Dublin Event Guide 286: Docklands Christmas Festival, Ice Sculptures in Dun Laoghaire, Oxjam, Shutterbugs Vintage Clothing Kilo Sale

The 6th yearly RDS Library Book Sale will take place in the RDS Library from 03-07 December. The Library will be selling duplicate copies and out of date books. RDS Members have also donated books for the sale. Admission is free and everybody is welcome.

The mezzanine level of the Print Museum is turned into a Christmas Market with stalls selling crafts and gifts. There will also be a number of self-guided arts and crafts activities for families and the Gutenberg Cafe will be open.

The market will continue on Sat and Sun. Admission is free.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. The Festival is in its 8th year and while it is the best and most “christmassy” market in Dublin it still could do with some significant improvements. Or at least that was the case in previous years. This year there will be improvements claim the organisers, so let’s see! And let’s hope that the ugly white plastic tents have been replaced with something that has more of a Christmas-feel.

80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

I love Christmas markets and am looking forward to the Docklands Christmas Market!

On Friday from 16:00-18:00 the Christmas Lighting celebration will take place and from Saturday 08 Dec, Santa will meet children every Sat+Sun from 12:00-19:00 for free.

The lunchtime carol singing of An Post staff at the GPO is a tradition in Dublin that many people are not aware of. From now until 21 Dec, An Post staff will sing every weekday from 13:00-14:00 and everybody is invited to join in. The singing is accompanies by Noel Carroll on violin and Lillian O’Connor on piano.

And if you can’t make it to the weekday lunchtime singing you can come to the GPO on Sat 08, 15 and 22 from 13:00-14:00 to listen to the Cameron singers.

Fiona Loughnane (Associate Lecturer, NCAD) discusses the legacy and lineage of Surrealism in the visual arts from forebearers such as artists Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel to the French Surrealist movement.

Admission is free, but booking is required.

The next lecture in the Hertzog Centre Jewish Studies Lecture Seriesis Dr Lars Fischer who will talk about “Socialists grappling with the Shoah: Early Post-War Responses”.

A free Greek Folk Dance class open to all. Contact Katerini Papathanasiou on papath.kat@gmail.com

The Sixth Bernard Shaw Xmas Exhibition featuring a host of Irish artists, designers, photographers and creatives will launch on Fri with a drinks reception and music from ‘Orlando & Cait’.

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)

A drop in class, with newcomers welcome.

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.

A weekly Jazz gig takes place on Fridays and on Saturdays in the Italian Restaurant Cucina. Cucina has only 35 seats, so table bookings are advisable. Kevin Morrow will perform this Friday.

Astronomy Ireland’s weekly free telescope nights are beginning again, and will take place each Friday night at 20:00 if the weather permits. Check the website below for a weather forecast and to find out what you will be able to see at the telescope night. The focus will be on Jupiter and Moon.

“From Here To Infinity: Gravity and the Cosmos” by Prof Lord Martin J. Rees is the 11th John Lighton Synge Public Lecture in TCD.

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are: Fri 07: Dec: Donal Kirk, Sat 08 Dec: Rhythm Culture, Sun 09 Dec: Acoustic Groove.

The Bionic Rats play live Reggae and Ska every Friday in Sin É. Admission is free.

A weekly car boot sale, one of less than a handful that is still reliably taking place, has up to 200 cars/sellers. The stadium is just a few minutes walk from the Red LUAS line stop and numerous bus stops. For traders the Car Boot Sale opens at 06:30 for buyers from 08:00. If you are interested in selling, check the details and register on their website.

This is a exhibition for students learning German at schools and universities. The exhibition is structured around the 26 letters of the alphabet with each of them representing something typical from Germany. During the week the exhibition is available for students and there are only two public viewing dates, this Sat is the last public viewing.

The Dublin Food Co-op is open every Saturday at Newmarket 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. The Co-op is also open on Thursdays 12:00-20:00.

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.

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

BIMM Dublin is a third-level music college specialising in commercial modern music. They offer a BA (Hons) in Commercial Modern Music and a CPD Diploma in Professional Musicianship and they will have an Open Day on Sat. This is a chance for prospective students to come in and see the college, find out about the application process, ask any questions you may have and meet the tutors. There will also be some live music on the day with performances from some of the BIMM Students. Admission is free, but registration is required. Check the website for details.

Farmleigh House is celebrating Christmas with a whole range of events at every weekend in December.

This Sunday the Food Market will take place from 10:00-17:00 and there is a Festive Crib. In addition there is “Mr Punch’s Christmas Carol” (12:00+13:45+15:30) and Storytelling events (12:45+14:30+16:15) for children and Carol Singing with Cascade (13:30-15:30) and Barbershop Melodies with The Mellowchords (14:00-16:00) for the whole family.

Admission to all events is free.

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.

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a relatively new weekly market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. Sounds interesting and I will check it out over the coming weeks. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel). www.facebook.com/merchantsindoormarket

An indoor market in Coolock with over 40 traders with a wide range of goods and a café on site as well.

You are invited to the festive activities taking place at The Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park, Mount Prospect Avenue, Dublin 3 in December.

There will be fun family drop in art workshops and make your own Christmas tree decorations or create a winter wonderland with artists Fionnuala Hanahoe and Mary Noonan from 12:00-16:00 on Saturday 08, Sunday 09 and Saturday 15 Dec.

Learn how to make traditional Swedish Christmas crackers, with artist Veronica Forsgren on Sunday 09 Dec in the exhibition space from 12:00-16:00.

