Event Guide for FREE Events in Greater Dublin

A weekly car boot sale, one of less than a handful that is still reliably taking place, has up to 200 cars/sellers. The stadium is just a few minutes walk from the Red LUAS line stop and numerous bus stops. For traders the Car Boot Sale opens at 06:30 for buyers from 08:00. If you are interested in selling, check the details and register on their website.

A Car Boot Sales will take place in the car park behind Supervalu in Deansgrange, at the Church of Ireland, Admission is free for buyers.

The weekly Honest2goodness food market in Glasnevin has fresh meat, vegetables, fish, baked goods, and wines. It is open from 09:30-16:00. It is behind Lidl in the Industrial Estate just after the Glasnevin Cemetary coming from the City Centre.

Parkrun Ireland is organising free weekly runs in parks. It is a timed run over 5km and participation is completely free, but registration before your first parkrun is required.

The SuperNatural Food Market is taking place every Saturday from 09:30-15:30 in St. Andrews Resource Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

On 26 July 1914, the Howth gunnrunning took place to provide weapons for the Irish Volunteers, Erskine Childers (yes, that is a name for a person) whose son later became the fourth Irish President, made his Yacht “Asgard” available for transporting the weapons and ammunition form Germany to Ireland.

An exhibition of artefacts from the Asgard gunrunning will take place in the Old Court House in Howth on Sat+Sun. The exhibition will also include artefacts form the 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence. Talks will be given daily by local historians & prominent speakers. Admission is free.

On Saturday at 17:00 a wreath laying ceremony will take place on the East Pier with main oration from Tommy McKearney.

A (non-free, EUR 5) Lecture and Ballad Session will take place in the evening: The talk on the Asgard Gunrunning and the Bachelors Walk Massacre is by Kevin Morley author of “A Descriptive History of the Irish Citizen Army”. This will be followed by a ballad session from local musicians with headline act from Érin go Bragh un the Abbey Tavern, Abbey St. Howth. Doors: 20:00

The Belgard Weekend Market is an indoor market with stalls with handcraft (incl. designer jewellery, aran jumpers and wool, christening robes and shawls, cards and cross stitch), household items, bric and brac, furniture, flowers, make-up, clothes, shoes, showers, upholstery, toys, kitchens, cafe, army memorabilia, collectors items, sweets, handbags books, blinds, party shop, tools and more.

It is open every Saturday and Sunday and is located in the Glen Abbey complex (opposite Jacobs) on Belgard Road.

The Colour Dash 5km Run for the Irish Cancer Society takes place in Furze Road in Phoenix Park on Saturday morning. This is NOT a free event (EUR 30), but apart from the pure spectacle of seeing the initially white runners turning rainbow coloured, there will also be entertainment at the finish to which everybody is invited (for free).

Dublin Maker is a one-day, hands-on, family-friendly, free, outdoor celebration of making in tents on the Physics Lawn of Trinity College Dublin.

Inventors and makers have an opportunity to showcase their creations and it’s a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, science clubs, students, authors, and commercial exhibitors. They are of all ages and backgrounds.

Dublin Maker took place last year for the first time and it was a great event. You don’t really know what you will discover there, but if you are a curious, interested and maybe even semi-geeky person, don’t miss this event. I will be there!

Jamestown Flea Market + Car Boot Sale takes place every Sat+Sun from 10:00-17:00. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on the red Luas line. There is free parking.

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a weekly indoors flea market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls in a big industrial hall. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel).

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

The Skerries Water Festival takes this weekend on Sat+Sun. You will be able to try out water sports activities and there will also be family fun, BBQs, markets and much more!

The activites you can expect are
Market, Food Vendors, Funfair, Sandcastle Building Competition on South Strand Beach, Arts and Crafts for Children, Face Painting, Street Performers, Water Sports Taster Sessions (kayaking, stand-up paddling, rowing, kite-surfing and more) with Outdoor Dublin and Skerries Watersports Academy, Sessions with Skerries Sea Tours – North Beach.

For more information see the website below.

The published timetable for Saturday is:

10:00-18:00 The Market on South Strand
12:00-17:00 Boat and Crew Display and Tour of RNLI Station – The Harbour
12:00-16:00 Watersports Taster Sessions on South Strand
12:00-18:00 Street Performers on South Strand and Skerries Main Street
14:00-16:00 Sand Castle Building Competition
17:00 Sandcastle Competition Winners Announced

A new market (flea/vintage/etc) with two cafés has opened in the same location in Thomas Street where the Ferocious Mingle Market was before their move to Camden Street.

The new market in 72 Thomas Street is called Stable Market and it is open from Thursday until Sunday from 10:00-18:00 every day. It seems there is neither a website nor a Facebook Page yet.

The Temple Bar Markets (Food Market on Meeting House Square, Book Market on Temple Bar Square and the Designer Mart near Cow’s Lane) are taking place every Saturday from 10:00-16:30.

The Festival of Curiosity takes place this weekend and a Science&Culture-themed Treasure Hunt for the whole family is one of the highlights on Saturday and Sunday. Many other events are booked out, but booking for the “Curious Trail” is still possible.

The Treasure Hunt starts at City Hall in Dame Street and takes approx. one hour to complete. Last starting time is 15:30.

At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you’ll find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food & there’s free popcorn, ballons & facepainting for the kids.
Open on Saturdays and Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30, and Sundays: 12:00-17:30.

At the Drop-in activity “Make a Viking Helmet” kids Age 6+ learn about Viking helmets and make their own to take home.

The helmet was very important to the Vikings for protection during dangerous raids and battles like the Battle of Clontarf 1014.

Admission is free and no booking required.

The Malahide Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday lots of children events and children entertainment is provided, but seemingly no other activities are part of it.

Find all information about the festival on www.malahidehasit.ie

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) is back in a new location. The Marcade is now in Camden Street next to Daintree Paper and opposite the Centra and off-license there. It takes place every Thurs-Sun and is a flea-market-type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders.

This is the fifth year for “Yoga in the Park”, a brilliant initiative for a very worthy cause: From May until September, Tine from www.aditiyoga.org/ and her team of teachers invite to an hour of Yoga in Phoenix Park every Saturday. No booking is required.

The class is donation based, but all proceeds go to the Dublin Simon Community, a charity that does invaluable work for the homeless people in Dublin and the suggested donation for this very good cause is EUR 5.

Just bring a mat or a towel, some water and (hopefully) even some sun protection to the class. Should the weather be bad, the bandstand will be shelter or even training location. The training is suitable for all levels, so even total beginners are very welcome.

Come to the Curiosity Garden & BioPond for a fusion of science, art and play for all the family. Drop in to Flimbase in Temple Bar throughout the Festival of Curiosity to encounter musical plants, butterfly making, light painting and more to reignite your curiosity in the world we live in. The event is part of the Festival of Curiosity and takes place on Sat+Sun.

Admission is free and no booking required.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

Weekend 4 of the Bray Summerfest is the weekend for the Family Fiesta.

On Saturday, there will be a Teddy Bear Picnic, Reuben the Entertainer will perform and an Outdoor Cinema screening “Finding Nemo” (13:30) and the “Lego Movie” (15:30) will keep the children happy.

