Seven things to do this week
TODAY There's nothing like a cold dark December night and a Christmas film to get you in the festive spirit. Usually you'd be watching from your sofa, curled up in front of the fire, but if you go to Meeting House Square, in Temple Bar, this evening at 8pm, you'll be able to see a free outdoor screening of The Muppet Christmas Carol, as part of a series of seasonal movies in the square. Just make sure you wrap up warm. Call 01-6772255 or see www.templebar.ie.
TOMORROW You probably thought you'd have loads of time to see Northern Nocturnes: Nightscapes in the Age of Rembrandt at the National Gallery of Ireland when it opened, back in October, but today is your last chance. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see three versions of the flight into Egypt, by Rembrandt, Rubens and Elsheimer. See www.nationalgallery.ie. Noon-5.30pm (last admissions 4pm). Ticket line: 01-6633513. Price €7/€4; family €15.
MONDAY The Dubliners are playing their only gig of 2005 tonight, at 8pm in the Submarine Bar, Walkinstown, Dublin. Special guests include Ronnie Drew and MC Jim McCann. It's all for a good cause: to raise money for the local St Damien's National School. Tickets €10. Call 01-4556074.
TUESDAY Fancy winning an artwork? Three pieces, by Jim Kavanagh, Deborah Donnelly and Bernie Prendergast (who has given Hands II, right), are being raffled at 7pm tonight, at Bold Art Gallery on Merchants Road in Galway. The money from the tickets, which cost €5 each (although you can give more if you wish), is helping Galway couple Dave Munn and Jo Brown set up a daycare centre for Aids orphans in Botswana. More details from www.tshesebeorphanproject.blogspot.com.
WEDNESDAY The evolution-versus- intelligent-design debate may be raging in the US, but in Cork this evening Prof Simon Conway Morris, of Cambridge University, is giving a talk entitled Does Evolution Have a Destination, even a Destiny? Part of the Cork 2005 Last Lecture series, it starts at 8pm in Boole 4 Lecture Theatre at University College Cork. Admission is free. Call 021-4904127 or see www.ucc.ie.
THURSDAY Clear your throat and get ready for some serious carol singing: part of the fun of the Sing-along Players' It's a Christmas Cracker concert is that the audience gets to join in. It's on tonight at 8pm at University Concert Hall, Limerick. Tickets €18/€16. Call 061-331549 or see www.uch.ie.
FRIDAY The Naked Camera crew, who have forsaken TV for the stage, are touring Ireland. Check out Patrick McDonnell, PJ Gallagher and Maeve Higgins tonight at Cork Opera House and tomorrow at the Forum in Waterford, 8.30pm. Tickets €20 from www.ticketmaster.ie. ... Eimear McKeith