fair as well with lots of rides and attractions. It is the newest and biggest Winter Park in Ireland. I guess it is not called “Christmas Market” because it will run into January. The ice rink will replace the ice skating facilities at the RDS and at Smithfield, which do not take place this year. As you would expect, the ice rink, the circus and the fun fair rides are not free, (Tickets are available via ticketmaster for ice rink and circus.) but access to the Winter Park is free. Visits to Santa are free, which is amazing if you compare it to the daylight robbery other Santas are and children even get a small present. Parents are allowed to take pictures of their children with Santa with their own cameras as well if they wish. All very fair and friendly! There are even free shuttle buses (until Christmas Eve) for ticket holders for the Circus and the ice rink. What more would you want. If you come by public transport or on foot, it is just 5 minutes from Heuston station and on the first day (08 Dec), there is a free City Centre Shuttle service from Georges Quay and Aston Quay, running from 15:00-22:00 every 20 minutes. However, importantly, there is NO car parking facility on the site, so if you come by car, you better check the information here 7upwinterwonderland.ie/plan-your-visit/how-to-get-here/

** DUN LAOGHAIRE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
09 Dec – 08 Jan: 11:00-20:00 – Dun Laoghaire Centre
From 09 December until 08 Jan Dun Laoghaire town centre will be transformed into its 1st ever Christmas festival. A German style craft and artisan markets on the Metals Plaza and weaving up Marine Road to Georges Street/St Michael’s Church will run from 09-23 Dec and is open every day from 11:00-20:00. The market will feature hand-crafted traditional gifts and decorations, as well as a wide-range of artisan treats to tempt foodies.
Ice Rink, Carousel, Climbing Wall, Helter Skelter, Santa’s Train, Santa’s Grotto in Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre and a Live Crib in St Michael’s Church are features.
The Ice Rink will already open on Saturday 03 December.
A festive Santa train will run every 20 minutes around the town centre. Upon presentation of a valid DART ticket, visitors will receive a 10% discount on tickets to the Winter Wonderland and Ice Rink. www.dlrevents.ie/christmas11.html

** DUN LAOGHAIRE CHRISTMAS FIREWOKS
At 18:15 on Sat 10 Dec, Dún Laoghaire’s Harbour Plaza will light up with a spectacular fireworks display supported by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. And the arrival of a very special guest, straight from the North Pole, for a flying visit to the town – by Harley Davidson will take place. www.dlrevents.ie/christmas11.html

** LIVE ANIMAL CRIB – MANSION HOUSE
08-24 Dec: outside Mansion House, Daswon Street, Dublin 2
Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Moving Crib at the Mansion House is a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed, life size stable. The animals are brought to the crib every morning and are returned to a farm on the south of the city in the evening. Admission is free. www.dublinatchristmas.ie/events/ifa-live-animal-crib/

** CHRISTMAS SEASON – FARMLEIGH HOUSE
03-31 Dec: Farmleigh House, Castleknock side of Phoenix Park, Dublin 15
Farmleigh House will be open at weekends during December. The house will be decorated in traditional Edwardian Christmas style. There will be food markets, storytelling for the children, flower arranging and plenty of singing to help you get into the spirit of the festive season. www.farmleigh.ie/Events/Title,16354,en.html
The events on Saturday 10 Dec are listed below:
10:00-17:00 Christmas Food Market
10:00-17:00 Festive Crib
12:30-13:15+14:45-15:30+16:15-17:00 Storytelling for Children with Niall de Burca
13:30-14:30+15:00-16:00 Jack Flash’s Christmas Hocus Pocus Magic Show
13:30-15:30 Carol Singing with John Scottus School Choir
14:00-16:00 Barbershop Melodies with the Mellowchords
www.farmleigh.ie/media/Farmleigh%20Christmas%20Programme%202011.pdf

** CHRISTMAS AT GLASNEVIN – BOTANICAL GARDENS
Sun 11 Dec: 12:00 – National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
A seasonal market will take place in the National Botanical Gardens. Stock up with ‘goodies’, treats, presents and supplies for Christmas at this special Christmas Farmers Market. From 14:00 Santa Claus and his helpers will be at the Gardens and activities will include Storytelling, and a Christmas music performance. www.botanicgardens.ie/news/events.htm

** CHRISTMAS ART&CRAFT MARKET – EXCHANGE DUBLIN
Sat 10 + Sun 11 Dec: 12:00-18:00 – Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. – An Art&Craft Christmas Market Weekend will take place in the Exchange Dublin in Temple Bar. Jewellery, cards, vintage clothing, knitting, crochet and a lot more will be available. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/ExchangeMarket?sk=wall

** CHRISTMAS EVENTS @ THE RED STABLE, ST ANNE’S PARK
03-17 Dec: The Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park, Mount Prospect Avenue, Dublin 3
The Christmas Art Programme at The Red Stables will include Family Drop in Workshops with artists Fionnuala Hanahoe and Mary Noonan on 03/04 and 10 December. The artists will work with participants to create Christmas tree decorations for The Red Stables Christmas tree and their own Christmas tree. On Sun 11 + Sat 17 Dec, Artist Martina Galvin will facilitate a Family Drop in Workshop making Christmas angels, decorations, stars and writing Santa letters. Artist Sharon Lynch and dramatist Fiona McDonagh will provide two fun filled Christmas themed drama/art workshop; Christmas Butterfly Picnic is for children aged 5-8 and Jingle Bell Jumps and Drawing is for children aged 8-11. Both workshops take place on Sunday 11th December and booking is essential by contacting Victoria:, T. 01 222 7843 or via victoria.kearney@dublincity.ie
Artist, Maeve Clancy will create a festive wonderland in the exhibition space with delicate handmade paper cut outs, great for children and adults to explore, join Maeve on Saturday 10th December for a paper cut out demonstration and the chance to make your own. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place at 15:30 on Saturday 10 December.
The Red Stables Art, Craft and Food Market will be open from 10:00-17:00 every Saturday. www.redstablesartists.com

** CHRISTMAS FAIR – NATIONAL PRINT MUSEUM
Fri 09-Sun 11 Dec: 11:00-16:00 – National Print Museum, Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road (next to Beggars Bush Pub), Dublin 4
The National Print Museum is holding its first Christmas Fair. The mezzanine level of the Museum will convert into a winter wonderland with market stalls selling all sorts of unique gift ideas. Items on sale will include jewellery, home accessories, cards, books and much more. Entry to the Fair is free of charge. www.nationalprintmuseum.ie/

