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| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 233
| 02 December 2011 Subscribers: 10115
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Hi all!

You all have realised that the Dublin Event Guide is arriving in your Inbox quite late and I bet most of you thought it would be better if it arrived earlier. I couldn’t agree more! So, why is it arriving so late? Well, there are a number of reasons. As you might know, I work through the night from Thursday evening until the time it arrives with you on Friday to get it finished. I have a day job, so I have to do most of the work out of working hours. If the Dublin Event Guide paid me money, I could consider changing that, but until that is the case, this compromise will have to continue. So I can’t easily move the sending of the e-zine to an earlier day, but what could be done to send it at least a few hours earlier. Well, I have a suggestion, but it needs your help: There are a number of sections in the newsletter, that require research that is more than just the event research and if I could get some help with that, it would shorten the time it takes to write the newsletter. Could you help? Specifically I am looking for help with three sections in the newsletter: Dublin News, Feel Good Slot and This is Odd! If you come across something that suits/fits, could you please send it to me at dublineventguide@gmail.com You don’t need to write it up yourself, just make some suggestions what should/could go into the Dublin News and the other sections, maybe send a link and a few words why you think it is interesting. I need that EVERY week and I’d say the 10,000 of us should be able to get even more /better content than the ONE of me. So, if you hear something interesting about news in Dublin, if you come across an nice contribution (quote of video clip) for the Feel Good Slot or if something in life makes you shake your head in disbelief and you want to suggest that for the “This is Odd!” section, please let me know. You don’t need to contribute every week, just send me a mail everytime you find something suitable. Thanks!

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Christmas Markets!! Next week the Christmas Markets in Dublin start and obviously the Dublin Event Guide is the place where you find out about all of them! If your community runs a Christmas Market, let me know, I might not have found out about it. Brian L. suggested to mark/highlight the Christmas events somehow in this newsletter and I think that is a good idea. I have limited means of doing that, but hopefully two “*” in front of the title of a Christmas event will help you to identify them! Thanks, Brian for making me think. ;-)

Are there still friends and colleagues of yours that don’t get the Dublin Event Guide yet? I will only stop reminding you when we have reached ALL of them! So you better tell them to shut me up! :-) …they will thank you for it! :-) 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
Alternatively 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!

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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.

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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 I offer you a quote and it is in opposition to all the media reports that we hear about our economy. Now, I know that we can’t change the economy of our countries, but we can change what we do in our life and how we approach our own goals and with that as well our own financial situations. Donald Trump said: “If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big” Are you thinking big? What holds you back? If YOU don’t think big, who will do it for you!?

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With Christmas coming up, you better get ordering your Christmas presents in time!
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This part is important to “keep the show on the road”:

This week Clodagh O’C and Alison P 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 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.

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______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.

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The coming weekend and week… actually the whole month… will be monopolised by Christmas Markets….and I love them! ;-) I will go to Germany next weekend to enjoy the original :-) but that won’t stop me from going to most Christmas Market in Dublin as well. The huge amount of these markets is starting this week. There is one in the crypt of Christ Church, one in the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght, one in the Alliance Francaise and one in St. Anne’s Park. But the two main ones will be starting on Thursday: At the Royal Hospital Kilmainham a big Winter Wonderland will take place this year. With Circus and Fun Fair and Christmas Market etc. And then the godfather of Irish Christmas Markets, the Docklands Market near the IFSC. Yes, I will go to ALL (or nearly all of them!), but not necessarily all this week!

This week, I will probably go to Christ Church and the Alliance Francaise. Then on Sunday the Christmas Jumper Day (Geansai Nollaig) sounds interesting and fun. For the evening I recommend the Gardiner Street Gospel Mass OR Mob Fandango.

Tuesday will be dominated by the Budget announcements and culture might have to take a step back. On Wednesday you might have the last chance to enjoy the OPW sites for free, unless the “First Wednesday” will be extended. And in the evening you should go to “Where the Mugic Happens”.

Thursday will be mad in town, so be aware that you could be trampled to the ground by the shopping masses. Or maybe it will be economically adjusted significantly quieter??
On Friday have a look at the “Your Business Day” if you have or plan to have a business. The Dun Laoghaire Christmas Festival starts that day and an interesting lecture about Cosmic Rays takes place – to give it a non-christmassy finish.

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______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 When you look at it, remember what animal is on the coin, because I need that as your answer for the competition. ;-) If you want to win this pair of cufflinks, you need to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with CUFFLINKS1968 in the subject of the mail and with your name and mobile phone number in the body of the mail. In addition you need to tell me in the mail what animal is on the coin from 1968 (you see it on the website ;-) ). Your mail has to be with me by 12:00 on Tuesday 06 Dec.

LASER TOM & THE BLAST CREW
Following on from a great performance at the Electric Picnic this year, Laser Tom & The Blast Crew will be in Crawdaddy for a big gig on Sat 03 Dec. With support from very special guests The Gandhis. Doors open at 20:00 and tickets are available at the door for EUR 10. Here you can check our Laser Tom & The Blast Crew: soundcloud.com/lasertom-blast-crew So a great gig waiting for you next weekend! The organisers have made two pairs of tickets available for a competition and the lucky winners are Brendan Greene and Mark Sherlock.
The full gig details are here: www.pod.ie/index.php?show_event=2778

SEVILLANAS CLASSES – FLAMENCO EL INDALO
Flamenco El Indalo, an association that that aims to promote and enrich the culture of flamenco in Ireland through a programme of education and entertainment, regularly runs flamenco and sevillana classes. Sevillanas are a traditional folk dance from the south of Spain and Flamenco El Indalo teach it in a short set of three classes. Before the end of the year, there are only two more opportunities to learn Sevillanas and if you are interested, you should check all the details on www.flamencoindalo.com/en/classes/sevillanas The class is not just about dance, it’s about the rhythm and how to clap to it too. So you learn lots of interesting things AND learn how to dance.
The lucky winner of this course was Annabelle Mota. Congrats! If you didn’t win this time, check the website, because there are more courses coming up.

