Dublin Event Guide 421: City Spectacular, Fusion Sunday World Culture Market, Fairies in the Park, Liberties Festival, Finglas Festival

Meditate for Palestine will offer the early riser an opportunity to “sit with the people of Palestine in body, mind and heart”. Meditate for Palestine is a Palfest event and Palfest is an arts festival in solidarity with Palestine.

The meditation will take place from Wednesday until Saturday. On Wed, Thurs + Fri, Vajrashura, manager and teacher at the Dublin Buddhist Centre and member of the Triratna Buddhist Order will explore two forms of meditations. And on Saturday Brother RichardHendrick from the Capuchin Franciscan Order will link CHristian Meditation to modern mindfulness practice.

Admission is free and you don’t have to stay for the full 1.5 hours, for example if you need to go to work earlier.

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.

The Dun Laoghaire Regatta is taking place from 09-12 July and allegedly there is some on-street entertainment programme near the Yacht Clubs at the Harbour in Dun Laoghaire. But no exact times and type of performances are announced, so it would be luck and guesswork. The website at dlregatta.org is only interested in the participants and their families not the spectators.

During the Regatta, the Port Summer Carnival, a fun fair at Dun Laoghaire harbouir is taking place until Sunday 12 July (Open from 12:00). Admission to the Fun Fair is free, but going on rides, obviously will not be free.

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.

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.

Rainbow Runs and Colour Dashes are the new in thing and some of them are a BIG money earner for the organisers and they often want to keep your non-paying friends and family away.

The Colour Dash in Phoenix Park is also a 5km Fun Run where coloured powder is thrown on you. But it is different than the commercial runs, because 100% of the registration free goes to the Irish Cancer Society and because friends and family are explicitly invited to the entertainment programme after the run.

Registration is closed now, but you can still come to the finish line to support the runners and the website below says that the entertainment programme continues in the afternoon. A map to find the finish line is here.

The Drumcondra Village Market is an arts and crafts fair in the centre of Drumcondra. Admission is free.

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. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel).

After a management change last year, it is not clear how many active stalls/sellers are currently still there and the market could do with some sprucing up and weeding out, but some people still find what they are looking for.

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.

Yoga for Palestine will be a 1.5 hr Yoga class that is suitable for all levels, ages and abilities. After the Yoga, there will be a short pause and then the opportunity to listen to the Irish-produced radio documentary “Freedom on the Mat” until 12:30.

Yoga for Palestine is a Palfest event and Palfest is an arts festival in solidarity with Palestine.

The yoga will take place from Wednesday until Saturday and will be lead by Estelle Birdy, a Yoga Teacher and Director at the Olive Tree Studio in Dublin.

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Discover the beautiful restored Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden and learn about growing your own fruit and vegetables, herbs and lots more. Meet OPW professional gardeners Brian and Meeda at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden. They have lots of advice to plan your perfect garden for the Summer months. Admission is free and car parking is available.

The Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden is located next to the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, and the Phoenix Café. The OPW professional gardeners are on site on the second Saturday of every month.

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.

“Inspired by…Abstract Art” is the title of the Family Workshop in the National Gallery on Saturday. Suitable for aged 4-10, these workshops introduce kids to different styles of art. Check the website below for the small print regarding the event.

THe Irish Record Fair is this week in the Thomas House Pub and admission is free. There will be Vinyl, DVDs and CDs from all music genres. If you are into music, check this market out!

Every Saturday at 11:00 until 29 August an Open Air Pilates class, followed by a Coaching session with a Life Coach takes place in Blanchardstown. Organised by Pace Pilates and supported by Fingal County Council. Find all details on the Facebook page below. Admission is free.

Every Saturday (until 28 August) the Yoga Hub will run an Outdoor Yoga Class in St. Stephen’s Green near the bandstand.

Each class is donation based and the money you donate (each and every Euro!) will go directly to a different charity every week.

No booking required. Bring your own matt or towel. (If it rains, the bandstand will be used.)

Under the headline “Talks for Palestine”, the Arts Festival in solidarity with Palestine, Palfest, invites to a variety of talks about the topic and the last event is:

+ Sat 11 July – 11:00-12:30 The Taste of Injustice – Farmers, Fishermen, Food and Occupation
with Elaine Bradley, Human Rights and BDS Activist. Venue: Dublin Food Co-op, Newmarket, Dublin 8
Admission free, donations welcome.

The Terenure Village Market has moved to Bushy Park and is from now on a weekly market.

The market has now grown to 40 stalls offering a whole variety of foods and crafts.

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 Bray Summerfest is back it seems, but is it?

The website is unusable and there is virtually no information about the event, so I did some digging and it seems that after many years of a brilliant festival where Bray was big time punching above its weight, the wheels came off! Bray Municipal Council seemingly pulled the plug and the Summerfest has been cancelled.

But there are still some things happening! There will be the “Summerfest Fun Fair”, a normal Fun Fair until 03 August (Open daily: 12:00-22:00). During the week (Mon-Fri) there is a really interesting 10 ride special for EUR 12, but that doesn’t apply at the weekend.
And there will be the popular Bray Airshow next weekend. All the other events after that, which are also (still) mentioned on the website might or might not happen. I will keep you posted!!