On Sunday a Disco Bambino, Outdoor Cinema Screenings of “Despicable Me” (13:30) and “Frozen” (15:30) and a Miriam Lambert Puppeteers performance will take place.

All event are free and no booking is required.

The Dublin City Soul Festival went through many transformations in its 8 year history. In the first two years there were outstanding international Soul Bands, like the amazing Rance Allen Group, part of a top notch line-up. For a few years it was a week long festival with Food Trail and Pub Gigs that culminated in a 1-day Soul Picnic, then the Rising Stars competition for new bands was added, then it went to two days of Soul Picnic and this year all is changing again:

The Dublin City Soul Festival as an independent event is seemingly gone, but luckily the Soul Picnic (as a 2-day event) is staying at least for another year and has moved under the umbrella of the City Spectacular. It is now called “City Soul Picnic”. The bands are all Irish based and are (for a number of years) not only Soul anymore but that is not a bad thing, as they are still some of the best Irish bands. And the date has moved from end of May to now end of July.

So what is staying? A great 2-day summer festival with some of the best music Dublin can offer. – I have been at the Soul Picnic for the last 7 years and I will be there again this year. Admission is free, but a donation of EUR 5 for the Musical Youth Foundation is suggested for adult visitors.

The line-up this year will be:

Saturday 26 July:
Maynooth Gospel Choir
Moo!
The Blood Red Mountain Band
Johnny Rayge
Fox.E & The Good Hands
ZASKA
Miles Graham
Don Baker

—————

Sunday 27 July:
Dublin Gospel Choir
The Sacreblues Band
Mongoose
Richard Farrell and the Last Tribe
Age
The Barley Mob
Big September
Soul Power v’s “The Goods” Band

Tha National Botanic Gardens features a number of Festival of Curiosity events:

An inflatable Pop-Up Cinema will screen the most vivid and innovative short films from around the globe, exploring science, curiosity and exploration for young and older explorers and (future) scientists on Sat+Sun. (Brought to you by UCD Science Expression in partnership with The Festival of Curiosity.)

And “Alimentary Adventures”, an inflatable 8m long walk-through tunnel, which mimics the human digestive system, will explain how the disgestive system works. (Brought to you by Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre.)

Admission to both events is free and no booking is required.

www.festivalofcuriosity.ie/index.php/preview/curious-film/

www.festivalofcuriosity.ie/index.php/preview/alimentary-adventures/

The weekly Ha’penny Flea Market is an indoor market in the Grand Social Pub, which offers vintage Men and Women’s clothing, contemporary crafts, books, DVDs, vinyl records, vintage and handmade jewellery, vintage hair styles, art, photography and much more. Grand Social’s Bar and Gourmet Coffee options are available.

The Science Gallery Summer Exhibition “Strange Weather: Forecasts from te Future” has opened on 18 July and will run until 05 October.

The exhibition explores how we understand, adapt to and control the changing weather and shows also a lot educational and even quirky bits around weather: A Raindrop hovering in mid-air, a Tornado Diverter, a Cloud Collector, Weather Models, a machine making house shaped clouds and an archive of old events from around the world that were (or are) impacted by weather and of new events emerging because of weather.

There are 26 exhibits and – like all Science Gallery exhibitions -, it is a really interesting exhibition. Well worth a visit with the whole family.

You can even be a TV weather man/woman in a professional studio set-up! An interesting experience!
Here is me giving it a go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYQjHHfRdco …I know, I better not give up the day job. ;-)

The Science Gallery is open Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and on Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00. Admission is free.

Summer Rising is a celebration of art, music, food and performance with day-long family events and a programme of night-time events. It takes place at the Irish Museum of Modern Art: In the gardens of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the IMMA’s North Wing.The festival runs on 18-19+22-26 July and all day-time events are free, but a number of them require booking.

The main festival days are the Saturdays (19+26 July), but a day-by-day schedule of all events is here: www.imma.ie/en/nav_42.htm and a range of exhibitions can be visited throughout the festival.

Highlights at the last day are:

Saturday 26 July:
Another family day will take place at the IMMA:
The Gardens will be alive with a series of free musical performances by Seán Mac Erlaine, The BQ Trio, Roland Gomez and rock and pop covers choir “The Line Up”. There will also be an interactive installation “Wow&Flutter” by Jimmy Eadie.
At foodie workshops butter making with Imen McDonnell of Modern Farmette, fish smoking with Sally Barnes of Woodcock Smokery, and how to forage for Irish seaweed with Sally McKenna.
And once again you can take part in a day long art workshop inspired by the Hélio Oiticica exhibition and resident artists studio’s will be open for visits.
Enjoy food from the Concrete Tiki Café or bring your own Picnic Baskets.

And these activities are free but require booking:

+ 12:00-13:00 Gardner’s Tour of the Formal Gardens with Cathal O’ Sullivan (Craft Gardener, Formal Gardens)
+ 12:00-13:30 Butter making workshop with Imen McDonnell
+ 13:00-14:00 Discussion: Cultural Trends in Irish Gastronomy, Formal Gardens
+ 13:30-15:00 Using Irish seaweed with Sally McKenna
+ 14:00-15:00 Gallery Discussion + Open Studios of Unseen Presence, Project Spaces
+ 15:30-17:00 Fish smoking workshop with Sally Barnes

Wooly Wards Mobile Pe tting Farm and Animal Theatre will come to Marlay Park this weekend.

Cute animals are clearly not just for children, so don’t worry, there will be some “Aws” for everyone. Come along and visit fluffy little creatures such as guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits and pose for a picture with a llama, watch the ducks splash around and chase the kid goat around the enclosure.

Everyone is welcome to sit and pet the animals in a safe and supervised environment on three weekends (26+27 July, 23-24 August, 06+07 September). www.woolywardsfarm.com

“Circuit Paper Scissors” is an interactive science/art installation by artist Laura De Búrca. Come and play at The Library Project through paper-craft, screen printing and electronics. See your art come alive through the magical world of electronic paint. The event is part of the Festival of Curiosity. Admission is free and no booking required. The event is suitable from Age 5-105.

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

An Intercultural Tour and family-friendly activies in Mandarin with Community Ambassador Tiedong Yang will take place.

Meeting point is in the atrium of the Library. admission is free and no booking is required.

The Hazel House is a Cafe, Shop, home for a range of Crafters and venue for carft classes and their offical opening is on Saturday.

There will be games (13:00-16:00), face painting (14:00-15:00), a Talent Show for everyone to participate (15:00-16:00), a pinata, music and crafty fun and a BBQ (16:00-19:00). Everyone is invited and admission is free.

Traditional storyteller Niall de Burca will enthrall you with his stories in this hour.

Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for all ages.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher will run every Saturday. It will be an Alternative Arts and Culture Trail and she will bring you to “Dublin’s Best Cafes, Bars, Markets, Unusual Stores, Galleries, Theatres, Arts Spaces, and more! And hear some tales you’ve never heard before!”

Meeting point is at the Spire. The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is required via egaldog@gmail.com or 085-2725095

“The Scarecrow’s Wedding” by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler will be read in 27 Eason’s stores all over Ireland. In O’Connell Street the reading takes place at 14:00. In the other Eason Stores, the times vary between 11:00 and 15:00 (see website below).

