Hi all!

Another busy week is coming to an end – pity, it was good one. :-) The Denny Big Day Out on Sunday around Merrion Square was great fun for kids and adults and the Ceili Mor on Monday was a great success. I “lost” some people that we met up with at St. Stephen’s Green (Apologies to you!!) but the Ceili was brilliant. Brian Lenehan (our senior “dance instructor”) got loads of people dancing and together with Declan Tarpey’s additional help, we had at some stage more than 80 people doing a Ceili from one side of the street to the other. Brilliant fun! If you didn’t make it this year, make sure you will come next year, we are already planning a “bigger and better” for 2009.

As well on Monday this Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) was mentioned in the Irish Times! Conor Pope wrote in a very good article about how to save money. Titled “Have you money to burn?” Conor suggested “10 small steps which should leave more money in your pocket”. Among buying cheaper medicines, using free software, using libraries for getting books and Internet access, controlling phone cost, comparing prices and timing your holidays right, he wrote as his step 7:
“Free at last
Find more free stuff to do. There are hundreds of events happening around the country every week that won’t cost you a penny. Listings magazines are the traditional source of information about such things, but there’s also the Facebook Free Dublin guide. Run by Joerg Steegmueller, the e-mail digest of what’s on in Dublin contains a head-spinning amount of free stuff from writing workshops for foreigners and feminist walking tours to classical concerts in the Hugh Lane Gallery and astronomy lectures in Dunsink Observatory. It now has close to 1,000 members and at the time of writing was looking for a new name.”
Great article and thanks for mentioning the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events). Pity that we didn’t have the re-branding completed so that people would find the Event Guide easier, but maybe Conor will be able to mention us again in some future article.

The Easter weekend is traditionally a quieter weekend since many have left Dublin for their home towns outside the capital and due to the oddness of Good Friday as far as events are concerned. But I found a surprising number of events again and I hope you will enjoy them!

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____Competition____________

If you are receiving this Event Guide for a while already you know this, but if you are a new subscriber (more join us literally EVERY day!) you should know that normally all events in this Guide are free. However events where the organiser makes a few tickets available for you to win, I am happy to mention as well and events that I am involved with do for admittedly rather selfish reasons slip through the “Free” rule as well. This week we have both!

RUSH HOUR RECITAL – CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Students’ Union of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) are regularly organising a Rush Hour Recital. When it is in the RIAM in Westland Row it is free, but this time they have chosen a bigger and more prestigious venue, have some guest performers AND organise the event for the benefit of the “Impact Romania” charity. Consequently the concert is not free. However, because they have made a pair of tickets available for you to win AND since the Rush Hour Recitals are usually free, I am more than happy to include their event here.
This RIAM Student Union “Rush Hour Recital” will take place on Thur 27 March from 18:00-20:00 in the National Gallery in Nassau Street. The evening will be presented by Lyric FM’s, Liz Nolan and guest performers include the Irish musicians Finghin Collins (Piano) and Michael d’Arcy (Violin). Chris Rooney (RIAM SU Events Officer) will explain a bit about the charity on the evening of the event. Tickets are EUR 15 / EUR 10 and will be available at the door. If you want to win the pair of tickets, please send a mail with the subject “RIAM” and your mobile phone number in the body to dublineventguide@gmail.com. The mail has to be with me on 24 Mar (Easter Monday) at 13:00.
For more information check out www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12196767535 or send a mail with your questions to RIAMSU@gmail.com. Going by a recent Rush Hour Recital that I visited, I can whole heartedly recommend the event!