A bit pity that another festival got killed!

I call the City Spectacular the “best festival of the year” and I am NOT joking!

It started originally as the ingeniously titled “Street Performance World Championship” in 2006 and is running strong since. Last year it was renamed to City Spectacular and this year the event is celebrating its 10th birthday. It is sponsored by Laya Healthcare.

Over the weekend (Sat+Sun) you will see amazing and outstanding Street Performers doing their full 45minute Street Performance Shows. There will be juggling, magic, acrobatics, comedy, sword swallowing and lots more. 9 performers will perform on 5 pitches in Merrion Square and outside on the street. And with 33 performances per day, that means each performer will do their show at least three times on the day.

If you have been at the Street Performance World Championship in previous years , you might realise that the field of performers is a little smaller this year, but to see every performance you still need 9 hours, so you won’t get bored. ;-)

To be on the safe side, pring and bring your own programme brochure, which you can download here. More information is on the website below.

Some of my highlights are the Space Cowboy from Australia who is a lovable freak, amazing performer and impressive Sword Swallower and Mario Queen of the Circus, who will hopefully perform his old/original programme because it was just soooo great.

In addition to the Street Performance, there is busking band “Keywest” performing in some of the slots on Sunday, then there is a Food Village and a Kids Court, Petting Farm and a whole children programme organised by The Ark in an ESB-sponsored tent in the park. A Trampolin Show, Climbing Wall and the Doktor Kaboom Science Show will add even more variation.

What’s your job? Enjoy the performance, take part in them by clapping and cheering and give a donation if/when you have enjoyed it. Admission to the festival is free, but the performers don’t get paid, they only get what you and I give them after their performance.

Don’t miss the City Spectacular!!

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.

Only one more week for this exhibition, don’t miss it! It will close on 19 July:

The Science Gallery exhibition “HOME\SICK – Post-Domestic Bliss” looks at the Home and asks what “Home” really is and also how it could be improved. The word means something different to everyone, but how will the future of technology and design, communities, families, resources, and nations change the nature of what we define as ‘home’?

HOME\SICK is the summer exhibition of the Science Gallery, which usually is the exhibition that is the most accessible and understandable for all ages and that goal was achieved again. It is not the Science Gallery’s best exhibition, but it is still definitely worth a visit.

The exhibition will run from 01 May until 19 July and is open from Tuesday-Sunday (Tues-Fri: 12:00-20:00, Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00). 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.

Qigong is a traditional Chinese form of meditation coordinating slow flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm state of mind.

Come to this gentle Qigong practice outdoors on the Roof Top Garden of the Library (weather permitting) or indoors with a view of the roof garden. Suitable for all ages.

Admission is free and no booking required, but numbers are limited.

“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 myfavouritesdublincitywalktour@gmail.com or 085-2725095

Discover ROckk Pooling on Sandycove Beach (Meet at the rock area of Sandycove Beach.)

Take part in discovering life that lives within the rock pools. Starfish, crabs, etc. Bring along any nets or buckets you have. This event is for the whole family and is is lead by Claire (Turtle) Patten, OWLS.

The event is part of the Biodiversity events of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Admission is free, but booking with Claire (086 1995659) is required.

The Spanish Film Club of Pearse Street Library and the Instituto Cervantes is screening “Las maestras de la Republica / The Republican female teachers”, a documentary about education as an engine for social change.

The documentary portrays the lives of female teachers in 1931 Republican Spain, brave and committed women who fought for the rights of women and the modernization of the education system, based on the principles of a democratic free education.

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

The Royal British Legion will conduct their yearly commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge. Everybody is welcome to attend.

This event commemorates the people who lost their lives in the two World Wars, in particular the estimated 60,000 Irish men and women from all parts of the Ireland who served and died in the wars. The ceremony will be attended by governmental, civic and diplomatic representatives and will start at 14:30 with a parade of the standards of Royal British Legion, regimental and ex-services organisations. This will be followed by an ecumenical service of remembrance and laying of wreaths.

You are requested to be seated by 14:15.

During Palfest, the arts festival in solidarity with Palestine, a number of films will be screened that deal with the conflict:

+ Sat 11 July – 16:00: Open Bethlehem – Epic film about a legendary town in crisis.
Venue: O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1. Admission free, donations welcome.

Live in Sin É will feature a variety of bands and musicians at this weekly gig night on Saturdays. The event is presented by Super Happy Funtimes. Admission is free and the line-up is can be found on the Facebook Page below.

The line-up today is: Kicking Bird, Those Responsible, Taylors Lane

This is a weekly Saturday night live music event event downstairs in the Wine Cave of KC Peaches Cafe. Food will be served until 21:30 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.

Soul Purpose, a 7-piece Soul Band, will be for a gig in the Harbour Bar. Admission is free.

Robert Coyle is performing his new show “Being Wrong is Right with Robert Coyle” in Accents Cafe.

Doors open at 20:00, the show starts at 20:30 and finishes at 22:00.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Jazz on the Green is now provided every Saturday in the bar of the Fitzwilliam Hotel. Admission is free.

