Carols
BELFAST
St Anne's Cathedral Carols for the City, Dec 17, 3.30pm, 048-90328332, www.belfastcathedral.org
CORK
Fota House Surroundings don't come much more salubrious than Fota House; but there's fun and frolics to be had - as well as free wine and mince pies at the interval - when the Carrigaline Singers join the Sukura String Quartet. Fota House, Dec 9, 8pm, €20, 021-4815543, www.fotahouse.com
St Finbarre's Cathedral Dec 22, 8pm & Dec 24, 3.30pm, 021-4963387
DUBLIN
Christmas Magic at the James Joyce Centre Smell those chestnuts roasting? That'll be the James Joyce Centre. For the first three weeks of December it's planning to turn into "a Victorian wonderland straight out of a Charles Dickens novel", with carols from the Belvedere Choir and readings from The Night Before Christmas. Every visitor will get a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine or spiced apple juice. 35 North Great George's Street, Dec 1-21, 10 am-5pm Tues-Sat; noon-5pm Sun, 01-8788547
Carols at Collins Barracks The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dec 2, 2.15pm, adm free, 01-4539663, www.dublinchoralfoundation.ie
Carols in the Courtyard The Mornington Singers present carols followed by seasonal refreshments. Contemporary Music Centre, Dec 7, 6.30pm, adm free, 01-6731922, www.cmc.ie
Come and Sing Carols Your chance to belt out all the old favourites with the St Patrick's Cathedral Choir, The Seafield Singers and Cór na Lianna, for Barnardos. St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 8, 8pm, €15, 01-4539472, www.stpatrickscathedral.ie
Carols for Freedom The annual Amnesty International fundraiser boasts an all-star cast: Liam Lawton, John Spillane, Fil Campbell and the Christ Church Cathedral Choir. Christ Church Cathedral, Dec 9, doors open 7.30pm for 8pm. Tickets from Ticketmaster, €25. See www.amnesty.ie
Carols for Charity Another annual fund-raiser, with this year's proceeds going to Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross. Christ Church Cathedral, Dec 12, 1.15pm, 01-6778099, www.cccdub.ie
Carols in the Castle Give your Christmas a touch of the Harry Potters with mulled wine/mince pies in the medieval Great Hall - with carols from the Dublin Airport Singers, and a tour of the castle to boot.
Malahide Castle, Dec 12, 7.30pm Tickets (€35) must be pre-booked on 01-8462184. www.malahidecastle.com
Carols in the Cathedrals St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 17, 3.15pm and Christ Church Cathedral, Dec 17, 3.30pm. No tickets are required but arrive early.
Carols in the City Centre The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso Ulster Bank Group Centre, Georges Quay, Dec 18, 1.15pm, www.dublinchoralfoundation.ie
Carols from New Dublin Voices conducted by Bernie Sherlock, with Edward Holly, piano. Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Dec 18, 8pm, €16, 01-8852622, www.draiocht.ie
KERRY
Carols from Siamsa The Marian Nolan Orchestra joins Audrey O'Carroll and friends for seasonal stuff - this one is an annual sellout, so book. Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, Dec 1, 8pm, €16, 066-7123055
MEATH
Carols from New Dublin Voices conducted by Bernie Sherlock, with Edward Holly, piano. Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Dec 9, 8pm, €14, 046-9092300, www.solsticeartscentre.com
WATERFORD
Civic Carol Service Catholic Cathedral, Barrowstrand St, Waterford, Dec 17, 3.30pm. Arrive early. 051-858958, adm free, www.christchurchwaterford.com
Concerts
DUBLIN
Mozart series Dublin Choral Foundation rounds off a year of celebrations on the double - for its own 10th anniversary and Mozart's 250th - with a performance of the Requiem, the Magnificat and a violin and cello arrangement of the Sinfonia Concertante. The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso, conducted by Ite O'Donovan, with the Orlando Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists. National Concert Hall, Dec 6, 8pm, 01-4170000, €25, www.nch.ie
Christmas Crackers Dickie Rock and Niamh Kavanagh give the old seasonal favourites plenty of welly. With the Michael Casey Quintet and RTÉ Cór na nÓg. National Concert Hall, Dec 7, 8pm, €20-€30, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie
Crooning at Christmas If Bing's your thing, this will be right up your Christmas alley: star tenor Paul Byrom and up-and-coming crooner Cormac Kenevey are joined by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Big Band, conducted by Roderick Dunk.
