Festive Cheer Begins Here!

Festive cheer begins here... Some recommendations from the team at Ariel House on how to spend Christmas week in Dublin and make the best of the build up !

The Docklands Christmas market 2010 is running until the 22nd of December 2010. This year the market is filled with brightly decorated wooden huts and chalets selling unique Christmas gifts, including beautiful Christmas decorations, hand made arts and crafts, and other unusual stocking fillers. The Docklands market also plays host to almost one hundred German traders as well as plenty of home grown Irish stalls. The market is open from 12noon to 8.30pm each day. So whether you're looking for that special gift, a seasonal snack or simply looking to soak up some festive feeling, The Docklands Christmas Market 2010 is the perfect injection of yuletide cheer with a beautiful German twist
The National Concert Hall Family Christmas Show will take place on the 22nd of December where this year they stage Howard Blake’s Christmas masterpiece ‘The Snowman Movie – Live Concert. The animated movie will play out on a large screen accompanied by The Orchestra of The National Concert Hall under the baton of conductor Fergus Sheil. Brian Ormond will tell the story of James and the flying snowman as you watch the film on a big screen. The Family Christmas show will also feature seasonal favourites by an all singing and dancing theatrical group, adding to the spirit and excitement of Christmas.
Now celebrating its 8th year, 7UP Christmas on Ice at the RDS Dublin offers all the fun of real ice skating on a spectacular covered rink. Ballsbridge and the RDS have a unique Christmas atmosphere with lots of festive fun to be found. There's something for everyone from families and school children to teens and social groups. Christmas on Ice at the RDS runs until the 9th of January 2011.
Christmas is not complete without a visit to the panto at the Gaiety! This year the story of Aladdin will be brought to life at the Gaiety Theatre. Starring Boyzones Mikey Graham in the role of Abanazar and the voice of X-Factors Louis Walsh as Master of the World. The performance runs until the 30th of January 2011 and tickets are available from the Gaiety Box Office.
Finally what will we be doing on Christmas Eve ? Ariel House will close for Christmas holidays on Thursday 23rd of December and will reopen on Tuesday 28th. Most of our overseas colleagues will fly home to spend Christmas with family and friends. Those of us who are staying in Dublin will take a trip into the city centre on Christmas Eve morning. Soak up the atmosphere of Grafton Street and the Brown Thomas window which is beautifully decorated this year and perhaps some last minute Christmas shopping or the odd impulse buy! Lunch at Pichet Restaurant followed by a visit to the Nativity Scene at the Mansion House. A quick Hot Port at Keoghs Heritage Pub and then its home on the bus to prepare for a visit from Santa. Happy Christmas Everyone!

31st Dublin City Marathon

Over 13,000 runners will descend on Fitzwilliam Square on this morning, 25th October for the 31st Lifestyle Sports-adidas Dublin Marathon ensuring Dublin’s status as one of the “friendliest” marathons remains intact. Despite the recession over seventy-four nations will be represented and the 2010 Irish field is the largest ever present.

This is the first time race organisers have exceeded the 13,000 mark. Race Director Jim Aughney says the key reason is the big increase in Irish entries. “Irish people are back running again, and it bodes well for the sustained growth of Dublin into the future”

Whether the other course records are broken in 2010 remains to be seen, but with current record holder, Russian Alexsey Sokolov making a return this year, organisers expect there to be a real challenge to the record held since 2007. In the Women’s Elite category, last year’s winner Kateryna Stetsenko (Ukraine) will be hoping for her second consecutive win in Dublin.

The Irish Elite field is strengthened by the presence of a number of the Marathon Mission 2012 candidates. The Marathon Mission Team was set up earlier this year to improve the competitive depth in quality of times being run by Irish Marathoners.

Joe McAllister is among the favourites to finish in a strong position whilst in the women’s field Gladys Ganiel O'Neill, Barbara Sanchez and Breege Connolly are also expected to make an impact.

While the elites will dominate the headlines on Tuesday, most of the 13,000 field today will be running for personal reasons. Among starters will be “The Oireachtas Team”, led by Fine Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan. Deenihan’s Leinster House running colleagues including Lucinda Creighton, Mary Upton, Barry Andrews, James Reilly, Nicky McFadden, Brian O’Domhnaill, Fidelma Healy Eames, Frank Feighan and Damien English, all of who are running on behalf of various charities close to their hearts.