This week Liza Nelson (vocals) and Eanna Ryder (piano) will perform.

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.

The Nightmare Singers will perform in the Mezz. Admission is free.

The Funk Monkeys will play in the midnight slot in the Mezz.

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.

Working towards – a fit mind. Fitminds is a new regular Sunday workshop which brings together the benefits of fitness & Mindfulness training. Move your body first, then meditate… and see how your mind likes it.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome (max EUR 10).

There will be interval training (walk, job, sprint) with varying intensity to accommodate all levels of fitness, followed by meditation. The event is hosted by Backtobasics who are a team of health professionals, personal trainers and wellness practitioners.

Fitminds takes place in the Gym on the Old Hampstead Hospital Grounds on Hampstead Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, just off Ballymun Road and adjacent to Albert College Park. For questions, ring Peter on 086 217 9917 .

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. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel).

After a management change last year, it is not clear how many active stalls/sellers are currently still there and the market could do with some sprucing up and weeding out, but some people still find what they are looking for.

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.

A weekly Farmer’s Market is taking place in Dalkey every week with over 20 vendors selling a wide variety of foods and an eclectic selection of arts and crafts. Admission is free.

The annual National Day of Commemoration Ceremony, to honour all Irish people who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations, will be held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and six other locations across Ireland.

The ceremony in Dublin will be attended by the President, the Taoiseach, the Government and the Council of State, as well as members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann, the Diplomatic Corps, the Judiciary and Northern Ireland representatives.

Everybody is welcome to attend the ceremony, but you are asked to arrive at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham before 10:15.

The ceremony will start with a multi-faith prayer, then the President will lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland and there will be a parade by members of the Defence Forces.

Farmleigh House invites to their Summer Programme from 12 July where on all Sundays and some Saturdays in July “Fairies in the Park” feature through Storytelling and Workshops. Kids and parents are invited to hear the stories and to create magical fairy tools that can be brought home.

The Storytelling and Workshops alternate in one-hour slots from 11:00-17:00.

Check the webiste below for all details. Admission is free.

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.

“Forgotten Voices” is a 2-hour walking tour that will explore the lives of the people who lived in Dublin’s inner city from the Georgian Period to the middle of the last century.

Meeting point is at the entrance of the Four Courts Dublin. The tour is free but donations are welcome and booking is required via email to jsfolkloregirl024@gmail.com or – if you can’t book beforehand – just show up on the day.

Private group bookings off up to 25 people can be accommodated at a different time and or day on request.

The next Fusion Sundays Market will take place this Sunday in the Dublin Food Co-op.

It is a world culture market, an ethnic Bazaar, that focuses on the diverse ethnic culture present in Ireland today. The Market features a huge array of International stalls, ethnic food, live music and entertainment for kids. You can buy handmade goods, arts and crafts, recycled products, jewellery, clothes and food. The market is held every second Sunday of the month.

There is always a great atmosphere and I definitely recommend this monthly market.

Admission is free.

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 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.

The Bray Summerfest is back it seems, but is it?

The website is unusable and there is virtually no information about the event, so I did some digging and it seems that after many years of a brilliant festival where Bray was big time punching above its weight, the wheels came off! Bray Municipal Council seemingly pulled the plug and the Summerfest has been cancelled.

But there are still some things happening! There will be the “Summerfest Fun Fair”, a normal Fun Fair until 03 August (Open daily: 12:00-22:00). During the week (Mon-Fri) there is a really interesting 10 ride special for EUR 12, but that doesn’t apply at the weekend.
And there will be the popular Bray Airshow next weekend. All the other events after that, which are also (still) mentioned on the website might or might not happen. I will keep you posted!!

A bit pity that another festival got killed!

I call the City Spectacular the “best festival of the year” and I am NOT joking!

It started originally as the ingeniously titled “Street Performance World Championship” in 2006 and is running strong since. Last year it was renamed to City Spectacular and this year the event is celebrating its 10th birthday. It is sponsored by Laya Healthcare.

Over the weekend (Sat+Sun) you will see amazing and outstanding Street Performers doing their full 45minute Street Performance Shows. There will be juggling, magic, acrobatics, comedy, sword swallowing and lots more. 9 performers will perform on 5 pitches in Merrion Square and outside on the street. And with 33 performances per day, that means each performer will do their show at least three times on the day.

If you have been at the Street Performance World Championship in previous years , you might realise that the field of performers is a little smaller this year, but to see every performance you still need 9 hours, so you won’t get bored. ;-)

To be on the safe side, pring and bring your own programme brochure, which you can download here. More information is on the website below.

Some of my highlights are the Space Cowboy from Australia who is a lovable freak, amazing performer and impressive Sword Swallower and Mario Queen of the Circus, who will hopefully perform his old/original programme because it was just soooo great.

In addition to the Street Performance, there is busking band “Keywest” performing in some of the slots on Sunday, then there is a Food Village and a Kids Court, Petting Farm and a whole children programme organised by The Ark in an ESB-sponsored tent in the park. A Trampolin Show, Climbing Wall and the Doktor Kaboom Science Show will add even more variation.