** CHRISTMAS MARKET – THE SQUARE, TALLAGHT
24 Nov-01 Jan: The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght
At the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght a small “Christmas Market” will take place from 24 Nov-24 Dec + 27 Dec-01 Jan. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 12:00-Close and Sat+Sun 10:00-Close of Shopping Centre. I was in Tallaght last week and can’t say that I was impressed. Last year there was a Christmas Market on Fitzwilliam Square and while I had high hopes for it, it was very disappointing for a number of reasons. The same organisers seem to run the market at The Square – and they unfortunately haven’t learned from the mistakes of last year. www.dublinchristmasmarket.com/

** THE DESIGN CORNER – DUN LAOGHAIRE
01-23 Dec: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00/Sun: 11:00-18:00 – The Design Corner features the work of twenty-two talented craftspeople and designers for the month of December only. It is located at Park House in Dun Laoghaire, opposite the People’s Park, Georges Street. www.facebook.com/thedesigncorner
www.facebook.com/thedesigncorner

** CHRIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS MARKET
Sat 03+10+17 Dec: 11:00-16:00 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 8.
The unique Christ Church Cathedral Christmas Market will take place in the Church’s 12th century crypt. 15 stalls of arts, crafts and jewellery in the crypt and several food vendors on the Cathedral grounds will make up this market. The market is quite small, but the environment has something cosy and slightly mysterious about it. Admission to the church is not free, but admission to the Christmas Market is free. www.christchurchdublin.ie/NewsDetails/36

** SMITHFIELD CHRISTMAS MARKET
Sat 10 + Sun 11 Dec: 11:00-18:00 – Block T + Block B, 1-6 Haymarket, Smithfield Square, Dublin 7. Block T and the Dublin Flea Market will come together to what they call “Dublin’s biggest Christmas Market” with over 100 stalls of second hand clothes, retro, vintage, affordable art, craft, local designers, furniture, music and food. dublinflea.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-markets.html

IRISH RECORD FAIR – SMITHFIELD CHRISTMAS MARKET
Sat+Sun 10-11 Dec: 11:00-18:00 – Smithfield Christmas Market, Smithfield, Dublin 1
Ireland’s biggest collection of vinyl, cds and music memorabilia comes to the Whelan’s Record Fair with dealers from the UK and all over Ireland. Admission is free and all types of music are catered for. Other “appearances” of the Irish Record Fairs before Christmas will be here
+ Dublin Flea Market, Newmarket Sq., Dublin 2 on 18 Dec (11:00-17:00)
www.irishrecordfairs.com

** CHRISTMAS LAST WEEKEND MARKET – POWERSCOURT GALLERY
Sat 10 Dec: 12:00-17:00 – Powerscourt Gallery, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Top Floor, 59 South William Street, Dublin 2. – The Christmas Last Weekend Market will take place on Sunday. The Market aims to showcase the best of Ireland’s artists and crafts people. Crafts such as beautiful jewellery, wedding stationary, Hand-crafted knitwear & hand-bags, amazing original artworks and lots more are all available at affordable prices. www.facebook.com/events/198506096892247/

COSY CORNER – ARK, TEMPLE BAR
Sat 10 Dec: 11:00-16:30 – The Ark, 11a Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
The Ark, the cultural centre for children in Temple Bar is now providing a “Cosy Corner” not only for children. It is a reading room and free events space where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of town and drop in to enjoy a coffee and a range of special free events including author readings and signings. On the Saturdays before Christmas the Cosy Corner opens its doors from 11:00. ark.ie/events/view/join-us-in-our-cosy-corner

** HA’PENNY FLEA MARKET
The extremely active and buzzing Grand Social (formerly Pravda) near Ha’Penny Bridge is running a Flea Market in the pub every Sat from 11:00-17:00. Vintage, Retro, Clothes, Music, Books, Furniture, Crafts, Bric-a-Brac, Food, Stalls, Live Performances, Vinyl Dj’s. And if you want to sell something yourself, just contact hapennyflea@thegrandsocial.ie thegrandsocial.ie/event/hapenny-flea www.facebook.com/pages/Hapenny-Flea-Market-at-The-Grand-Social/155979801107323

NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENTS
+ I had some trouble reaching the National Museum Website, so please check www.museum.ie for events.

CODER DOJO – SCIENCE GALLERY
Sat 10 Dec: 12:15-15:15 – Science Gallery, Pearse Street, TCD, Dublin 2
The Coder Dojo is a free coding club and it is a hangout that puts the real power of the internet and technology in the hands of the Irish youth. The true power of the net comes from coding, designing and having fun. CoderDojo is a place where you can learn from others and share what you are doing! Each week there will be a hands on session with technologies like HTML5, PHP or Python. Admission is free.
www.sciencegallery.com/events/2011/12/coder-dojo-free-coding-club

WATER CYCLE WORKSHOP – SCIENCE GALLERY
Sat 10 Dec: 13:00-15:00 – Science Gallery, Pearse Street, TCD, Dublin 2
A Water Cycle Workshop will take place in the Science Gallery. “Take part in this hands-on workshop, led by Mike Williams from the School of Natural Sciences in TCD, all about the major role of plants in the hydrological cycle as featured in Water Lab. How does water manage to move to the tip of the tallest tree? What is water flux? How much water travels through one leaf of a tiny plant or a full rain forest and how can you calculate this? Learn more with the help of simple microscopy methods, potometers and pressure chambers. Bring your own houseplant and take a look at it close up! Now that Christmas is just around the corner, bring your ponsietta, a cyclamen or mistletoe and test it out at the Water Cycle Workshop. Admission is free, but booking is essential here: www.sciencegallery.com/events/2011/12/water-cycle-workshop-0

CREATIVE WRITING HOUR – IRISH WRITERS’ CENTRE
Sat 10 Dec: 13:30 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The Ink Slingers Creative Writing Hour now takes place every Saturday (instead of Fridays) at the Irish Writers’ Centre. It is a free creative writing session that is organised and led by the Centre’s voluntary arts administrators. The hour includes writing exercises and prompts to get ideas flowing. It is open to everyone and is suitable for all levels of experience. www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