FLAMENCO – WORKSHOP
The talented and extremely active Sólo Flamenco group is back from a 10 day Flamenco workshop in the South of Spain (Jerez de la Frontera) and is planning their new training term and a workshop in Dublin. For their next workshop in the DanceHouse in Foley Street (Dublin 1), Sólo Flamenco is making a pair of tickets available for you to take part in the Taster Class.
Sólo Flamenco are proud to present a series of workshops with acclaimed Spanish flamenco dancer, choreographer and teacher Felipe de Algeciras. The next workshop takes place on Sun, 30 March between 12:00 and 17:00 in Studio 2 in DanceHouse.
The schedule for the day is
12:00-13:00 Taster
Open to students with no experience who want to learn about flamenco. Cost: EUR15
13:00-14:00 Beginners
Open to dancers with 6 to 18 months experience. Cost: EUR15
14:00-15:00 Technique
Open to all levels. Cost: EUR 15
15:00-17:00 Intermediate
Open to dancers with 18 months experience or more. Cost: EUR30
As a special offer a discounted price of EUR 50 is for students who are attending all three Beginners, Technique and Intermediate classes.
Each class is limited to 30 students, so advance booking is essential to secure a place.
For information and bookings e-mail info@flamencoyalegria.net or call Damian at 086 81 46 496. www.flamencoyalegria.net/?page_id=66
The pair of tickets that you can win is for the Taster class from 12:00-13:00 and you don’t have to know ANYTHING about Flamenco to go to this workshop. To be in with a chance to win, you have to send an e-mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the subject “Flamenco” and your mobile phone number in the body of the mail. Your e-mail has to be with me before 16:00 on Fri 28 March.
If you already have learned some Flamenco before make sure that you check out the new courses that Sólo Flamenco is offering.
“Term 2: An introduction to Flamenco – Technique” is a 12 week course and starts on 31 March (Mondays 20:30-21:30) in Studio 3. Cost: EUR 10 per class EUR 110 per term (12 weeks)
The course “Flamenco – Choreography” starts on 03 April (Thursdays 20:30-21:30) in Studio 3. Cost: EUR 10 per class – EUR 110 per term (12 weeks)
Classes are aimed at beginners. Studio 3 is limited to 12 places so be sure to reserve your place. www.flamencoyalegria.net/?page_id=57

ELVIS PRESLEY STORY – CONCERT
It is not a competition and not a free event, but this next event is one I am involved with and it will be great! :-) Some of you might know that I sing in the backing choir of the Elvis Tribute Band “Elvis The Way It Was”. And after showing our “Elvis Presley Story” last year to more than 5000 people in a two week run in the Tivoli Theatre, we are coming back with a one-night only event in the National Concert Hall in Earlsfort Terrace. On 03 April from 20:00, Kevin Doyle, The Way It Was Orchestra and the Graceland Gospel Singers will commemorate the life and music of Elvis Presley. The event is a concert that provides additional information with the help of pictures, video clips and voiceovers, it is not a musical. The show is in aid of St. Michael’s House, a charity providing facilities and services to over 1500 people with learning disabilities in Dublin City and County. And if you like Elvis’ music OR want to find out a bit more about this impressive performer, who had such a massive impact on the music industry and even on society, you should definitely come to the event. Price for the tickets is EUR 25 or EUR 15 and it can be booked via
www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/The-Elvis-Presley-Story.aspx?date=03/04/2008&time=2000

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______Friday___________________

GLASNEVIN CEMETERY – WALK
On Good Friday, the Glasnevin Cemetery Walking Tour will be back by popular demand. The interesting walking tour will take place on 21 March at 11:30 and at 14:30 (Duration  50 min) to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. The tour will be presented by Shane MacTomais, the Cemetery’s official guide.  This Good Friday take a step back in time and remember the Easter Rising with Glasnevin Cemetery’s Walking Tours – back by popular demand! The tour will take in the graves of some of Ireland’s most influential historical figures, including Charles Stewart Parnell, Maude Gonne, Daniel O’Connell, Eamonn DeValera, Michael Collins, as well as the thousands of ordinary men and women who have found their final resting place at Glasnevin Cemetery. The tours leave from the main entrance and will offer an insight into the history Ireland’s largest cemetery.
Glasnevin Cemetery in Finglas Road, Dublin 11, Phone 01-8301133

URBAN OUTFITTERS – GOOD FRIDAY PARTY
The non-sensical Good Friday Pub Closure can be easily circumvented by a private party and Urban Outfitters in Temple Bar are making use of the free evening that most people have on Good Friday. Their “Power to the People” party is a “gig and exhibition of revolutionary makers, viewers and thinkers”. Admission to the party is free and the Coors Light that will be available at the party is complimentary (After all you are not allowed to sell any alcohol on that day!). BUT you have to request admission by e-mail to mail@anewspace.info if you would like to attend or by dropping in to the shop during the day. The party takes place on Fri 21 March from 18:00-21:00 in Urban Outfitters in Temple Bar.
Special guest band is “The Dirty Epics” and the DJ is “Goldy (Ufeari)”. The exhibition will show works by Warhol, Banksy, Jim Fitzpatrick, D’Face, Dolk, Will St Leger, Canvas, Derek Hess, Static, Aparadus, Print Mafia, Blek Le Rat
And many more
You will be looking at wonderful portraits of John Lennon (Warhol), Malcom X (Obey) and Che (Jim Fitzpatrick) and sitting on the others side of the table expected to see George Bush (An?) and Bertie Ahern (Will St Leger). The audience at this summit of minds will be made up of some of our heroes Johnny Cash (Streeter), Sid Vicious (Apparados) as well as mysterious powers such as Queen Elizabeth (D”Face), Churchhill (Banksy) and Oppenheimer (Apparados).
It seems that there will be a 20% discount on all Urban Outfitters products as well. So, if you have no other plans for tonight, go to the Urban Outfitters party!