Admission is free.

Because this is the weekend the Garth Brooks Concerts would have taken place and because there is the assumption that a number of the 400,000 fans that had bought tickets and booked hotels did not completely cancel their trip but did come to Dublin, a number of live music events with a Country/Americana/Roots theme take place.

In Lonesome Dame is the umbrella term for the events in the Dame District area (Dame Court and Dame Lane Streets).

There will be Live Country/Americana/Roots music on Saturday under the event title “Ok Corral Busking Trail” (see separate event listing) and on Sunday on the main stage at Dame Court. In addition there will be BBQs + American Food in the Dame District.

For the OK Corral Busking Trail, check the separate event listing here on Saturday.
The Sunday Main Stage line-up is:
+ 17:00 NC Lawlor
+ 18:00 Gavin Glass
+ 19:00 Louisiana 6
+ 20:00 Moo
+ 21:00 Well Enough Alone

The information for all events is also here: www.facebook.com/DameDistrict/posts/675244382558909

Admission is free to all events.

To launch the Moving Bodies Butoh Festival, Ambra G. Bergamasco will perform “Bacon Butoh Deleuze“ with commentary by Joseph Cohen (UCD). Admission is free.

On Sunday Ambra G. Bermansco will run a Family Workshop in the Hugh Lane Gallery. (see separate event listing)

“Moving Bodies Butoh International Festival presents contemporary performance art grounded in Japanese culture. The festival facilitates a greater understanding of Butoh dance through performances, talks, events and workshops with Japanese and European artists with the aim of advancing our relationship with Butoh as an encounter for peripheral European audiences who are rarely exposed to contemporary Japanese performing arts.”

Other events, which are part of the Moving Bodies Butoh Festival (but are not fee) are listed here: movingbodiesbutohfestival.com/dublin-workshops-and-performances-bookings/

Because this is the weekend the Garth Brooks Concerts would have taken place and because there is the assumption that a number of the 400,000 fans that had bought tickets and booked hotels did not completely cancel their trip but did come to Dublin, a number of live music events with a Country/Americana/Roots theme take place.

On Saturday the “Ok Corral Busking Trail” will take place in the Dame District. There will be 8 (!) Stages at
+ Wolftone Square in Jervis Street
+ Dublin Castle Entrance
+ Avalon House in Aungier Street
+ Abbey Street Luas Stop
+ Merrion Square (I assume that is the City Soul Picnic Stage!)
+ Screen Cinema
+ Dame Lane East (near 4 Dame Lane)
+ Dame Lane Main Stage (near the Stag’s Head/Whelan’s)

There is a poster with a map here: www.powerscourtcentre.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Busking-Trail.jpg
And the schedule is in this Facebook Post: www.facebook.com/DameDistrict/posts/675244382558909

And the line up is Prairie Dogs, Dublin City Rounders, Moo, Blood Red Mountain Band, NC Lawlor, Louisiana 6, Well Enough Alone, Home Brew & The Bad Examples, Carriz Haskins, Eamonn O’Connor, Clara Rose, Gavin Glass

Good line up!

Admission is free.

The event remembers Bernie Dwyer, an Irish Journalist, who worked for Radio Habana Cuba for many years. Dwyer died in 2013 and Cuba Day at the Progressive Film Club features three of her films:

14:00 Mission Against Terror
15:00 One Man’s Story: Phillip Agee
16:00 The Day Diplomacy Died

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

A march in solidarity with the people of Palestine, especially those trapped in Gaza who are under serious attack by Israel, will take place. Assemble at 14:00 at The Spire in O’Connell Street to get ready for the march to the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge.

You are asked to bring friends, flags, banners, noise, but leave the party-political flags at home.
The event is organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

More details about the protest and the attacks on Palestine are on the Facebook Page below.

And if you have heard about the attacks and killings, but are not sure about the background, then use 5 minutes and watch this very interesting and educational video clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) will screen the film “The Commitments” on Smithfield Plaza, but unfortunately all 400 (free) tickets are all gone for both the Film Screening and the Afterparty in the Generator Hostel.

The only thing remaining that might be accessible for everyone (even without tickets) is the pre-screening live gig from 18:30-20:30 with the two bands Manden Express and Mama Kasbah.

Cornucopia Café & Restaurant host live music three evenings a week (Thurs, Fri and Sat). The restaurant is a Wholefood & Vegetarian Restaurant and is open until 22:15.
+ Every second Thursday N.C Lawlor, a songwriter, session player and troubadour plays a mix of country, bluegrass & blues from 19:30-21:30.
+ Every Friday (19:30-21:30) Junshi Murakami plays Irish Harp.
+ Every Saturday (19:30-21:30) Nollaig Mann plays a collection of popular and jazz classics.

The following gigs will take place this weekend:

Saturday 26 July

20:00-21:00 The Furious Haze
21:30-23:00 Big September

Sunday 27 July

16:30-17:00 New Sound
17:30-18:30 Bray Musical Society

Friday 01 August

20:00-21:00 Jet Setter
21:30-23:00 The Harleys

All gigs are on the bandstand and admission is free.

This is a weekly Saturday night live music event event in the basement Wine Cave of KC Peaches wholefood restaurant/café. Food will be served until 22:00 and wine, minerals & music will be available until later. Admission is free and a donation into a hat at the end of the evening is appreciated.

The Devils Jukebox is live music from 20:00-23:00 and DJs with Alternative, Punk, Rock, Metal & Garage after that. Every Saturday! Admission is free.

Whelan’s is hosting the Bluegrass Country & Roots Festival over the weekend from 25-27 July as part of the “City & Western” Festival. Featuring four bands, with a mixture of roots, trad and rock, the show will run from 20:00-23:00 every evening and admission is free.

The line-up on Saturday is:

Prairie Dawgs
Handsome Boatmen
One Horse Pony
Clara Rose

The line-up on Sunday is:

The Blood Red Mountain Band
Pete Cummins
Gavin Glass
Tim V Smyth

Yes, it is the Garth Brooks Weekend and even if the man himself decided not to be available for his fans, 10s of thousands of fans might still be in Dublin over the weekend.

The Arlington Hotel took the opportunity to give these fans the next best thing: “The Garth Brooks Experience” is a Tribute Band and they will perform in the Arlington on Saturday. Admission is free.

The Stillorgan Orchard has live music every Friday and Saturday. Many of the performers are established and very good bands. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below. Admission is always free.

Olesya Zdorovetska (Ukraine) is a pianist and singer and she will entertain you in the Cocktail Bar of the Fire Restaurant in Mansion House. Admission is free.

The Blood Red Mountain Band are having a busy weekend, but they are not stopping: A gig on Saturday in the Cobblestone is added to the gigs at the Soul Picnic, the Ok Corral Busking Trail and the Whelan’s Bluegrass, Country & Roots Festival. The music is Country and Roots.

Admission is free.

On 26 July 1914, the Howth gunnrunning took place to provide weapons for the Irish Volunteers, Erskine Childers (yes, that is a name for a person) whose son later became the fourth Irish President, made his Yacht “Asgard” available for transporting the weapons and ammunition form Germany to Ireland.

