A round-up of events countrywide
LIVE MUSIC
The Phantom New Year’s Eve party begins at 8.30pm on Friday night and features live music from Fight Like Apes as well as a range of DJs at the Village on Wexford Street. Next door at Whelan’s, Northern Ireland’s And So I Watch You From Afar perform with doors opening at 7.30pm. Tickets for each gig costs €20. See whelanslive.com for details.
ATHLONE CHARITY CYCLE
Shannonside Cycle Club are hosting a leisure cycle on New Year’s Day starting at noon from the Bounty. The route is 10km long and is set on a flat marshalled road. Showers and changing facilities are available, and the cost is €5 per person or €10 per family. shannonsidecc.com
DINGLE STREET PARTY
A large-scale party takes place in Dingle every New Year’s Eve, beginning with fireworks over the bay at 10pm, and culminating with the Dingle Fife and Drum Band marching through the town at midnight. Live music and other entertainment takes place throughout the night. For more details see discoverireland.ie/kerry
CHRIST CHURCH BELLS
A tradition that stretches back centuries begins at 11pm on New Year’s Eve and runs until midnight with many congregating outside the grounds of the cathedral. From January, tours of the Belfry are available on Fridays and Sundays, costing €4 per person. cccdub.ie
TRAMORE RACING
Weather permitting, this weekend Graun Hill in Tramore should play host to seven National Hunt races taking place on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The first races begin at 12.15pm, while children are admitted free both days and entry prices for adults are set at €20. For more details, see tramore-racecourse.com
WOOD WALKS
The Lee Valley Walking group are organising an afternoon walk on New Year’s Day, suitable for all levels of walkers. Participation costs €15 for adults (free for members) and the walk is also suitable for children. The walk should take two to three hours, and takes in two local woods in Ballyvourney. leevalleywalking.com, 026-45642
BELFAST CÉILÍ
An Droichead, which is an Irish language cultural institute on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, celebrates the New Year on Saturday with a traditional céilí and three-course meal, all for the reasonable price of £15. See androichead.com for details.
GALWAY RESOLUTION RUN
The Galway City Harriers are organising a five-kilometre run on New Year’s Day in an effort to raise funds for local rugby and gymnastics clubs. The course is situated around Renmore, and begins at 1.11pm (on January 1st, 2011). Changing facilities are available in Renmore soccer club. Entry is €20 and can be booked online or on the day. See resolutionrun.ie for details.
CASTLEBAR CONCERT
Few Irish acts knew how to throw a party like The Sawdoctors, and the Tuam band round off another long year on the road with a gig on New Year’s Eve at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar. Doors open at 9pm, and tickets cost €25, available through Ticketmaster. See sawdoctors.com for details
STREET ENTERTAINMENT
From Thursday to Saturday, street performers including Jack Wise, Grant Goldie, Pete Dobbing and Jack Flash will be performing for public votes along the main shopping districts of Grafton Street and Henry Street from 5pm to 6pm as part of a street performers’ competition called It’s A Knockout. The performances are free and the public get to vote on the favourite performers. dublinnewyearfestival.com
BURREN RAMBLE
On Sunday, Burren Beo are organising a guided loop walk up Mullaghmore, which will be three miles in length and start at 1.30pm. Burren enthusiasts Richard and Linda Morrison will lead the walk, and it costs €5 for non-members. burrenbeo.com, 091-638096
POETRY READING
Poetry Ireland, in association with the National Gallery of Ireland, are calling on people from all walks of life to read out a poem or a passage that they find inspiring. Stephen Rea and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill are among the readers, and it takes place at 1pm on New Year’s Eve in the National Gallery. Entry is free. poetryireland.ie
LATE MUSIC
One of Cork’s best-known bands, The Lynch Mob, featuring father Ricky and sons Reuben and Graham, take to the stage at the Pavillion on Carey’s Lane on New Year’s Eve, for a night of 1960s covers. Tickets are €15 and doors open at 10pm. See pavilioncork.com for details
