HAPPENINGS: A few things worth checking out around the city

Dublin Gallery Weekend

Following a phenomenally successful inaugural year, Dublin Gallery Weekend is set to return even bigger in 2016 with more galleries taking part. 

The visual arts festival will be taking place in Dublin from Friday, November 25 to Sunday 27. Over one weekend, 36 art galleries across the city will throw open their doors and invite visitors old and new to experience the fantastic art on offer in Dublin art galleries. A series of special events, including exhibition openings, artist and curator talks, walking tours, late openings and workshops will take place over the weekend, and almost everything will be free of charge. 

Drama in Kilbarrack 

If you like a bit of drama and comedy, why not pay a visit to Kilbarrack to see the first-hand the talents of a local group?

Riverside Drama Circle is presenting two comic plays – ‘White Lies’ and ‘The Actor’s Nightmare’ – at Naomh Barrog GAA Club, Kilbarrack on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 28, 29 and 30 at 8pm nightly.

Tickets cost €10 at the door or €8 for groups of 10 or more. Visit www.riversidedramacircle.ie for more information.   

Christmas Craft Fair

As the countdown to the festive season continues, Raheny GAA Club will host over 30 exhibitors for this year’s Christmas Craft Fair in aid of Pieta House and the club.

Local and handmade craft, Christmas gifts and cakes will all be on offer to help get your festive season underway and those stockings filled!

The fair will run from 11am until 5pm this Sunday, November 27. Drop in to the club and enjoy a festive browse amongst the stalls and get into the swing of Christmas. All are welcome and admission is free.

New exhibition opens

The Hennessy Portrait Prize, now in its third year, aims to encourage interest in contemporary portraiture and raise the profile of the National Portrait Collection. 

An exhibition of the shortlisted portraits will go on display at the National Gallery of Ireland from November 26 to March 26, 2017, accompanied by a catalogue of the shortlisted entries edited by Claire Crowley and Niamh MacNally.  

The winner of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016 will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Gallery on November 29. 

Admission is free. Entrance is via the Millennium Wing, Clare Street, Dublin 2. You can view the shortlisted entries at www.nationalgallery.ie

Dublin Zoo 

2016 has been a busy year at Dublin Zoo with the arrival of several new additions. To celebrate, the zoo is thanking its Facebook fans and Twitter followers for their continued support with a ‘kids go free’ offer, until Friday, November 25.

Find out how to avail of this offer by visiting Dublin Zoo’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DublinZoo.

The Beatle Monologues

This is a new show that’s taking place from November 24-26 at Briody’s on Marlborough Street.  

The show consists of four Beatle-related monologues, written and directed by Stephen Kennedy, and live Beatle music performed by Duncan Maitland (PictureHouse) and Jonny Ward (The Newspaper Taxi Men). There will be two shows per night at 6.30pm and 8.30pm and tickets cost €13.50 from Eventbrite.com.

Christmas on the Square

Step back in time to Georgian Dublin and enjoy a traditional Christmas atmosphere as Merrion Square throws open its gates and lights the sky bright with Christmas cheer at a series of seasonal events this November and December. 

Doors will be thrown open wide this Saturday, November 26, for Christmas on Merrion Square, an open day with events for all ages in the magnificent buildings around the Square. See www.merrionsquare.ie for full details.

Santa Experience at Croke Park

Santa’s band of elves have already moved into Croke Park in preparation for the Santa Experience, which begins this Saturday, November 26. Visitors can enjoy Santa’s Grotto, the Elves’ Living Quarters, the Toy Factory and the GAA Museum during their trip to the experience. 

The Santa Experience lasts around an hour and you are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes in 

advance of the tour time. Tickets cost €8 for adults and €14 for kids over 2 or €7 for toddlers. Babies under one go free. Tickets must be booked online at crokepark.ie/santa.