What’s your job? Enjoy the performance, take part in them by clapping and cheering and give a donation if/when you have enjoyed it. Admission to the festival is free, but the performers don’t get paid, they only get what you and I give them after their performance.

Don’t miss the City Spectacular!!

The National Botanic Garden wants to share the beauty of the gardens with you and invite you for a free guided tour viewing the Herbaceous Borders, Annual Bedding displays, the Rose Garden and more. Every Sunday at 12:00 and at 14:30. (Duration: 1hr)

Only one more week for this exhibition, don’t miss it! It will close on 19 July:

The Science Gallery exhibition “HOME\SICK – Post-Domestic Bliss” looks at the Home and asks what “Home” really is and also how it could be improved. The word means something different to everyone, but how will the future of technology and design, communities, families, resources, and nations change the nature of what we define as ‘home’?

HOME\SICK is the summer exhibition of the Science Gallery, which usually is the exhibition that is the most accessible and understandable for all ages and that goal was achieved again. It is not the Science Gallery’s best exhibition, but it is still definitely worth a visit.

The exhibition will run from 01 May until 19 July and is open from Tuesday-Sunday (Tues-Fri: 12:00-20:00, Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00). Admission is free.

From 28 June until 27 September, every Sunday from 12:00-15:00 BlueFire the people behind last years StreetFest at Smithfield are organising an afternoon of events. There will be at least two activities/ workshops/ games/ live bands or performances of some sorts every week.

You are invited to bring your blanket and picnic and have a great afternoon! Admission is free.

The details for this Sunday’s events are here www.facebook.com/events/899965466733729/

This week there will be live music from Luke S and from Fanfare La VashFol.

Meet artist Roxana Manouchehri and learn drawing techniques, including line drawing, shading, perspective and decoration using these relaxed and informal sessions.

Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for ages 13+.
Materials are provided but feel free to bring your own sketchbook; dry materials only.

More Biodiversity Monitoring Talks will take place in July on four Sundays (05+12+19+26 July) in the Arkle Room of Farmleigh House.

This week’s talk is entitled: “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland and Farmleigh”

As many species of pollinators (bees, wasps, etc) continue to decline around the world, the need to monitor them has increased. The pollinators now rely on us to provide them with a healthy habitat and in turn provide us with food and beauty. By learning a few simple steps to help provide a healthy environment, these species can then continue to provide us with useful functions such as pollination.

The talks will cover various interesting aspects of Biodiversity Monitoring in Ireland including species identification, how to set up a monitoring transect & how to increase pollen and nectar sources in you garden.

The event will start with a 25 minute Biodiversity presentation in the Arkle room followed by a 25 minute outdoor exploration to view some species on Farmleigh grounds. (Weather Permitting).

Admission is free and will be distributed on a first come first served basis at the guides reception desk of Farmleigh. For further information contact farmleightours@gmail.com or call 01 815 5914.

This is an intercultural Tour in Japanese Language with Community Ambassador Hiromi Anzai. Meeting point is in the atrium of the Library.

Admission is free and no booking required.

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!

The Route 66 Big Band will be in the gardens of Farmleigh House for a concert on Sunday.

Admission is free,

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

The Civil Defence will be tell you how to put put an emergency household pack together.

Admission is free.

Explore some of the artefacts from the Museum’s collection of objects for handling with Museum educators at this drop-in handling session for all ages.

Admission is free, no booking required.

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 next Jazz&Tapas Brunch/Dinner in Zaragoza is this Sunday with Aleka (vocals) and Jaby Sanchez (guitar) performing.

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.

At the Jawbone Gig night in Arthur’s Pub, Acoustic Folk & Blues will be performed every Sunday. Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/pages/Jawbone-Dublin-Acoustic-Folk-Blues-Commune/724102984268967

I normally don’t include DJ events because there are toooo many, but every now and them there is something coming up that catches my attention:

Berlin Cafe & Bierhaus are the venue for a Drum n Bass event on Sunday. The line-up is: Quality Mark – Marcas Ó Gráda, Degree – Daniel Moloney, Wah – Bruno Pereira, JMC – James McCahey.

Admission is free.

The Good Rain is an alternative acoustic band from West Cork and they will be for a gig Bray. Admission is free.

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.

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).

“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 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.

The Finglas Festival takes place from Mon 13 – Sun 19 July. It is a community festival with History Talks, Walking Tours, Exhibitions, Opera in the Open performance (at the Civic Centre on Wed 15 July at 12:45), Musical Performances, Children’s Events,

The main event of the festival is next Saturday 18 July from 12:00-17:00 in the Village Centre of Finglas.

The website is quite good and has a Schedule of all events on it. Check it out at www.finglasfestival.com

The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is taking place from Mon 13 – Sat 18 July and the vast majority of the events is free.

The free events on Monday are:

+ Dramrama for kids 11:00-14:00
+ Charlie’s Puppets for kids 14:00-16:00
+ Walk & Talk with Pat Liddy 16:00-18:00
+ Festival Launch 18:00

All event details, including locations can be found on the website below via the What’s On menu at the top.