PAPER ANGELS FAMILY WORKSHOP – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Sat 10 Dec: 14:00-16:00 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Sq North, Dublin 1
Join artist Martina Galvin in this Christmas Family art workshop where you will make Paper Angels for the Christmas Tree. This is a free drop-in workshop. Booking is not required, but numbers are limited. www.hughlane.ie/childrens-workshops/forthcoming/487-paper-angels

OCCUPY DAME STREET – PROTEST
Sat 10 Dec: 14:00 – Garden of Remembrance
A protest march from the Garden of Remembrance to the Central Bank site in Dame Street will take place. www.facebook.com/events/156869401077639/

PORTABLE MURAL EXHIBITION & LAUNCH
Sat 10 Dec: 15:00 – Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8
An exhibition of portable murals will take place from 15:00 and at 19:00 the official launch of the Portable Mural Company from Oldcastle, Co Meath will take place. The Portable Mural Company creates murals on a board, completed in a studio and finished to professional standards. Once designed, the mural is cut out and painted on a board, to give sharp features and high levels of detail, which also add to a 3D effect.
Admission is free. www.theportablemuralcompany.com

NATIONAL GALLERY – FAMILY PROGRAMME
Sat 10 Dec: 15:00-16:00 – National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
The Family Programme on Sat is entitled “A Blanket of Snow” with Clare Henderson. Admission free, no booking required. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

** GLORIA CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR THE FAMILY
Sat 10 Dec: 15:00 – The Pillar Room, The Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
The LGBT choir Gloria invites you, your kids, nieces and nephews and friends to a special Christmas afternoon party. Young children that are unable to attend their regular carols concert are particularly welcome as Santa Claus himself is going to make an appearance. There will be games, face painting, balloons etc as well as sing along carols. Admission is free. Adults please bring gifts for Santa to distribute for your little ones as he is saving all his money for the big day on 25 Dec. www.marriagequality.ie/events/2011/12/10/glorias-christmas-party-for-children-and-families/

LUNAR ECLIPSE – DUN LAOGHAIRE
Sat 10 Dec: 15:45 – Car Park in Windsor Drive, Dun Laoghaire
The Dublin Sidewalk Astronomers will meet to observe the end of the lunar eclipse. The Moon rise is at 16:07 and totality ends at 16:17. If you have a telescope you would like help with or just have general queries about the Irish Astronomy Society or astronomy you are more than welcome to come along. All are welcome and feel free to bring a scope along if you wish. If the car park is full they will try Sandycove. Phone the club mobile 087-6398143 if you are there and can’t find them. www.irishastrosoc.org/wordpress/

LUNAR ECLIPSE – SWORDS
Sat 10 Dec: 16:00 – Astronomy Ireland, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. – On Saturday the last stages of a lunar eclipse will be visible from Ireland at sunset. There will not be another eclipse of the Moon visible from Irish soil for nearly 4 years (28 Sept 2015) so Astronomy Ireland is urging everyone to take a break from their Christmas Shopping and watch the sky for 1 hour from 16:00-17:00 on Saturday.
Astronomy Ireland will hold a free public Eclipse Watch at its premises in Swords. Everyone is invited and use some of the most powerful telescopes in Ireland to view the eclipse. www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse1212.php

** FILIPINO CHRISTMAS CONCERT – THE EXCHANGE
Sat 10 Dec: 16:00 – Trinity Church Network, The Exchange, 50 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin 1. – The Filipino Community Network invites you to “Paskong Pinoy sa Dublin” (Philippine Christmas in Dublin) featuring the various Filipino community chorale groups in Ireland plus a carol competition. The very popular chorale festival brings the spirit of a true Filipino Christmas to Ireland through carols and traditional Filipino delicacies. Admission is free and everybody is invited to celebrate Christmas Filipino-style. www.philembassydublin.ie/img/Paskong%20Pinoy.jpg

SHORT FILM & DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE – CULTURE BOX
Sat 10 Dec: 17:00-19:30 – Culture Box, Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The Film Academy Ireland brings audiences and filmmakers of all ages together for an informal and eclectic screening of short films and documentaries. Undiscovered film makers and actors have an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of an audience of eager movie enthusiasts. You will be treated to eight recently produced films from various levels of filmmaking. The screening will include short films, mini documentaries and animations. Admission is free.
www.filmacademyireland.ie/Events%20Page.htm
www.dublinevents.com/events/exhibition/film-night.php

UKERISTIC CONGRESS – WHELAN’S
Sat 10 Dec: 19:00-21:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
The Ukulele band “Ukeristic Congress” will perform a free gig in Whelan’s. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/7055

** CAROL SERVICE FOR LGBT COMMUNITY
Sat 10 Dec: 20:00 – Unitarian Church, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
The 13th yearly Carol Service for the LGBT Community, Families and Friends will take place on Saturday. There will be Mulled Wine & Mince Pies at 21:15. Guest Speaker is Ailbhe Smyth of the National L&G Federation.

PODDLE PUBLICATIONS BOOK LAUNCH
Sat 10 Dec: 20:00 – Commonplace Studios, 10 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
Poddle Publications launches its first, hand-printed edition ‘Long Way Around’, which contains “the work of creative writing and visual art from new and emerging voices, and pieces within the anthology range in style from humour to horror to homey nostalgia, all threaded together by our ambling theme. Every page has been screen-printed, giving each copy a personality of its own.” You are invited and admission is free. www.poddlepublications.com

LAY DEEP CHRISTMAS BUMP PARTY – BIA BAR
Sat 10 Dec: Bia Bar, 28-30 Lower Stephen’s Street, Dublin 2
Zane Smit asked me to tell you about the Lay Deep Christmas Bump Party for MS Ireland, he is involved in. It will take place in Bia Bar and admission is free. All donations go to MS Ireland. The music on the night will be a mixture of Nu-Disco, Deep T…ech House with an essence of Funk. Organised by Sihle Nkosi and Sean Duff, the party will feature DJs Rory Lester, Joe Connolly, Chris Power, Del Fortune and Zane Smit.

