I think the message this week is, go home and spend time with your loved ones, because that’s what the art world is doing! There’s a few events on around the city, but nothing too dazzling!

Art – If you’re going to any of the exhibitions around the city, please check the opening times of the various galleries, as they are somewhat erratic. Eithne Jordan’s new exhibition ‘Street’ continues at the RHA with some familiar streets in Dublin featured! John Beattie’s video pieces continue in the same venue. Alice Maher‘s show at IMMA (Earlsfort Terrace) is really impressive, and the Sidney Nolan exhibition is at the other IMMA;  Kilmainham. Tribal Textiles from Iran continues in the Douglas Hyde. Stepping Into the Light (Group show including Pat Scott) continues at the Hugh Lane.

Private Galleries: Siobhan Hapaska & Stephen McKenna are at the Kerlin. The Winter show (Group show) is at the Taylor Gallery. Hibernation (Group show) is at the Oliver Sears.

Theatre – The Dead is running the Abbey our review is here . Cousin Rachel is at the Gate for the Christmas!

Movies – Should some enterprising cinema not be showing the best movies of the year? It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? hmm. Neil Young Journeys starts at the Lighthouse on Friday!  The Hitchcock season at the IFI finishes this week, it has shown some of his lesser know movies. The Wrong Man and Mary are on this week. Sing Along Cinema is showning Greece is on Saturday at the Sugar Club!

Gigs – Music is just about the only thing to survive the onslaught of Christmas, but even that’s severely curtailed. There are a lot of Irish bands knocking around though. The Dubliners have a number of shows which could be their last? Rejjie Snow and Kormac’s big band would be my top tips.

27/12/12 – Rejjie Snow – Button Factory

27/12/12 – Pierce Turner – Grand Social

27/12/12 – Young Wonder – Workmans Club

27/12/12 – Mundy – Whelans

28/12/12 – The Dubliners – Vicar Street

28/12/12 – Kormac’s Big Band – Button Factory

28/12/12 – Jerry Fish – Workmans Club

28/12/12 – The 4 of Us – Whelans

29/12/12 – The Dubliners – Vicar Street

29/12/12 – Something Happens – Whelans

29/12/12 – These Charming Men – Village

30/12/12 – The Dubliners – Vicar Street

30/12/12 – Hothouse Flowers – Whelans