Join artist Martina Galvin on Sunday 16 Dec , 12:00-16:00 to make Christmas finger puppets, colourful angels, white Christmas doves, robin red breasts and other birds you might find in St. Anne’s park.

Get in the Christmas mood with the ‘Christmas Crackers’ puppet show by Conor Lambert’s Custard Pie Puppet Company, which features Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, elves and many more Christmas characters. The puppet show is live, interactive and guaranteed to generate lots of belly laughs and little giggles from the audience. Saturday 15 Dec at 16:00.

Using the flora of St Anne’s Park as inspiration, artist Maeve Clancy will transform the exhibition space of The Red Stables into a cut paper wonderland, creating a magical space to explore and engage with. Holly and snowflakes, Santa and Jack Frost will all feature in an interactive display for children of all ages.

The Red Stables Art, Craft and Food Market is open every Saturday 10:00-17:00. www.fingalmarkets.com

All events and even more than listed here can be found on www.redstablesartists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RedStXmasflyerWeb.pdf and on the website.

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 10 km Aware Christmas Run is not free but some people like watching and cheering on at runs like that and that is free. 2000 people will take part and it is a 10 km run for the first time (5 miles in previous years), Aware is a charity supporting people experiencing depression and the run is a fundraiser.

There will be road closures in Phoenix Park between 09:00 and 12:00.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher will run every Saturday. It will be an Alternative Arts and Culture Trail and she will bring you to “Dublin’s Best Cafes, Bars, Markets, Unusual Stores, Galleries, Theatres, Arts Spaces, and more! And hear some tales you’ve never heard before!”

Meeting point is at the Spire. The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is recommended via egaldog@gmail.com or 085-2725095

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.

The crypt of Christ Church will be the venue for the probably smallest Christmas market in Dublin again. But nevertheless there is something special about this market. It is a cool venue and if you have a few minutes, give it a go. There will be craft produce and presents and the crypt also has the Christ Church Cafe where you can warm up between your different Christmas Market visits. Admission is free. The Christmas market will take place on the four Saturdays before Christmas.

The mezzanine level of the Print Museum is turned into a Christmas Market with stalls selling crafts and gifts. There will also be a number of self-guided arts and crafts activities for families and the Gutenberg Cafe will be open.

The market will also be open on Sunday. Admission is free.

Shutterbug Vintage is a vintage clothing shop in Kilkenny and for the first time they will bring their Clothing Kilo Sale to Dublin. The clothes won’t be sold per item, but per weight with 1 kilo costing EUR 20. Interesting idea and hopefully this will be the first of many Kilo Sales in Dublin. Admission is free.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

The Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate has fascinated generations of children from Dublin and all over Ireland and 50 years after it first began, it still draws the crowds. The Moving Crib is like an expanded Nativity Play going back to Adam and Eve and finishing after the crib scene with the young Jesus teaching the Doctors in the Temple. There are over 100 figures in the Crib arranged in 14 different tableaux. They cover various episodes of the Old and New Testament. The figures are about a metre high, moulded in papier-mache and dressed in miniature clothes. Concealed motors control the movements of the arms, head and legs. All figures, motors, clothing etc. come from a firm in Germany.

Four events take place each day, running for 30 minutes. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find out yet when these four events take place. The opening hours are Weekdays: 14:00-18:00 and Weekends: 11:30-18:00 from 26 Nov-06 Jan. Admission is free.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

Oxjam, the giging in Oxfam, takes place again in Oxfam and this time the Home Store in Francis Street is the venue. Troughout the day a variety of bands and performers will be on stage. The line-up is Keith Moss, Cat Dowling, Eva Quinn, Mossy Nolan, Esosa, Sive, Radioactive Grandma.

Come to this event and support Oxfam. Admission is free.

An Indoor Craft Market will take place in the Exchange Dublin with all sorts of Art and Craft on offer. It is happening every 2nd Saturday of the month and admission is free. Find some pictures and some more information on their Facebook Page.

A free A1 Computers Drop-in Computer Clinic will take place in Foxrock on Sat 08 + Sat 15 Dec. The A1 Computer Experts will answer all questions about computer problems.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. The Festival is in its 8th year and while it is the best and most “christmassy” market in Dublin it still could do with some significant improvements. Or at least that was the case in previous years. This year there will be improvements claim the organisers, so let’s see! And let’s hope that the ugly white plastic tents have been replaced with something that has more of a Christmas-feel.

80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

I love Christmas markets and am looking forward to the Docklands Christmas Market!

From Saturday 08 Dec, Santa will meet children every Sat+Sun from 12:00-19:00 for free.

A Family Day where kids can print their own festive cards will take place. Admission is free. The event is suitable for 5-10 year olds, accompanies by an adult. Booking is not required.

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. Dux & Co will offer food and the Grand Social’s Bar and Gourmet Coffee options are available.

The Monica Loughman will deliver two free shows in City Hall. The shows will include ballet and hip hop performances. The shows will take place from 12:00-13:00 or from 14:00-15:00.
Tickets are limited and booking is essential via events@dublincity.ie Please state which of the two sessions you want to attend.

An open meeting to launch a national pro-choice campaign will take place.

A monthly Pop-Up Record Fair is taking place again this weekend. There will be 5 dealers there and a great selection of vinyl and cds. Full record fair listings can be found at www.irishrecordfairs.com

Santa and entourage will visit different parts of Dublin. There will be music, giant games, on-street entertainers, face painters and local businesses will be getting involved

Sat 08 Dec: Chatham St Area
Sun 09 Dec: George’s Arcade area & Sth Anne St

The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Festival will run from Sat 01 Dec until 01 Jan. On Sat Ice Sculptures will be carved live outside the IMC Cinemas in Dun Laoghaire. Sounds like an interesting spectacle and I would love to see that!

