Art Ireland Exhibition 2000Another stab at that elusive beast, the contemporary Irish art fair, featuring over 100 Irish and international artists. RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, December 8th to Saturday December 9th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, December 10th
Solomon Gallery, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, DublinThe Solomon is traditionally the star of the Christmas show scene, featuring a huge range of paintings, sculpture and glass by gallery and invited artists, plus, of course, a second, self-contained exhibition of small, usually affordable works in the back room. Basil Blackshaw, Elizabeth Cope, Guggi, Hector McDonnell, John Bellany, June Redfern, Martin Mooney, Melita Denaro and many more. Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. until December 23rd (01-6794237)
IconsThe architect Fearghal O'Farrell began painting icons 10 years ago and has studied under several masters of the art. His Byzantine-inspired iconsare made using traditional methods, gold leaf and egg tempera on gesso on cloth on board. St Peter's Church, Phibsboro, Dublin 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. December 8th to 17th (018389708)
The RHA Christmas ExhibitionThe place to go if you want to find work by academicians, and if you do you'll know what to expect. But other, invited artists are also featured and styles range from traditional figuration to abstraction. There are prints from as little as £150. Ashford Gallery at the Royal Hibernian Academy Gallagher Gallery, Dublin Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until December 21st. (01-6617286)
The Irish Contemporary Art Gallery Association Comprises a substantial group of Dublin galleries incorporating the Green on Red, Hallward, Kerlin, Kevin Kavanagh, Rubicon, Solomon and Taylor Galleries, and Saturday December 9th sees their fifth annual Open Day when anyone is free to drop in to see what they have on offer for Christmas and partake of a little seasonal refreshment between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visit any gallery and you'll find a map and guide to all the others.
These listings were compiled by Sylvia Thompson, with cinema listings by Michael Dwyer, rock, pop, trad and roots by Tony Clayton-Lea, choral and Messiahs by Michael Dervan and visual art by Aidan Dunne