The Helix, Dec 15 & 16, 8pm, €10-€35, 01-7007000, www.thehelix.ie
Lunchtime Concert Escape the shoppers for an hour as soprano Cara O'Sullivan joins the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mark Armstrong for a seasonal lunchtime programme. National Concert Hall, Dec 20, 1.05pm, €10, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie
Anúna Live What with candles and costumes and the glories of the a cappella experts, this is one of the most evocative gigs of the season, always jammers, so book. St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dec 22 & 23, 8pm, €27, www.anuna.ie
GALWAY
Cois Cladaigh An adventurous programme of contemporary and rarely-heard music, all sung a cappella by the Galway-based Cois Cladaigh. The evening traditionally ends with a surprise - no, we're not going to give the game away. St Nicholas's Collegiate Church, Dec 9, 8pm. Tickets (€15) at the door, or from Brendan at 091-756812, www.coiscladaigh.net
LOUTH
Lourdes Brass Band offers mellow sounds with a Christmas movie theme. Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Dec 14, 8pm, tickets €5 at door, see also www.droicheadartscentre.com
Messiahs
DUBLIN
Enchiriadis Treis Marion Doherty is the conductor for this Messiah, with the Enchiriadis Treis Orchestra and guest soloists. The Mahony Hall, The Helix, Dec 2, 8pm, €27/€12, 01-7007000, www.thehelix.ie
Culwick Choral Society Performance by candlelight in aid of Enable Ireland. Tickets from Ticketmaster and from Enable Ireland, or from the cathedral shop. St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 6 & 7, 8pm, €28, 01-4754817, www.stpatrickscathedral.ie
RTÉ Philharmonic The RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gerhard Markson, joins the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Mark Duley, and soloists Ailish Tynan (soprano), Bridget Knowles (mezzo) Peter Auth (tenor and Roland Davitt (baritone). National Concert Hall, Dec 8, 8pm, €9-€30, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie
Irish Baroque Orchestra Period instrument performance with the choir Resurgam. St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 13, 7.30pm, €30/€25, 01-4754817, www.stpatrickscathedral.ie
Our Lady's Choral Society The National Sinfonia, conducted by Prionnsias Ó Duinn, join Our Lady's Choral Society with soloists Lynda Lee (soprano), Maria de Moel (alto) Robin Tritschler (tenor) and Ian Caddy (bass). National Concert Hall, December 13, 14 & 15, 8pm, €15-€27.50, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie
Opera on tour
When did opera become a Christmas tradition? Well, if ever there was a show to gladden the heart, it's Humperdinck's babes-in-the-wood tale; and wherever you are in Ireland, this Opera Theatre Company's touring production is coming to a theatre near you. If you're ever going to introduce your kids to live opera, here's a solid gold chance.
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Touring to Skibbereen (Town Hall, Nov 25, 26); Thurles (Source, Nov 29); Dublin (Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dec 1, 2; Beckett Centre, Jan 26, 27, 28); Portlaoise (Dunamaise, Jan 30); Kilkenny (Watergate Theatre, Feb 1); Kilmallock (Friar's Gate, Feb 3); Bray (Mermaid Arts Centre, Feb 6); Tralee (Siamsa Tíre, Feb 8); Ennis (Glór Music Centre, Feb 10); Derry (Waterside Theatre, Feb 14); Belfast (Baby Grand @ GOH, Feb 16); Tyrone (Bardic Theatre, Feb 17), prices vary, see www.opera.ie
ARMINTA WALLACE