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______Dublin News______________

DUBLIN CASTLE CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has organised a whole range of free events in Dublin Castle for the pre-Christmas season. The events are ticketed, but the tickets are free. All you have to do is to request tickets via dublincastletickets@opw.ie
The evens are
09 Dec: Virginia Gospel Choir – An Evening of Christmas Carols (19:30)
11 Dec: Ouroboros – A Christmas Experience (16:00)
13 Dec: Music Network: Morisca Quartet (13:00)
www.musicnetwork.ie/events/details/morisca_may/
12-15 Dec: Cracked Light Productions “Romeo & Juliet” (19:30)
15 Dec: John Scottus School – Lunchtime Concert (13:00)
18 Dec: John Scottus School – Carols in the Castle (no tickets required) (13:30+19:00)
18 Dec: Ouroboros – A Christmas Carol (14:00+19:00)
Tickets are required for each event. Applications can be made by e-mailing:
www.dublincastle.ie/HistoryEducation/DublinCastleChristmasSeason2011/
www.dublincastle.ie/media/Christmas%20Flyer.pdf
Great that the OPW has organised this!

CITY CENTRE BAG STORAGE & DELIVERY
The Dublin City Business Improvement District has teamed up with An Post to offer a Shop and Drop service for a little while before Christmas. They will mind your shopping bags for free at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre (3rd floor) or the GPO Arcade on Henry St for free. You can either pick your bags up later or An Post will deliver them to you for a delivery charge of EUR 6.05 for up to 30kg. The service runs Thursdays until Mondays until 19 December. Interesting idea and a great service especially if you don’t want to bring a car into the City Centre. I don’t understand, though, why the service ends on 19 December. www.dublinatchristmas.ie/free-bag-minding-delivery/

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EDEN QUAY TREES REMOVED FOR LUAS
Trees on Dublin’s Eden Quay (between O’Connell Bridge and Liberty Hall) were removed last week in preparation for works on the proposed Luas bridge. The brigde is meant to link the two LUAS lines and repair the idiocy that the two completely separate and not interlinked lines created. However, the bridge will be expensive and I would bet on the project getting cancelled due to the current economic challenges. The new bridge will link Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street. The trees are gone, the bridge might never come and the person who proposed two Luas lines kilometres apart from each other in the first place should still get fired.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1129/breaking2.html?via=mr

———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.

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______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

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

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______Friday___________________

** BALLYFERMOT CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Fri 02 Dec: 11:00-16:30 – Ballyfermot Civic Centre
The Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership is organising a craft fair in Ballyfermot. There will be Christmas Gifts & Various Crafts, for example Art, Beads, Baking, Candles, Cards, Catering, Ceramics, Fashion and much more. www.ballyfermotpartnership.ie/

** CHRISTMAS CRACKER WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
Fri 02 Dec: 12:00-13:30 – Hanover Quay, Spencer Dock, Dublin 2
Carphone Warehouse is organising this Guinness World Record Attempt in aid of The Simon Community. Carphone Warehouse hopes to raise over EUR 10,000 for the Dublin Simon Community this Christmas through a number of initiatives (donation of all profits from in-store gift-wrapping and donation of EUR 1 for every facebook friend until 22,000). And in the same spirit and to support these initiatives, Carphone Warehouse is also hoping to break the current world record for the highest number of Christmas crackers pulled simultaneously. Unfortunately it seems that they are not completely clear on where the current record stands: Some event notices say it stands at 1570, others say it is at 1478. So let’s hope at least 1600 people will be there to pull Christmas Crackers. But to get such a large number will probably only work if the majority of Google employees, who are based around the corner, will help out. Otherwise 1600 people at 12:00 on a Friday is a LOT of people!
There will be mince pies, mulled wine, and hot chocolate for everyone who takes part, in addition to Christmas carol sing-along with some very special Irish music acts. www.facebook.com/events/275870025782964/ www.facebook.com/Thecarphonewarehouseireland?sk=app_325953020754419

LUNCHTIME READING – IRISH WRITERS’ CENTRE
Fri 02 Dec: 13:00 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
A lunch time reading with a prose author should take place in the Irish Writers’ Centre on Friday, but has not yet been announced. Watch the website. www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

** CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR – EXCHANGE, GARDINER STREET
Fri+Sat 02+03 Dec: (Fri 17:00-20:00/Sat 10:00-17:00) – The Exchange, 50 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. – Come to the old Labour Exchange in Gardiner Street for the 4th Trinity Church’s Christmas Craft Fair to buy beautiful hand crafted gifts at affordable prices, enjoy the Food Hall and Café and Saturday will be a Family Friendly event with face painting etc. www.trinity.ie

AFRICAN STUDENT NETWORKING EVENT
The African Students Association of Ireland (ASAI) is inviting to a networking event for all African Students and any students interested in Africa. The event will take place on Fri 02 Dec: from 18:00-21:00. After a dinner, music will follow in another location. The event will take place in the Dublin Business School, Castle House
Building, Open Common Hall (on South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2).
asa-ireland.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

SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS – SANDYMOUNT
02 Dec: 20:00-22:00 – Martello Tower Car Park in Sandymount. (www.irishastrosoc.org/wordpress/?page_id=59). The Dublin Sidewalk Astronomers will meet to observe the first quarter Moon. If you have a telescope you would like help with or just have general queries about the IAS or astronomy you are more than welcome to come along. If the weather is bad they will be there from 20:00-21:00. All are welcome. www.irishastrosoc.org/wordpress/

JAZZ MUSIC – BIANCONI’S BISTRO & RESTAURANT
Fri 02 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 02 Dec Donal Kirk Band
Sat 03 Dec Dead Ringer
Sun 04 The Colonials 18:30
Fri 09 Cornerstone
Sat 10 Stereofusion
Sun 11 Falnagans 18:00
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

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______Saturday_________________

** 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 03 Dec are listed below:
10:00-17:00 Christmas Food Market
10:00-17:00 Festive Crib
12:00-12:30+13:45-14:15+15:30-16:00 Custard Pie Puppet Company presents ‘The Witch in the Woods’
12:45-13:30+14:30-15:15+16:15-17:00 Storytelling for Children with Danielle Allison & Sue Brown
13:30-15:30 Carol Singing with New Dublin Voices
14:00-16:00 Barbershop Melodies with the Mellowchords
www.farmleigh.ie/media/Farmleigh%20Christmas%20Programme%202011.pdf

** CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR – EXCHANGE, GARDINER STREET
Sat 03 Dec: 10:00-17:00 – The Exchange, 50 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. – Come to the old Labour Exchange in Gardiner Street for the 4th Trinity Church’s Christmas Craft Fair to buy beautiful hand crafted gifts at affordable prices, enjoy the Food Hall and Café. This is a Family Friendly event with face painting and other entertainment for the kids. www.trinity.ie

** 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

** MARCHE DE NOEL – CHRISTMAS – ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
Sat 03 Dec: 10:00-16:00 – Alliance Francaise, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
The 4th French Christmas Market (Marché de Noël) will take place in the Alliance Française on Saturday. “Escape the hustle and bustle and try the special French Christmas menu at La Cocotte. There will be an array of Christmas presents directly from France to you: wine, chocolates, foie gras from the south west of France, biscuits from Brittany, traditional yule log – Bûche de Noël, French delicatessen, jewellery, children’s books, Tintin collection, Mon carnet de voyage en Irlande – the French book to help children learn more about Ireland, wooden language puzzles, Bayard press magazines and more.” Admission is free. alliance-francaise.ie/culture/

** GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET – THE SQUARE, TALLAGHT
24 Nov-01 Jan: The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght
The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght will run a “German Christmas Market” with up to 50 stalls 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. www.dublinchristmasmarket.com/
www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/profile.php?id=100003207481639

** 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

COSY CORNER – ARK, TEMPLE BAR
Sat 03 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

JINGLE BELLS RUN
A 5 km Jingle Bells run will take place in Phoenix Park, in case you come across that. Up to 1000 participants are expected. It starts at approx. 11:00.

** CHRISTMAS MARKET – BELVEDERE COLLEGE
Sat-Sun 03-04 Dec: 12:00-18:00 – Belvedere College, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1
The yearly Belveder College Christmas Market will take place this weekend on Sat and Sun. You’ll find presents for all the family, mulled wine & hot chocolate and you could also catch a performance of The Nutcracker Suite at the O’Reilly Theatre (performances at 15:00 and 20:00). (It is not clear what the charges are for the Nutcracker Performance.) All proceeds from the market will be donated to the Social Integration Scheme of the college to support the Belvedere Scholarship Fund. www.belvederecollege.ie/development%20donating.html

** WINTER WONDERLAND – AUDI NORTH,
Sat 03 Dec: 12:00-15:00 – Audi North Dublin, Exit 5, M50, North Park, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. – Audi North is inviting to a free Winter Wonderland Event. Santa (with presents in hand) will be in Santa’s Grotto, there will be a giant snowglobe for taking family photographs and even real snow is available. Ohh, and I bet there will be a few cars too! ;-) Admission is free for everyone. www.audinorthdublin.ie

NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENTS
+ A Christmas Open Day takes place in Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History). It will probably take place from 11:00-16:00, but there is no details available. All notices claim that the website will have all details, but the National Museum website has NO details (yet?). This is all I could find “Christmas starts at Collins Barracks with carol-singing and a festive art and craft workshop for all the family. Explore the Museum with the 12 Days of Christmas Trail or the Angel Trail. No booking required. For a full programme of events go to www.museum.ie www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=2552

WATER CYCLE WORKSHOP – SCIENCE GALLERY
Sat 03 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

GINO D’ACAMPO – BOOK SIGNING – EASON’S
Sat 03 Dec: 13:00 – Eason’s Dundrum Shopping Centre
TV chef Gino D’Acampo will be signing copies of his book “Italian Home Baking” in Eason DunDrum Shopping Centre. O’Connell Street. www.easons.com/events_display.asp?K=e2011112112571096

ROSS O’CARROLL KELLY – BOOK SIGNING – DUNDRUM
Sat 03 Dec: 13:00-14:00 – Tesco, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum
Ross O’Carroll Kelly author Paul Howard will be signing copies of his new book “NAMA Mia” at Tesco, Level 3. www.dundrum.ie/events/ross-ocarroll-kelly-author-paul-howard-book-signing/

SPECTACLE OF DEFIANCE AND HOPE – PROTEST
Sat 03 Dec: 13:30-16:00 – near City Hall, Dublin 2
The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope is an alliance of Community Organisations from Dublin and beyond. In 2010 a number of groups came together to protest against the budget cuts for the youth and community sector and draw attention to the consequences on society. A protest is planned for Saturday, but neither the website at thespectacleofdefianceandhope.ie/ nor the facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001791734951 or the facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/140155686090358/ provides any details about the what and where.