RHYTHM ROCKER – THE GLOBE
“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event in The Globe in Sth Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. It is a Rockabilly, R’n’R, Roots night with live bands Pavement Kings and The Wayward Sinner Boys (in alternating weeks, it seems) from 20:00 and with DJs from 23:00-01:30. Admission is free. www.globe.ie

REGULAR SATURDAY EVENTS
* Don’t forget that 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. The Food Market is – until June – divided in parts and distributed in different locations in Temple Bar.
* 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
* Dublin Food Co-op is open every Saturday (09:30-16:30) at Newmarket, Dublin 8 for organic wholefoods and sustainable household products, plus over a dozen producer stalls offering organic fruit and veg., baked goods, dairy produce, wines, hot and cold food, etc. Additional Co-op opening Thursdays 12:00-20:00. www.dublinfood.coop
* The weekly Honest2goodness food market with fresh meat, vegetables, fish, baked goods, wines in Glasnevin 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)
* At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food + there’s free popcorn and ballons&facepainting for the kids. www.blackrockmarket.com/ Opening: Sat+Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30, Sun: 12:00-17:30
* Blackhorse Flea Market + Car Boot Sale. Every Saturday from 10:00-18:00 the Blackhorse Market is taking place. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on red Luas line. theblackhorsemarket.com
* Nearly every day and especially at the weekend, the Porterhouse in Temple Bar is hosting live bands that are always worth a visit. www.porterhousebrewco.com/livetemplebar.html
* Trad Session – Schoolhouse Pub in 2-8 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge. Every Saturday from 22:00 singers, guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion, whistle, pipers, bodhran etc are all welcome to join in. www.schoolhousehotel.com/
* The Black Sheep play Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Later Dj Glenn Brown (Dublin Calling). Admission is free.
* Havana Tapas Bar is inviting to a Salsa Night with afro-latin percussion every Sat night 22:30-02:00. Bachata, salsa, merengue, reggeaton with latin DJs. Food is available until 00:30 and usually there is plenty of room to get dancing and you are invited to add your own percussion. www.facebook.com/pages/Havana-Tapas-Bar/10503361821

______________________________
______Sunday __________________

** CHRISTMAS MARKETS
For all information about many many many Christmas Markets, check the Saturday section. Only some markets are mentioned in the Sunday section.

** AFFORDABLE GIFT FAIR – DUN LAOGHAIRE
Sun 11 Dec: 10:00-17:00 – Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. After a very successful first run at the end of November, the Affordable Gift Fair takes place in the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire again and admission is free. The Affordable Gift Fair has been set up with the idea in mind stand prices are kept to a minimum so that items can be sold at their most competitive price. www.giftfairireland.com

** CHRISTMAS SEASON – FARMLEIGH HOUSE
03-31 Dec: Farmleigh House, Castleknock side of Phoenix Park, Dublin 15
Farmleigh House will be open at weekends during December. The house will be decorated in traditional Edwardian Christmas style. There will be food markets, storytelling for the children, flower arranging and plenty of singing to help you get into the spirit of the festive season. www.farmleigh.ie/Events/Title,16354,en.html
The events on Sunday 11 Dec are listed below:
10:00-17:00 Christmas Food Market
10:00-17:00 Festive Crib
12:00-16:00 Barbershop Melodies with the Mellowchords
12:00-12:30+13:45-14:15+15:30-16:00 Custard Pie Puppet Company presents ‘The Witch in the Wood’
12:45-13:30+14:30-15:15+16:15-17:00 Storytelling for Children with Niall de Burca
13:00-16:00 Horse & Carriage Rides
13:30-15:30 Carol Singing with Ulysses Choir
www.farmleigh.ie/media/Farmleigh%20Christmas%20Programme%202011.pdf

BROCANTE FURNITURE MARKET – DUBLIN FOOD CO-OP
Sun 11 Dec: 11:00-17:00 – Dublin Food Coop, Newmarket Square, Dublin 8
The Brocante Furniture Market will take place on Sun it is a collection of antiques, furniture, collectables and curiosities from the past and present, second-hand, refurbished, antique and hand-crafted stuff for your house and garden. This is the only market of its kind in Dublin, giving the opportunity for everyday people as well as collectors and new enterprises an affordable outlet in an up and coming business. If you are an interior designer or just have and eye for style and are looking for a special piece or maybe a bargain then this is the market for you. www.thebrocantemarket.com/

SUNDAY AT NOON – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Sun 11 Dec: 12:00-13:00 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The Sundays at Noon Concert Series takes place in the beautiful Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Now in its 35th year, 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 is with the Avalon Ensemble
(Ioana Petcu-Colan, Violin; Gerald Peregrine, Cello; Michael McHale, Piano) performing two pieces from Beethoven. www.hughlane.ie/past-sunday-concerts/483-avalon-ensemble

DUBLIN SKETCHERS – SUNDAY MEET-UP
The Dublin Sketchers Group is an informal group of typically hobby artists who go somewhere different in Dublin every Sunday (e.g. Collins Barracks, Farmleigh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin Castle), sketch for an hour or so, and then meet up for coffee afterwards and discuss their sketches. www.dublinsketchers.blogspot.com/ Find out on their website where they will meet and join them if you do some sketching/drawing yourself. Meeting time is usually around 14:00.

** NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENT
+ I had some trouble reaching the National Museum website, so please check www.museum.ie for events this week.

NATIONAL GALLERY LECTURE
Sun 11 Dec: 15:00-15:45 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The talk “The Anne Yeats Gift of the Archive of Jack B. Yeats” with Pauline Swords, National Gallery of Ireland will take place and admission is free. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

SUNDAY SKETCHING – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Sun 11 Dec: 15:00-16:00 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The next Sunday Sketching for 7+ Year olds has the title “Following the artists animal trail”. No booking necessary. Admission is free and early arrival is recommended. www.hughlane.ie/childrens-workshops/forthcoming

** SNOWFLAKE DECORATING – CHILDREN WORKSHOP – DISNEY STORE
Sun, Mon + Wed (until 14 Dec): 16:00 – Disney Store, Grafton Street, Dublin 2
The Disney Store in Grafton Street invites children to take part in their Snowflake decorating activity. Children can decorate their own free snowflake tree decoration with an array of sparkly gems which they can take home and keep. This activity takes place every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday with the last one taking place on Wednesday 14 December.

BRAY GOSPEL CHOIR – CAFÉ EN SEINE
Sun 11+18 Dec: 16:15-18:00 – Café en Seine, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
The Bray Gospel Choir will be performing at Sing for Simon in Dublin’s Café en Seine this month, to support the Dublin Simon Community. Admission is free and you are invited to donate much needed funds. www.cafeenseine.ie.

