CO WICKLOW CHRISTMAS WHAT’S ON
transition year musical to the stage in the Mermaid Arts Centre at 8 p.m. The students will continue to build on the school’s longstanding culture of bringing excellent drama to the stage. Tickets cost €15/€10 and are available from the Mermaid.
HISTORY TALK
The guest speaker for the Enniskerry History Society talk at 8.30 p.m. in the Powerscourt Arms Hotel will be author and journalist Ken Finlay, who will recall ‘366 Days of Dublin’. All are welcome to come along. Admission is €5.
Places must be booked in advance by contacting the library on 01 2873548 or greylib@wicklowcoco.ie
SHIMMY DOWN THE CHIMNEY
Studio 55 Dance Academy will host the first of two productions of its Christmas show ‘Shimmy Down the Chimney’ in St Mary’s Concert Hall at 6.30 p.m. Tickets cost €8 for adults, €5 for children or €25 for a family (two adults and two children). Text 083 8282833 to book tickets.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
MYTh Academy presents ‘A Christmas Carol’, a magical evening of festive carols, in the chapel at the Dominican College from 7.30 p.m. Tickets cost €10 and are available from Earls Newsagents.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Coláiste Bhríde Carnew presents Beauty and the Beast at St Brigid’s Hall, Carnew, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. and tickets cost €12.
TALKING HEADS’ STOP MAKING SENSE
Playback brings a live re-enactment of Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense to the Whale Theatre at 8 p.m. Playback is an album tribute band made up of some of Dublin’s finest singers and musicians. They have expanded to an eight-piece for this show in order to do justice to the movie’s backing vocals, synth solos and conga workouts. Tickets cost €25 and are available from the Whale.
AMAZING GRACE
’Amazing Grace’, a concert film that captures Aretha Franklin at her best, will be screened in the Mermaid Arts Centre at 8 p.m. At the height of her fame in the early 1970s, Aretha
Franklin returned to her roots and recorded Amazing Grace, a live album that would go on to become the most successful gospel record of all time. The film is a celebration of human dignity and a longing for freedom and justice. Tickets cost €8/€6.50 and are available from the Mermaid.
KARAOKE NIGHT
Arklow Rugby Club are calling on karaoke lovers to head to Christy’s from 10 p.m. for a night of musical mayhem. There will be a prize of 150 for the best singer and €100 for the best entertainer. Anyone who would like to enter, should call 087 7402271.
CHRISTMAS STABLES
Children will love the chance to meet some of Santa’s animals, including Santa’s deer, pygmy goats, minature donkeys, rabbits and guinea pigs, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion. A visit to the stables is free of charge.
TURKEY RUN
Irish Trail Races presents the second Turkey Run at the Devil’s Glen, Ashford. This cracker of an 8km race, will have prizes for the best dressed and most original ‘turkey’ and there will be mulled wine and mince pies served up afterwards. Trail shoes and rain jackets are recommended. Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 10.45 a.m., with the race starting at 11 a.m. It costs €25 to take part and registration is open now on register.primoevents.com
CHRISTMAS WREATH-MAKING
Join Sally Horn at 11 a.m. to create a traditional Christmas decoration at Killruddery House. Tickets cost €100 or €90 for Killruddery members, and are available from Killruddery.
THE GRINCH
Get in the Christmas mood with the screening of the festive classic ‘The Grinch’ at 11 a.m. in the Courthouse Arts Centre. The movie tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Tickets cost €5 and are available from the Courthouse.
SANTA PAWS
Wicklow SPCA is inviting dog-owners to bring their beloved pet along to its Sharpeshill Animal Sanctuary near Rathdrum to meet Santa and have a professional photo taken with him between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each doggie will receive a present from Santa while the humans will be treated to mince pice and hot cocoa. The cost is €20 (at the door), but those hoping to attend are advised to book in advance. All proceeds will go towards Wicklow SPCA.
BOATYARD CHRISTMAS MARKET
Head on down to the Boatyard Market in Greystones for some festive gift inspiration from noon to 5 p.m. This year’s market will be in support of Greystones Tidy Towns’ new sensory garden.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Wicklow Miners CCE will host a lively Christmas concert from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Avoca Community Hall.