CREATIVE WRITING HOUR – IRISH WRITERS’ CENTRE
Sat 03 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

DUBLIN CITY SPORTS ARCHIVE – DEMONSTRATION EVENT
Sat 03 Dec: 13:45 – Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
A Dublin City Sports Archive Demonstration Event will take place on the Dublin City Archive in Pearse Street. From 13:45+16:30 a variety of talks and demonstrations will be available. As it is usual for all Library events, you are requested to book for this free event and all information can be found here:
www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/libraries/Events/Pages/sports_archive_demonstration.aspx

DEREK LANDY – TALK – NATIONAL LIBRARY
Sat 03 Dec: 14:00 – National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Best-selling author of Skulduggery Pleasant Derek Landy visits the NLI to mark the end of the Tall Tales & Deadly Drawings exhibition and you can find out all you ever wanted to know about Skulduggery Pleasant and more. Suitable for age 8+. No booking required. www.nli.ie/en/list/current-events.aspx?article=60d2f171-cfc1-433b-940c-6173a73a8527

LEO CULLEN – BOOK SIGNING – HUGHES&HUGHES
Sat 03 Dec: 14:00-15:00 – Hughes&Hughes, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Dublin 2. Heineken Cup winner and Leinster rugby player Leo Cullen will sign copies of “A Captain’s Story”. www.hughesandhughes.ie/content/events

NATIONAL GALLERY – FAMILY PROGRAMME
Sat 03 Dec: 15:00-16:00 – National Gallery, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
The Family Programme on Sat is entitled “Tales around the Fireplace” with Jenny Phelan. Admission free, no booking required. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

CHRISTMAS DANCE SPECTACULAR – CITY HALL
Sat 03 Dec: 15:00-16:00 – City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2
Monica Loughman, regarded as Ireland’s best-known and most accomplished Ballerina brings Ballet and Hip Hop Stars from this year’s smash hit The Nutcracker, and showcases the spectacular Arabian, Russian and Chinese dancers in the historic Rotunda in City Hall Dame Street on Saturday. Spaces are limited to 150 people for this free interactive workshop. And to book your place at this Christmas Dance Spectacular at City Hall you should ring 01 2222327 or send a mail to events@dublincity.ie There is a good chance that all seats are booked out, but if you are interested and you see this note on Friday, you should ring anyway to find out I you can still get a place. www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/Events/ChristmasinDublin11/Pages/ChristmasinDublin11.aspx

** CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED – TALLAGHT
Sat 03 Dec: 15:45 – County Library Tallaght, Chamber Square, Civic Theatre and RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre.
“Christmas Unwrapped 2011” is the big Christmas Event in Tallaght. It features music and artwork and the lighting of the County Christmas Tree. There will be performances from the Armagh Rhymers; Habemus Choir; St. Kilian’s Church Choir, Kingswood; St. Mark’s Church Choir, Springfield; Suburban Sounds Choir; art work from Killian Redmond; writing from Sue Hasset; original music by Gerry Horan and Michael Fleming; and living tableaux from members of Tallaght Young Filmmakers and An Cosán Drama Group. www.southdublin.ie/unwrapped.aspx

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

POSTER FISH PROMOTIONS – DARK HORSE INN
Sat 03 Dec: 21:30-01:30 – Dark Horse Inn, 1 Georges Quay, Dublin 2
Poster Fish Promotions presents Michael Lovatt / Catscars / EP Release gig. “Dublin based edm producer Michael Lovatt will celebrate the digital release of his latest EP ‘The Walk’ this Saturday in The Dark Horse Inn. Expect House, Techno, Electro, Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop and Dub vibes. Catscars, aka Robyn Bromfield brings us her very own special breed of ambient experimental synth-pop. Robyn is a member of Patrick Kelleher’s Cold Dead Hands and Children Under Hoof.” Admission is free.
www.facebook.com/pages/Poster-Fish-Promotions/217938028267917

RUAIRI MAGUIRE – RE-OPENING
Sat 03 Dec: 22:00 – Ruairi Maguire, Dundrum Shopping Centre, Dundrum.
Ruairi Maguire’s Official Re-opening party takes place on Sat and there will be live music by Soundcheque from 22:00. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462805646&sk=wall

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 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 04 Dec are listed below:
10:00-17:00 Christmas Food Market
10:00-17:00 Festive Crib
12:00-12:30+13:45-14:15+15:30-16:00 Custard Pie Puppet Company presents ‘Christmas Crackers’
12:00-16:00 Barbershop Melodies with the Mellowchords
12:45-13:30+14:30-15:15+16:15-17:00 Storytelling for Children with Danielle Allison & Sue Brown
13:00-16:00 Horse & Carriage Rides
13:30-15:30 Carol Singing with North Dublin Community Choir
www.farmleigh.ie/media/Farmleigh%20Christmas%20Programme%202011.pdf

CAR BOOT SALE – DUBLIN AUCTION ROOMS
04 Dec: 10:00-15:00 – Dublin Auction Rooms, Merchants Yard, East Wall Rd, Dublin 3. – The Dublin Auction Rooms, a company that sells household items, furniture etc at auctions are hosting a Car Boot Sale Sunday. The Merchant’s Yard is not too far from the Point Theatre/The O2. The event hasn’t been well advertised, so let your friends know about it. www.dublinauctionrooms.ie/

