HAPPENINGS:

Dublin Christmas Flea Market

Last year’s Christmas Flea Market at Point Square, East Wall Road, was a huge success and this year it’s happening over two long weekends, the second from December 13-16.

Running from Thursday to Sunday and hosting 140 different stalls each weekend, the craftworkers showcasing their products have been curated from over 500 applications, so no two stalls are alike and the quality is second to none. 

The market hosts 100 percent creative Irish start-up and small business enterprises selling an incredible selection of art, contemporary design, hand-made craft, retro, vintage and antique collectibles and delicious and healthy artisan food products.

Malahide Christmas concert

Fingal Academy of Music is holding Christmas concerts on December 15 at Malahide Castle and Gardens at 5pm, a joint recital between teachers and students; and on December 18 in the Seapark Carmelite Convent, Malahide at 8pm, featuring the award-winning choir Cór Fingal.

Tickets for all of the concerts can be purchased at the door or online through the academy’s website.

For more, visit www.fingalacademyofmusic.com

Christmas concert

Five Lamps Arts Festival & North East Inner City are presenting an evening of Christmas music and song on Tuesday, December 11 at 7pm at Liberty Hall Theatre. Guests include the Artane Senior Band as well as local performers. Tickets costing €3 are available from Lourdes Day Care Centre, St Agatha’s Parish office or by calling 01-2223893 or 01-2226604.

The Signalman 

The Signalman, by Charles Dickens and adapted by Jane McCarthy, is presented by The New Theatre & WitchWork Theatre Company.

It runs at The New Theatre, 43 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, until December 15 at 7.30pm with a matinee added on that date at 1pm. Duration 60 minutes. Tickets: €17 (€14 concession).

Written by Charles Dickens in 1866, this classic ghost story tells of a lone signalman haunted by visions of a terrifying spectre.

For more information visit www.thenewtheatre.com

Moving Crib

The Moving Crib at 42 Parnell Square West, is back for its 62nd year captivating generations of families. children and adults alike and best of all it’s free! 

Its history and old world charm is unchanged and has led to many describing it as a wonderful hidden gem in Dublin City and a real Dublin institution.

The exhibition includes historical and fun stories, Christmas scenes, competitions and an illusion wall.

Children are encouraged to draw and colour a Leaf, cut out the shape and bring it with them so that they can be placed in the Garden of Eden forever. The crib is open daily from 11am-6pm until January 6 (closed December 25/26 and January 1).

Epiphany

A young Irish migrant stumbles upon James Joyce’s ‘The Dead’ in a German library and borrows a copy to read over his first Christmas away from home.

Declan Gorman’s new solo show combines autobiography with a magical telling of Joyce’s great story evoking a snow-coated festive evening in Edwardian Dublin.

Reading ‘The Dead’ awakens unexpected emotions and literary longings in the mind of the would-be writer. It’s being performed at Draíocht in Dublin 15 on Saturday, December 15 at 8.15pm. Tickets costing €16 from www.draiocht.ie.

A night at the opera

Corsican maestro Jean-Christoph Spinosi conducts the Irish Chamber Orchestra with Mezzo Soprano Sharon Carty in a baroque feast in Monkstown Parish Church on Friday, December 14. The charismatic Spinosi has been conducting illustrious seasonal opera productions with the Ensemble Matheus at the Théâtre du Châtelet and beyond for more than a decade.

The Gaiety Panto 

Due to phenomenal demand, the Gaiety Panto has announced extra performances of The Snow Queen as tickets have been snapped up. The Snow Queen is now running until January 6. Get ready to have a brrrrrr…iliant time as you shiver and shake with laughter as we follow the icy encounters of ‘The Snow Queen’ as she tries to freeze the fun out of Christmas!

For tickets call 24-hour booking on 0818719388.

Pop-up art at the Green

Alone’s new pop-up art store in Stephen’s Green Shopping is selling a selection of paintings by Dublin artist Tony Gunning this Christmas season to raise vital funds for its work supporting older people. Located on the top floor of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, the store is run by volunteers from 12-4pm, Monday to Friday, and 12-6pm on Saturdays.