Christmas music around the country...

Carols

BELFAST
Carols for the City

St Anne's Cathedral, Dec 18, 3.30pm, 048-90328332, www.belfastcathedral.org

CORK
Nine Lessons and Carols

St Fin Barre's Cathedral,

Dec 18, 3.30pm, Dec 21, 8pm, 021-4963387, no tickets required

DUBLIN
Carols for Freedom

Amnesty International's annual concert.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dec 10, 8 pm, 25/€20, tickets from Amnesty's Freedom Cafe in Fleet Street, 01-6776361, www.amnesty.ie

Lassus Scholars and

Piccolo Lasso

Carol service.

National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dec 10, 3.15pm, 01-6777444, www.museum.ie. Also, Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Dec 20, 8pm, 01-6711488, www.bankofireland.ie

Lunchtime Carol Service

In aid of the pet charity, Peata.

Christ Church Cathedral,

Dec 13, 1.15pm, 01-6778099, www.cccdub.ie

Nine Lessons and Carols

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 18, 3.15pm. Also, Christ Church Cathedral, 3.30pm, no tickets required

Piccolo Lasso

Children's choir sings carols at Ireland's largest Christmas tree.

Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dec 18, 2.30pm, 01- 4539663, www.dublinchoralfoundation.ie

WATERFORD
Civic Carol Service

The city hosts a carol service. Please get there early.

Christ Church, Waterford, Dec 18, 4pm, 051-874402, www.christchurchwaterford.com

Attending carols in the cathedrals can be complicated by the need to apply for tickets in advance. If you arrive at the last minute for carol services which require no tickets, there'll be no room at the inn, so get there early.

Concerts

CORK
Journey of Light

As part of Cork 2005, Journey of Light aims to recapture the Celtic tradition of "walking the rounds", using light, sound, projection and performance. Not suitable for children under six.

Starting Emmet Place, Dec 11, 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Tickets are free but are required - they are available from Cork 2005 Information Centre from Thur (maximum four per person), 021-4215136, www.cork2005.ie

Soprano Mary Hegarty

Recital with the cathedral choir, in aid of Arc cancer research.

St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Dec 15, 8pm, 021-4963387

UCC Choral Society

Last year's Christmas concert by University College Cork's Choral Society was a great success, so it is likely that there will be great demand for this year's candlelit performances of Vivaldi's Gloria, plus a selection of carols.

Honan Chapel, Dec 15, 8pm, €15, concessions €8, tickets from Student Centre information desk, www.ucc.ie/students/

socs/choral

DERRY
The Fifth North-west Celebration of Christmas Peace

Featuring London Community Gospel Choir, Huntley Brown, the WELB Youth Orchestra (conducted by Donal Doherty) and performers from the Dominic Graham School of Dance.

University of Ulster's Millennium Forum, Dec 13, 7.30pm, £13 (€19), concessions £9 (€13), 0044-28-71264455, www.millenniumforum.co.uk

DUBLIN
Goethe Institut Choir

The choir celebrates its 40th anniversary with an adventurous programme, including Tchaikovsky's glorious setting of the Russian Orthodox liturgy, Handel's dramatic Dixit Dominus, and the premiere of a specially commissioned piece by John Dexter.

National Concert Hall, Dec 5, 8pm, €20, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Conducted by Gareth Hudson, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra presents seasonal favourites, with the help of guest vocalists.

National Concert Hall, Dec 6, 8pm, 30, €25, 20, €15, 10, concessions €27, 20, €16, 12, €8, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie. This show will also tour to Portlaoise (Montague Hotel,

Dec 7), Dundalk (Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dec 9) and The Helix, Dublin (Dec 20)

Swingin' in a Winter Wonderland

Old-style seasonal magic is promised when, following the success of Swingin' at the Movies, pianist, conductor and arranger Brian Byrne moves on to Swingin' in a Winter Wonderland with the help of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and guest vocalists Ian Shaw and Jacqui Dankworth.

National Concert Hall, Dec 13, 8pm, €30, 25, €20, 15, €10, concessions 27, €20, 16, €12, 8, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie. Also at the Helix on Dec 16 and 17, 8pm, 01-7007000, www.thehelix.ie

Palestrina Choir

The choir presents Bach, Vivaldi, excerpts from Handel's Messiah and seasonal carols. With Gerard Gillen on organ.

