Daytrippers

Seven things to do this week

TODAY So many pre-Chrimbo events, so little space. Ballyvaughan, in Co Clare, has embraced a European theme for its Christmas market: horse and-trap rides, waffles, mulled wine and wooden stalls. Call 065-7077377 for more details of this magical market, which continues on various dates through the month. In Carlow Cathedral, the Orchestra of St Cecilia will join Carlow Choral Society for a Christmas carol concert, at 8.30pm. Tickets €18/€20, children free. Call 087-6393313. And at Cork Vision Centre there's a celebration for Europe's first Fairtrade capital of culture, with music, tea, coffee, Fairtrade wine and plenty of Christmas cheer from 3pm to 5pm. Phew. Call 021-4279925.

TOMORROW The popular Sunday Roast club has changed venues: the organisers will now be facilitating board games and handing out free roast potatoes at Pravda, on Liffey Street in Dublin. Tonight's live music is from Hummingbird, SJ McArdle, Nicole Brennan O'Dwyer and Philip Freestaller. From 7pm. Admission free. Call 01-8740090.

MONDAY Another Pravda must-see. To commemorate the anniversary of the death of John Lennon, Pravda Vision will be screening Yellow Submarine at 8pm. Admission and popcorn free. Across the river, the Goethe Institut Choir is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the National Concert Hall, with performances of Tchaikovsky, Charpentier, Handel and a world premiere of John Dexter's Hilariter. Tickets €20. More from www.goetheinstitutchoir.ie. Call 01-4170000.

TUESDAY From CS Lewis to Frances Hodgson Burnett . . . The Secret Garden previews tonight at the Helix Theatre, in north Dublin, with costumes by the peerless Monica Frawley and a cast that includes Declan Conlon, Bosco Hogan, Susan FitzGerald, Ailish Symons and, no doubt, an insightful, breast-beating robin. Tickets, from 01-7007000, start at €15. Seewww.thehelix.ie.

WEDNESDAY Tonight is your last chance to see Dandelions, writer and broadcaster Fiona Looney's hit play, starring Dawn Bradfield, Keith Duffy, Pauline McLynn and Deirdre O'Kane. You'll laughand you'll cry at this tender debut, dubbed Sex, Lies and a Washing Machine. It's at the
Olympia Theatre in Dublin at 8pm. Tickets from €20. Booking 0818-719330.

THURSDAY Described as the swishest comedy club in the country, Southside hosts the brilliant Kevin McAleer. The Omagh original is a genius of the absurd. The Queens, Dalkey, 9pm. See www.southsidecomedy.com. Call 01-2854569.

FRIDAY The Lyric Theatre in Belfast always pulls out all the stops for Christmas, and this year is no exception. Merry Christmas Betty Ford: An Alternative Christmas Musical, which opens tonight at 8pm, is about the highs and lows of being trapped in an off-licence on Christmas Eve. The musical is by local composer Conor Mitchell, who says it's aimed at people who don't like musicals. The show also sees Ian McElhinney return to the stage after a 15-year absence. Tickets from £10. Call
048-90381081.