Lord Mayor Gerry Breen will get the 31st running of the Lifestyle Sports adidas Dublin Marathon underway in Fitzwilliam Street Upper at 9am this morning, and the first runner home will be expected in Merrion Square North shortly after 11am. Regular race updates will be available on FM104 and all results will be available on www.dublinmarathon.ie after 5.30pm.

Something to do with the Family this Weekend!

To celebrate the extension of the LUAS green line to Cherrywood the RPA have organised a family fun day on Saturday the 16th October which is free of charge for all the family. The events run from 11am to 6pm. Entertainment includes a vintage tram and samba band at the St. Stephens Green Stop, face painting at the Balally stop, make your own instrument at the Sandyford stop, paint you’re your own canvas at the Leopardstown stop and storytelling and lantern making at Carrickmines stop. An organic food market will take place at Brides Glen the terminus stop where there will also be a teddy bears picnic and a toy swap shop. For times, details and lots of other events log onto www.luas .ie

Open House Dublin

This weekend is the fifth Open House Dublin organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation, where over 100 Dublin buildings from all eras open their doors to the public. free guided tours to each of the buildings are given by professional guides. Details of participating buildings can be found at the Architecture Foundation website.I think we will try to get Ariel House on the list for the 2011 event !

Michael Bublé Plays Aviva Stadium

Michael Bublé; If you “havnt met him yet” then maybe you can sort that out with a trip to The Aviva Stadium this weekend.
He’s the newly crowned Best International Male Artist from the 2010 Meteor Awards. He’s had his entire tour in May sell out in 55 minutes; he’s fast becoming one of the most popular artists in the music business. For all his top covers of classic tunes his song “just havnt met you yet” is the tune that has really put him on the map with immense radio play. He has 6 albums in the Irish charts at the moment and his current album Crazy Love has been certified platinum NINE times.
His concert will be the first live gig to be played at the Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road where he will play to almost 100,000 over the two nights 24th and 25th of September 2010.
If you are going to the concert, enjoy! Being on the doorstep of the stadium, the Ariel House staff look forward to being serenaded as we work over the weekend!

Failte Ireland Horse Show Opens at the RDS

We all love the Horse Show. This annual RDS event is a Dublin institution. A celebration of Ireland's affinity with the horse, from the best show horses to the best international show jumpers. It is one of Ireland's largest events, a highlight of the summer, each year welcoming tens of thousands of people Ireland and all over the world.

From August, 4th to the 8th, 2010 the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will take over the entire RDS complex in the heart of Dublin. One of the top international equestrian events in the world, the Show is a wonderful day out, offering something for everyone - whether you are a horse enthusiast or not!

The 5 day festival includes:

International show jumping
Live music
Blossom Hill Ladies’ Day
Over 300 shopping stands
Crafts & art exhibition
Restaurants & bars
Kids’ entertainment and magic shows

Aviva Stadium Kick Off

The first game to be played at the Aviva Stadium will take place today, Saturday 31st of July 2010. The game will be an historic rugby match between two composite provincial teams, Leinster/Ulster team against a Munster/Connacht selection.

As Ariel House is officially the closest hotel to the stadium we are soaking up the Lansdowne Road atmosphere already this morning!

Leinster and Ulster were the first representative teams to play at the old Lansdowne Road nearly 133 years ago on December 16, 1876.
Both provinces were also on hand to play the final game, 'The Last Stand', at the world famous stadium on New Year's Eve 2006, when Leinster beat Ulster 20-12 in the Magners League.

While they were rivals on both of these occasions, they will be joining forces as a Leinster/Ulster selection will play a Munster/Connacht team for the first ever game in the Aviva Stadium.
The game will form part of the provincial pre-season calendar and present Irish rugby stakeholders with the opportunity to be the first to witness rugby returning home to the iconic Aviva Stadium.

The Aviva Stadium will play host to some of the top teams in world rugby during the GUINNESS Series in November this year when Ireland are scheduled to play four internationals for the first time against World champions South Africa, followed by games against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.