The lunchtime carol singing of An Post staff at the GPO is a tradition in Dublin that many people are not aware of. From now until 21 Dec, An Post staff will sing every weekday from 13:00-14:00 and everybody is invited to join in. The singing is accompanies by Noel Carroll on violin and Lillian O’Connor on piano.

And if you can’t make it to the weekday lunchtime singing you can come to the GPO on Sat 08, 15 and 22 from 13:00-14:00 to listen to the Cameron singers.

Astronomy Ireland are continuing their weekly Sun Shows at the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Swords. Each Saturday, the staff of the Astronomy Ireland Shop will be showing you amazing views of our nearest star. Using special filters and some of the largest telescopes in Ireland you will get to see sunspots bigger than Earth and huge solar flare bursting from our nearest star. If it’s cloudy, there will be a telescope demonstration and you will find out how you can safely observe the Sun and undertake some daytime astronomy using your own telescope.

The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in December.

The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-dbl-bill-dec-2012/
The Monday/Wednesday programme is here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-dec-2012/ and here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-prog-2-dec-2012/

The first Churchtown Christmas Fair will take place this Saturday. It is a free family fun day. Anuna will perform, there will be a Santa and a dog show will take place and there will be lots more.

The Coro Italiano Di Dublino will sing in the Powercourt Townhouse Centre.

The Prosperous Market starts at 14:00 with loads of vintage items for sale, hot food, sandwiches & cake stalls, numerous stalls selling books, zines, comics, vinyl, toys & crafts. There will also be some story-telling and a complimentary whiskey-tasting session in the adjoining Bison Bar. In addition music and performances from Lisa O’Neill, Seamus Fogarty, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Pat Ingoldsby and many more will take place.

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.

A weekly Jazz gig takes place on Fridays and on Saturdays in the Italian Restaurant Cucina. Cucina has only 35 seats, so table bookings are advisable. Declan Murray will perform on Saturday.

A new weekly live reggae show with local acts will take place for the first time this week and features “Weedway” with support from DJ Carlos Irie. Later a roots revival night with Worries Outernational and Guests will take place. Admission is free.

The 14th LGBT Christmas Carol Service will take place on Sat. After the service at 21:15 there will be mulled wine and minced pies. Guest Speaker at the service will be TD John Lyons. The Dublin G ay Men’s Chorus will sing, according to the website below. However the facebook page of the chorus doesn’t mention that event at all and only mentions their own two concert on Sunday. Curious!
The Christmas Carol Service is for the LGBT community, their families, friends & colleagues.

“The Radioactive Grandma are a three-piece acoustic rock band with a harmonic indie-pop style, originally from Peterborough UK and now based in Co. Cavan.” And they are launching their album on Saturday. Admission is free.

This is a weekly Saturday night jazz event in the basement Wine Cave of KC Peaches wholefood restaurant/café. Food will be served until 22:00 and wine, minerals & music will be available until later. Admission is free and a donation into a hat at the end of the evening is appreciated.

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are: Fri 07: Dec: Donal Kirk, Sat 08 Dec: Rhythm Culture, Sun 09 Dec: Acoustic Groove.

Gold Panda will perform in the “Midnight Hour” at Whelan’s. The gig starts at midnight, doors open at 23:30, but admission is only free if you are there before 22:30.

The Goods are in the Mint Bar for a free gig. I heard them before and they are as the name suggests! ;-)

The Affordable Gift Fair is an indoor event in the Royal Marine Hotel with more than 60 stalls and admission is free. There will also be some children entertainment.

A Seasonal Market with seasonal goodies, treats, presents and supplies for Christmas takes place. It is a special Christmas Farmers’ Market.

In the afternoon from 14:00 Santa and his helpers will be in the Botanic Gardens and there will be Storytelling and Christmas Music performance. No booking necessary but come to the Visitor Centre desk for a ticket before visiting Santa. I wasn’t able to find confirmation if a visit to Santa is free or not, but it seems that the other events are definitely free.

Farmleigh House is celebrating Christmas with a whole range of events at every weekend in December.

This Saturday the Food Market will take place from 10:00-17:00 and there is a Festive Crib. In addition there are Muppet Shows (12:00+13:45+15:30) and Storytelling events (12:45+14:30+16:15) for children and Carol Singing with The ark Singers (13:30-15:30) and Barbershop Melodies with The Mellowchords (12:00-16:00) for the whole family. Horse and Carriage Rides will take place between 13:00 and 16:00.

Admission to all events is free.

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.

The Long Mile Road Market behind Wigoders on Long MIle Road (across the road from Aldi) hosts more than 50 stalls and there is also a Cafe on site.

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a relatively new weekly market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. Sounds interesting and I will check it out over the coming weeks. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel). www.facebook.com/merchantsindoormarket

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.

Ombudsman and Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly will speak as part of the ‘Soul Sisters’ series of Sunday morning addresses about the woman who inspires her. The talks are in the context of the Church of Ireland Sunday morning Choral Eucharist and all are welcome.

The mezzanine level of the Print Museum is turned into a Christmas Market with stalls selling crafts and gifts. There will also be a number of self-guided arts and crafts activities for families and the Gutenberg Cafe will be open. Admission is free.

