Christmas Crackers (Part 2)

CAROLS

Wednesday, December 12th

Christ Church, Dublin, 8 p.m.

DIT Choral Society, conducted by Bernie Sherlock, with Denise Kelly (harp), Georgina Mulligan (percussion) and David Leigh (organ). Another chance to catch Britten's Ceremony Of Carols, and another imaginative pairing, this time with Leonard Bernstein's exciting Chichester Psalms. Plus a selection of carols.

Friday, December 14th

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 1.05 p.m.

The DIT Chamber Choir offers carols old and new with traditional favourites and carols from Britten's Ceremony Of Carols, accompanied by Denise Kelly (harp). Bernie Sherlock conducts, with MairΘad Hurley on piano.

Christ Church, Dublin, 8 p.m.

The first of two candlelit Christmas concerts by An·na, conducted by Michael McGlynn. Tickets over the counter from Claddagh Records (01-6793664). The second concert is on Saturday, December 15th.

Saturday, December 15th

Central Library, ILAC Centre, Dublin, 3 p.m.

Get Ready for Christmas with Dublin Corporation Choir. Shopping in the city centre? Take a break and pop into the ILAC Centre library for a seasonal selection of musical favourites.

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8 p.m.

A Christmas Celebration with the Culwick Choral Society. Merriment and mayhem are the order of the day as conductor Colin Block imposes order on the choir and its guests, the Rathfarnham Concert Band and John Dexter Harmony. Accompaniment will come from Malcolm Wisener at the organ and Mark Armstrong on the piano.

Sunday, December 16th

St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, 7 p.m.

Civic Carol Service. An ecumenical version of the Nine Lessons and Carols, with the lord mayor of Dublin in attendance and readings by notable people from public life. This is a very special occasion in a very special building - the church is 300 years old - and people come from miles away, so take some good advice from those in the know and get there early.

St Bartholomew's Church, Clyde Road, Dublin, 7 p.m.

Concert of carols and festive readings, with Alan Stanford. You need to buy a ticket in advance for this very popular service; send a cheque for £7 per ticket, payable to St Bartholomew's Church, to The Vicar, St Bartholomew's Church, Clyde Road, Dublin 4, and don't forget to enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

Trinity College, Dublin, 8 p.m.

Dra∅ocht Chamber Choir presents a gala concert with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. Blanaid Murphy conducts a programme that includes Victoria's O Magnum Mysterium and Scheidt's Puer Natus Est, with accompaniment from Margaret O'Sullivan (piano) and the Anthem Brass Quintet.

Monday, December 17th

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8 p.m.

A Victorian Christmas with the Lindsay Singers, directed by Ethna Barror.

If a cosy gathering around the piano in the parlour appeals to you, this concert of ballads, Irish melodies and popular carols will be just the ticket. There'll be music by Thomas Moore, Stephen Foster, Balfe, Wallace and Sullivan, with soloists Anne-Marie Gibbons (mezzo), Bob Linehan (tenor), Ellen McElroy (soprano) and Michael D'Arcy (violin). Michael Casey and Niamh McDonough will chip in with two pianos.

Tuesday, December 18th

Christ Church, Dublin, 8 p.m.

Amnesty International's annual Carols for Freedom concert. Tickets from Amnesty at 01-6776361.

Wednesday, December 19th

Galway Cathedral, 8 p.m.

Messiah from Galway Choral Association, directed by Mark Keane, with the National University of Ireland Galway Chamber Orchestra and soloists Toni Walsh (soprano), Joyce Byrne (contralto), Eamonn Mulhall (tenor) and Conor Mellon (bass). Proceeds in aid of Western Alzheimer Foundation.

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8 p.m.

The Glory of Christmas with Carlow Choral Society, St Bartholomew's Children's Choir and the Dublin Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Pryce-Jones. Soloists Aled Hall (tenor) and Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet) join the choir and orchestra for a big, bold, Raymond Gubbay-style family celebration. Also on Thursday 20th.

Thursday, December 20th

Christ Church, Dublin, 1.15 p.m.

A lunchtime charity carol service with the cathedral girls' choir; mince pies and mulled wine are on offer afterwards. The collection will be donated to the YMCA programme for the homeless.

Friday, December 21st

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Countdown to Christmas. The RT╔ Concert Orchestra presents an hour-long programme designed to get everyone in the family into the Christmas spirit. Narrated by Alasdair Malloy and conducted by Gareth Hudson.

Saturday, December 22nd

National Concert Hall, Dublin 8 p.m.

A Christmas Festival, with Dublin County Choir, conducted by Colin Block, with John Dexter, chorus master; the Billie Barry Children; the Royal Irish Academy of Music Wind Ensemble, directed by Fergus O'Carroll; Celine Kelly on piano; and Niamh Murray as both presenter and soprano soloist. Also on December 23rd.

Sunday, December 23rd

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 3.15 p.m.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The traditional service of readings and carols. No ticket is required, but you'd be well advised to arrive early to secure a seat for this deservedly popular annual event.

St Mary's, Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, 3.15 p.m.

The Palestrina Choir in a traditional carol service

National Concert Hall, Dublin, 3.15 p.m.

Christmas Greetings from St Petersburg. Piccolo Lasso children's choir, conducted by Ite O'Donovan, joins an orchestra of students from the St Petersburg Conservatory of Music and the intermediate and chamber orchestras of the Young European Strings School of Music for a programme that includes Grieg's Holberg Variations, dazzling solo pieces by these budding virtuosi and, naturally, a generous helping of carols for all.

Christ Church, Dublin, 5 p.m.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. You need a ticket to get into the centre nave at Christ Church today, but there is free seating elsewhere in the cathedral - and Lyric FM will be recording the service for broadcast on Christmas Day.

Monday, December 24th

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 4 p.m.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Yes, you'd like to go to a carol service on Christmas Eve, but this is an all-ticket affair, so if you didn't apply in time for this year, why not make your New Year's resolution for next year right now?

Christ Church, Dublin, midnight

The First Eucharist of the Nativity with the Cathedral Choir and Christ Church Baroque.

Tuesday, December 25th

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 8.30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist in the Lady Chapel.

Christ Church, Dublin, 11 a.m.

Sung Eucharist with the cathedral choir.

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 11.15 a.m.

Eucharist with the cathedral choir.