Púca Puppets are bringing Mary Mary Viking Storyteller to a number of libraries in July. The upcomig dates are

Raheny Library on Monday 13 July at 10:30
Inchicore Library on Tuesday 14 July at 14:30
Pembroke Library on Wednesday 15 July at 11:30
Ringsend Library on Wednesday 15 July at 14:30

Viking Story Teller Mary Mary delights children aged 6-10 years and their families with an old tale and invites them to respond through drawing or writing to their own favourites or in the creation of new characters and stories.

Admission is free but booking is necessary and the respective links to book are on the website below.

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.

From Monday to Friday of this week, the Chester Beatty Library is running “Silk Worm Club” Workshops for children aged 6-11. There are different themes and you can see them all on the website below (e.g. Shadow Puppet Workshop or Making Dreamcatchers).

Admission is free, but booking is required and some workshops still have availability at the time of writing this, others are fully booked but you can still be added to the waiting list.

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!

The Church Bar & Restaurant (in partnership with French Friday, Le Petit Journal, the French Embassy and the Alliance Française) will celebrate the French Bastille Day for two days.

On Monday, French DJs and a French themed bar menu will be available in The Church from 19:00. Admission is free, but unexpectedly you will have to register via the Eventbrite website here. Ignore the start time on the ticket. Entertainment starts at 19:00.

On Tuesday 14 July entertainment starts at 17:00 with Boule/Petanque contests and there will also be live music by a French group and French dancers.

The Dublin Cycling Campaign’s AGM is on Monday and they will be reviewing the last year and planning for the next one.

Everybody is invited to come along and share their thoughts on what should be prioritized for the next year. There will be lots of mingling and chats afterwards in the Library Bar.

For further details see the website below,

Super Happy Fun Times are running an Open Mic night for Music and Spoken Word every Monday in Sin É.

Admission is free.

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. The line-up is not always easily findable on the Whelan’s website, but admission is always free.

Every Monday the Woolshed Bad hosts “Al Porter’s Comedy Shed”. Admission is free.

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).

Every Monday 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 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.

Yelp Dublin and the Krüst Bakery are inviting you to do something against Teary Tuesday: Next Tuesday, come to Krüst in George’s Street on your way to work and have a free cronut and coffee. There might even be music and some free hugs.

The Finglas Festival takes place from Mon 13 – Sun 19 July. It is a community festival with History Talks, Walking Tours, Exhibitions, Opera in the Open performance (at the Civic Centre on Wed 15 July at 12:45), Musical Performances, Children’s Events,

The main event of the festival is next Saturday 18 July from 12:00-17:00 in the Village Centre of Finglas.

The website is quite good and has a Schedule of all events on it. Check it out at www.finglasfestival.com

The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is taking place from Mon 13 – Sat 18 July and the vast majority of the events is free.

The free events on Tuesday are:

+ Blackpitts Photographic Installation 10:00
+ Dramarama for kids 11:00
+ Charlies’s Puppets 14:00-16:00
+ Blooming Liberties 15:00
+ Amica Voce – Hungarian Choir 19:30

All event details, including locations can be found on the website below via the What’s On menu at the top.

Every Tuesday until 04 August a storytelling event for 3-6 year olds with Mike Breathnach will take place in Pearse Street Library.

Admission is free.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher runs on Tuesdays 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 myfavouritesdublincitywalktour@gmail.com or 085-2725095

Every Tuesday in July (07, 14, 21 + 28 July) , the Irish Patchwork Society is running a workshop for children. In a two hour session children will learn how to piece a patchwork block and then use it to construct a lined bag, using a sewing machine. Suitable for children aged 8 to 12 years.

Admission is free, booking is required via 01 804 0300.

Until 03 August there is also a Patchwork exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens. It is called “Hands across the Border” and is a co-operation between the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild and the Irish Patchwork Society. Admission is free.

Magic of Music is a music programme for children with Catherine Dunphy in a variety of libraries this July (see website below). One of the date is on Tuesday in the Central Library.

The Magic of Music summer programme includes the Carnival of the Animals, sports themes, action songs, percussion fun, the rhythm family & Samba drumming. The programme teaches children aged between 3 and 8 years, music through art, drama, movement, percussion instruments and singing.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8734333

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.

From Monday to Friday of this week, the Chester Beatty Library is running “Silk Worm Club” Workshops for children aged 6-11. There are different themes and you can see them all on the website below (e.g. Shadow Puppet Workshop or Making Dreamcatchers).

Admission is free, but booking is required and some workshops still have availability at the time of writing this, others are fully booked but you can still be added to the waiting list.

The American Chamber Orchestra will perform a concert in the Chapel Royal next to Dublin Castle on Tuesday. They will perform music from Mozart, Haydn, Grainger and McLean.

Admission to the concert is free.

The half-day symposium “Research in the Digital Age: data, dissertations and dissemination” will explore the current challenges faced by scholars whose research is mediated, as well as displaced, by digital technology. It will consider the importance of research data, both as an entity for preservation and as an asset for scholarly credit and transparency, and how dissertations, as a final product of research, require a substantial overhaul to correctly reflect contemporary research methods and outputs.

This event is being organised by the Digital Arts and Humanities Structured PhD Programme in collaboration with the Digital Repository of Ireland.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the Eventbrite website below.