WAY OF THE CROSS
The Communion and Liberation group “CL Ireland” (www.clireland.com) is inviting to the Way of the Cross in Phoenix Park from the Wellington Monument to the Papal Cross. The walk starts on 21 March at 12:30 and is lead by the Diarmuid Martin (Archbishop of Dublin).

THISISNOTASHOP – EXHIBITION
“5 O n A D a y O u t… and other stories” is the title of an exhibition in Thisisnotashop in 26 Benburb Street, Dublin 7. The exhibition runs from 19-23 March only and is open from 12:00-19:00 daily.
The organiser describes “5OADO is the group name of a talented mix of emerging, Dublin-based artists, currently in their 3rd year at the National College of Art and Design. Working across a variety of media and from disparate perspectives, the 5OADO cooperative’s diverse aesthetic groundings resonate a singular energy.”
thisisnotashop.wordpress.com/
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______Saturday_________________

DUNDRUM FREEZE – DUBLIN IMPROV
Dublin Improv, the Dublin “branch” of the international Improv movement that carries out pre-planned “missions” which usually involve socially awkward or unusual situations, has recently done the Grafton Street Freeze and a more low key Birthday party event on Thursday morning on the DART. Both events went very well. I took part in the Grafton Street Freeze where approx. 150 people froze for 5 minutes in whatever position they were in. YouTube and the Dublin Improv facebook group have loads of movies and pictures about this event and I have to say, that it was great fun to be part of such a ad-hoc art installation. A big freeze is very easy to organise and is very very effective and consequently a few more “freeze events” will be carried out. One of them is taking place on Sat in the new shopping centre in Dundrum “Dundrum Town Centre”. Everybody is invited to take part and it would be great to get loads of people involved.
The meeting for the event is on Sat 22 March at 14:00 at the Balally LUAS stop. After a short briefing and synchronisation everybody will make his/her way to the shopping centre to be in place for the appointed time.
The organisers describe “This mission has been inspired by www.improveverywhere.com, a group that successfully froze Grand Central Station for five minutes. The effect of 200 people caught still, like a snap-shot, confuses and surprises the general public. Once the five minutes have passed the members continue on with their actions as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It is planned that the scene will be filmed by a number of people
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25475730832&ref=nf (You need to be a facebook member.)

WORLD PILLOW FIGHT
Unfortunately at the same time as the Dundrum Freeze, another event will take place in Dublin. Saturday is the International Pillow Fight Day ;-) (www.pillowfightday.com) and in more than 26 cities around the world a pillow fight will take place on that day. In Dublin, the Dublin Couchsurfers invite to a pillow fight at 14:00 next to “the best pair of pillows in Ireland” i.e. Molly Malone’s busty statue. The fight will go on for only 15 minutes and the rules are described here
www.couchsurfing.com/meetings.html?mid=9042. I have to admit that I am torn between the two events, but will probably go to Dundrum. Had the organisers known about each others event, I assume they would have coordinated the times somehow, but because they coincide you will have to choose.

PUPPET SHOW+EASTER EGGS in STEPHEN’S GREEN SHOPPING CENTRE
If you are looking for some Easter Entertainment for your children, go to the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Since Tues 18 Mar and until Sat 22, the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre are proud to present FREE Shows featuring the magic puppetry of Conor Lambert. The shows are on Fri + Sat at 12:00-12:30 & 13:00-13:30. On Sat 22 Mar after the first show join your kids can join the Stephen’s Green Easter egg trail with Thornton’s Chocolatiers at 12:30. “Stephen’s Green invites all the little bunnies out there to Hop Hop Hop there away around the Centre & visit as many stores as they can. Inside each store that is participating they will receive a treat along with a chance to win a Fabulous Special Easter Basket from Thornton Chocolatiers. Many stores will offer an entry form. Simply complete the entry form & pop it in the Draw box located inside of Thorntons store on the Ground Floor. The winning entrant will win a fabulous Prize for themselves along with a Super Sized Hamper & Easter egg for Charity.

