Dublin Event Guide 424: Rock-n-Roll Festival, Atmosphere Balloon Festival, Fiestaval, Bray Fireworks

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 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.

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 funeral of O’Donovan Rossa and Pádraig Pearse’s graveside oration was an important event in the lead up to the 1916 Rising.

A state commemoration of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral will therefore take place on Saturday in the presence of President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys.

1500 tickets to this event were distributed through the Glasnevin Cemetery website for access to areas adjacent to the Church and O’Connell Tower in the Cemetery and you must have a valid ticket to access this area.

A non ticketed public viewing area, with space for up to 5,000 people will be available outside the Cemetery. This viewing area will be fitted with large screens televising the event. No tickets are required there.

Please note: Parking in the area will be severely limited and road closures will be in place, so you should walk or come by public transport.

The event is the first of the State ceremonial events of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. It will follow the proceedings of the original funeral of O’Donovan Rossa and will culminate with a wreath laying ceremony, the firing of a volley of shots, the raising of the National Flag and the National Anthem.

The details about this event are extremely hard to come by as if the state doesn’t want you to know. The start time was no where to be found despite researching at least 20 relevant websites, but in the end the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)” was able to get the information for you. ;-) However, there is still confusion: Glasnevin Cemetery says that the event starts at 10:00, the AA says it starts at 10:30 and the President’s office claims it starts at 11:00. I would think that the event actually starts at 11:00, but people are expected from 10:00/10:30, but that is just my guess.

It seems as if this state commemoration and the funeral re-enactment (including procession with hearse and marching bands from Dublin City Hall to Glasnevin Cemetery) are organised completely separately.

The yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

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.

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.

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

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.)

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 Thomas House Vinyl Market where you could buy 1000s of Vinyl Records from all genres will run on Saturday from 11:00-18:00. 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 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.

A Ceremonial Military Guard will parade at the site of the “National Memorial to Members of the Defence Forces who died in the Service of the State”, at Merrion Square during July and August. Ceremonies will take place at the pyramid at Merrion Square opposite the back entrance to the Dail, every Saturday from 18 July to 22 August 2015.

Units from different sections of the Defence Forces (Army, Air Corps and Naval Service) will participate in this Military Guard Ceremony to remember their comrades. Every week different units will be involved and the ceremony and the participating units are described on the website below.

Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was a prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and a Fenian leader. He was born on 10 September 1831 in Co. Cork and he died on 29 June 1915 in New York where he lived since 1870 with no right to return to Ireland.

After his death his body was returned to Ireland to be buried on Glasnevin cemetery and the funeral took place on 01 August 2015. The graveside oration given by Pádraig Pearse, is one of the most famous speeches of the Irish independence movement.

O’Donovan Rossa is seen as one of the forefathers of the Easter Rising of 1916 and the re-enactment of his funeral on its 100th anniversary on Saturday is the first event of the 2016 commemorations of the Easter Rising.

The coffin will be “lying in state” from 12:00 in City Hall. Then at 13:00 the funeral procession assemble at 13:00 on Barnardos Square and at 13:30, the coffin will be brought to the Horse Drawn Hearse from the Rotunda in City Hall. The Cortege departs at 14:00 with a Guard of honour and a number of marching bands.
The route will be Dame St, Westmoreland St, O’Connell St. (at 14:20), Parnell St, Parnell Sq, Mountjoy St, Berkley Road, Cabra Road, Finglas Road and at 15:00 it will arrive at Glasnevin Cemetery.

This event is seemingly organised by Sinn Fein and it appears as if it is not connected in any way to the State Event at Glasnevin Cemetery that is also taking place on the same day.

The Rock-n-Roll Festival starts today with a Vintage Car Show “Hot Rod City”, where “Classic American Motors Ireland V8” will bring 18 of some of the most amazing Hot Rods and streetcars from the vintage days of the USA. The cars will be in Dame Court from 12:00-16:00

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.