PEAS & PODS FAMILY MARKET – DUBLIN FOOD CO-OP
Sun 04 Dec – 11:00-17:00 – Dublin Food Coop, Newmarket Square, Dublin 8
The Peas and Pods Family Market for babies, toddlers, children (and their parents) is taking place again. More than 35 stalls will sell their products which are original, handmade, locally crafted baby, child and family related products. There will also be free half hour classes of baby signing, teaching children as young as 6-7months to communicate through sign language (Hosted by Tiny Talk Baby Signing, classes at 13:00and 15:00). A free Baby Rave hosted by the Elbow Room and Face Painting throughout the day will take place too. Check all details on www.peasandpods.ie/

SUNDAY AT NOON – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Sun 04 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 ConTempo String Quartet (with Bogdan Sofei, Ingrid Nicola, Andreea Banciu, Adrian Mantu and Claudio Mansutti, Clarinet). To celebrate he Romanian National Day, they will play Mozart’s “Hunt String Quartet”, Bela Bartok’s “Six Romanian Dances” for string quartet and Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet”. www.hughlane.ie/past-sunday-concerts/515-contempo-string-quartet

** CHRISTMAS FAIR – DUNBOYNE CASTLE HOTEL
Sun 04 Dec: 12:00-17:00 – Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, Dunboyne, Co. Meath
Just after Blanchardstown and therefore close to the border with Co. Dublin is Dunboyne. The Dunboyne Castle Hotel will have a Christmas Fair with local produce & gifts and Santa will be there from 14:00-16:00. ireland.dublinevents.com/events/other/christmas-fair-at-dunboyne-castle-hotel-and-spa.php

WHELAN’S RECORD FAIR – WHELAN’S
Sun 04 Dec: 13:00-17:00 – Whelan’s, Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Whelan’s will have a Record Fair this Sunday and admission is free. Buy, sell, trade all your CDs, Tapes and Vinyl. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6779

IRISH RECORD FAIR – WHELAN’S
Sun 04 Dec: 13:00-17:00 –
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
+ Smithfield Christmas Market, Smithfield, Dublin 1 on 10+11 Dec (11:00-18:00)
+ Dublin Flea Market, Newmarket Sq., Dublin 2 on 18 Dec (11:00-17:00)
www.irishrecordfairs.com

CHRISTMAS FAIR FOR GAELSCOIL EISCIR RIADA. LUCAN
Sun 04 Dec: 13:00-18:00 – Colaiste Cois Life, Lucan
This Christmas fair in aid of Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan will take place on Sunday. The parents are trying to raise funds for the new school building which will begin construction next year after a 6 year wait. The Fair will have 20+ stalls selling homemade products including cakes, jewellery, candles, knitted toys, paintings, flowers, baby gifts etc also a second hand CD/DVD/Book stall. For the kids there will be santa, face painting and other fun stalls. Admission is free.

MARY BYRNE – BOOK SIGNING – HUGHES&HUGHES
Sun 04 Dec: 14:00-15:00 – Hughes&Hughes, Swords Shopping Centre.
X Factor participant Mary Byrne will sign copies of her book ‘This is My Life’ in Hughes & Hughes Swords. www.hughesandhughes.ie/content/events

BIG SMOKE LITERARY CAFE – TWISTED PEPPER
Sun 04 Dec: 14:00-17:00 – The Loft Bookshop, Twisted Pepper Building, 54 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. – The Big Smoke Writing Factory are running another one of their popular Literary Cafés. It is a relaxing afternoon featuring readings from Big Smoke Writing Factory students combined with mulled wine and plenty
of Christmas cheer. Admission is free and you have a chance to meet some of Dublin’s emerging writers. www.bigsmokewritingfactory.com
www.facebook.com/writingfactory

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
+ A Medieval Christmas Fair will take place in Kildare Street (Archaeology) on Sun 04 Dec from 14:00-16:30 for all ages. “Experience the magical smells, tastes and sights of a Medieval Christmas with Irish Arms. Meet market sellers, a candle-maker and a scriptor monk. Try Medieval armour on for size and taste Hypocras spiced wine and Grete Pye and other by-gone Christmas fare. No booking required. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=2554
+ A Hands on History event is taking place in Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts & History) on Sun 04 Dec from 15:00-16:00. It is suited for all ages. Fun family learning with the Museum’s collection of objects; a handling session. No booking required. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=2555

** GEANSAI NOLLAIG DAY
Sun 04 Dec: 14:30 – South King Street (next to Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre)
On Sunday the Geansaí Nollaig Day will take place. “Geansaí” is the Irish word for jumper and “Nollaig” means “Christmas”. So that day is the “Christmas Jumper Day”. Now, if Irish Culture is still relatively new to you, then “Christmas Jumper” will mean nothing to you. But if you are here for a while you might now that Christmas Jumpers are these awful looking jumpers that you would NEVER wear any other time of the year. They have big reindeer or Santa faces or other uniquely Christmas-related pictures on them. Why anybody would buy them is beyond me and buying a jumper for this record attempt is a challenging proposition. But this is what will take place:
The organisers want to set a world record for the most people wearing Christmas jumpers in one place. Not cool! :-) But it is cool, that all this is in aid of the Barretstown charity. ;-) I find it difficult to suggest to anybody to buy a Christmas jumper for this event, but maybe you already have one or have a friend who has two or more OR maybe you can even create one yourself!!!
All will take place in South King Street, Dublin 2. Bring along your festive creations from 14:30. On-street entertainment will be provided with face-painters, balloon modeller, magician, giant street board games and with a choir adding to the fun. Spin 1038 will be broadcasting live from South King Street from 14:45. More information is here: www.dublinatchristmas.ie/events/geansai-nollaig-day/

NATIONAL GALLERY LECTURE
Sun 04 Dec: 15:00-15:45 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The talk “The Gift of Knowledge: Enriching Library and Archive Collections” with Andrea Lydon, Head Librarian, National Galley of Ireland will take place and admission is free. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

SUNDAY SKETCHING – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Sun 04 Dec: 15:00-16:00 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The next Sunday Sketching for 7+ Year olds has the title “Shades of Winter”. 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.