TEMPLE BAR DESIGNER MART
The Temple Bar Designer Mart at Cow’s Lane will be launched on the 22 March. This all new outdoor market located in the Old City area of Temple Bar showcases artwork and designer creations by Irish and Ireland-based designers. The variety of quality products at this outdoor market are endless including handcrafted hats , metal sculpture,  photography, paintings, ceramics, furniture, jewellery, hand-bags, children’s clothing, textile toys and glass sculpture.
The Old City area of Temple Bar located 5 minutes from the centre of Temple Bar, between Parliament and Fishamble Street in the west end of Dublin’s Cultural Quarter (Close to Christ Church Cathedral).

PILLS – SCIENCE GALLERY
A new exhibition at the Science Gallery opens on Saturday 15 March and runs until 12 April. The work of Pharmacopoeia probes our relationship with commonly prescribed drugs, revealing how dependent our society is on Pharmaceuticals, how ambivalent we feel about them and yet how casually we use them. Visit the Science Gallery and see pills in a way you’ve never seen them before. Exhibition admission is free and opening hours are 12:00-20:00 Tues-Fri and 12:00-18:00 Sat & Sun. The Science Gallery is closed on Mondays (including St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Monday) and it will be closed for Easter Sunday.

PROTEST
The National Animal Rights Association is protesting against animal circuses in Booterstown on the Rock Road at the two Duffy Circus Shows at 13:00 and at 16:00.

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______Sunday __________________

EASTER SUNDAY PARADE
If you are in the city centre on Easter Sunday and suddenly stumble across a military parade that would be more fitting for cold war Moscow or East Berlin, be shocked, but don’t be worried! It is just the totally inappropriate (in my opinion) way the Irish Government thinks the Easter Rising from 1916 should be celebrated. I agree with the fact that celebration should take place, but a military parade with tanks, weapons and fly-overs is really not appropriate anymore in this day and age.
The parade, which includes Army, Navy, Aer Corps, UN Veterans, Gardai and an Aer Corps fly past begins at 11:45 at Dublin Castle. It will follow Dame Street to Westmoreland Street and will stop there for a while (!!!). Once the president (Mary McAleese) has arrived at the General Post Office (GPO) in O’Connell Street, the main ceremony will begin in front of the GPO at 12:00. The national flag will be lowered on the roof of the GPO, an army officer will read the 1916 proclamation, then the Taoiseach invites President to lay a wreath, the President lays a wreath, a minute’s silence is observed in memory of all those who died, the national flag is raised to full mast and the national anthem is sung. After this, the parade continues through O’Connell Street on to Parnell Square.
The Parade can be viewed as it passes through Dame Street, Westmoreland Street and O’Connell Street and large screens will be placed at strategic locations along the route so that all aspects of the GPO Ceremony and Parade will be visible from individual locations. www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2515
If you are not sure what the Easter Rising from 1916 was, have a look here (www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?locID=468&docID=2520)
it describes the circumstances well and tells you why it has such a relevance in Irish history. What it does not describe is why a military parade is the appropriate way to celebrate the fight for freedom by insurgents and civilians against a military force. Odd!
For even more information about the Easter Rising, you should go to the National Museum in Collins Barracks. A special Easter Rising Commemorative Exhibition will provide all details and background. The Museum is open on Sat 10:00-17:00 and on Sun 14:00-17:00, but will be closed on Good Friday and on Easter Monday. www.museum.ie

EASTER AT FARMLEIGH
Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park has put together an Easter programme that provides something for adults and children alike:
Sun 23 Mar
10:00 Farmleigh Food Markets
10:00 Farmleigh Animal Nursery
10:00 Childrens Easter Novelty Room
10:30 Easter Animal Magic (Birds of prey and much more)
12:00 Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Tall Tales & Musical Stories)
13:00 Punch & Judy Puppet Show with Conor Lambert
14:00 Music in the Bandstand with the Blanchardstown Brass Band and guests from Wales
14:00 Punch & Judy Puppet Show with Conor Lambert
14:30 Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Tall Tales & Musical Stories)
15:00 Punch & Judy Puppet Show with Conor Lambert
16:00 Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Tall Tales & Musical Stories)
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Mon 24 Mar
10:30 Easter Animal Magic (Birds of prey and much more)
10:00 Farmleigh Food Markets
10:00 Farmleigh Animal Nursery
10:00 Childrens Easter Novelty Room
12:00 Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Fantastic Tales & Songs Galore)
13:00 Ding & Dong & the Easter Bunny with Conor Lambert
14:00 Ding & Dong & the Easter Bunny with Conor Lambert
14:00 Music in the Bandstand with the Stedfast Brass Band
15:00 Ding & Dong & the Easter Bunny with Conor Lambert
14:30pm Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Fantastic Tales & Songs Galore)
16:00 Storytelling for Children with Len Graham & Jack Lynch (Fantastic Tales & Songs Galore)
www.farmleigh.ie/easter08.htm
To get there, check out www.farmleigh.ie/getting.htm