The next Fusion Sundays Market will take place this Sunday in the Dublin Food Co-op. It is a world culture market, an ethnic market that focuses on the diverse ethnic culture present in Ireland today. The Market features over 30 International stalls, ethnic food, live music and entertainment for kids. You can buy handmade goods, arts and crafts, recycled products, jewellery, clothes and food. The market is held every second Sunday of the month. This week there will be a strong Christmas theme at the Fusion Sunday World Culture Market.

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.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

The Moving Crib in St. Martin Apostolate has fascinated generations of children from Dublin and all over Ireland and 50 years after it first began, it still draws the crowds. The Moving Crib is like an expanded Nativity Play going back to Adam and Eve and finishing after the crib scene with the young Jesus teaching the Doctors in the Temple. There are over 100 figures in the Crib arranged in 14 different tableaux. They cover various episodes of the Old and New Testament. The figures are about a metre high, moulded in papier-mache and dressed in miniature clothes. Concealed motors control the movements of the arms, head and legs. All figures, motors, clothing etc. come from a firm in Germany.

Four events take place each day, running for 30 minutes. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find out yet when these four events take place. The opening hours are Weekdays: 14:00-18:00 and Weekends: 11:30-18:00 from 26 Nov-06 Jan. Admission is free.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

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.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. The Festival is in its 8th year and while it is the best and most “christmassy” market in Dublin it still could do with some significant improvements. Or at least that was the case in previous years. This year there will be improvements claim the organisers, so let’s see! And let’s hope that the ugly white plastic tents have been replaced with something that has more of a Christmas-feel.

80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

I love Christmas markets and am looking forward to the Docklands Christmas Market!

From Saturday 08 Dec, Santa will meet children every Sat+Sun from 12:00-19:00 for free.

An indoor market in Coolock with over 40 traders with a wide range of goods and a café on site as well.

You are invited to the festive activities taking place at The Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park, Mount Prospect Avenue, Dublin 3 in December.

There will be fun family drop in art workshops and make your own Christmas tree decorations or create a winter wonderland with artists Fionnuala Hanahoe and Mary Noonan from 12:00-16:00 on Saturday 08, Sunday 09 and Saturday 15 Dec.

Learn how to make traditional Swedish Christmas crackers, with artist Veronica Forsgren on Sunday 09 Dec in the exhibition space from 12:00-16:00.

Join artist Martina Galvin on Sunday 16 Dec , 12:00-16:00 to make Christmas finger puppets, colourful angels, white Christmas doves, robin red breasts and other birds you might find in St. Anne’s park.

Get in the Christmas mood with the ‘Christmas Crackers’ puppet show by Conor Lambert’s Custard Pie Puppet Company, which features Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, elves and many more Christmas characters. The puppet show is live, interactive and guaranteed to generate lots of belly laughs and little giggles from the audience. Saturday 15 Dec at 16:00.

Using the flora of St Anne’s Park as inspiration, artist Maeve Clancy will transform the exhibition space of The Red Stables into a cut paper wonderland, creating a magical space to explore and engage with. Holly and snowflakes, Santa and Jack Frost will all feature in an interactive display for children of all ages.

The Red Stables Art, Craft and Food Market is open every Saturday 10:00-17:00. www.fingalmarkets.com

All events and even more than listed here can be found on www.redstablesartists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RedStXmasflyerWeb.pdf and on the website.

The Sundays at Noon Concert Series is back after the summer break and takes place again in the Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Now in its 36th 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 called “Tales of Enchantment ” and will feature Maya Homburger, baroque violin and Barry Guy, bass who will perform their new CD – Tales of Enchantment.

Santa and entourage will visit different parts of Dublin. There will be music, giant games, on-street entertainers, face painters and local businesses will be getting involved

Sat 08 Dec: Chatham St Area
Sun 09 Dec: George’s Arcade area & Sth Anne St

“Experience the magical tastes, smells and sights of a Medieval Christmas with Irish Arms. Meet a candle-maker and scriptor monk. Try medieval helmets and armour on for size and taste Hypocras spiced wine and Grete Pye and other by-gone Christmas fare.”Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for all ages.

Medieval lords had lavish banquets with up to seven courses and drank from golden goblets! Come to the National Museum to learn about medieval feasts and design your own goblet to take home.Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for all ages.

The “Dublin Sketchers” is an informal group of typically hobby artists who go somewhere different in Dublin every Sunday (e.g. National Museum, Maritime Museum, Dublin Flea Market, Farmleigh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin Castle), 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 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!

John Cage’s Musicircus will be performed throughout the premises of St. Patrick’s College.

The concept behind Musicircus goes back to 1952 when Cage and some friends staged the first ever ‘Happening’. This small group performed various simultaneous actions such as climbing a ladder, reading a speech, playing records, dancing and multiple works being played at the piano. Musicircus in nothing more than an invitation to a number of musicians and performers to work side by side simultaneously in any way they desire.

Admission is free.

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

Come to the Family Drawing Sundays in the RHA. All children are welcome to use the RHA Art Cart, in the RHA Atrium. Admission is free. For further information, contact Ruth Carroll on 01 6612558 or via ruth@rhagallery.ie

The public talk “Dutch Landscapes in the National Gallery of Ireland: Function, Evolution and Meaning” with Dr John Loughman, University College Dublin will take place. Admission is free.

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.

The next Sunday Sketching for 7+ Year olds has the title “Floating Clouds”. No booking necessary. Admission is free and early arrival is recommended.