An exhibition of artefacts from the Asgard gunrunning will take place in the Old Court House in Howth on Sat+Sun. The exhibition will also include artefacts form the 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence. Talks will be given daily by local historians & prominent speakers. Admission is free.

The Belgard Weekend Market is an indoor market with stalls with handcraft (incl. designer jewellery, aran jumpers and wool, christening robes and shawls, cards and cross stitch), household items, bric and brac, furniture, flowers, make-up, clothes, shoes, showers, upholstery, toys, kitchens, cafe, army memorabilia, collectors items, sweets, handbags books, blinds, party shop, tools and more.

It is open every Saturday and Sunday and is located in the Glen Abbey complex (opposite Jacobs) on Belgard Road.

Jamestown Flea Market + Car Boot Sale takes place every Sat+Sun from 10:00-17:00. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on the red Luas line. There is free parking.

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a weekly indoors flea market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls in a big industrial hall. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel).

Every Sunday, the Merrion Square Open Air Art Gallery takes place. Up to 200 artists exhibit their paintings on the railings on three sides (West, North and East) of Merrion Square and you can just enjoy the exhibition or even buy.

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

The Skerries Water Festival takes this weekend on Sat+Sun. You will be able to try out water sports activities and there will also be family fun, BBQs, markets and much more!

The activites you can expect are
Market, Food Vendors, Funfair, Sandcastle Building Competition on South Strand Beach, Arts and Crafts for Children, Face Painting, Street Performers, Water Sports Taster Sessions (kayaking, stand-up paddling, rowing, kite-surfing and more) with Outdoor Dublin and Skerries Watersports Academy, Sessions with Skerries Sea Tours – North Beach.

For more information see the website below.

The published timetable for Sunday is:

10:00-18:00 The Market on South Strand
11:00 Live Reenactment of Lifeboat Launch
12:00-17:00 Boat and Crew Display and Tour of RNLI Station – The Harbour
12:00-16:00 Watersports Taster Sessions on South Strand
12:00-18:00 Street Performers on South Strand and Skerries Main Street
14:00-16:00 Sand Castle Building Competition
17:00 Sandcastle Competition Winners Announced

A new market (flea/vintage/etc) with two cafés has opened in the same location in Thomas Street where the Ferocious Mingle Market was before their move to Camden Street.

The new market in 72 Thomas Street is called Stable Market and it is open from Thursday until Sunday from 10:00-18:00 every day. It seems there is neither a website nor a Facebook Page yet.

The Festival of Curiosity takes place this weekend and a Science&Culture-themed Treasure Hunt for the whole family is one of the highlights on Saturday and Sunday. Many other events are booked out, but booking for the “Curious Trail” is still possible.

The Treasure Hunt starts at City Hall in Dame Street and takes approx. one hour to complete. Last starting time is 15:30.

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the months, so the Dublin Flea Market should take place. But the Facebook Page hasn’t been updated since 11 July, so what’s going on? I don’t know. Check the Facebook Page below and if there is an update before Sunday. If there is no update, we probably have to assume that it is not taking place this month.

Normally the Dublin Flea Market is taking place in the Food Co-op, 12 Newmarket, just off Cork Street, Dublin 8 on Sun from 11:00-17:00. The flea market takes place every last Sunday of the month and admission is free. For more information or if you want to sell your own stuff, check out www.dublinflea.ie

“A bizarre bazaar of vintage clothing, bric-a-brac and what nots, old and new. Stalls include hand-made goods, art, jewellery, furniture, records and lots more unwanted items that may just be your treasure!”
The Co-op Hall is wheelchair accessible and lots of free parking spaces are right outside the door.

A weekly market with lots of food, but also many other products (art & crafts, books, etc) takes place every Sunday in the beautiful People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. It is a very popular market and with around 50 vendors also one of the bigger markets.

There seem to be TWO weekly markets on Long Mile Road and both are very close to each other. One is behind Wigoders on Long Mile Road (across the road from Aldi). It hosts more than 50 stalls and there is also a Cafe on site. www.facebook.com/WigodersLongmileMarket And the other one is just on the other side of the road, next to Aldi. www.facebook.com/TheLongMileRdMarket

The Malahide Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday lots of children events and children entertainment is provided, but seemingly no other activities are part of it.

Find all information about the festival on www.malahidehasit.ie

The well known Palestrina Choir sing every Sunday at the mass in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. They sing complete masterworks by Mozart, Haydn, Dvorak, Palestrina, de Victoria, usually accompanied by Prof. Gerard Gillen on the organ, who often also plays a solo piece.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) is back in a new location. The Marcade is now in Camden Street next to Daintree Paper and opposite the Centra and off-license there. It takes place every Thurs-Sun and is a flea-market-type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders.

Come to the Curiosity Garden & BioPond for a fusion of science, art and play for all the family. Drop in to Flimbase in Temple Bar throughout the Festival of Curiosity to encounter musical plants, butterfly making, light painting and more to reignite your curiosity in the world we live in. The event is part of the Festival of Curiosity and takes place on Sat+Sun.

Admission is free and no booking required.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you’ll find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food & there’s free popcorn, ballons & facepainting for the kids.
Open on Sundays: 12:00-17:30. Open on Saturdays and Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30.

Weekend 4 of the Bray Summerfest is the weekend for the Family Fiesta.

On Saturday, there will be a Teddy Bear Picnic, Reuben the Entertainer will perform and an Outdoor Cinema screening “Finding Nemo” (13:30) and the “Lego Movie” (15:30) will keep the children happy.

On Sunday a Disco Bambino, Outdoor Cinema Screenings of “Despicable Me” (13:30) and “Frozen” (15:30) and a Miriam Lambert Puppeteers performance will take place.

All event are free and no booking is required.

The Dublin City Soul Festival went through many transformations in its 8 year history. In the first two years there were outstanding international Soul Bands, like the amazing Rance Allen Group, part of a top notch line-up. For a few years it was a week long festival with Food Trail and Pub Gigs that culminated in a 1-day Soul Picnic, then the Rising Stars competition for new bands was added, then it went to two days of Soul Picnic and this year all is changing again:

The Dublin City Soul Festival as an independent event is seemingly gone, but luckily the Soul Picnic (as a 2-day event) is staying at least for another year and has moved under the umbrella of the City Spectacular. It is now called “City Soul Picnic”. The bands are all Irish based and are (for a number of years) not only Soul anymore but that is not a bad thing, as they are still some of the best Irish bands. And the date has moved from end of May to now end of July.

So what is staying? A great 2-day summer festival with some of the best music Dublin can offer. – I have been at the Soul Picnic for the last 7 years and I will be there again this year. Admission is free, but a donation of EUR 5 for the Musical Youth Foundation is suggested for adult visitors.

The line-up this year will be:

Sunday 27 July:
Dublin Gospel Choir
The Sacreblues Band
Mongoose
Richard Farrell and the Last Tribe
Age
The Barley Mob
Big September
Soul Power vs “The Goods” Band

The “Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy 2014″ will take place from 26 July – 03 Aug. Advanced piano students will benefit from an intensive and educational programme and we can enjoy an interesting concert series.

