Zoë’s Dublin Diary: What to Do This Week

Wednesday, 2 December – #FirstWeds: Repeal the 8th, Free, 19:00, Wigwam

Campaigners, activists and interested parties will gather to discuss a 32-year-old piece of legislation that serves to punish rather than protect, forcing women out of the country and confiscating the reproductive rights of those who cannot go, whether they are on lower incomes or lack the ability or right to travel. Speakers on the night will include Nita Mishra, a PhD researcher on rights-based approaches, Amel Yacef, the chairperson of AkiDwA and Soraya Sobrevia, a case worker in the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. Dublin City Councillor Eilis Ryan of the Workers’ Party will act as moderator. Facebook page here.

Thursday, 3 December – Winter Open Exhibition 2015, Free, 10:00-18:00, Rua Red, Tallaght

Rua Red launched their Winter Open Exhibition last Friday with Oisín Byrne’s ‘There Comes a Timeless’, winner of the 2014 Rua Red Judges’ Choice Award. Objects – found, crafted or manipulated – are laid out through the space with the intent of defying hierarchical order. This year’s exhibition features work from artists such as Sarah Wilson, Bartosz Kolata, Christine Carey, Eilis O’Toole, Dianne Whyte, Mary Burke, Anna Hryniewicz and Ella Bertilsson. More details here.

Friday, 4 December – Wriggle & Milkshake, €5/8, 23:00, Tengu

Milkshake will be launching upstairs in Tengu with a determinedly loose-minded electronic game plan of funk, house and techno from Ben Bix, Chris Holten and Rory Caraher, with guests Daire Carolan and Esteban. Downstairs, Wriggle have grime producer Shriekin’ headlining, offset by affrobeat and dancehall from Tim Nairn and Johnny Carroll of Manma Saor. Info here.

Saturday, 5 December – Suspended Animation 01, BYOB, €20/25/28, A bowling alley . . . somewhere.

In the grand old tradition of going bowling and getting locked, Suspended Animation are hosting a truckload of DJs and producers in their first-ever event, in a bowling alley-cum-arcade-cum-pool hall of undisclosed location. Bowling, pool and – eee – arcade games will be free all night. Which in itself is a big deal. It’ll be a mix of techno, house and disco with Nathan Jones, Frank B, Sim Simma, Weathertop et al. More info here. Grab your ticket here.

Sunday, 6 December – Bernadette Devlin: Notes on a Political Journey, €4, 16:00, Jigsaw

Bernadette Devlin, an Irish socialist and republican activist, came to international prominence at 21 years old when she was elected as a member of the UK’s House of Commons in 1969 on the strength of her role in the People’s Democracy civil-rights group, and her outspoken approach. Directed by Leila Doolan, Notes on a Political Journey was released in 2011, and features later interviews with Devlin as well as the highly publicised footage from the time of her election as the then-youngest MP. More here.

Monday, 7 December – Carol,  €9, 16:30/20:30, Irish Film Institute

In 1948, Patricia Highsmith was a young writer, engaged to Marc Brandel. She had wolfish good looks and a talent for seducing women. Working behind a toy counter in Bloomingdales, she developed a penchant for rich, married women – usually blondes. Her novel The Price of Salt, published in 1952, was inspired by one such woman. Directed by Todd Haynes, Carol is the adaptation of this story. Details here.

Tuesday 8 December – December’s Comics Lab, €2.50, 19:00, Liquor Rooms

The Comics Lab, meeting once a month in the Liquor Rooms, provides a relaxed space for illustrators, comic artists and serial drawists to exchange stories and ideas and meet other people within the community. For its December instalment, Paddy Lynch, Joven Kerekes and Sophie Spendel will be giving talks – Paddy on his collaboration with Doug DuBois on My Last Day at Seventeen, Joven on his varied career since coming to Ireland to co-found the Illustrator’s Guild and Sophie on the doodling process. More details here.