East Side Tavern invites to “Brunch, Beat and Banter”. Come for your brunch to the pub and they will entertain you with acoustic sets from

RyanMurtagh, VetraTrinkunaite, NiallMurray, KevinNolan

Poets, Musicians and spoken Word! And they also promise “breathtaking food options”. But let’s hope it is not really breathtaking! ;-)

“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

Atmosphere is Dun Laoghaire’s new festival for Balloons, Kites & Flight and it will be on Newtownsmith Green along the sea front between the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire and the 40 Foot in Sandycove.

Newtownsmith will be transformed with sculptures and displays made of latex balloons and kite enthusiasts showing off their latest creations and stunt skills. There will be balloon modelling and kite making workshops.

Professional balloon modellers will show their skills by creating models of Movie Characters, Animals, Cartoon Characters and lots more. Each balloon artist will give a workshop on how to create a particular character at intervals throughout the day and then you can try their skills at balloon modelling in special make and do areas.

Master kite flyers will demonstrate their skills and creations and will give workshops on kite aerodynamics, design and skills followed by the opportunity for you to build your own kite.

A falconry display will also be there.

Admission is free.

An Intercultural Tour and Family Friendly Activities in Mandarin Language with Community Ambassador Tiedong Yang will take place.

Admission is free and no booking is reuqired. Meeting point is in the atrium of the Library.

It seems everybody wants to have a piece of him!! Apart from the State Commemoration and the Sinn Fein Funeral Re-Enactment, there is another set of O’Donovan Rossa events:

+ The National Graves Association will unveil two bronze plaques on the O’Donovan Rossa Bridge over the Liffey at 15:00. The speaker will be O’Donovan Rossa biographer, Dr Shane Kenna.
+ At 16:30 there will be a wreath laying ceremony and re-enactment of Pearse’s speech at O’Donovan Rossa’s graveside in Glasnevin Cemetery.
+ At 17:30 a new print of the O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Scene by renowned artist Robert Ballagh will be launched in the Glasnevin Museum. Speaker will be Robert Ballagh.

All events will be free.

At the “Concert for Children of Conflict” Fundraiser the line up is

Solo Acoustic : James Humston, Vetra Trinkunaite, Cuan, Ron Black, Yannika Frank, Maurice Burns, Daragh O’Neill
Bands: Suzanne Savagem, Shrubs, Hoodoo Reelin, Animals Are We
Poets: Sean Ruane, Dave Lordan, Kevin Brennan, Daniel Wade, Antain Mc Laughlin

Admission is for a donation.

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.

As part of the Rock-n-Roll Festival, Mongrel State will play a Rockabilly gig in The Globe. Admission is free.

A Rock-n-Roll Fashion Show will take place in The Mercantile and everybody is invited to take part. There will be prizes for the best dress.

The music will be provided by Live Music by:

+ The Shades from 20:00
+ The 45s (UK) from 22:00

Admission is free.

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.

The Dodgy Few are playing Reggae and Ska 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 Denise Whyte (vocals) and James Mullen (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.

Atlantic Avenue will play a gig in The Church and this will be followed by DJs. Admission is free.

Whitetrash is playing a mix of country, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Admission to this midnight gig is free before 22:30 or if you sign up for the guest list.

The Business will be in the Mezz for a free gig.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is a 21km run from North Wall Quay to Phoenix Park along the following route:

Custom House Quay, Memorial Bridge, South Quays, Winetavern St, High St, Bridge St, Cook St, St John’s Rd West, Military Rd, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Sarsfield Rd, St. Laurence’s Rd, Chapelizod Rd, Conyngham Rd, Chesterfield Ave, Acres Rd, Military Rd, Upper Glen Rd, Ordinance Survey Rd, Chesterfield Ave.

Participation is not free, but the “Rock ‘n’ Roll” element of the run means that there are gigs along the route and at the finish line and they are free and everybody is invited to the Finish Line Concert from 10:00-13:00.

