Forthcoming Fairs

Gift-buying opportunities at Dublin Castle

A special Christmas antiques and collectors fair will be held tomorrow in Dublin Castle's Coach House, starting at 10.30 a.m. Among the items on offer which would make suitable presents are: an Irish silver wine charger and cigar holder; a rose gold Albert chain and watch; pieces of costume jewellery from the 1920s and 1930s; three-and fivestem silver candelabra; and two-and threestone diamond rings.

The fair will also include stands holding china tea and dinner services, crystal decanters and glassware, books, small items of furniture, mirrors and prints and pictures, both framed and unframed.

Age of steam gets airing at National Book Fair

THE concourse rooms of the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin, provide the venue for a bank holiday National Book Fair on Monday, December 28th. Some 30 exhibitors have taken space at this event, including a number of dealers who are attending for the first time. Among the latter is the Irish Steam Preservation Society, which will have a stand focusing on steam travel and transport-related books, both antiquarian and secondhand. Postal history specialist, Dr Des Norton is also coming to the fair for the first time, and he will have documents, deeds and letterheads, including pre-1840 material. Among the more interesting books available will be a set of Grose's Antiquities of Ireland from Craobh Rua Books, as well as O'Reilly's Irish-English dictionary, published in Dublin in 1821. A two-volume set of Wakefield's Survey and a four-volume set of Madden's United Irishmen are for sale too.

Opening to the public at 10 a.m., the fair will also feature stamps and postcards, as well as a print stand featuring the Panorama of Dublin from the Illustrated London News of 1866.

Gallagher Gallery offers paintings and bronzes

Christmas gifts are on offer at the moment in the new RHA Members Gallery. Located in the RHA Gallagher Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin, the space holds a variety of paintings, watercolours and bronzes. The gallery is open to the public until next Tuesday evening. For further information, tele 016617286.