SAUCY SUNDAYS – THE GRAND SOCIAL
Sun 11 Dec: 17:30-23:00 – Grand Social (former Pravda), Liffey Street, Dublin 1 (near Ha’Penny Bridge). Saucy Sundays is a weekly live music afternoon and evening in the Grand Social. This week the Saucy Sunday line-up is Theo Bard, The Glimmermen, Sarah Red McQuillan, Rob Delaney, Damien Drea. Links to the performers can be found here www.facebook.com/events/205282169551778/ www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001494016795&v=wall This will be the second last Saucy Sundays before a longer Christmas break until 08 Jan.

IRELAND – AUSTRALIA – CHRISTMAS DRINKS
The Ireland-Australia Association is having Christmas Drinks this Sunday 11th December, from 6pm, at the Bull & Castle Pub, 5-7 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2 (the top of Dame St, opposite Christ Church Cathedral). The event is to celebrate the Christmas season and to farewell friends and members heading off to Australia for Christmas and is supported by our friends at Finance One. All are welcome – especially Australians living abroad, or Irish people with an interest in Australia. Please see our website for further details – www.ireland-australia.org.

SUNDAY ROAST – MERCANTILE
Sun 11 Dec: 21:30 – The Mercantile, Dame Street, Dublin 2
The weekly Sunday Roast is an event in the Mercantile where live music is combined with free roast potatoes. The line up this week is Agitate The Gravel, Superblondes, Saccade, Theo Bard, Alan Starr/DC Tempest DJ Set (Post Olypmia/Coronas Gig). www.facebook.com/thesundayroast www.facebook.com/events/257757290946048/

MOB FANDANGO – THE MEZZ
Sun 11 Dec: 22:30-01:00 – The Mezz, 23/24 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The great Soul / Funk / Rock/ Reggae band “Mob Fandango” is every Sunday in the Mezz for a late night gig. What better way to end the weekend!
www.facebook.com/mobfandango

REGULAR SUNDAY EVENTS
* The Temple Bar Book Market is taking place every Sat+Sun on Temple Bar Square from 11:00-18:00.
* Jamestown Flea Market + Car Boot Sale. Every Sunday from 10:00-17:00 the Jamestown Market is taking place. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on red Luas line. www.jamestownmarket.com
* The Odeon Bar & Grill (Old Harcourt Street Station, Dublin 2) are inviting all families on Sat+Sun from 12:00-18:00 to a “Matinee Brunch Club”. Good Food, Kids movies (14:00) and kids under 3 eat for free. www.odeon.ie/matinee.html
* Afternoon Jazz in Café en Seine. The Sweet & Lowdown Jazz Trio play every Sunday from 14:00-16:00 in Café en Seine in Dawson Street. Admission is free. www.stellabass.com and a video is here gush.ie/clients/sweetlow/video/
* Sunday Roast is a weekly event in the Mercantile in 28 Dame Street from 21:00-01:00. Provided are free live music, games & roast potatoes. www.facebook.com/thesundayroast
* Graeme McKenna plays an acoustic gig (from trad to contemporary) every Sun at 18:00 in Number6 on Smithfield Square. www.number6.ie/
* “Loose Change” play in Gibneys Pub, New St., Malahide every Sunday from 18:00-20:00.
* From 21:00 in The Bleeding Horse on Camden Street “The Apollo Sessions” is a free show featuring multiple styles of original music from local and international musicians and songwriters www.myspace.com/thebleedinghorsesessions
* Every Sunday “The Latin Beat” will take place in the Odeon in Harcourt Street from 20:00-02:00. A band will play from 21:00-22:30, a Latin Beat Club, Brazilian DJs and Salsa Classes (from 18:00) will be additional features. Admission is free. www.odeon.ie/
* Comedy Crunch – The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy downstairs in Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sun+Mon. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330
* The Burning Effigies are playing afrobeat, jazz, funk and soul every Sunday from 23:00 in Turk’s Head in Parliament Street. www.turkshead.ie
* The Gardiner Street Gospel Mass invites to a Gospel Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. Everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness. www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com

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

______________________________
______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

ARCHIVE AT LUNCHTIME – FILM SCREENING – IFI
Mon, Wed, Sat in Dec: 13:10 – Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 – The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings. A number of free programmes will be shown at lunchtime on Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays. The details and the relevant dates when the programme will be screened are:
5, 14, 19, 28 December: ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7682
7, 12, 21 December: ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7683
A double bill that includes both programmes will be screened on the Saturdays in December (3, 10, 17, 31 Nov):ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7684 Admission is free, just collect your ticket at the ticket desk.

LOCAL ARCHITECTURE NETWORK – TALK – ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
Mon 12 Dec: 18:30 – Alliance Francaise, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
LAN (Local Architecture Network) was created by Benoît Jallon and Umberto Napolitano in 2002, with the idea of exploring architecture as an area of activity at the intersection of several disciplines. This attitude has developed into a methodology enabling LAN to explore new territories and forge a vision encompassing social, urban, functional and formal questions. LAN’s projects seek to find elegant, contemporary answers to creative and pragmatic concerns.
A talk about LAN will take place in the Alliance Francaise. It will be in English with Q&A in French and English. Special guest will be Umberto Napolitano. Admission is free, but you will have to register by sending a mail to info@alliance-francaise.ie with the subject RSVP: LAN. alliance-francaise.ie/culture/

HISTORIC BERGAMO – TALK – ITALIAN INSTITUTE
Mon 12 Dec: 19:00 – Italian Institute of Culture, 11 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin 2
“Historic Bergamo, Città dei Mille” is the title of a talk by Dr. Concetto La Malfa on Monday. The talk will be followed by the screening of two short documentaries:
“Historic Bergamo, Citta dei Mille”(in English 15min) and “Iseo un lago storico” (in Italian, 18 min). Dr Concetto La Malfa is the Editor of ITALIA STAMPA (www.italvideonews.com) and filmmaker. He scripted, produced, filmed and presented the two documentaries. www.iicdublino.esteri.it/IIC_Dublino/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?id=390&citta=Dublino

ROMEO & JULIET – DUBLIN CASTLE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Mon 12 – Thurs 15 Dec: 19:30-22:30 – Dublin Castle, Dublin 2
Cracked Light productions are bringing “Romeo and Juliet” to Dublin Castle as part of the Dublin Castle Christmas Season. If you haven’t seen it yet when they performed in Ranelagh or in Iveagh Gardens you have to see it. The production is great and I enjoyed it hugely when I saw the performance before. In addition to the performances there seems to be one on 14 Dec at 14:00. Admission to the performances is free, but you have to request tickets by sending an e-mail to dublincastletickets@opw.ie
For more information see check www.dublincastle.ie