There will be concerts in the National Concert Hall and in the Hugh Lane Gallery and the cost doesn’t exceed EUR 5, but we are lucky: The Hugh Lane Gallery runs the concerts as free concerts with a a suggested donation of EUR 5.

+ Sun 27 July – 12:00: Archie Chen performing Mozart – Schwartz – Liszt
+ Tues 29 July – 13:00: Lance Coburn performing Beethoven – Vine – Tchaikovsky/Pletnev
+ Wed 30 July – 13:00: Evelyne Brancart performing Mozart – Beethoven – Brahms

More information about all events: www.pianofestival.ie/programme_of_events.html

Tha National Botanic Gardens features a number of Festival of Curiosity events:

An inflatable Pop-Up Cinema will screen the most vivid and innovative short films from around the globe, exploring science, curiosity and exploration for young and older explorers and (future) scientists on Sat+Sun. (Brought to you by UCD Science Expression in partnership with The Festival of Curiosity.)

And “Alimentary Adventures”, an inflatable 8m long walk-through tunnel, which mimics the human digestive system, will explain how the disgestive system works. (Brought to you by Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre.)

Admission to both events is free and no booking is required.

www.festivalofcuriosity.ie/index.php/preview/curious-film/

www.festivalofcuriosity.ie/index.php/preview/alimentary-adventures/

Come to the launch of the Donnybrook Walking Trail Map & Guide which has been produced by Dublin City Council in partnership with the Ballsbridge, Donnybrook & Sandymount Historical Society. This tour will be led by John Holohan and take you through Herbert Park, across the River Dodder and along leafy roads as you explore the history of one of Dublin’s most iconic villages.

Admission is free,

“Made by Hand” or “Hecho a manos” is a new Sunday weekly market in Viva, Portobello with most things made by hand and some vintage clothing and curiosities too. Admission is free.

An indoor market in Coolock with over 40 traders with a wide range of goods and a café on site as well.

At this Story Telling Event in Easonology O’Connell St children can roll the dice and tell a story based on the symbols they see. The best story told will win a set of Rory Story Cubes. Admission is free.

The Science Gallery Summer Exhibition “Strange Weather: Forecasts from te Future” has opened on 18 July and will run until 05 October.

The exhibition explores how we understand, adapt to and control the changing weather and shows also a lot educational and even quirky bits around weather: A Raindrop hovering in mid-air, a Tornado Diverter, a Cloud Collector, Weather Models, a machine making house shaped clouds and an archive of old events from around the world that were (or are) impacted by weather and of new events emerging because of weather.

There are 26 exhibits and – like all Science Gallery exhibitions -, it is a really interesting exhibition. Well worth a visit with the whole family.

You can even be a TV weather man/woman in a professional studio set-up! An interesting experience!
Here is me giving it a go: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYQjHHfRdco …I know, I better not give up the day job. ;-)

The Science Gallery is open Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and on Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00. Admission is free.

“Circuit Paper Scissors” is an interactive science/art installation by artist Laura De Búrca. Come and play at The Library Project through paper-craft, screen printing and electronics. See your art come alive through the magical world of electronic paint. The event is part of the Festival of Curiosity. Admission is free and no booking required. The event is suitable from Age 5-105.

The “Dublin Sketchers” is an informal group of (hobby) artists who go somewhere different in Dublin every Sunday (e.g. National Museum, Maritime Museum, Dublin Flea Market, Farmleigh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin Castle, Science Gallery, …), sketch for one to two hours and then meet up for coffee afterwards and discuss their sketches.

There are some hugely talented people among them and it is a great idea to meet up with others who have the same hobby. Find out on their website below or on their Facebook Page where they will meet and join them if you do some sketching/drawing yourself. I know that the Dublin Sketchers often use the Dublin Event Guide to find interesting free events and I am delighted to be able to help!

Ambra G. Bergamasco will delivera Children and Family Workshop as part of the Moving Bodies Butoh Festival in The Hugh Lane Gallery. Admission is free.

“Moving Bodies Butoh International Festival presents contemporary performance art grounded in Japanese culture. The festival facilitates a greater understanding of Butoh dance through performances, talks, events and workshops with Japanese and European artists with the aim of advancing our relationship with Butoh as an encounter for peripheral European audiences who are rarely exposed to contemporary Japanese performing arts.”

Afternoon Jazz in Café en Seine. The Stella Bass Jazz Trio play every Sunday from 14:00-16:00 in Café en Seine in Dawson Street. Admission is free. A video is here www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8aKqtOB5S8

Come to the Family Drawing Sundays in the RHA. All children are welcome to use the RHA Art Cart, in the RHA Atrium. Admission is free. For further information, contact Ruth Carroll on 01 6612558 or via ruth@rhagallery.ie

Unlike the three branches of the National Museum, the National Print Museum is normally not free, but every Sunday there is a free public tour for the next few weeks. Every visit begins with a short audio-visual presentation where the audience can observe active retired printers providing practical demonstrations of machines from the Museum’s collection.

Brian Keary is a classically trained guitar player who also has experience of different styles / genres of music ranging from ragtime and folk to baroque and contemporary. He will perform in Sweeney’s (Ground Floor) on Sunday afternoon.

The following gigs will take place this weekend:

Saturday 26 July

20:00-21:00 The Furious Haze
21:30-23:00 Big September

Sunday 27 July

16:30-17:00 New Sound
17:30-18:30 Bray Musical Society

Friday 01 August

20:00-21:00 Jet Setter
21:30-23:00 The Harleys

All gigs are on the bandstand and admission is free.

House Dublin is a restaurant and bar in Leeson Street. On Sundays the Camembert Quartet is playing in their garden from 17:00-19:00. Admission is free.

Because this is the weekend the Garth Brooks Concerts would have taken place and because there is the assumption that a number of the 400,000 fans that had bought tickets and booked hotels did not completely cancel their trip but did come to Dublin, a number of live music events with a Country/Americana/Roots theme take place.

In Lonesome Dame is the umbrella term for the events in the Dame District area (Dame Court and Dame Lane Streets).

There will be Live Country/Americana/Roots music on Saturday under the event title “Ok Corral Busking Trail” (see separate event listing) and on Sunday on the main stage at Dame Court. In addition there will be BBQs + American Food in the Dame District.

For the OK Corral Busking Trail, check the separate event listing here on Saturday.
The Sunday Main Stage line-up is:
+ 17:00 NC Lawlor
+ 18:00 Gavin Glass
+ 19:00 Louisiana 6
+ 20:00 Moo
+ 21:00 Well Enough Alone

The information for all events is also here: www.facebook.com/DameDistrict/posts/675244382558909

Admission is free to all events.

The wedding and party band The LJJ Band play every Sunday evening in Café en Seine. Admission is free.

The Sweeney’s Dixeland Jazzmen play their weekly gig on the ground floor in Sweeney’s. Admission is free.

Saucy Sundays is a weekly free live music afternoon and evening in the Grand Social. The line-up and links to all bands/performers are available via the Saucy Sundays Facebook Page (see link below).

In short it is Death In The Sickroom, Ray Brown, Written In Sound, Myles Manley, Cal Folger Day and The Reverse.

The Dublin Blues Cartel will be in Whelan’s again and will perform mostly a version of New Orleans R’n’B with a classic rock twist, sandwiched with swing, Rock’n’Roll, Soul, Funk, Blues and rap of all eras. Admission is free.

