Seven things to do this week
TODAY: Crash courses in Irish traditional song, music and dance are being held today in the Filmbase Building on Curved Street, Dublin, as part of the Temple Bar Trad Festival. Hosted by Gaelchultúr, each workshop lasts 45 minutes, in which you can learn a song, a have a bit of a dance and pick up cúpla focail. The workshops take place at 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm, and admission is €5. Meanwhile, down the road at The Ark on Eustace Street, children aged four and over can enjoy traditional stories and songs from Ireland, presented by John Campbell and Len Graham at 3pm. Admission is free, but the event is ticketed, so call 01-6707788 for more details. www.templebartrad.com
TOMORROW: The Palestrina Choir is joining in the celebrations for Mozart's 250th birthday. Today at 11am Mass in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral the choir, with soloists Colette Boushell, Martha Breadin, Richard McGrath and Martin Briody, will tackle four pieces including Alleluia from Exsultate.
MONDAY: Imbolc 2006 is a gathering of philosophers, writers, poets and comedians which takes place in Clonakilty over the next few days, reflecting the lengthening days and the promise of spring. Tonight at this festival of ideas there is an evening of comedy with the splendidly named Boothby Graffoe and Nick Pynn in De Barras, 9pm, €25. On Wednesday there is a seminar with Tim Freke entitled Experience of Gnosis - the secret teachings of the original Christians, in O'Donovan's Hotel. It costs €120. Book tickets at www.wcie.ie
TUESDAY: "It's the seventies, collars are big, trousers are wide, dad has shoulder-length hair and big butch sideburns in case anyone thinks he's gay." Play About My Dad comes to Project in Temple Bar, Dublin, with stand-up style performances depicting a host of familiar family characters. The play is Michelle Read's witty and warm tribute to the life and death of her father. Tickets €15/€12. Runs at 8.15pm until Feb 18th. Call 01-8819613 for more details.
WEDNESDAY: Dave O'Doherty does a great line in surrealist bedsit humour and he heads the line-up at the Bray Comedy Club in the Martello Towers Hotel, on Bray seafront tonight. MC Andrew Stanley will warm up the crowd. €12/€10. www.braycomedy.com (9pm).
THURSDAY: Leviathan is back at CrawDaddy in Dublin tonight, with another thought-provoking mix of debate, comedy and music. This time, host David McWilliams will be asking whether foreign workers are really taking jobs from Irish people. TCD academic Constantin Gurdgiev, Sinn Féin councillor Killian Forde, journalist Larissa Nolan and Polish-born TV presenter and marketing manager Izabela Chudzicka are all on the panel. Tickets, €20 plus booking fee, from www.ticketmaster.ie (9pm).
FRIDAY: The psychic roadshow rolls into Derry tonight and tomorrow night with the Best of British Mediumship. Join TV's favourite mediums in what organisers say will be an emotional evening "full of tears and laughter". Tickets £18.50 (€26.96). Contact 048-71264455.
Róisín Ingle