MARY BYRNE – BOOK SIGNING – EASON’S
Sat 04 Dec: 16:00 – Eason’s Blanchardstown Shopping Centre
X Factor participant Mary Byrne will be signing copies of her autobiography ‘This Is My Life’ in Eason in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. www.easons.com/events_display.asp?K=e2011112514044647

BRAY GOSPEL CHOIR – CAFÉ EN SEINE
Sun 04+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 27 Nov: 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 lineup is Gerry Gormley, Johnny Murphy, Sive, Beeprich, Kaplin, Midtown Reign, Dead Red Light and John Davidson & Shane Booth from Ceolaire. Links to the performers can be found here www.facebook.com/events/302323876454713/
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001494016795&v=wall

SUNDAY ROAST – MERCANTILE
Sun 04 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 The Competition, Elavator, Activities and The Brahman. www.facebook.com/thesundayroast www.facebook.com/events/207772945967401/

MOB FANDANGO – THE MEZZ
Sun 04 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.

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______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

OCCUPY THE DAIL – PROTEST
Mon 05 Dec: 12:00 – Dáil, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This is a slightly odd one. There is an invitation to protest outside of the Dáil on Monday at 12:00. There might be a link to the OccupyDame Street protest, but since this is a leaderless protest, you can’t be certain. Importantly, though, it is typically required to register a protest march with the Garda, so if this is a non-permitted protest, there is not much of a chance that it will get anywhere near the Dáil in Kildare Street. It is a bit surprising that Monday at 12:00 has been chosen for this event, but maybe it is not intended to get a large number of people to join in.
www.facebook.com/events/302782093078322
www.indymedia.ie/article/100991

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.

TONY GUNNING – EXHIBITION – RADISSON BLU ST. HELEN’S
Mon 05 Dec: 20:00 – Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel, Botterstown (off Stillorgan Road). – Dublin artist Tony Gunning’s solo exhibition of streetscapes and landscapes, entitled “Landmarks”, will be held in the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel on Mon. The paintings, all of which are acrylic, are streetscapes of South County Dublin villages and landscapes of Ireland which will be familiar landmarks to all. This exhibition will take place for one night only and you are welcome to browse and to buy. Admission is free. tonygunning.com/

BALLYFERMOT SCHOOL OF ROCK – WORKMAN’S CLUB
Mon 05 Dec: 20:00 – Workman’s Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
The Ballyfermot School of Rock Presents a number of yet to be specified acts. Admission is free. www.theworkmansclub.com/2011/12/01/ballyfermot-school-of-rock-presents-051211/

JAZZ KITCHEN – GRAND SOCIAL
Mon 05 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 05 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/6534

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————————

BUDGET DAY 2
On Tuesday is Budget Day 2. There will be a Budget Day 1 on Monday (05 Dec) when the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will announce the savings and cuts in the public sector. The next day “Budget Day 2” will be more crucial to all of us. On that day we will find out how much less money we will earn from 01 January. There will be significant tax increases and welfare cuts, so prepare yourself mentally for the bad news. If you have a car or drink alcohol (or smoke), be aware that there is a good likelihood that the excise duties (taxes on these goods) will go up at midnight on 06 Dec. So it might be a good idea to get petrol the night before (or buy some more beer and wine). You won’t save a HUGE amount, but a bit.

NATIONAL GALLERY LECTURE
Tues 06 Dec: 10:30-11:15 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The talk “The Art of Giving: Enhancing Irish Art Collections” with Donal Maguire, National Gallery of Ireland will take place and admission is free. www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

LUNCHTIME READING
Tues 06 Dec: 13:15-14:00 – Twisted Pepper, Abbey St, Dublin 1
This is a regular literary event run by the Seven Towers Agency, a small publishing house and event host. The very best performance poetry and writing from the following poets and writers Bernie O’Reilly, David Murphy and Ross Hattaway. www.seventowers.ie

MATTHIAS POLITYCKI – POETRY READING
Tues 06 Dec: 18:30 – Goethe-Institut, 37 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
A poetry reading and book launch of Matthias Politycki’s “Music of the Spheres” will take place. The event will be in German, English AND Irish! Admission is free. www.matthias-politycki.de/intro.html
www.goethe.de/ins/ie/dub/ver/en8407252v.htm

POLITICAL PRISONERS IN COLOMBIA – TALK
Tues 06 Dec: 18:30 – Liberty Hall, Eden Quay, Dublin 1
At this talk about political prisoners in Colombia, ex political prisoner Rosalba Toro, a Colombian trade unionist and a former political prisoner who was jailed on March 9th, 2009 and accused of “rebellion”, speaks about her experiences. No admission charges are mentioned, but that is no guarantee that it is free. www.indymedia.ie/article/101006