Join Assistant Keeper of Irish Antiquities, Dr Andy Halpin for a discussion of The Longbow, the famous weapon that changed the face of medieval warfare and how evidence from Ireland helps to unravel its history. The talk is suitable for Ages 12+

Admission is free and no booking required. However places are limited.

The Unitarian Church is the venue for not just one, but TWO Christmas Concerts of the Dublin G ay Men’s Chorus on Sunday. The first concert takes place at 15:30 and the second one at 19:30. Free tickets will be available at the door from 30 minutes before the start.

The Bray Gospel Choir will perform in Café en Seine on 09+16 December in aid of the Simon Community and admission is free.

37 Dawson Street is still one of the newsest pubs in Dublin and for the month of December, they are adding a weekly vocal jazz gig to their Sunday attractions.
The upcoming gigs are 09 Dec: Karen Cowley Trio, 16 Dec: Clare Finegan Quartet, 23 Dec: Emilie Conway Quartet, 30 Dec: Anne Marie Williams Quartet.

Saucy Sundays is a weekly free live music afternoon and evening in the Grand Social. This week’s line up is The Juice, French Bird, TT Love, The Cold 100, ITO, Ciara Hayes, Braille Club, The Black Pitts, Slackers Symphony.

This is the next meeting of Exchange Words, a new scriptwriting (film and theatre) group. A safe space where writers and actors can come together to collaborate, create and have fun. It will feature drama games, writing discussion and script readthroughs. Writers can bring a few copies of script, 1-4 pages in length, for the actors to perform as part of the workshop. The workshop is free and open to all.

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Mass invites to a Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, one of the best known choirs in Ireland will sing during the mass and everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness.

Every Sunday a band will play from 21:00-22:30, a Latin Beat Club, Brazilian DJs and Salsa Classes (from 18:00) are additional features. Admission is free.

The weekly Sunday Roast is an event in the Mercantile where live music is combined with free roast potatoes. The next Sunday Roast is hosting the launch of the new single of Dem Fools. Support from Crafty Fuzz, Capture, Pyramid Hill & Groundburst. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/events/480455485332376/

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy downstairs in Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sun+Mon. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of that there is some free ice cream. This Sunday’s line up is not announced yet at the time of writing this. Check the Facebook Page to find an update.

Rogério from the Brazilian dance project “Forró de Lampião” in Dublin tells me: Forró de Lampião is Brazilian music that has the same roots as Samba and there is a whole culture that has developed around “forro”. Every Sunday, free dance classes take place in the Grand Social (new loation!) and if you are interested, just turn up one Sunday.

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are: Fri 07: Dec: Donal Kirk, Sat 08 Dec: Rhythm Culture, Sun 09 Dec: Acoustic Groove.

“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event on Sunday night in The Globe in Sth Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. It is a Rockabilly, R’n’R, Roots night with alternating (week by week) live bands Pavement Kings, Donna & The Sazzy Catz, The Mosquitoes and The Pacifics from 21:00 and with DJs from 23:00-01:30. Admission is free.

Billy Treacy & The Ha’Penny Heads are playing Ballads, Folk, Trad and Classic Country every Sunday. Featuring Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle and Banjo.

Every Sunday (except at Bank Holiday weekends), the Ragtime, Roots and Country Blues Band “Cool Hand Dukes” play in the Porterhouse near Grafton Street.

Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Live Crib at the Mansion House has entertained generations. The Live Crib consists of a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed 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 and donations are welcome. The crib will be outside Mansion House until 24 Dec.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. The Festival is in its 8th year and while it is the best and most “christmassy” market in Dublin it still could do with some significant improvements. Or at least that was the case in previous years. This year there will be improvements claim the organisers, so let’s see! And let’s hope that the ugly white plastic tents have been replaced with something that has more of a Christmas-feel.

80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

I love Christmas markets and am looking forward to the Docklands Christmas Market!

From Saturday 08 Dec, Santa will meet children every Sat+Sun from 12:00-19:00 for free.

The lunchtime carol singing of An Post staff at the GPO is a tradition in Dublin that many people are not aware of. From now until 21 Dec, An Post staff will sing every weekday from 13:00-14:00 and everybody is invited to join in. The singing is accompanies by Noel Carroll on violin and Lillian O’Connor on piano.

And if you can’t make it to the weekday lunchtime singing you can come to the GPO on Sat 08, 15 and 22 from 13:00-14:00 to listen to the Cameron singers.

Pianist Michael McHale will be giving a free lunchtime recital on Monday. He recently launched his debut solo CD and will perform pieces from it. His CD “The Irish Piano” features a “selection of piano miniatures inspired by Ireland’s rich musical heritage. The Irish Piano explores the influence of both Irish traditional and European classical music on this country’s composers and musicians.”

The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in December.

The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-dbl-bill-dec-2012/
The Monday/Wednesday programme is here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-dec-2012/ and here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-prog-2-dec-2012/

In the Academy Discourse “Ambiguous Republic: Ireland in the 1970s” Diarmaid Ferriter (Prof of Modern History at UCD) will examine the key years of the 70s, when after half a century of independence, questions were being asked about the old ways of doing things. He will consider the widespread social, cultural, economic and political upheavals of the decade, a decade when Ireland joined the EEC; when for the first time a majority of the population lived in urban areas; when economic challenges abounded; which saw too an increasingly visible feminist moment, and institutions including the Church began to be subjected to criticism.

Admission is free, but booking is required.

‘Gift of the desert. Greek writing on paper from ancient Egypt’ is a talk by Prof.Brian McGing (TCD) who is Regius Professor of Greek and Head of the School of Histories and Humanities at Trinity College Dublin.

