Seven things to do this week
TODAY If you are anywhere near Boyle, Co Roscommon, make a start on the gift shopping at the Christmas Craft Fair in King House. All the usual handcrafts feature, including candles, cards, clocks, jewellery, glassware, knitwear and ceramics. Carols sung on the grounds will only add to the sparkly atmosphere. From 11am-5pm. Call 071-9663242 for more details. Raheen Wood School's Annual Advent Fair also takes place in Tuamgraney, east Clare, with crafts, puppet shows and seasonal music. From noon to 4pm. Contact www.raheenwood.org.
TOMORROW Never gonna give him up, never gonna let him down . . . oops . . . some of us of a certain vintage (think puffball skirts and diamante everything) are getting a bit carried away by the comeback of 1980s pop star Rick Astley. Rumour has it the lovely Ricky won't be doing the old numbers at the Olympia tonight but if his show at Spirit earlier in the year was anything to go by this should be an excellent ladies' night out. Tickets €33/€38.50. 7.30pm. Contact 0818-719330.
MONDAY World Aids Day falls this Thursday but tonight you can raise money for the cause. A young Irish trio - Paul Tuthill, Juliet Wolfe and Patrick Frankel - plan to cycle from Ireland to Capetown, South Africa, in aid of the 25.4 million Africans currently living with HIV/Aids. Ronan Swift headlines the fund-raiser with guests at the Sugar Club on Leeson Street, Dublin 2. The intrepid Bike2Africa team head off on Thursday, crossing 13 countries and 14,500km. Tickets €12, 8pm. Contact www.thesugarclub.com, www.bike2africa.com and 01-6787188.
TUESDAY World-renowned climber Doug Scott gives an illustrated lecture tonight on his expeditions to the mountain ranges of Asia. Organised by the Orienteering Club at UCD, the event is expected to be an inspiring account of physical endurance and extraordinary adventure. All proceeds go to Community Action Nepal and Amnesty International. The Astra Hall, Student Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, at 7.30pm. €16. Contact Marie on 086-1961214.
WEDNESDAY Few things are more Christmassy than these candlelit performances of Handel's Messiah at St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin by the Culwick Choral Society at 8pm tonight and tomorrow. All proceeds from these performances go to Enable Ireland a national provider of services for over 3,500 children and young adults with disabilities. All services are provided free of charge. For tickets and credit card bookings contact Enable Ireland, Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4. Contact 1850-204304/01-2615917. Tickets €25.
THURSDAY Carnival on Wexford Street, Dublin, always has candles on the tables and funky music on the decks but on Thursdays there is another addition to this atmospheric bar. One Night Stand! is an open-mic night where burgeoning songwriters, poets and comedians can have a go before an appreciative audience. And don't worry if it all goes a bit wrong, Carnival also has plenty of dark corners where you can recover. Admission €5. 9pm.
FRIDAY Still on Wexford Street, Amnesty International is taking over the Village for its Up In Arms event today, tomorrow and Sunday. Some acts confirmed so far include Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, Dave Couse and the Impossible, Mark Geary and Julie Feeney (right). There'll be DJ sets from Donal Dineen, Paddy Casey and Bronagh Gallagher, but more are being added to the bill every day. See www.thevillagevenue.com for updates. Tickets, €18 per night, are available from WAV (1890-200078), City Discs, Road Records and Soundcellar. Róisín Ingle daytrippers@irish-times.ie