ZULU @ MONSTER TRUCK GALLERY
The Monster Truck Gallery in 73 Francis Street, Dublin 7 is showing “Zulu” by Seanan Oliver Manfred Kerr form Sat 22 Mach to 25 March.
The first solo exhibition in Ireland by Seanán Oliver Manfred Kerr
entitled “Zulu” opens to the public on Easter Sunday (March 23rd) and runs until Tuesday March the 25th in Monster Truck Gallery Dublin. The exhibition is a documentation of the lives and state of mind of a group of young non-urban males through the medium of installation, photography, and car journey. The work is concerned with examining how cultures are presented to each other through the medium of the exhibition, and explores the differences between subjective and objective representation from the perspective of both viewer and subject.
The exhibition is open on Sunday 13:00-16:00 and on Monday/Tuesday 12:00-19:00.
www.monstertruck.ie

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______Monday_________________

I searched for a while, but couldn’t find anything interesting for Monday! So, use the day to relax and enjoy the second Monday off this month. I could get used to that!!

GARDINER STREET GOSPEL CHOIR on RADIO1
You might remember that I was at a concert of the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir last week. This concert has been recorded by RTE Radio 1 for their Monday evening “In Concert” series and will be transmitted on Easter Monday from 21:00-22:00. The live concert was brilliant and while the radio programme will be somewhat different because wit will be edited, it still promises to be great. The concert was a spiritual look at Easter whereby reflections and stories were interspersed with songs.

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______Next Week_______________

SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL
From the 19 March-30 March the Spanish Film Festival takes place in the IFI. Unfortunately there are no free events for me to list, so for further information have a look here www.spanishfilmfestival.ie.

PARENTING WORKSHOPS @ DUNDRUM TOWN CENTRE
The Dundrum Town Centre is offering a free parenting talk and seminar on Baby Massage on the 27 March. The workshop takes place on Thursday from 11:00-12:00, in Frangos World Cuisine, located on Level 3.
The event is sponsored by Yasmina and is free of charge and available on a first come-first served basis.

WELFARE – TCD SEMINAR
The Policy Institute of the TCD, in association with the Combat Poverty Agency, are hosting a seminar on: “Asset-based Welfare in Ireland? Lessons from the UK Child Trust Fund” on Fri 28 March at 13:00-16:30 in the IIIS Seminar Room, 6th Floor Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin. Confirmed speakers include: Dr Stuart White, University of Oxford; Dr Carey Oppenheim, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR); Mr Jim Walsh, Combat Poverty Agency. For further information contact Jurgen De Wispelaere, email: jurgen.dewispelaere@tcd.ie. It is not completely clear if that seminar is free, so check beforehand.

You need to request tickets for this event on the 3rd of April:

BRIGHT NEW SOUNDS
Vodafone is sponsoring a new band competition called “Bright New Sounds”. 400 bands and singers have applied and 20 got selected by the judges. These 20 can be downloaded from Vodafone for free and the 5 bands/singers with the most downloads will perform live on the 3rd of April in the Tripod in Harcourt Street. Tickets for this event in Tripod are free, but have to be requested here: www.brightnewsounds.ie/tickets.php. More information about the live event can be found here www.brightnewsounds.ie/live.php and on the Bright Sound Website you can see as well the current ranking of the bands. Among the Top 20 are 79Cortinaz, Superfreakz, Star Turtle, The Minutes, Christine Deady, Tidal District, Chaplin, Superjimenez, Robotnik and Tiny Hynes & The Husbands, to mention just the highest ranked 10. Get your tickets soon, the event will probably be booked out soon!
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At the beginning of the week, I was wondering if I would deliver my first really slim Event Guide this week, due to the Easter Week, but I managed to find some events for you and while there are no real high-profile events this week, I am sure you won’t be bored. ;-) As you might have seen, this is Issue 40 of the Event Guide and my goal is still to reach 1600 people with this e-mail once we have arrived at Issue 68. So keep spreading the word! :-)

Enjoy the weekend!

–Joerg

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Disclaimer: 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 ticketed events have a better chance to pay for advertisement. The Guide is a _guide_ and not just a listing and is sent to friends, colleagues and whoever else is interested.
If you have feedback – good or bad – PLEASE tell me. 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. If you don’t want to receive this mail anymore, send a mail to the same address, telling me to remove you from the distribution list.
BTW: I am not paid or otherwise rewarded for compiling and distributing this Event Guide it is purely a hobby. – Donations are much appreciated. ;-)
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