Learn about the the role of colour in animation through this talk by Artist Rory Conway from animation studio Cartoon Saloon.

What’s a happy colour and what’s a sad colour, a warm colour or a cold colour? What makes them happy or cold?

Rory will tell you how he uses colour to create or change the mood in his illustrations and animations and how colour is used to express the feelings of the characters.

This talk will take place at 14:00 and at 16:00 and is sutiable for Ages 6+.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the website below.

The Church Bar & Restaurant (in partnership with French Friday, Le Petit Journal, the French Embassy and the Alliance Française) will celebrate the French Bastille Day for two days.

On Monday, French DJs and a French themed bar menu will be available in The Church from 19:00. Admission is free, but unexpectedly you will have to register via the Eventbrite website here. Ignore the start time on the ticket. Entertainment starts at 19:00.

On Tuesday 14 July entertainment starts at 17:00 with Boule/Petanque contests and there will also be live music by a French group and French dancers.

Milk and Cookie Stories is a story telling event for for anyone who has a story to tell, or wants to hear a tale told well, in a relaxed, friendly environment – a place with tea, cookies and friends.

Admission is free, everyone is welcome and stories of all kinds are welcome. If you would like to tell a story, just come along and sign up on the night, or “if you feel inspired to share your own home-baked goods with Dublin’s friendliest audience, we’ll also be having our awesome Bake-Off.”

At the July event the theme is “Toy Stories”. www.facebook.com/events/473399619494636

This is an evening of talks about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

You’ll hear about surfers tackling pollution and riding Ireland’s biggest waves, a researcher exploring the depths of the ocean in search of new medicines and a seasoned marine science communicator bringing the seas to schools.

Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our actions impact upon them. After hearing these stories, you will hopefully be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system.

Admission is free, but registration via SeaforSocietyBlueTalks@aquatt.ie is required.

Find more details about the speakers on the blog here www.seaforsociety-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/06/sea-for-society-blue-talks-tuesday-14.html or on the Science Gallery website below.

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.

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.

Live sessions with the Blue Moon Folk and Blues Collective are taking place every Tuesday at the Beerhouse. 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.

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday and Monday AND Tuesday. 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 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.

Every Tuesday and Thursday the International Bar invites to a Jazz night in the Lounge.

Groups led by Cote Calmet, Sean Maynard Smith, Dominic Mullan, Paddy Groenland, Georgia Cusack & Alex Mathias are performing regularly with occasional guest players, but there are also other bands from all over.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of EUR 5. The website clearly says that there is no entry fee, but – and that makes a lot of sense – that your donations are very much appreciated (Musicians need to pay for rent and food too!) Be generous after the gig if you liked it, but if someone wants to charge an admission charge, please point out that the “rules” as described on their website are like I have explained.

The Finglas Festival takes place from Mon 13 – Sun 19 July. It is a community festival with History Talks, Walking Tours, Exhibitions, Opera in the Open performance (at the Civic Centre on Wed 15 July at 12:45), Musical Performances, Children’s Events,

The main event of the festival is next Saturday 18 July from 12:00-17:00 in the Village Centre of Finglas.

The website is quite good and has a Schedule of all events on it. Check it out at www.finglasfestival.com

The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is taking place from Mon 13 – Sat 18 July and the vast majority of the events is free.

The free events on Wednesday are:

+ Blackpitts Photographic Installation 10:00
+ Dramarama for kids 11:00
+ Pop-Up Poetry 12:00-14:00
+ Charlies’s Puppets 14:00-16:00
+ Blooming Liberties 15:00
+ Flash Fiction Competition 18:00
+ Singing Liberties 19:00
+ Football: Street Traders vs Garda Football 19:30
+ Fun at the Fountain – Comedy, Bingo and Karaoke 20:00

All event details, including locations can be found on the website below via the What’s On menu at the top.

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.

From Monday to Friday of this week, the Chester Beatty Library is running “Silk Worm Club” Workshops for children aged 6-11. There are different themes and you can see them all on the website below (e.g. Shadow Puppet Workshop or Making Dreamcatchers).

Admission is free, but booking is required and some workshops still have availability at the time of writing this, others are fully booked but you can still be added to the waiting list.

The Army No 1 Band will perform in Merrion Square on Wenesday. 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.

This is a free public tour for parents, guardians and carers of infants and young children. The route of the tour is suitable for prams and/or strollers.

Drop in and explore Ireland at the time of Celtic Kings. Find out more about the mysterious bog bodies and what they may have worn to special ceremonies. Suitable of ages 8+

Located next to the Treasury exhibition, ground floor. Admission is free and no booking required.

Storytellers Dave Rudden and Gráinne Clear share a mixture of silly and spooky stories and then kids get to make their own story. Suitable for Ages 5 – 8.

Admission is free.

The Temple Bar “Night” Market is more an afternoon and evening market (15:00-20:00) and it takes place every Wednesday until 19 August.

You can buy Arts & Crafts at this market. In previous years the missing food and drink stalls (probably to protect the pubs and restaurants in Temple Bar) was mentioned by visitors as a critique.

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.

Join Leo Higgins, sculptor and Director of CAST Bronze Foundry for a walk and talk in the Sculpture section of this year’s Annual Exhibition in the RHA.