National Concert Hall, Dec 4, 8pm, €25, 20, choir balcony €12.50, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie

Mozart Festival Orchestra

The orchestra, in full 18th-century fig, plays Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli, Mozart, Pachelbel's Canon and a selection of carols - and all by candlelight. Conducted by Gary Cooper, with soprano Elizabeth Donovan.

National Concert Hall, Dec 17, 8pm, €30, 25, €20, 15, €10, concessions €27, 20, 16, 12, 8, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie

Anúna

An evocative atmosphere, featuring candles, costumes and, of course, top-notch singing, makes Anúna's annual seasonal show one of the most popular concerts in the Christmas calendar. There are only two gigs this year instead of the usual three, so book early.

St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dec 16 and 17, 8pm, €26, www.anuna.ie

LIMERICK
It's a Christmas Cracker

All sorts of seasonal shenanigans are promised at the University of Limerick when the Singalong Players present It's a Christmas Cracker, featuring Linda Kenny and Damian Smith with guests Sinead O'Sullivan (mezzo), Breffni Horgan (tenor) and - following his success in I, Keano - Ciaran Bermingham. Also featured are dancers from Cork Arts Studio, the Voices of Limerick choir and the boys and girls of St Philomena's School.

University Concert Hall, Dec 15, 8pm, €18, concessions €16, 061-331549

LOUTH
Setanta Choir

Nestled in the Cooley Mountains, the restored medieval Holy Trinity Heritage Centre is an attractive place in which to celebrate the season in traditional style with a concert of old favourites.

Holy Trinity Heritage Centre, Old Quay Lane, Carlingford, Dec 18, 4pm, 042-9373888, heritagetrust@eircom.net

PORTLAOISE
Like Winter Waiting

As the title suggests, this is a seasonal celebration with a difference, bringing poetry and story into the usual festive musical mix. With the Carlow-based chamber choir, Cormiosa, and guests.

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Dec 17, 8pm, €14, concessions 10, 0502-63355/057-8663355, www.dunamaise.ie

WATERFORD
Christmas concert

City of Waterford Brass Band and the Thomas Francis Meagher Fife and Drum Band join forces for an upbeat programme of popular classics and Christmas music.

Christ Church Cathedral,

Dec 10, 8pm, 8, 051-874402, www.christchurchwaterford.com

Messiahs

DUBLIN
Culwick Choral Society

The first Messiah out of the starting-blocks is this one from the Culwick Choral Society.

St Patrick's Cathedral, Nov 30 and Dec 1, 8pm, 01-4754817, www.stpatrickscathedral.ie

Irish Baroque Orchestra

St Patrick's also plays host to the Irish Baroque Orchestra's version of Handel's oratorio.

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dec 8, 7.30pm, 01-4754817, www.stpatrickscathedral.ie

Our Lady's Choral Society

Messiah veterans (or should that be experts?) Our Lady's Choral Society offer an interesting new angle on the old favourite by casting the Japanese countertenor, Hiroya Aoki, in place of the usual alto soloist. Proinnsias O'Duinn conducts the National Sinfonia with Paula Greenwood, soprano; Eamonn Mulhall, tenor; and Ian Caddy, bass.

National Concert Hall, Dec 14, 15 and 16, 8pm, €25, 20, choir balcony €15, 01-4170000, www.nch.ie

LIMERICK
Limerick Choral Union and

LCU Orchestra

This Messiah features Carmel Conway, soprano; Marion O'Farrell, contralto; PJ Hurley, tenor; and Brendan Collins, bass; with musical direction by Malcolm Green.

University of Limerick Concert Hall, Dec 17, 8pm, €25, €20, concessions 20, €15, 061-331549

WATERFORD
Irish Baroque Orchestra and Resurgam Choir

The Irish Baroque Orchestra and Resurgam Choir.

Holy Family Church, Luke Wadding Street, Dec 9, 7.30pm, 25, concessions 17.50, 051-855038, www.waterfordlismore.com

- Arminta Wallace