JAZZ KITCHEN – GRAND SOCIAL
Mon 12 Dec: 20:00 – Grand Social, Lower Liffey Street, Dublin 1 (near Ha’Penny Bridge). – This is a weekly Jazz Club in the Grand Social pub. The Jazz Kitchen presents two contrasting bands every week, offering a diverse range of jazz and improvised music from the next generation of creative emerging artists to more established jazz musicians. Admission is free (a donation of EUR 5 is suggested) www.thegrandsocial.ie/event/jazz-kitchen-0

SONG CYCLE – WHELAN’S
Mon 12 Dec: 20:00 – Whelan’s, Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Song Cycle will take place on Monday. It is a (weekly) singer songwriter showcase every Monday, upstairs in Whelan’s. The line up is not announced yet for next week. Admission is free. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6535

REGULAR MONDAY EVENTS
* From 21:00 in the International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street: The Glór Sessions feature acoustic singer-songwriters, comedy, spoken word and poetry hosted by Stephen James Smith. Entry is free. www.stephenjamessmith.com/Glor.html www.facebook.com/TheGlorSessions
* Solar Trio Gig in Anseo (Camden Street, D2) on the first three Mondays of every Monday. Jazz standards along with totally improvised on the spot jams.
* In O’Byrne’s Beverage House at 199 King St North (Corner of Capel Street and Bolton Street) a live music session “Jam with Karmann Reeves” will take place. Musicians are welcome to participate. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001158421465
* Comedy Crunch – The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy in the Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sun+Mon. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330
* Comedy Night in Panti Bar. A new free Comedy Night with comedy improv, stand up and sketch every Monday night in Panti Bar on Capel St from 21:00. entertainment.ie/event/Comedy/Pantibar/A-Bear-A-Bull-And-A-Chicken-Walk-Into-A-Bar/2563419.htm
* From 22:00, the front bar of Whelan’s is the venue for the Open Mic event “Acoustic Nightmares Night”, organised by the band The Mighty Stef and some members from The Last Tycoons. This is a free event. www.facebook.com/pages/THE-MIGHTY-STEF/17575454643
* Upbeat Generation is playing Soul/Funk/Rock Covers in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2 from 22:00. Later: DJ Rasheed. Admission is free.

———Tuesday————————

NATIONAL GALLERY LECTURE
Tues 13 Dec: 10:30-11:15 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The talk “The Importance of the Sir Denis Mahon Gift to the Gallery” with Catherine Sheridan, National Gallery of Ireland will take place and admission is free. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

CURL UP AND DYE – PLAYREADING – THE NEW THEATRE
Tues 13 Dec: 14:30 – The New Theatre, 43 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
“Curl Up and Dye” by Anna Sheils McNamee and Lisa Fox is a new about shady goings-on at a boarded up hair salon. A play reading will take place on Tuesday. Admission is free, but a donation of EUR 2 would be welcomed. www.thenewtheatre.com/tnt_php/scripts/page/home.php

** MILK & COOKIES STORIES – THE EXCHANGE DUBLIN
Tues 13 Dec: 18:30-20:00 – The Exchange, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. – The next Milk & Cookies event is entitled “Christmas Jumpers”. Milk and Cookie Stories is for anyone who has a story to tell, or wants to hear a tale told well, in a relaxed, friendly environment – a place with tea, cushions, cookies and friends. The event is free, everyone is welcome and stories of all kinds are welcome. This month stories about Christmas will feature. Also acceptable are stories that take place around the holidays. As always, there will also be a Bake-Off where you will bring your finest treats and having them battle for king of the cookie. www.facebook.com/events/202788843133677/

IRISH BOOK LAUNCH – IRISH WRITERS’ CENTRE
Tues 13 Dec: 19:00 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The Launch of ‘Scéal Ghearóid Iarla’ by Máire Mhac an tSaoi will take place. This book has won this year’s Ghradam Uí Shúilleabháin, the award for Book of the Year in the Irish language. www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

REGULAR TUESDAY EVENTS
* Open Mic Night with The Last Tycoons in O’Donoghue’s on Suffolk Street every Tues from 20:00. It’s free and anyone can get up, sing a song or do whatever they like. www.facebook.com/pages/ODonoghues-Open-Mic/71834618844
* O’Byrne’s Beverage House at 199 King St North (Corner of Capel Street and Bolton Street) has a live music session with Sean Og McKenna and Friends every Tue at 21:00. Musicians welcome to participate. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001158421465
* Live Jazz and Blues from 21:00 every Tuesday in the International Bar on 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2.
* In the Bankers Inn on Trinity Street (off Dame Street) at 21:30: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Dave Murphy. A contribution is requested but not required. This is a listening club so is very quiet and features a lot of experienced songwriters trying out new material. www.myspace.com/davemurphyandfriends
* From 21:30, O’Briens on Dame Street (next to the Mercantile Pub) is the venue for a further Open Mic event of acoustic rock’n’roll organised by the band The Mighty Stef. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/pages/THE-MIGHTY-STEF/17575454643
* White Chocolate is playing Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2

———Wednesday———————-

FILM SCREENING – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
Wed 14 Dec: 18:00 – Instituto Cervantes, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place (near National Gallery), Dublin 2. – “18 comidas (2010)” is the title of the next film in the film series “Cinema and gastronomy”. The director is Jorge Coira. The film will be in Spanish with subtitles. dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha77390_16_2.htm

FERGAL GAYNOR – POETRY READING – WRITERS’ CENTRE
Wed 14 Dec: 18:00 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
“VIII Stepping Poems & other pieces” is a reading by Fergal Gaynor in the Irish Writers’ Centre. VIII Stepping Poems & other pieces brings together ten years of work from Irish poet, critic and art practitioner Fergal Gaynor.
www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

** CAROL SERVICE CONCERT – BALLYBOUGHAL, FINGAL
Wed 14 Dec: 19:30-21:00 – Church of the Assumption, Ballyboughal, Fingal, Co Dublin. – A concert of traditional Christmas Carols blended with popular Christmas songs from Cliff Richard, John Lennon and Enya. Featuring the church choirs of Ballyboughal & Damastown North County Dublin. I am not sure if this event is free, but you can ring 01 8433700 to find out. www.ballyboughal.net

** CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH RODDY DOYLE – NATIONAL LIBRARY
Wed 14 Dec: 20:00 – National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Join author and playwright Roddy Doyle and the Rathdown School Choir in the Main Hall of the NLI for Christmas carols and a reading by Doyle. Café Joly will be open from 18:00, serving mince pies, mulled wine and other delights. Admission is free. Donations to Fighting Words (www.fightingwords.ie) are welcome. www.nli.ie/en/list/current-events.aspx

JAZZ – O’REILLY’S PUB – SANDYMOUNT
Every Wed from 21:00-23:00, The Swing Factory (Paul Sweeney – trumpet, Neil McMahon sax, Bob Whelan vocals/keys Dave Fleming bass, Ian Hyland – drums) will be playing Jazz in O’Reilly’s Pub in Sandymount, D4. Admission is free.

REGULAR WEDNESDAY EVENTS
* 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
* “The Zodiac Sessions” is a regular open mic event from 20:30 in Bruxelles (between Grafton Street and Westbury Hotel) for unsigned musicians. Admission is free and there is a different line-up every week. www.thezodiacsessions.com/
* “The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 every Wednesday. www.hamletsweeney.com/events/
* 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).
* Seven Deadly Skins are playing Reggae/Ska Covers from 22:00 with DJ Dotsie later. The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Admission is free.

———Thursday————————

S… & THE CITY – BAGGOT INN
Thursdays: 16:00 – Baggot Inn, 143 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.
The Ladies Night “S.. & The City” (I can’t write the 3-letter word as otherwise all spam filters will block this newsletter! :-) ) is a new weekly event every Thursday. At this evening of “Carrie and Cocktails”, your favourite episodes of the show will be screened and the resident Mixologist will be demonstrating how to make the
perfect Cocktail (there are specials and you can even mix your own). Call on 01 6618758 or email reservations@thebaggotinn.ie for further details. www.thebaggotinn.ie

** CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING – COW’S LANE
Thurs 15 Dec: 18:00 – Cow’s Lane, Old Town of Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The shops in Cow’s Lane came together to organise a late shopping event with entertainment outside, festive food & music, and a range of unusual gifts from independent shops such as DesignMart, Industry, Retrospect, Ubode, Debbie Paul and The Gutter Bookshop. Charity gift-wrapping will be available and there will be mulled wine & mince pies. www.gutterbookshop.com

TONY CLAYTON-LEA – BOOK SIGNING – TOWER RECORDS
Thurs 15 Dec: 18:30 – Tower Records, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
Irish Times Music critic Tony Clayton-Lea will be in Tower Records for a book signing. www.towerrecords.ie/viewnews.asp?id=221

CAREER AND JOBS – CENTRAL LIBRARY
Thurs 15 Dec: 18:30-20:00 – Central Library, Ilac Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1
The Dublin City Public Libraries Career Direction and Development Programme will invite to the talk “Interviews – Get that Job in 2012” with recruitment specialist Laura McGrath from Interview Techniques. Admission is free, but booking is recommended. To book, contact 01-873 3996 or businesslibrary@dublincity.ie www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie
www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/libraries/Events/Pages/career_direction_and_development_2011.aspx

** CHRISTMAS WITH GLÒRIA – CONCERT – ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
Thurs 15 Dec: 20:00 – St. Patrick’s Cathedral
This event has become one of the biggest pre-Christmas events in Dublin. Originally started in the tiny St. Ann’s Church in Dawson Street, then expanded to two performances in the same church it has now grown so big that this year’s venue is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. ‘Christmas with Glória’ is a Christmas concert of Dublin’s LBGT choir. The event is not ticketed and admission is free but because it is so popular I strongly recommend that you arrive no later than 19:30. www.gloria.ie/stpatricksconcert

SAINT JOHN THE GAMBLER – WHELAN’S
Thurs 15 Dec: 20:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Mark Baker, who calls himself Saint John the Gambler is performing folk influenced alternative music. www.myspace.com/saintjohnthegambler
www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/7057

RAILWAY SESSIONS – OPEN MIC – O’REILLY’S ROCK BAR
Thurs: 20:30 – O’Reilly’s Rock Bar, underneath Tara Street DART Station, Dublin 2
If you are a Singer, Songwriter, play an Instrument or just want to jam then come to the Railway Sessions in O’Reilly’s every Thurs at 20:00 and showcase maybe a new song or a cover. All performing musicians will receive a complimentary drink. The event starts at 20:30. To contact the organisers: info@dublinsocialtv.ie An Indie-Rock Club starts immediately afterwards at 23:00. Admission free.
entertainment.ie/event/gigs/O%27Reilly%27s-Rock-Bar/Railway-Sessions/2575255.htm

LOTUSEATER – HARD ROCK CAFÉ
Thurs 15 Dec: 21:00 – Hard Rock Café, 12 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
“Rock OBSESSIONS” is an event series in the Hard Rock Café, where every Thursday until the end of December an established Irish band will play to big crowds and enthusiastic fans. This week “Lotuseater” will perform. Admission is free.
www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/events.aspx?LocationID=392&MIBenumID=3

BANDA BAQUE SOUL BAND – SIN E
Thurs 15 Dec: 21:00 – Sin É, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
Sin È are running regular live music events and one regular event is with the Brazilian Soul + Funk Band “Banda Baque Soul” on Thursdays. www.facebook.com/sin.e.dublin?sk=wall

