HAPPENINGS:

Chinese New Year 

A celebration of the Chinese New Year is taking place on Hill Street in the north inner city on Saturday, February 9 from 2pm to 7pm. 

This free family-friendly event will showcase live performances from local Chinese talent, as well as traditional interactive Chinese workshops.

Everyone is invited to share in the experience as Hill Street is transformed into a Chinese wonderland. 

For more information see www.facebook.com/

The Plot

The Plot by Paula Lonergan, takes place at The New Theatre, 43 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, from February 5-9 at 7.30pm (matinee at 2.30pm on February 9). Tickets: €17/€14 concession. 

It tells the story of the ghost of a 19th century suicided woman. Returning to demand her rights to a grave and a decent place to rest, she is interviewed by a council worker to determine if she is eligible for a plot.  

For more information, visit www.thenewtheatre.com

Road to Freedom: Dáil Éireann 1919

Marching on the Road to Freedom: Dáil Éireann 1919, a new exhibition commemorating the centenary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann on 21st January 1919, is now on display at the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History, in Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7. For more information, visit www.museum.ie

This is the Funeral of Your Life

After an original sell-out run at Project Arts Centre, inventive theatre-maker Louise White brings This is the Funeral of Your Life to Draíocht. It’s a poignant and heart-warming show about death and the challenges of living.

Watch your own funeral in real time in this quirky, funny live event featuring an actor, a dancer and a mezzo-soprano.

It’s happening on Friday, February 8 at 8.15pm in Draíocht Studio, Dublin 15. Tickets cost €18/€16.

Book talk

On Wednesday, February 6, author and historian Fergus Mulligan will be the guest presenter for the February meeting of the Rathmichael Historical Society, at 8pm in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill. Fergus will speak on ‘William Dargan – An Honourable Life’ based on his biography of Dargan, the first to be published about this famous Irish railway engineer, developer and entrepreneur, who was responsible for the construction of the former Harcourt Street, Dublin-Bray line which formerly passed through Shankill. All welcome to attend – admission €4. 

Table quiz

A charity fundraising table quiz event is taking place on Thursday, February 7 in the Graduate Bar & Restaurant, Rochestown Avenue, Killiney, Dún Laoghaire, starting at 7.30pm. The night includes a raffle. The purpose of this table quiz is to raise necessary funds for ONE (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann) – and The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel and IUSRU – The Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit. For further information, email [email protected]

Victorian Gardens

The Victorian period saw a series of significant developments in the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. During the years of the Great Famine, the initial phase of the iconic wrought iron Curvilinear Range of glasshouses was completed. At this time, Curator David Moore was examining the cause of the blight while also becoming the first to successfully grow orchids from seed to flowering stage. You can find out more on a guided tour on any Saturday during February. Tours start at 2.30pm and cost €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.

Dublin Alternative Cello Festival

Spike, Dublin’s alternative cello festival, will be back for its third installation from Friday 8 to Sunday, February 10 in venues across Dublin.

The 2019 programme will present unique events with some of the most talented and exciting cello artists and friends from home and abroad.

Among the highlights will be a series of evening performances taking place across the weekend at The Workman’s Club, with Ernst Reijseger, Claire Fitch, Cello Ireland, The Devil’s Violin, Semay Wu and an open mic session, along with specially commissioned activities for younger people presented by The Ark, including the interactive Curious Cello created by composer Jonathan Nangle.

Andy Warhol: Made in China

There’s a rare opportunity to see this fascinating 1989 documentary at the National Gallery of Ireland on Sunday, February 10.

The movie features filmmaker Lee Caplin trailing Warhol during his travels through China in 1982, from Hong Kong’s glitter to the mystique of Peking’s Forbidden City. The visit is orchestrated as a cultural experiment by young Chinese millionaire Alfred Siu to see if Warhol’s cult of celebrity will extend beyond Western society. Will China afford him 15 minutes of fame? There are screenings at 12.30pm and 13.15pm.