Admission is free and no booking required. A donation of EUR 5 is suggested (into the collection box in the foyer).

A Finglas Festival Folk Evening will be in Finglas Library. Join Toddy Griffin and Friends on Wednesday for a Musical Evening.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8344906

Brand New Switcheroo is in the Harbour Bar for their weekly Roots performance. Admission is free.

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 Anseo Comedy Club, run by comedian Aidan Killian, takes place every Wednesday in Anseo (upstairs).

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

“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.

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

Comedian Colm O’Regan’s next Inn Jokes Comedy Night will take place on Wednesday and the line-up is Foil Arms and Hog, Eleanor Tiernan and Danny O’Brien.

Admission is free,

Los Paradiso are playing Rockabilly, Tex Mex, Western Swing, Surf in the Leeson Lounge. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

The Jazz Pigs with a classic multi-brass front line play a mix of Lounge, lively sixties Jazz and driving Funk. Every Wednesday downstairs in 4 Dame Lane. 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).

The Finglas Festival takes place from Mon 13 – Sun 19 July. It is a community festival with History Talks, Walking Tours, Exhibitions, Opera in the Open performance (at the Civic Centre on Wed 15 July at 12:45), Musical Performances, Children’s Events,

The main event of the festival is next Saturday 18 July from 12:00-17:00 in the Village Centre of Finglas.

The website is quite good and has a Schedule of all events on it. Check it out at www.finglasfestival.com

The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is taking place from Mon 13 – Sat 18 July and the vast majority of the events is free.

The free events on Thursday are:

+ Blackpitts Photographic Installation 10:00
+ Dramarama for kids 11:00
+ SICCDA After School Sports Day 11:00-15:00
+ Fencing in the Park for kids 12:00
+ Charlies’s Puppets 14:00-16:00
+ St. James’ Fun Run 19:45

All event details, including locations can be found on the website below.

Every first Thursday of the month, a free tour of Grangegorman Military Cemetery on Blackhorse Avenue takes place. Meet inside the Cemetery Gates. Admission is free and everybody is welcome.

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.

From Monday to Friday of this week, the Chester Beatty Library is running “Silk Worm Club” Workshops for children aged 6-11. There are different themes and you can see them all on the website below (e.g. Shadow Puppet Workshop or Making Dreamcatchers).

Admission is free, but booking is required and some workshops still have availability at the time of writing this, others are fully booked but you can still be added to the waiting list.

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.

Enjoy a walk and talk of the 185th Annual Exhibition with Charles Harper RHA, when he will share his highlights of the show.

Admission is free with a suggested donation of EUR 5 into the donation box in the foyer. No booking required.

The In Focus Tur about Chester Beatty’s Biblical Papyri with Kurt Kullmann will take place on Thursday. Admission is free and booking is not required, but there is only space for the first 15 participants. Meeting point is in the atrium of the Library.

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!

The Wood Quay Summer Sessions, five 1-hour long open air gigs, will take place for the first time this year.

Throughout July, Dublin City is inviting to this lunchtime event every Thursday at the outdoors “Amphitheatre” between Christ Church and the Dublin Civic Offices.

The line-up for the remaining weeks is:

+ 16 July: Sinead White // Cry Monster Cry
+ 23 July: O Sister // Bunoscionn
+ 30 July: Elephant // The Flaws

Admission is free.

A family friendly tour of the exhibition “Yeats: the life and work of William Butler Yeats” will introduce William Butler Yeats, his family and some of his best known poems. Suitable for Ages 9+

Admission is free.

Every Thursday in July (09, 16, 23 + 30 July) the Irish Patchwork Society is running a beginners workshop for adults.

You will learn simple patchwork techniques and will have the opportunity to work on a small piece of handwork.

Admission is free, booking is required via 01 804 0300.

Until 03 August there is also a Patchwork exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens. It is called “Hands across the Border” and is a co-operation between the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild and the Irish Patchwork Society. Admission is free.

The IFI Family Festival is taking place from Thurs 16 – Sun 19 July. There are plenty of film screenings and some workshops but the majority are not free.

Only two events are free and the first one is “The Major Emotion Commotion” a one hour long activity programme for kids in the foyer of the IFI. Tickets are not required for this event, but it leads to a film screening of the film “Inside Out” and that screening is already booked out. So you won’t be able to attend the film, but the pre-film activities. More details here.

The second event is a Workshop for 10-14 year olds with some acting experience on Saturday, but you have to pre-book by Wednesday 15 July! Find all the details about this event here.

The website below lists all events including the many non-free events.

A weekly Forro Night (Brazilian Dance) with a Forro Live Band takes place in the D-One Bar & Brazilian Grill every Thursday.

Admission is free.

On Thursdays from 18:00-20:00, the Little Museum of Dublin waives all admission charges thanks to sponsor Guinness.

Visit the museum and find out lots more about Dublin. A new exhibition at the Little Museum is “Dear Christy: The Christy Brown Collection”. It is the first time that Christy’s personal archive will go on view. You can visit that exhibition as well when you are there on Thursday.

