Dairy Women Ireland is gearing up for its 4th Annual Conference on Friday 21 November, at the Charleville Park Hotel, Co Cork. This year’s event adds a touch of glamour with a new gala dinner and fashion show – a perfect way to unwind after a day of inspiring talks and networking. Tickets available from dairywomenireland.ie. Prices start from €65.

Debut author and occupational therapist, Steffi Fennelly has turned her creativity to storytelling with the release of her children’s book, The World is in Our Hands.This beautifully illustrated, self-published, 80-page adventure takes young readers on a magical journey to the Arctic, where a group of Irish children meet a family of walruses and discover first- hand the impact of climate change. Blending imagination with an important environmental message, Fennelly’s story encourages curiosity and compassion. Aimed at children aged 8–12, the book would be an ideal Christmas gift. The World is in our Hands is priced at €11.99 online at steffifennelly.com.

Glacaim Leat is a tender Irish-language documentary marking 10 years since Ireland’s marriage equality vote. It weaves together love, politics, and memory, centring on Seán and David’s wedding in the Donegal Gaeltacht while reflecting on what’s changed – and what hasn’t – for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community. Directed by Seán Ó Baoill and produced by Medb Ní Dhúláin, it airs later this year on TG4. See tg4.ie for broadcast details.

Get ready to swing into Christmas with Aoife Mulholland, Matt Ford, and award-winning barbershop quartet – 4 in a Bar – joined by the Niall Kinsella Orchestra for the merriest Christmas concert in town. Galwegian West End star Aoife Mulholland shot to fame as one of the contestants in the hit BBC TV show How do you solve a problem like Maria? and has had a string of leading roles in London, while Matt Ford is the UK’s most experienced and in-demand swing vocalist. Enjoy festive favourites like White Christmas and Sleigh Ride in a night full of sparkle and cheer in Leisureland, Galway and The Helix in Dublin. Tickets from €25 at musicforgalway.ie and thehelix.ie.

Inspired by Slievenamon mountain, artist Elaine Grainger’s new exhibition and performance, Moving Through Things opens at South

Tipperary Arts Centre in Clonmel on 14 November from 6–8pm and runs until 19 December. It explores how walking and movement can

connect us to place and memory. Performances take place on 15 and 22 November at 1pm. Free entry. See southtippartscentre.ie.

Sunflowers for Christmas by Aileen Bradfield Newcestown, Co Cork

The field beyond the fence is new reseeded, amid the green, three awkward stalks I see

Strong and straight as glasshouse plants in spring

In October? What is this?

whatever could they be?

Like Sherlock Holmes in deerstalker and tweeds

I approach them with my trusty clever app

The phone I point and click the leafy greens

I wait and slow, the mystery it is solved

Aha it’s sunflowers we have here, this autumn day

Swaying in the sun like children on the road

Look at us they say, how great to be alive

I made it, I’m the tallest, see me dance

With hands to face and open mouth I gape

I want to shoo them back inside the fence

But even that will never seal their fate

Ye’re doomed, I cry, oh silly innocents

A white a hoary frost will smite ye down or doom will come under some careless hoof or storms named Betty, Jack or Jill or Esmay will batter, crack and knock ye to the ground

And then a bright idea enters my head, to save them in a pot would be the thing those long tap roots would need containers large and bring them somewhere safe until the spring

Equipped with shovel and three holey buckets

I dig and lift these wily renegades now safe inside the glasshouse they are standing, recovering from this unexpected upgrade

And so, as winter comes and darkness falls, still marvelling at these oddities of nature

I wonder if this year we’ll deck the halls

Not with holly but with boughs of yellow sunflowers