COMMUNITY LANTERN WALK
Crinken Community Lantern Walk takes place at 5 p.m., starting at
Crinken Church, beside Shanganagh Cemetery. People are asked to bring their lanterns as young and old walk around Shanganagh Park and then go back to the church for hot chocolate and snacks. Children must be accompanied by an adult. A children’s lantern making workshop will take place at 4.30 p.m.
SHIMMY DOWN THE CHIMNEY
Studio 55 Dance Academy will host the second of two productions of its Christmas show ‘Shimmy Down the Chimney’ in St Mary’s Concert Hall at 5.30 p.m. Tickets cost €8 for adults, €5 for children or €25 for a family (two adults and two children). Text 083 8282833 to book tickets.
CONCERT SHOWCASE
An evening of music will kick off at 6.30 p.m. in Manor Kilbride Community Hall featuring an abundance of local young talent. Kilbride and Lakeside Youth Music will be joined by guest artist Donal Lunny along with Siobhán Harte and Kelan Walsh. Admission is€10.
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS
Performers Theatre School returns to the Mermaid Arts Centre with a classic Snow White tale with a Christmas twist. The show starts at 7 p.m. and features performers aged three years and over, who will bring the audience on a wonderful journey with more than one Snow White. Tickets cost €15/€12 and are available from the Mermaid.
A CHORAL CHRISTMAS FEAST
Soprano Niamh Murray and the Enniskerry Concert Choir present ‘A Choral Christmas Feast’ at 7 p.m. in St Mary’s Church, Enniskerry. Proceeds are in aid of St Agnes Centre for Music and the Arts and Enniskerry Parish funds. Tickets cost €20 and are available from choir members, the parish offices or in The Village Store and The Parting Glass.
A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
There will be an evening of music and song at 7.30 p.m. in St Mary’s and St Patrick’s Church, Avoca. There will be solos, duets and ensembles, including festive and seasonal favourites, featuring Kathryn Smith (soprano), Antoinette Heery (mezzo soprano), Damien Morrissey (clarinet) and pianists Barbara Dunne and Andrian Scahill. Tickets cost €20 and are available from the parish office and after all Masses.
AN EVENING OF CHRISTMAS CHEER
Wicklow and District Lions Club presents An Evening of Christmas Cheer at 8 p.m. in Tinakilly House, Rathnew. The concert will feature the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society, MYTh Academy and special guests. Tickets cost €15 and are available from Track One in Wicklow town or online at gr8events.ie
CHARITY GIG
Pádraig Cahill and Déjá Vu have teamed up for a special charity fundraiser at 7.30 p.m. in St Patrick’s GAA Club, Wicklow town. The event will raise funds for the Kisiizi Project in Uganda and tickets, costing €10 for adults or €5 for under-16s, are available from Earls Newsagents in Wicklow town.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Coláiste Bhríde Carnew presents Beauty and the Beast at St Brigid’s Hall, Carnew, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. and tickets cost €12.
Bray Choral Society presents a candlelight Christmas concert in aid of WH Five Loaves at 8 p.m. in Christ Church, Bray. There will be classic songs by GF Handel, Dan Forrest, A Corelli and H Berlioz as well as popular carols. Tickets cost €15 and are available from choir members or on the door.
A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Aoife O’Connell and Ross Scanlon return to the Whale Theatre at
8 p.m. for this special Christmas concert. Wicklow’s finest singers will celebrate Christmas at home with favourites such as O Holy Night and When a Child is Born. Tickets cost €22/€20 and are available from the Whale.
NIAMH KAVANAGH
’Date Night – Niamh Kavanagh, featuring Paul Megahy’ comes to the stage at the Courthouse Arts Centre at 8.30 p.m. The audience can expect familiar favourites interpreted in Niamh’s inimitable fashion accompanied by guitarist Paul Megahy. Tickets cost €20/€18 and are available from the Courthouse.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
A Christmas market will take place at the Brockagh Resource Centre in Laragh from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring unusual gifts, home baking, wreaths, jewellery, food, candles and more.
CHRISTMAS STABLES
Children will love the chance to meet some of Santa’s animals, including Santa’s deer, pygmy goats, minature donkeys, rabbits and guinea pigs, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion. A visit to the stables is free of charge.
SANTA DASH
The Wicklow Santa Dash 5k/10k run/walk leaves from St Mary’s NS, Barndarrig at 10 a.m. The charity partner is Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. There will also be facepainting, music, kids dash and refreshments on the day so get the family together and head for the garden county. On the day registra