PALESTINE-ISRAEL – FILM SCREENING – PEARSE CENTRE
Tues 06 Dec: 19:15 – Pearse Centre, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
The film “How we can solve the Palestinian-Israeli problem” by Lebanese director and musician Sami Moukaddem will be screened. This film (97 min) includes over 35 interviews, including: Noam Chomsky, Hajo Meyer (Auschwitz survivor), Ilan Pappe (Israeli historian), Omar Barghouti (Boycott Divestment Sanctions), Rabbi Ahron Cohen, Denis Halliday (former UN Assistant Secretary General), Brian Keenan, Alastair Crooke (former MI6). No admission charges are mentioned, but that is no guarantee that it is free. www.ipsc.ie www.indymedia.ie/article/100998

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———————-

FIRST WEDNESDAY – OPW SITES
Unless this scheme is extended, this is the last opportunity to enjoy the OPW sites for free! Entry charges at nearly all OPW sites are waived once a month. Since the Office of Public Works (OPW) has launched an initiative to encourage more people to visit the historic sites that it manages, this is only the second First Wednesday. Most sites can already be visited for free, but the sites that normally charge a fee will now be free as well on every first Wednesday until the end of the year.
In the (extended) Greater Dublin Area this will affect the following sites:
+ The Casino, Marino
+ Dublin Castle, State Apartments
+ Kilmainham Gaol
+ Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange
+ Glendalough Visitor Centre in Wicklow
Expect a huge amount of people on 02 Nov at these sites, so be early. www.rte.ie/news/2011/0706/heritage.html The list of all sites that are affected nationwide is here www.rte.ie/news/2011/0706/heritage1.pdf

FILM SCREENING – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
Wed 07 Dec: 18:00 – Instituto Cervantes, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place (near National Gallery), Dublin 2. – “Tapas (2005)” is the title of the next film in the film series “Cinema and gastronomy”. The directors were Juan Cruz, Jose Corbacho. The film will be in Spanish with subtitles.
dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha77386_16_2.htm

COMHLAMH FIRST WEDNESDAY DEBATE
07 Dec: 18:15-19:45 – International Bar, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2.
The Dec 2011 First Wednesday Debate will discuss the topic “Growing gender inequality and not growing population is the real threat to sustainable development”. Tom Campbell, senior lecturer at Kimmage Development Studies Centre and Damien Queally, Head of Programmes for Plan Ireland will discuss the issue and RTÉ journalist, activist and campaigner, Laura Fletcher will chair the debate. Audience participation is encouraged so please, come and have your say. Admission is free. www.comhlamh.org/bewleys-debates-are-back.html

VIBRATIONS OF THE SOUL – BOOK LAUNCH – GUTTER BOOKSHOP
Wed 07 Dec: 18:30-20:00 – Gutter Bookshop, Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
The book launch for ‘Vibrations of the Soul’, a collection of poems by K.J. Nolan with paintings by John Nolan will take place in Gutter Bookshop. Admission is free. www.gutterbookshop.com

ANNE LE MARQUAND HARTIGAN – BOOK LAUNCH – WRITERS’ CENTRE
Wed 07 Dec: 19:00 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The Launch of Unsweet Dreams, a collection of poems by Anne Le Marquand Hartigan will take place on Wednesday. www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

WHERE THE MUGIC HAPPENS – BUTTON FACTORY
Wed 07 Dec: 20:00 – Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The line up for the next Mugic Happens event is The Rye (Alternative / Celtic / Roots), Raglans (Folk / Indie / Rock), The Hip Neck Blues Collective (Blues / Folk tinged Hip-Hop), Andy Delamere (Acoustic / Alternative), Lotus Eater (Rock / Funk / Trip- Hop), Absolutely Curtains (Experimental / Progressive / Rock).
The event is being filmed by a film crew to make a live music video for the bands. So come along in numbers and bring all your friends. www.facebook.com/events/313010102043850/

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————————

CULCHIE DAY
Not necessarily the most politically correct name for this day, but if you are not Irish, you have to find out about this piece of relevant Irish tradition and history. Thursday is 08 December, which is the catholic holiday of the “Feast of the Immaculate Conception” and while it is not a public holiday, the majority of schools in Ireland are still catholic and are closed on that day. This means that for decades people outside of Dublin (the “Culchies”) used that day to come to the big capital to do their Christmas shopping and oddly not much has changed. Dublin will be packed with Irish day tourists and for many it is the day the Christmas season properly starts. For that reason the main Christmas Markets all start on 08 December.

YOUR COMMUNITY – YOUR ART – BLUE DRUMM
Thurs 08 Dec: 10:00-21:00 – Outreach Centre, Clonshaugh Drive, Priorswood, Dublin 17. The Blue Drum Community Group is inviting to an arts day in Priorswood. There will be Storytelling, Book Readings for children, a stroll through the past in the Northsiders Museum. The People’s Instant Orchestra will perform and invite people to participate and in the evening a panel debate will take place. Find all the details here
www.bluedrum.ie/flyer2.html

** 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/

** 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/

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

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/

COOKING BY THE BOOK – DISCUSSION – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
Thurs 08 Dec: 18:00 – Instituto Cervantes, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place (near National Gallery), Dublin 2. – The book “Cociñando ao pé da letra” (Cooking by the book) aims to go beyond the borders of traditional art by showing the similarities between disciplines, such as, literature, cooking and photography. The founders of this project, Yolanda Castaño (Galician painter, literary critic and poet in Galician language) and Andrea Costas (professor of photography and artist) illustrate the strong social and cultural impact of the Galician cuisine, but also the fusion of the three different disciplines: literature, cooking and photography. The discussion will be in Spanish with English interpreting. Before the event at 17:30 some wine will be served. dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha77393_16_2.htm

** CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING – COW’S LANE
Thurs 08 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

REACTIVE NATIONALISM IN IRISH, ISRAELI + PALESTINIAN NOVELS
Thurs 08 Dec: 18:00 – Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The Irish Writers’ Centre and the Directors of Irish Academic Press invite you to a reception to celebrate the launch of “Slouching Towards Jerusalem Reactive Nationalism in the Irish, Israeli and Palestinian Novel” by John Maher. Journalist and author Henry McDonald will be guest speaker on the night. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. If you wish to attend please book your place by contacting Colin Eustace on 01 2989937 or on info@iap.ie www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/atthecentre.html

NUALA LYONS – BOOK LAUNCH – TALLAGHT LIBRARY
Thurs 08 Dec: 19:00-20:00 – South County Dublin Library, Library Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Nuala Lyons (www.NualaLyons.com) will launch her novel “Home City”, which plays in Dublin. You can buy her book as an e-book or a paperback here booklocker.com/books/5812.html Everyone is invited to come to the launch.