Towards the end of the 19th century, pieces of ancient writing paper began to turn up in large quantities from rubbish dumps in the Egyptian countryside. They were mostly written in Greek, but also in Arabic, Aramaic and the various forms of the Egyptian language.The great German historian of Rome, Theodor Mommsen, is said to have declared that, in terms of Classical scholarship, the 20th century would be the century of papyrology. So how did it turn out? What do papyrologists do, and what has this huge new data-bank of evidence told us about the ancient world and our relation to it?

To mark International Human Rights Day 2012, the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies in collaboration with the Bahai Community of Ireland will screen the documentary Iranian Taboo. There will be a Q&A session with the director Reza Allamehzadeh after the film screening. Admission is free.

Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Monday from 19:00 in Blakestown Community Resource Centre (next to Lidl).

This is a drop in class, with newcomers are welcome.

At the December meeting of the Dublin Cycling Campaign the topic for discussion will be “Cycling with Children” and there will be presentations and discussions on the topic of carrying children on bikes in Dublin, based on the real life experiences of Dublin Cycling Campaign members with children. (Dr. Ciaran Simms, Rob Carr and Derek Peppard will contribute). Come along and share your experiences. Admission is free and all are welcome.

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday and Monday. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of good comedy you will get free ice cream. Admission is free. This Monday’s line up is Foil Arms & Hog with support from Trevor Browne, Alan Irwin, David Reilly & Danny O’Brien (MC).

Every Monday, a mix of musicians from bands like The Seven Deadly Skins / Animal Cracker / Upbeat Generation / Crete Boom & more come together to play a free night of Rock & Reggae.

The talk “Exotic landscape painting in the work of Franz Post (1612-1680)” with Dr Simon Knowles, University College Cork will take place. Admission is free.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. 80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

The lunchtime carol singing of An Post staff at the GPO is a tradition in Dublin that many people are not aware of. From now until 21 Dec, An Post staff will sing every weekday from 13:00-14:00 and everybody is invited to join in. The singing is accompanies by Noel Carroll on violin and Lillian O’Connor on piano.

And if you can’t make it to the weekday lunchtime singing you can come to the GPO on Sat 08, 15 and 22 from 13:00-14:00 to listen to the Cameron singers.

‘Paddies Evermore: Stereotypes and Irish National Identity in the late eighteenth-century’ is a talk by Professor Padhraig Higgins of Mercer County College during his term as a Trinity Long Room Hub Visiting Research Fellow.

This talk will focuses on the figure of ‘Paddy’, who came to serve as the male personification of the Irish nation from the late 1770s onwards.

Admission is free and all are welcome.

A Lunchtime Christmas Carol Service in aid of Peata Therapy Dogs is taking place and your dog is welcome too. Admission is free.

How do you imagine Dublin in 2022? How might we shape Dublin over the next ten years to make it the best city it can be? Over the last nine-weeks, five teams of designers, architects, engineers, artists, activists and programmers have been coming up with ideas for urban initiatives that could help shape Dublin over the next ten years. As part of the evening education programme at Science Gallery, these teams have been developing their ideas with the help of experts and mentors and applying the concept to the Dublin 8 area. This Tuesday, they will present the results to the public in fast-paced 5-minute presentations.

Admission is free, but booking is required.

Milk and Cookie Stories is a story telling event for 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. Admission is free, everyone is welcome and stories of all kinds are welcome. If you would like to tell a story, just come along and sign up on the night, or “if you feel inspired to share your own home-baked goods with Dublin’s friendliest audience, we’ll also be having our awesome Bake-Off.” At the December event, the theme will be “…and all through the house” about adventures in your house (Think of Home alone! etc). www.facebook.com/events/442153682512205/

Poetry Ireland and Arlen House invite to the launch of “Maiden Names” by Martin Dyar & “Tilth” by Peggie Gallagher. Admission is free.

“Spirits of Seasons Past – An Operatic Fantasy” are scenes from favourite operas, performed by DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama vocal students, directed by Jennifer Hamilton and accompanied by Aoife O’Sullivan. Admission is free.

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.

The last of a series of twelve free public lectures for a general audience on geological raw materials and geological hazards in an Irish context is taking place on Tuesday. It is entitled “Volcanoes: ash, aerosols and our airspace” by Emma Tomlinson. Admission is free.

The new weekly “Grand Folk Club” will feature Trad, Ballads, Americana, Folk, World Music & More. This Tuesday, the line-up is: Traditional Arts Collective (TAC) featuring Katerina Garcia (Balkan/Folk/Trad). Admission is free.

White Chocolate is playing Rock Covers from 23:30 in The Mezz in Temple Bar.

A Christmas Gift Boutique will be popping up in the Ranelagh Arts Centre for 12 days before Christmas, selling affordable Irish design and craft gifts from 30 Irish designers. On Thursday 13 Dec from 17:00-20:00 there will be wine and mince pies and you can meet the makers.

The DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama International Masterclass Series welcomes internationally acclaimed Irish pianist Barry Douglas to give two days of masterclasses on Wednesday and Thursday. Admission is free.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. 80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

A lunchtime concert featuring chamber music ensembles from DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama will take place. Admission is free.

The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in December.

The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-dbl-bill-dec-2012/
The Monday/Wednesday programme is here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-dec-2012/ and here www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-prog-2-dec-2012/

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.

The next film in the José Luis Garci Film Series is “El abuelo/The grandfather”. Admission is free and the film will be screened with English subtitles.