This weekly Latin Music event will take place every Sunday. You will be able to dance salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia and reggeaton. Live music, food tasting and free admission, what more could you want?

The weekly Sunday Roast is a free event in the Mercantile where live music is combined with free roast potatoes. The line-up for the upcoming Sunday Roast is available via the Sunday Roast Facebook Page (see link below).

Whelan’s is hosting the Bluegrass Country & Roots Festival over the weekend from 25-27 July as part of the “City & Western” Festival. Featuring four bands, with a mixture of roots, trad and rock, the show will run from 20:00-23:00 every evening and admission is free.

The line-up on Sunday is:

The Blood Red Mountain Band
Pete Cummins
Gavin Glass
Tim V Smyth

Every Sunday this singer-songwriter night takes place in the Bleeding Horse in Camden St. from 8.30pm. It is an Open mic night and performers can just turn up and put their name on the list for that night.

At the Jawbone Gig night in Sin É, Acoustic Folk & Blues will be performed every Sunday. Admission is free. For the line-up check here www.facebook.com/pages/Jawbone-Dublin-Acoustic-Folk-Blues-Commune/724102984268967

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy downstairs in Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sun+Mon. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of that there is some free ice cream. The line-up can be found via the Comedy Crunch Facebook Page (see link below).

Rogério from the Brazilian dance project “Forró de Lampião” in Dublin tells me: Forró de Lampião is Brazilian music that has the same roots as Samba and there is a whole culture that has developed around “forro”. Every Sunday, free dance classes take place in the Grand Social (new loation!) and if you are interested, just turn up one Sunday.

“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event on Sunday night in The Globe. Admission is free.

The Pavement Kings play Rockabilly from 21:00 and
DJs Popocorn Peete and Little Dakota follow from 23:00-01:30 with a white variety of styles (Rockabilly, Calypso, Soul, Rock ‘n’ Roll, etc).

Billy Treacy & The Ha’Penny Heads are playing Ballads, Folk, Trad and Classic Country every Sunday. Featuring Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle and Banjo.

Every Sunday (except at Bank Holiday weekends), the Ragtime, Roots and Country Blues Band “Cool Hand Dukes” play in the Porterhouse near Grafton Street.

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Islamic Foundation Ireland (South Circular Road) will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Monday at the Transport Clubin Crumlin. Eid al-Fitr is the Feast of Breaking the Fast at the end of Ramadan.

Thre will lots of Children Entertainment Train ride with Bull ride, Bouncing Castles, Face Painting, Pupett shows, Candyfloss, /Popcorn and for the whole family BBQ, Food stalls and Market/Exhibition stalls will be available.

Admission is free.

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

If you regularly or occasionally buy books online, you can help the Dublin Event Guide hugely even without having to pay cent directly. In fact you even save money this way:

Buy your books from The Book Depository and get better prices and free (!!) delivery for all orders independent from the volume and when you click on the picture here before you buy, then 5% of what normally The Book Depository would get, they give back to the Dublin Event Guide. Everybody wins!

www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=dubevg

If you prefer Amazon to buy your books (for free postage you need to order a minimum of GBP 25), then use this Amazon link to help the Dublin Event Guide. Thanks!

This is an open mic night with Special Guests every Monday. Arrive, sign in (from 19:00) and play. Admission is free.

Song Cycle is a weekly Singer/Songriter showcase. Admission is always free.

This week the line-up is Gavin Mee, Caroline Kiernan, Shane O’Reilly; Dan Murphy; The Tearaways plus guests

The Monday Echo is a weekly songwriter and poetry live showcase held on Mondays in the basement of The International Bar. Usually, the show has 3 songwriters and 3 poets who perform for roughly 20 minutes each. Admission is free.
The weekly line-up can be found via the Facebook Page below.

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday and Monday. Every week different comedians entertain and on top of good comedy you will get free ice cream. Admission is free. The line-up can be found via the Comedy Crunch Facebook Page (see link below).

The Crafty Monday Sessions is an Open Mic night for acoustic singer/songwriters and original bands. Admission is free.

The 4-piece band Loose Trad are performing every Monday in Mother Reilly’s. www.loosetrad.com/ Admission is free.

Patrick Mahony sings songs from Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Matt Monro and many more every Monday in the Cafe en Seine. Admission is free.

A group of trainee Yoga instructors got together and they are running free Yoga classes every Tuesday morning at 07:30 in Berlin Cafe (yes, it is in the Cafe!).

You just need to bring a Yoga mat and wear suitable clothing and then enjoy the Yoga to get you ready for the day.

A Thursday morning beginners class at the same time in the same place has been added to the schedule now. Don’t forget your mat!

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher will on Tuesday now as well. It will be an Alternative Arts and Culture Trail and she will bring you to “Dublin’s Best Cafes, Bars, Markets, Unusual Stores, Galleries, Theatres, Arts Spaces, and more! And hear some tales you’ve never heard before!”

Meeting point is at the Spire. The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is required via egaldog@gmail.com or 085-2725095

“Fur, Feathers and Fossils” is a summer inspectorium: Drop in to the Discovery Zone and inspect everything from bears, to brachiopods at this hands-on sessions. You can stay five minutes or fifteen or more, see the specimens up close and chat to a zoologist to find out some fun facts. Drop-in activity. Admission is free.

At the Drop-in activity “Make a Viking Helmet” kids Age 6+ learn about Viking helmets and make their own to take home.

The helmet was very important to the Vikings for protection during dangerous raids and battles like the Battle of Clontarf 1014.

Admission is free and no booking required.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The “Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy 2014″ will take place from 26 July – 03 Aug. Advanced piano students will benefit from an intensive and educational programme and we can enjoy an interesting concert series.

There will be concerts in the National Concert Hall and in the Hugh Lane Gallery and the cost doesn’t exceed EUR 5, but we are lucky: The Hugh Lane Gallery runs the concerts as free concerts with a a suggested donation of EUR 5.

+ Sun 27 July – 12:00: Archie Chen performing Mozart – Schwartz – Liszt
+ Tues 29 July – 13:00: Lance Coburn performing Beethoven – Vine – Tchaikovsky/Pletnev
+ Wed 30 July – 13:00: Evelyne Brancart performing Mozart – Beethoven – Brahms

More information about all events: www.pianofestival.ie/programme_of_events.html

Every Tuesday an informal sing along with Ukulele and Toy Musical Instruments takes place in the Stag’s Head. Just bring your instrument and come along. Beginners are welcome. Admission is free and further details (and a big book of songs) are available on the Facebook Page below. The get-together meets in the “snug” in Stag’s Head.

Ben Prevo & friends play saucy Blues & soul every Tuesday

The next Blue Moon Rising Gig Night with Bear Plays Spoons, Spines, Thick As Thieves is taking place. Admission is free if you sign up for the guest list on the Facebook Page below, otherwise it is EUR 5.

Rumours have it that the Bluegrass Collective will perform in Sin É on Tuesday and there might even be an open Bluegrass Jam! Admission is free.

The Folk Club in Whelan’s will bring you the best in Trad, Ballads, Americana & World Music every Tuesday. The line-up this week is on the Facebook Page below. Admission is free.