REGULAR THURSDAY EVENTS
* Lunchtime Market at Christ Church Cathedral from 12:00-15:00. www.irishvillagemarkets.ie/christchurch.php
* Quiz Night in The Lotts Cafe Bar, 9 Lower Liffey St, Dublin 1. Every Thurs a quiz night with great prizes is taking place at 20:00/20:30 depending on football. Participation is free.
* Dimestore Recordings run a weekly event in Sweeney Mongrel’s, Dame Street (formerly Le Cirk) with a variety of bands and performers. It starts at 20:00 and the line up is here: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000163463304&sk=wall
* Songs from a Café is a Dublin singer-songwriter showcase session, dedicated to the art of contemporary songwriting. 20:00-22:00 at Brick Alley Cafe. www.facebook.com/songsfromacafe
* The Max Zaska group (06+20 Oct, 03 Nov) and the Patrick Groenland (13 + 27 Oct, 10 Nov) group will perform on alternating Thursdays from 21:00 in the International Bar on 23 Wicklow Street.
* “Thirsty Thursday” Open Mic Night from 21:00 in the Bridge Inn in Chapelizod Village. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bridge-Inn-Chapelizod/350005960758
* Open Music Night in Darky Kellys pub in Fishamble Street, Christ Church, Dublin 8 organised by the music duo R.E.D.. Would you like to perform or just listen? Names of contributors are taken from 21:30 and the gig starts at 22:00. www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Mic-Night-Dublin/121048244620948
www.myspace.com/redmusic11
* The Bionic Rats play live Reggae and Ska every Thursday in Turk’s Head from 22:00. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/TURKSHEADDUBLIN

———Friday————————

ITALIAN CHILDREN’S THEATRE – ISTITUTO IALIANO
Fri 16 Dec: 16:30-17:15 – Italian Institute of Culture, 11 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin 2 “When I grow up I am going to be a dinosaur doctor” is the title of this children’s theatre in Italian for children from 3-10 and their families. Find all details here: www.iicdublino.esteri.it/IIC_Dublino/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?id=391&citta=Dublino

GRUPO ENIGMA – CONCERT – DIT RATHMINES
Fri 16 Dec: 19:00 – Conservatory of Music and Drama (The Theatre), Dublin Institute of Technology, Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
The Chamber Orchestra Grupo Enigma of the Auditorium of Zaragoza, Spain, conducted by J. J. Olives, is offering an interesting programme with works by T. Marco, M. de Falla, J. L. Turina and E. Krenek. Grupo Enigma has steadily become one of the most original and innovative projects of the Spanish music scene over the past fifteen years. dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha78062_16_2.htm

WORLD PEACE PARTY – CONVENTION CENTRE DUBLIN
Fri 16 Dec: 19:30-22:00 – Convention Centre Dublin, Liffey Quays, Dublin 1
“Unity in Diversity – a World Peace Party” is the title of the free event that is organised by Instruments of Peace, an Irish Charity foundation for Peace initiatives through international cooperation to promote a Culture of Peace. It is a two-part programme celebrating Peace through thought, music, song, poem, prayer, dance, and parables. There is a short break in between for groups to create their own mini-party. Performers in the Convention Centre will be Julie Feeney, Charlie McGettigan, The Sands Family, MikeDonaghy, a Latvian Choir, ELVE and a Latvian Dance Troupe.
For more information, visit www.peacebeginswithme.eu Tickets are free, but have to be booked on the website. There is only a limited number of tickets available, so better book now.

———Pre-Announcements————————

This section contains events that will happen in the future. Some of them require free tickets and it is mentioned where this is the case. Put the events in your diary and for the ticketed events hurry to request your tickets:

CHRISTMAS!!!
Because of the upcoming BIG event called “Christmas”, there are no upcoming events here this week.

______________________________
______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. ;-)

RESTAURANT & SHOP CLOSURES TO CONTINUE
In the last two years a shocking amount of restaurants and shops have closed and at the closure of one of them, the Mermaid Café in Dame Street, the owners explained that the combined rent on the two restaurants at 68 and 69 Dame Street (Mermaid Café and Gruel) was EUR 190,000, but when they opened the Mermaid Café, at number 69, in 1996, the rent was IRP 15,000. If we assume that both buildings had the same rent in 1996 it would have been IRP 30,000 or EUR 38,092. (www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0114/1224287488277.html) So from 1996 to 2011, the rent increased from EUR 38,092 to EUR 190,000. That’s mad!
And when the economic situation got more challenging, the landlord seemingly refused to reduce the rent, because there is a contract in commercial rental contracts that allows ONLY increases no reductions in rent.
On Tuesday we found out that the main culprit for this, the “upward only rent review”, will now not be changed. The current government was working on a change and gave it up because they expected that landlords could demand compensation. (www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1206/breaking61.html) It is odd that a law can’t make compensation claims impossible if you look at the cuts and tax increases which won’t allow us to demand compensation.
The news is seriously bad news and I would expect more closures of shops and restaurants because of this.

–Advertisement————————————
MySURVEY – Get rewarded for taking part in surveys. You can make your opinion count AND at the same time get vouchers as rewards or donate to a charity!
clk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=83237&a=1719778&g=17705998
——————————————————–

—————–
When you get this Dublin Event Guide, I am in Germany and will probably get ready to enjoy some Mulled Wine. ;-) I hope you will enjoy the Christmas markets in Dublin and feel free to tell me what you like about them and what you don’t! You will hear from me next week again!

Take care,

–Joerg

dublineventguide@gmail.com
www.dublineventguide.com
www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide

*********************************************
For donations please go to www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm
**********************************************
You are receiving this newsletter because you have subscribed to it!!
If you don’t want to receive this mail anymore, just click on the link at the bottom of this mail. It would help me if you told me in an e-mail why you decided to unsubscribe, but that is not a “Must”. If you only want to stop receiving the newsletter temporarily, you can – if you wish – discuss this with me by e-mail so that we find a solution that makes sense to you. If you unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of the mail and there is a chance that you – at some stage – want to re-subscribe, please make sure that you keep a mail with the “unsubscribe link” because I will not be able to add you anymore to the list once you have unsubscribed using this link. The only way you can re-subscribe is to follow that specific link and change the settings yourself.
This Event Guide (the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”) is an Event Guide with a difference. It covers mostly free events based on the thinking that free events deserve additional support and that non-free events have the money to pay for advertisement. The Guide is a _guide_ and not just a listing and is therefore at times quite extensive. It is sent for free to anybody who is interested and if you want to be added to the mailing list or know somebody who would like to receive this guide, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject “Subscribe”.
If you have feedback – good or bad – PLEASE tell me via the same e-mail address.
BTW: I am not paid or otherwise rewarded for compiling and distributing this Event Guide it is purely a hobby so your donations are needed: www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm. Advertisement in or sponsorship of the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) is possible and very welcome, please contact me for more information.
Please note: The Dublin Event Guide (for Free Event) is not related or connected to the former fortnightly printed publication “the event guide” that you found until December 2008 in pubs and other venues.
Copyright 2011 by Joerg Steegmueller.
***********************************************