December 22nd - 28th.
Christmas Eve babe
Fairytale of New York features at the top of almost everybody's list of favourite Christmas songs, so The Pogues' pre-Christmas concerts are not to be missed. They play in Nugent's Hall, Belfast tonight and the RDS, tomorrow.
Sporty giving
The annual Christmas Day Swim at the Forty Foot in Dún Laoghaire - most people fetch up anytime after 10am. In Co Cork, the Kinsale and District Lions Club swim takes place from the pier at 1pm while there is a swim at Whitebay Beach close to Roches Point at noon. In Dunmore East, Co Waterford, the swim takes place at noon. The Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland swim takes place at 9.45am from Cappa Pier in Kilrush, Co Clare. Hardy folk from Nenagh will dive into the cold waters of Lough Derg at Youghal Bay at 11am. The flagship Goal Mile takes place at UCD, 10am-1pm on Christmas morning, but you can run, walk or crawl the mile at venues in pretty much every town in Ireland. See www.goal.ie music
Irish musicians are out in force over the holidays. Catch Paddy Casey (Sky Venue Portlaoise, tonight and Time, Kildare on Friday); Aslan (Vicar Street, Dublin, Thursday and Friday); Paul Brady (Citywest Hotel, Friday); The Frank and Walters (Dolans, Limerick, tonight and Savoy, Cork, Thursday); Bagatelle (INEC, Killarney, Friday); Mary Coughlan (Whelans, Dublin, Friday); The Dubliners (Vicar Street, Dublin, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th) and The Frames (Vicar Street, New Year's Eve).
Horses for courses
Two major horse-racing festivals kick off on St Stephen's Day. Highlights of the four-day festival at Leopardstown include the Novice Chase on Wednesday and Ladies Day on Friday. The Guinness Christmas Racing Festival takes place at Limerick Racecourse over four days. There's racing on Wednesday at Down Royal from 12.30pm. In Magners League action, Leinster take on Ulster in the RDS on St Stephen's Day at 3pm. Munster play Connacht in Musgrave Park on Thursday.
A new direction
An ideal way to revive body and soul is a festive orienteering event on Wednesday on Three Rock Mountain in South Dublin. Orienteering is family-friendly and combines running with navigation - participants use a detailed map to navigate through forest and mountains. Start anytime between 10.30am and noon and set your own pace. Experienced orienteers will be on hand to provide guidance. www.orienteering.ie
Gala booking
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra's New Year's Eve Gala Spectacular is on Monday 31st in the National Concert Hall from 9.45pm, conducted by David Brophy, with special guests, vocalists Gary Williams and Franzita Whelan. www.nch.ie
And finally ...
Funderland returns to the RDS, Dublin for its 32nd Christmas season on St Stephen's Day. Until January 13th.