Every Tuesday a Jazz Jam Session will take place in the Grand Social and you are invited to listen or even to participate. Admission is free for musicians and audience.

Instruments are supplied (drums (no cymbals), double bass, guitar amp, bass amp, PA system) and ideas and themes will be proposed prior to the session to the musicians who join the event on Facebook (see Facebook Page below).

The Phoenix Big Band is a 16 piece band playing songs of the 1930s, 1940s and other big band arrangements and they are playing every Tuesday in the Tara Tower Hotel (since 2012!) for adult dancing. If you like to waltz, cha cha or foxtrot, come and enjoy their performance.

Admission is free.

The band plays in the main function room which is occasionally booked, so to confirm that they are playing, please ring the hotel on the day: Phone 01-2694666

A totally unplugged Singer/Songwriter night (no PA, no microphones) with original music is taking place upstairs in Anseo every Tuesday from 21:30.

Please check on the Facebook Page below if the event is going ahead as it seems to get cancelled every now and then and if you want to play a 15-30 min set or just want to play one song make yourself heard via the same Facebook Page.

Admission is free.

This year, the RDS National Craft & Student Art Awards Exhibition will be free entry for three days (30+32 July + 01 Aug) and not just for one day as in previous years.

The RDS Student Art Awards highlight the best work coming out of third-level art colleges today. The main prize is the RDS Taylor Art Award worth EUR 5000, awarded for over 150 years and still going strong. The Exhibition will feature fine art, photography, painting, drawing, print-making, multimedia and installation.

The Exhibition, which features both award winners and selected entries from the competitions, will be open for free from 30 July until 01 August. After that you can enter the exhibition with a Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show ticket from 06-10 August (www.dublinhorseshow.com).

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

Wednesday Walks will take place in and around Phoenix Park from every Wednesday from June to December. Weather permitting, walkers will meet at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre (VC) or Farmleigh House (F) at 11:00. Each walk takes about 90 minutes.

Please check the website below for updates or ring the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre (01 677 0095) or Farmleigh House (01 815 5914) for further information. Admission is free,

The upcoming walks are:
30 July: Sports in Phoenix Park (VC)
06 Aug: Monuments of Phoenix Park (VC)
13 Aug: Walk to Rose Cottage via Knockmaroon Gate (F)
20 Aug: Guided Tour of Arbour Hill Cemetery (A)
27 Aug Gate Lodges of Phoenix Park from Ashtown Castle to Castleknock (VC)

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Little Museum of Dublin secured sponsorship from Johnston, Mooney & O’Brien until October 2014 and will therefore be able to continue the Big J Wednesday: Every Wednesday from 12:00-17:00 admission into the museum is free thanks to the bread company. There are free guided tours every hour.

Archive at Lunchtime screenings take place Saturdays (Double Bill), Mondays and Wednesdays. The programme is changing weekly now (instead of monthly as in the past). To find out what film(s) will be screened go to www.ifi.ie/whatson/now-showing-coming-soon/ and look for “Archive at Lunchtime” on the right. Admission is free.

The “Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy 2014″ will take place from 26 July – 03 Aug. Advanced piano students will benefit from an intensive and educational programme and we can enjoy an interesting concert series.

There will be concerts in the National Concert Hall and in the Hugh Lane Gallery and the cost doesn’t exceed EUR 5, but we are lucky: The Hugh Lane Gallery runs the concerts as free concerts with a a suggested donation of EUR 5.

+ Sun 27 July – 12:00: Archie Chen performing Mozart – Schwartz – Liszt
+ Tues 29 July – 13:00: Lance Coburn performing Beethoven – Vine – Tchaikovsky/Pletnev
+ Wed 30 July – 13:00: Evelyne Brancart performing Mozart – Beethoven – Brahms

More information about all events: www.pianofestival.ie/programme_of_events.html

The “Havana International Language Exchange” is taking place every Wed from 16:30-19:30 in Havana Tapas Bar in George’s Street. There are many Spanish speakers and English-speakers are explicitly invited, but everyone else is certainly very welcome too, to meet for a chat to improve your Spanish or English.

“Fados” (2007) by Carlos Saura traces the history of the Portuguese music, called Fado.

Admission is free. The film will be screened in Spanish with English subtitles.

The King Kong Club is a weekly music game-show in the Mercantile. Each week 6-7 bands/solo artists play three songs each. At the end of all the performances a clap-off with the King Kong Club Clap-o-Meter takes place and the winner goes through to a semi-final and it all culminates after six months of competition with The Grand Final, held in front of a panel of celebrity judges.

Check the Facebook Page below for the line-up.

“The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 every Wednesday.

“The Zodiac Sessions” is a regular open mic event from 20:30 in Bruxelles (between Grafton Street and Westbury Hotel) for unsigned musicians. Admission is free and there is a different line-up every week.

37 Live takes place every Wednesday and on 30 July Andrew Mann, who was on The Voice andmade it to the final stages, will be playing a mix of acoustic covers in the 37 Middle Bar.

Admission is free.

Bad Boy Jake are every Wednesday in the Gypsy Rose Rock & Blues Bar playing their rock, blues and American.

Every Wednesday a Singer Songwriter Night will take place in Mother Reilly’s in Rathmines. This is YOUR chance to show everyone what you can do, alternatively you can just listen to the talented Singer/Songwriters. Admission is free.

Traditional Irish Music Session in Hedigan’s (The Brian Boru) in Phibsborough from 21:30 every Wednesday. If you play an instrument you are especially welcome (all levels are welcome).

A group of trainee Yoga instructors got together and they are running free Yoga classes every Tuesday morning at 07:30 in Berlin Cafe (yes, it is in the Cafe!).

You just need to bring a Yoga mat and wear suitable clothing and then enjoy the Yoga to get you ready for the day.

A Thursday morning beginners class at the same time in the same place has been added to the schedule now. Don’t forget your mat!

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

This year, the RDS National Craft & Student Art Awards Exhibition will be free entry for three days (30+32 July + 01 Aug) and not just for one day as in previous years.

The RDS Student Art Awards highlight the best work coming out of third-level art colleges today. The main prize is the RDS Taylor Art Award worth EUR 5000, awarded for over 150 years and still going strong. The Exhibition will feature fine art, photography, painting, drawing, print-making, multimedia and installation.

The Exhibition, which features both award winners and selected entries from the competitions, will be open for free from 30 July until 01 August. After that you can enter the exhibition with a Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show ticket from 06-10 August (www.dublinhorseshow.com).

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

“Fur, Feathers and Fossils” is a summer inspectorium: Drop in to the Discovery Zone and inspect everything from bears, to brachiopods at this hands-on sessions. You can stay five minutes or fifteen or more, see the specimens up close and chat to a zoologist to find out some fun facts. Drop-in activity. Admission is free.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) is back in a new location. The Marcade is now in Camden Street next to Daintree Paper and opposite the Centra and off-license there. It takes place every Thurs-Sun and is a flea-market-type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

The Lunchtime Concert “Summertime Jazz: Mr Gershwin meets Fats Waller & Scott Joplin” with Giants of Ragtime & Stride Piano, featuring Colm ‘Stride’ O’Brien will take place.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8734333 or musiclibrary@dublincity.ie

Ana Margarida Silva (piano) will perform a Lunchtime Recital in St. Ann’s Church. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

After a successful first year, the Temple Bar Night Market is back this year and thist time there will not just be a few sporadic events, but it will take place every Thursday from 05 June until 28 August.