The Irish Independet Game Development (Indies) Scene has grown rapidly in recent years and this event is a showcase event for this sector. If you’re interested in getting into the games industry, or how indie game developers work behind the scenes, or even just wondering what indie stands for or what ‘an indie’ does, come and find out. Admission is free, but booking is required.

In this public forum, Professor Louise Gallagher at TCD will describe a new collaboration with the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway to advance stem cell research on autism. Admission to the event is free, but pre-booking is required.

“Come Here to Me” is a history book that looks at things from a different angle. It discusses everything from punk music and stand-up comedy venues to pirate radio stations and drug use in Dublin city. It talks about fire-fighters, newspaper boys, street gangs, g ay bars and footballers, as well as our changing attitudes to feminism and seks….” [mis-spellings are for Spam Filters and are added by me.]

In this book, Sam McGrath, Donal Fallon and Ciarán Murray bring the best of their popular blog Come Here To Me: Dublin Life & Culture to a new audience.

The book will be launched by Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin (UCD).

The lecture “Hepatitis C- deadly, dangerous or docile?” with speaker Prof Cliona OFarrelly will be the next public lecture in the School of Biochemistry & Immunology. All are welcome and admission is free.

Professor Paul McMaster from Medecins Sans Frontiers / Doctors without Borders will give a public talk “Inside Syria: MSF’s Cave Hospital”. All are welcome to attend, entrance is free but donations are welcome for MSF’s programme in Syria. Please register your interest by emailing events@dublin.msf.org

MSF surgeon Paul McMaster is just back from Syria where he treated the wounded in an operating theatre set up in a cave and then a farm. Experienced in working in war zones, in Syria he found a ‘more oppressive type of danger’.

DIT Conservatory Ensembles in Concert:
Brass Chamber Ensemble, Wind Chamber Ensemble, Sinfonia, Camerata

Admission is free.

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

“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.

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

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 DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama International Masterclass Series welcomes internationally acclaimed Irish pianist Barry Douglas to give two days of masterclasses on Wednesday and Thursday. Admission is free.

The surprisingly vast amount of 25 (!!) galleries and antiques shops in Francis Street came together in the Francis Street Association and designated their street “Dublin’s Art & Antiques Quarter”. And to attract some Christmas business there will be a “Francis Street Art & Antiques Xmas Fair” this year from Thurs 13-Sun 16 Dec. It will be opened officially on Thursday from 18:00-20:00. On Fri the Fair will run from 10:00-19:00, on Sat from 10:00-17:30 and on Sun from 13:00-17:00.

A Christmas Gift Boutique will be popping up in the Ranelagh Arts Centre for 12 days before Christmas, selling affordable Irish design and craft gifts from 30 Irish designers. On Thursday 13 Dec from 17:00-20:00 there will be wine and mince pies and you can meet the makers.

Over forty market stalls in chalets make up this Christmas Market in the Dun Laoghaire Town Centre and the Metals (near the Seafront underneath the Forty Foot Bar) The market is open until 1st January. There is also a Life-size crib with live animals open at St. Michael’s Church.

The date has changed for this: A 60-metre ice slide is being set up in Dun Laoghaire for a fun experience for adults and children alike on Dún Laoghaire Harbour Plaza. There will be hot chocolate and crepe stalls, an inflatable village and carousel and children’s entertainment.

The ice slide is EUR 2 for three slides, but I expect that access to the Christmas Village around it is free.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. 80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

The Dublin Food Co-op is open every Thursday at Newmarket 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.
The Co-op is also opened on Saturdays 09:30 – 16:30. 12:00-20:00.

Lunchtime Market at Christ Church Cathedral from 12:00-15:00.

A public lecture about Baroda House in Delhi with Dr Jill Unkel, Curatorial Assistant, Western Collections, Chester Beatty Library will take place.

“Using Social Media To Find A Job” is a workshop with Career Coach Greg Fry. In this talk, Fry will look at how to network online, where to find hidden jobs and how to build an online presence that will attract an employer’s attention. Admission is free, but booking is required.

Also as part of the Career Direction and Development Programme at the Central Library, there will be a Jobcare Information Desk in the Central Library on Thursday from 113:00-15:00.

This year’s last film in the José Luis Garci Film Series is “Volver a empezar / Begin the Beguine” from 1982. Admission is free. The film will be screened in Spanish with English subtitles.

Where would a computer game be without the audio? In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to create and arrange your own tracks, complete with computer game samples, using the latest Ableton Live software. The course consists of demonstration and exercises. Get experience with music production software and come away with your own unique ‘GAME Music’. Computers and software provided and no previous experience necessary. Admission is free, but booking is required.

Visual Feast Productions presents ‘InsideOut’, the new book by Rua Meegan & Lauren Teeling features a photographic collection of street art from around Ireland between 2010 and 2012. It features work and comments by Irish artist’s such as Conor Harrington, Maser, DMC and ADW as well as International artists D*Face, Shepard Fairey, Phlegm, Mark Jenkins and C215. This Greedy Pig will provide the DJs at the event.

The Dublin Writers’ Forum welcomes writers of all genres, of all ages and all levels of experience. DWF is an open group of writers who share a common passion for all things literary. It is a safe ‘working space’ where on a weekly basis writers can bring their work to be critiqued by other writers.

Performing a collection of songs that have been inspired by the courage and love of others, Cokes will bring you on a journey “seanachaí” (storyteller) style.

Support act is Julie Lombard. Admission is free and all donations will go to a charity.

