In brief . . .

LIGHTS ON BEFORE LIGHTS OUT:  Although there is a creeping sense of things winding down in Cork, the actual calendar of events is still crowded.

Yesterday, for example, the city's Christmas lights were switched on as the first step of the Solas Festival of Light, the extensive programme of activities, concerts and carols which will continue until the fireworks display of New Year's Eve.

TRAVELLER TALK Yesterday was also the day scheduled for the opening of the Traveller Visibility Centre at Lower John Street by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. This was later the venue for a showing of Straight Talking (pictured right), a documentary by Framework Films in collaboration with the Travellers' Visibility Group as part of the Cork Widescreen Project for Cork 2005. This film, with others in the series, will be shown at a gala screening in City Hall on December 11th (information: 021-4322454).

ROVING EYES Continuing until December 4th, the Art Trail, directed by Harry Moore, roves through the city to exhibitions, installations and other visual arts events. Venues range from the 1717 Unitarian Church to the Libeskind Pavilion (Fota House) to the headquarters of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, where Danny McCarthy is artist in residence. The programme brochure includes reflections on art, culture and Cork 2005, not least in an essay from Cork 2005 assistant director Thomas McCarthy: "Ironically, I have this deep feeling that it was the permanent city that bid for the designation but an interim and contrived (but no less honest) city that delivered it. Now we are moving back to the permanent city. Let's hope that this permanent city also has an adequate budget so that it may show itself." Art Trail brochures available from info@arttrail.ie