What's going on

December 15th-21st

theatre

Currently showing at the Abbey is George Farquhar's Restoration piece The Recruiting Officer , directed by Lynne Parker and starring Cathy Belton and Des Cave. It runs until January 26th (01-8787222). Gerry and the Peace Process is either wickedly funny satire or all in terribly poor taste, depending on your point of view. It features a loveable, image-obsessed goof, Gerry Adams, and his bitchy sidekick Martin McGuinness. It's at Players' Theatre in Trinity College from Tuesday until Saturday, at 8pm (01-8961239).

sport

Racing is at Fairyhouse today, with the first race at 12.20pm. In Heineken Cup action, Leinster are away to Edinburgh at 3.30pm today, and Munster host Llanelli Scarlets at 1pm tomorrow.

music

Tonight: Wet Wet Wet (Odyssey Arena, Belfast). Tomorrow: Roisin Murphy (The Village, Dublin). Monday: Cathy Davey (Cyprus Ave, Cork). Tuesday: The Magic Numbers (The Button Factory, Dublin). Wednesday: Moving Hearts (The Olympia). Thursday: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Ambassador Theatre, Dublin), New Model Army (Dolans, Limerick). Friday: Sharon Shannon (The Olympia), Ocean Colour Scene (Dolans, Limerick).

diary dates

The last ever performances of I, Keano take place in January, including 20 performances at The Olympia, from January 8th to 26th, with Off the Rails presenter Caroline Morahan added to the cast as Surfia (0818-719330).

The Dublin Bach Singers perform Handel's Messiah in aid of St Francis Hospice, Raheny at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street at 8pm on Monday (01-6396024). The Male Voice Choirs of Waterford perform their sixth annual Christmas concert in aid of the Alzheimer Society at the Good Shepard Chapel, College Street at 8pm tonight. The concert features baritone Eoin Power and six of Waterford's choirs including the Waterford Boy Singers and the Waterford Male Voice Choir.

christmas music

At The Helix (Wednesday to Saturday) the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz will be accompanied by a live performance of the score by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (01-7007000). O Come, All Ye Faithful is at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, at 6pm this evening. The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso perform their annual Christmas concert at the Ulster Bank Group Centre, George's Quay at 1.15pm on Monday. The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra presents vocal and orchestral favourites at the NCH on Tuesday and Thursday at 1.05pm (01-4170000).

and finally . . .

The winter solstice takes place next weekend. Lottery winners (about 20 per day) will be arriving at Newgrange from Tuesday to witness the light of the rising sun shining into the inner chamber for a breathtaking 17 minutes. The rest of us will just have to gather round a fire on the shortest day of the year.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times