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, follow the link for the line up.

Jaime Nanci & The Blue Boys are playing a weekly gig in the Mercantile Hotel on Thursdays. Their music is swing, blues, bebop and doo wop. Admission is free.

The Max Zaska group and the Patrick Groenland 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.

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

Banda Baque Sol play every Thursday funl, soul and samba.

The UCD School of History and Archives, the UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and Innovation UCD invite to a free full day seminar on “Innovation and the Humanities”. Admission is free, but booking is required. All details on website.

The surprisingly vast amount of 25 (!!) galleries and antiques shops in Francis Street came together in the Francis Street Association and designated their street “Dublin’s Art & Antiques Quarter”. And to attract some Christmas business there will be a “Francis Street Art & Antiques Xmas Fair” this year from Thurs 13-Sun 16 Dec. It will be opened officially on Thursday from 18:00-20:00. On Fri the Fair will run from 10:00-19:00, on Sat from 10:00-17:30 and on Sun from 13:00-17:00.

Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Live Crib at the Mansion House has entertained generations. The Live Crib consists of a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed 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 and donations are welcome. The crib will be outside Mansion House until 24 Dec.

The Launch of “A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality: Slí Aon Dhraoí” by Lora O’Brien will take place.
Doors open at 10:30. hot port and canapés from 11:00, a reading and presentation at 12:00 and guest speakers after that. A short signing at 13:00 will end the event.

A Christmas Gift Boutique will be popping up in the Ranelagh Arts Centre for 12 days before Christmas, selling affordable Irish design and craft gifts from 30 Irish designers. On Thursday 13 Dec from 17:00-20:00 there will be wine and mince pies and you can meet the makers.

A Christmas Market in the Town Centre and the Metals (above the DART line underneath the Forty Foot Pub) with over 40 stalls in chalets will take place until 01 Jan. In addition there is Santa’s Arctic Kingdom in the Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre (EUR 10 per child – includes gift and photo. It is an adventure trip for children from the South Pole to the North Pole to help Santa in his workshop.) and there is a 60m Ice Slide on the Harbour Plaza (EUR 2 for 3 slides).

There will also be more fireworks and other activities and they will all be included in the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events).

The Biggest Christmas Flea Market in Ireland will take place in Block B, Smithfield Square. Dublin. The Dublin Flea and BLOCK T have joined forces to bring you a whopping 120 stalls of bric-a-brac, clothes, vintage, retro, vinyl, furniture and hidden gems with added Christmas cheer in the form of clever crafts, creative thinking and affordable art. The SCOOP Foundation and Amnesty International Ireland will also be there spreading goodwill. Delicious food, coffee, music and Christmas cheer will be available in abundance.

The Flea Market takes place on Fri 14 Dec (12:00-19:00) and on Sat 15 Dec and Sun 16 Dec (11:00-18:00).

This Christmas is taking place the second time this year. Last year it was a long row of tents down Dame Court from Exchequer Street to Dame Lane. The stalls were fine, but a Christmassy atmosphere didn’t really come up. The stalls will be selling handmade crafts, jewelry, toys and food. There will also be a stage with entertainment from music and comedy acts.

This year, the organisers promise a bigger and better market and the entertainment acts will be:
Alan Star (DJ) – Cravingz – Created by Comets – Crow Black Chicken – Daire Kelly (DJ) – Gypsy Rabble Rebel – Juliet’s Rescue – Julyo – Lisa McLaughlin – Penny Wentworth – ProudFoot – Red Kid – Robin James Hurt – Shawn Mullen – Simon Fagan – The Amazing Few – The Hot Sprockets – The Louisiana 6 – The Rockets – The Young Folk.

Special events on Fri 14 Dec are:
Gypsy Rebel Rebel / Christmas Gypsy Style in Sweeney’s Mongrel (Admission free)
Salsa Night (14-15 Dec: 23:00-02:30) with Antonio in the Mercantile (Admission free)

The Docklands Christmas Festival will start on Friday 07 Dec and will continue until 23 Dec. 80 traders are selling their goods and there will be stalls with food and mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts etc. A carousel and “Vitorian fairground attractions” will also be there. The market is open until 20:00 on weekdays and until 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

The lunchtime carol singing of An Post staff at the GPO is a tradition in Dublin that many people are not aware of. From now until 21 Dec, An Post staff will sing every weekday from 13:00-14:00 and everybody is invited to join in. The singing is accompanies by Noel Carroll on violin and Lillian O’Connor on piano.

And if you can’t make it to the weekday lunchtime singing you can come to the GPO on Sat 08, 15 and 22 from 13:00-14:00 to listen to the Cameron singers.

Come to this “Friday Night Game Social: Roleplaying Games” and and join in for an evening of roleplaying games of exploration and discovery. Games for a wide variety of tastes and ages will be available to play, whether you want to spend two hours developing strategy or see how many quick games you can fit into one evening. Expect games like: Savage Worlds, Star Wars, Call of Chthulhu. The games are curated by Dr Graham Turner, Chair of the Irish Games Association. Admission is free, but booking is required.

The Bicycle Christmas Party takes place in Cafe Rothar and all are welcome. Come by, have a chat with the Dublin Cycling community and you can buy Dublin Cycling Campaign T-shirts. BYOB. Mulled wine and nibbles will be available.

This is one of the most popular Christmas Concerts in Dublin. The LBGT choir Gloria will perform Christmas songs and other material and you can expect a packed St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Admission is free, but make sure you arrive early.