It is an Arts & Craft Market (and not more – see below!) that will will feature the work of artists & craft makers and street entertainment from music to painting & from dance to workshops.

Last year many people criticised that they missed food stalls at the market and I expect that this won’t change: The market is organised by the Temple Bar Company, an association of the traders in Temple Bar, so it is not in their interest to have competing traders at this market. If you know what to expect, you will hopefully not be disappointed.

The Gutter Bookshop are hosting “Dubliners 100″ with Belinda McKeon, a special event with Tramp Press who published ‘Dubliners 100′, new stories by contemporary Irish writers based on James Joyces’s ‘The Dubliners’ for its 100th Anniversary. Author Belinda McKeon will read from and discuss her story ‘Counterparts’.

Admission is free.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher will run next Thursday. It will be an Alternative Arts and Culture Trail and she will bring you to “Dublin’s Best Cafes, Bars, Markets, Unusual Stores, Galleries, Theatres, Arts Spaces, and more! And hear some tales you’ve never heard before!”

Meeting point is at the Spire. The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is required via egaldog@gmail.com or 085-2725095

The weekly European Folk Dance Workshop/Session takes place in the Tap Bar every Thursday.

The dances are French, Greek, Italian, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese folk and traditional dances and everybody interested to join in or to learn is welcome. Admission is free, but donations (suggested: EUR 3) are very welcome

Dimestore Recordings run a weekly event in Sweeney Mongrel’s with a variety of bands and performers. It starts at 20:00, follow the link for the line up.

The Max Zaska group and the Patrick Groenland group will perform on alternating Thursdays from 21:00 in the International Bar on 23 Wicklow Street.

Trad/Follk band The Bonny Men will perform in Mother Reilly’s. Admission is free.

Every Thursday “Left Right & Centre” play a mix of blues & soul with a bit of rock&roll.

Every Thursday a free Trad Session takes place in McNeills and often there are high profile Trad musicians performing.

The Green Door Market is a new indoor food/Farmer’s Market that takes place just a few doors down from the Dublin Food Co-op at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Thu-Fri 12:00-19:00 and Sat 09:30-16:00.

This year, the RDS National Craft & Student Art Awards Exhibition will be free entry for three days (30+32 July + 01 Aug) and not just for one day as in previous years.

The RDS Student Art Awards highlight the best work coming out of third-level art colleges today. The main prize is the RDS Taylor Art Award worth EUR 5000, awarded for over 150 years and still going strong. The Exhibition will feature fine art, photography, painting, drawing, print-making, multimedia and installation.

The Exhibition, which features both award winners and selected entries from the competitions, will be open for free from 30 July until 01 August. After that you can enter the exhibition with a Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show ticket from 06-10 August (www.dublinhorseshow.com).

The display of massive Sand Sculptures in the Upper Courtyard is back for the 15th year. This year the theme is “Black, White & Grey”. The live carving takes place every day from 22 July – 29 July (from 10:00-17:00) and the finished sculptures will then be on display until 21 August.

Supported by the OPW, the Sand Sculptures are created by Duthain Dealbh (meaning: Fleeting Sculpture) (www.duthain-dealbh.com/)

I am fascinated by the Sculptures year after year and strongly recommend a visit! Admission is free.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) is back in a new location. The Marcade is now in Camden Street next to Daintree Paper and opposite the Centra and off-license there. It takes place every Thurs-Sun and is a flea-market-type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders.

The National Gallery has an extensive programme of free talks, public tours and Art Documentary screenings focusing on highlights of the European and Irish Collection every day of the week. Check their website for details.

Cormac O’Caoimh will perform an In-Store Gig in HMV. Admission is free.

“Genealogy at Lunchtime: The digital revolution in Irish family history” with Brian O’Donovan (Eneclann & FindMyPast) is a 20 min talk, followed by a Q&A.

Admission is free and no booking required.

“This August, the NLI is hosting Eneclann and Ancestor Network’s programme of “Twentyx20” lunchtime talks unlocking the richness of Irish family history. Each talk is a short introduction to a key area, essential source or genealogy research method, followed by a Q&A session with the expert.”

If you regularly or occasionally buy books online, you can help the Dublin Event Guide hugely even without having to pay cent directly. In fact you even save money this way:

Buy your books from The Book Depository and get better prices and free (!!) delivery for all orders independent from the volume and when you click on the picture here before you buy, then 5% of what normally The Book Depository would get, they give back to the Dublin Event Guide. Everybody wins!

www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=dubevg

If you prefer Amazon to buy your books (for free postage you need to order a minimum of GBP 25), then use this Amazon link to help the Dublin Event Guide. Thanks!

Sandford Parish Church in Ranelagh is inviting to Classical Music Summer Concerts from every Friday from June to September.

The next concert is Tanya Sewell (mezzo-soprano) and Alsion Young (piano) – Irish songs and music by Purcell, Mozart, Ravel and others

Admission is free.

Meet Slovak artists and members of the Slovak community. Integration workshop open to public followed by performance by Folklore group OSTROHA.

Other events will take place on Sat and Sun and the next Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) will include these events.

“The 70th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising” is an exhibition, organised by “Discover Poland” and the Polish Chaplaincy in Ireland, that tells the story of the Uprising and the roles of chaplains and churches involved.

The exhibition will open on 01 Aug at 19:00 and during the event Dr. Gabriel Doherty from UCC will talk about ”Warsaw Uprising in comparative context”. The exhibition will then be available from 02-04 August and again on 09+10 August in both periods from 12:00-20:00.

At the opening food from the era will be available, a souvenir shop will be on site and the film City of Ruins will be shown.

Admission is free to opening and exhibition.

Cornucopia Café & Restaurant host live music three evenings a week (Thurs, Fri and Sat). The restaurant is a Wholefood & Vegetarian Restaurant and is open until 22:15.
+ Every second Thursday N.C Lawlor, a songwriter, session player and troubadour plays a mix of country, bluegrass & blues from 19:30-21:30.
+ Every Friday (19:30-21:30) Junshi Murakami plays Irish Harp.
+ Every Saturday (19:30-21:30) Nollaig Mann plays a collection of popular and jazz classics.

The following gigs will take place at the Bray Summerfest:

Friday 01 August

20:00-21:00 Jet Setter
21:30-23:00 The Harleys

All gigs are on the bandstand and admission is free.

“Electric Fridays with DUB” is a weekly gig/open mic night in the basement of The International Bar. Admission is free.

Musicians, artists, bands who want to play a 25 min set should contact the organisers via the Facebook page below. A PA and some equipment is available.

The Stillorgan Orchard has live music every Friday and Saturday. Many of the performers are established and very good bands. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below. Admission is always free.

“Ska ‘n’ Reggae” is the theme in the Dive Bar (downstairs in Turks Head) every Friday. The Bionic Rats play live and the DJs Tommy Rash and Fukszy are on the decks until late. Admission is free.