From the disgraceful antics of the worst ever Santa, to the unexpected childminding skills of a former novice nun, Christmas comes early to Kells.

The Old Courthouse becomes a cinema for the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, 17/18 December with four great family movies, as well as Billy Bob Thornton in the original Bad Santa (strictly for the Mums and Dads)

Hollywood greats James Stewart and Julie Andrews feature in two of the family movies, the magical It’s a wonderful life and timeless The Sound of Music – everyone is encouraged to dress up for the latter, and even singalong with the seven young von Trapps et al.

The Grinch and the Muppets will also be making an appearance in How the Grinch Stole Christmas – starring Jim Carrey, and The Muppet Christmas Carol,  in which Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and the gang do some damage to Dickens.

The Kells Cultural Hub, which combines Kells Type Trail, Guth Gafa International Documentary Festival, and the Hinterland Festival (previously Hay/Kells). is pleased to present this weekend of family entertainment. Tickets for the daytime presentations will be €5 for adults €3 for children. The screening of Bad Santa on the evening of Saturday 17 December (tickets €10) will include a free glass of wine, (quite possibly mulled).