In addition to the Saturday Car Boot Sale which starts so early (06:00!!) that you need to be an insomniac or a super early bird, there is now a Thursday evening Car Boot Sale in the same location. It starts at 18:30 and runs until 22:00. Late night car boot shopping. :-) Admission for buyers is free.

New Island books is inviting to the book launch of an anthology of writing by a large collection of Irish and Italian authors. A total of 15 authors have contributed to “Lost Between – Writings on Displacement”.

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 myfavouritesdublincitywalktour@gmail.com or 085-2725095

A weekly live music gig of the genres Blues/Roots/Rock/Soul will take place in Arthur’s Pub with weekly changing performers:

+ 1st Thursday: Ben Prevo
+ 2nd Thursday: Declan Kennedy
+ 3rd Thursday: Dermot Byrne
+ 4th Thursday: Mick Pyro

Admission is free.

Every Thursday, the Xchange invites to a Language Exchange (19:00-20:30), followed by live music (21:00-23:30) by up and coming local and international artists.

Admission is free before 20:00 and free finger food is provided.

Dearly Beloved, a Rock/Post Punk band from Toronto will perform in the Harbour Bar. Admission is free.

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.

Every Thursday 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.

A Fun Pub Quiz takes place in Brady’s in Terenure on Thurs. The quiz will be on every Thursday night in the Lounge at Brady’s. Keith McLoughlin is the Quiz Master.

There will be six rounds of the quiz with picture questions, audio questions and general knowledge questions. Admission to the quiz is free and therr will be free drink vouchers for the winning and runner up teams. (No phones to get answers allowed.)

Every Tuesday and Thursday the International Bar invites to a Jazz night in the Lounge.

Groups led by Cote Calmet, Sean Maynard Smith, Dominic Mullan, Paddy Groenland, Georgia Cusack & Alex Mathias are performing regularly with occasional guest players, but there are also other bands from all over.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of EUR 5. The website clearly says that there is no entry fee, but – and that makes a lot of sense – that your donations are very much appreciated (Musicians need to pay for rent and food too!) Be generous after the gig if you liked it, but if someone wants to charge an admission charge, please point out that the “rules” as described on their website are like I have explained.

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 Woolshed Karaoke is happening every Thursday from 21:30. Anyone can participate! Admission is free.

The Finglas Festival takes place from Mon 13 – Sun 19 July. It is a community festival with History Talks, Walking Tours, Exhibitions, Opera in the Open performance (at the Civic Centre on Wed 15 July at 12:45), Musical Performances, Children’s Events,

The main event of the festival is next Saturday 18 July from 12:00-17:00 in the Village Centre of Finglas.

The website is quite good and has a Schedule of all events on it. Check it out at www.finglasfestival.com

The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is taking place from Mon 13 – Sat 18 July and the vast majority of the events is free.

The free events on Friday are:

+ Blackpitts Photographic Installation 10:00
+ Older & Bolder Bowling – Competition 11:00
+ Yoga in the Park for kids 12:30-13:00
+ Yoga in the Park for all 13:00-14:00
+ Blooming Liberties 15:00
+ Karaoke Competition 19:00

All event details, including locations can be found on the website below under the What’s On Menu at the top.

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.

From Monday to Friday of this week, the Chester Beatty Library is running “Silk Worm Club” Workshops for children aged 6-11. There are different themes and you can see them all on the website below (e.g. Shadow Puppet Workshop or Making Dreamcatchers).

Admission is free, but booking is required and some workshops still have availability at the time of writing this, others are fully booked but you can still be added to the waiting list.

On Friday of this week, Ramadan ends and it is an Islamic tradition to celebrate the end of this month with a festival called Eid (full name: Eid al-Fitr). The Islamic Foundation Ireland invites to this Eid Celebration with Bouncy Castle, Rodeo Bull, Sumo, Table Tennis, Face Painting, Puppet Show, BBQ and more.

Admission is free.

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.

At this Lunchtime Gallery Talk, Sean Kissane introduces a selection of works in the context of Stan Douglas’ photography and film practice.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the website below.

“Holiday Fun” with Mary Noonan is the theme of the next Tiny Tot Workshop for children of Age 3 and under. Admission to this workshop is free, but booking is required and booking opens 13 July. Find all details via the website below.

Have fun exploring colours, shapes and sounds with storytelling and art.

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

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

Folk Rock band “Corner Boy” will perform a free gig in Bray.

A weekly Gig Night in Sin É, organised and presented by Super Happy Fun Times takes place every Friday and admission is free. The line-up can be found on the Facebook Page below.

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.

Pine Marten is an acoustic trio from Dublin, that plays a wide range of music from Bluegrass fiddle tunes via Scandinavian folk music to The Beatles.

Admission is free.

“Ska ‘n’ Reggae” is the theme in the Dive Bar (downstairs in Turks Head) every Friday. The Bionic Rats play live. followed by DJs until late. Admission is free.

Locoswing are playing gypsy jazz swing at this free gig.

Pickled Onion Records presents “Drive By Eden” and “Popgun Warfare” at this Night Howl event in Whelan’s. Admission is free before 22:30 or if you sign up for the guest list (via the website below), The gig will start at midnight.