CONNECTOR & EYP CHRISTMAS PARTY – LILLIES BORD ELLO
Thurs 08 Dec: 19:00 – Lillies Bord ello, off Grafton Street, Dublin 2
Connector and European Young Professionals (EYP) are joining forces for their Christmas Party this year. The party is based on the theme of “tribes”, i.e. groups of people that feel associated with each other due to their interest or by belonging to an association. The organisers write “You will have the opportunity to make connections from tribes of the worlds of Arts, Music, Fashion, Sports, Film and Technology.” Some food and drink will be provided by sponsors and the entertainment will provided by a resident DJ. Admission is free, but voluntary donations for the Temple Street Children’s Hospital are welcome and a donation of EUR 5 is suggested. www.facebook.com/events/311110385582396/

PLANTS WITH STORIES – LECTURE – BOTANIC GARDENS
Thurs 08 Dec: 20:00 – National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. The lecture “Plants with Stories” with Matthew Jebb will take place. Matthew has worked at the National Botanic Gardens for 14 years and has many favourite plants in the collection each with a fascinating story, whether its about geology, history, biology, ethnology, conservation or evolution, each plant has a story to tell. www.botanicgardens.ie/news/events.htm

MOO! – WHELAN’S
Thurs 08 Dec: 20:00-22:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford St, Dublin 2
The Western, Rockabilly, Rock n’ Roll band “Moo!” will perform in Whelan’s and admission is free. www.mooband.com www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6440

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

THE PROBLEMATIC – HARD ROCK CAFÉ
Thurs 08 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 “The Problematic” will perform. Admission is free.
www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/events.aspx?LocationID=392&MIBenumID=3

BANDA BAQUE SOUL BAND – SIN E
Thurs 08 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————————

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

** 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. 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.
On Friday 09 Dec, Dún Laoghaire’s first continental-style Christmas Market opens along the newly refurbished Metals and Marine Road. The market will feature hand-crafted traditional gifts and decorations, as well as a wide-range of artisan treats to tempt foodies. A Winter Wonderland with vintage rides also opens on 09 Dec and will continue into the new year. A live crib outside St. Michael’s Church will be open from December 10th, and 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.
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! www.dlrevents.ie/christmas11.html

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

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

———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:

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

VELVET TONES – FARMLEIGH HOUSE
Tues 13 + Wed 14 Dec: 20:00 – Farmleigh House, Castleknock side of Phoenix Park, Dublin 15. Every now and then a free but ticketed event is taking place in Farmleigh House and whenever I can I tell you about these events as soon as possible so that you can request tickets. On 13+14 Dec, the Velvet Tones will perform. They are a Dublin based vocal group formed from a mutual love of old school late 1940s / early 1950s jazz vocal ensembles, in the tradition of The Andrews Sisters, The Mel tones, The Four Freshmen, etc. If you want to get tickets to this event, you have to send a mail to brian.dockery@opw.ie with the subject “The Velvet Tones – Tuesday December 13th” if you want tickets for Tuesday and with the subject “The Velvet Tones – Wednesday December 14th” if you want tickets for Wednesday. All details are here
www.farmleigh.ie/media/Crooners%20at%20Christmas%20Special.pdf

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.

______________________________
______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. ;-)

IRISH DEFINITION OF FAIRNESS?
What does “Fairness” mean to you? I searched for some definitions and found “free from bias or injustice”, “evenhandedness” and “unbounded nondeterminism” (in Computer Science). “Free from bias” to me means that I don’t care if you are big or small, short or tall, white or black, man or woman, rich or poor. Only if we ignore all specific and individual circumstances, we are free from bias. That’s my definition of fairness.
But when we hear about the upcoming cuts in child benefits and about university fees, suddenly a different definition is used. Many say child benefits should be means tested, or university fees should be higher for people with money than people without money. Is that fair? Anything that is means tested or related to your financial situation is definitely not free from bias anymore.
The opinion in Ireland seems to be somewhat confused when it comes to “Fairness”. We find articles like this www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfqlmhgbqlql/rss2/ or hear radio interviews like on Tuesday (29 Nov) when broadcaster George Hook on Newstalk attacked a student who protested against university fees by accusing the student of being unfair if he thought that people who can afford university fees should get free education. George Hook clearly doesn’t get the definition of “fairness” if he thinks only less affluent families should get free university education.
He and others can be against the 10 Euro child benefit cut and can be against free university education, but anything else than treating everyone in the same way would be totally unfair not the other way around.

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The next Dublin Event Guide will come with some additional challenges for me because I will be away that weekend, so if everything will work perfectly, you will get the e-zine a little earlier than in recent weeks, but I don’t know yet, how I will manage it. ;-) Keep your fingers crossed for me that all goes well next week! :-)

Take care,

–Joerg

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

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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”.
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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.
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