The line-up at the Finish Line is: Hot Sprockets, The 45s, The Mighty Stef, Patrick James.

Along the route the line-up is Rachael McCormack (Sarsfield Road), Love-Shack (IMMA), The Lock-Ins (Chesterfield Avenue), Vertigo (Upper Glen Road), Brain Donation (Butt Bridge), Creaky Bones (DCC Offices), Beware of You (St. Laurence Road), Blank Canvas (Chapelizod Road), Created by Comets (Island Bridge Lodge Gate), Mongrel State (Chesterfield Avenue), Luna Boys (Military Road), The Jury (Wellington Road).

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 .

The Farmleigh House Food & Craft market will be back for the bank holiday weekend on Sunday and Monday and expect it to be a busy one because there is also the Roustabout Circus Show on the front lawn on both days (see separate lisiting) and the Cavan Brass & Reed Band will perform in the Bandstand on Sunday (14:00-16:00) followed by the St. James Brass & Reed Band on Monday (14:00-16:00).

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.

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 yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

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.

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 next Pure Vintage Fair will take place this week and it is what it says on the tin. A market/flea market for vintage items, which will take place on the first Sunday of every month. There will be vintage clothes, furniture, collectibles, jewellery and many more vintage items. Sounds interesting and with 30 stalls, it is well worth a visit. There will also be food, hot drinks and a DJ.

A motorcycle rally will start at the Garden of Remembrance and work their way across the city of Dublin to get to the grand finale of the Rock-N-Roll Marathon in Phoenix Park (probably around 12:30).

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 “Fiestaval” on Sun and Mon (02+03 Aug) is a new Food Festival on Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square.

There will be food from the five Temple Bar restaurants, The Boxty House (traditional), The Chameleon (Indonesian), Klaw” by Niall Sabongi of Rock Lobster (Seafood), Bar Pinxto (Spanish) and Monty’s of Kathmandu (Nepalese).

We certainly love a good festival, but does this event qualify as a festival or is it just five or so food stalls around Meeting House Square? Because in that case the name “festival” might be a little too ambitious….or should we call the Temple Bar Food Market every week on Saturdays the REAL and much bigger “Temple Bar Food Festival”?

The only non-food-stall element is the entertainment part that lists “Giant games, Craft club, Face painting and Live DJ”.

Admission to Meeting House Square is free.

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)

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 planned to appear here.

Meet artist Roxana Manouchehri and learn drawing techniques, including line drawing, shading, perspective and decoration during 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.

Circus Entertainment on the Bank Holiday weekend…and all is free!

Roustabout is a new contemporary circus experience performed in a gigantic tree. It is suitable for all ages and there will be shows on the Farmleigh House front lawn at 13;00 and 16:00 on Sunday 02 and Monday 03 August. Admission is free.

There will also be the Food & Craft Market in the Farmyard on both days (10:00-17:00) and Brass Bands will play from 14:00-16:00 in the Bandstand,

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!

“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.

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

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.

Let’s hope for good weather for this Open Air Gig in Dame Court/Dame Lane. The Line-up is

16:00 Creaky Bones
17:00 Point Break
18:00 Johnny Storm Crow

Admission is free.

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.

The Workman’s Club is celebrating the Bank Holiday again with a mighty party. The line-up is

Gangs, The Fontaines, Spines, Galants, The Lorraine Club

In addition there will be DJs and the Workman’s Club Karaoke.

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

The Rock-n-Roll Festival Closing Party will be in Whelan’s and the great line-up lists

+ The Hot Sprockets
+ The Mighty Stef
+ The 45s

Admission is free, or at least free until 22:30. the website is a little unclear on that.

The Square Pegs are playing Chicago Blues, 50?s R&B, New Orleans Blues at this gig in 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.

The Bray Summerfest is not what it was before. It got partially cancelled but is still kind of running. The website lists two more events and the Twitter feed seems to confirm that they are going ahead:

According to the plan the Summerfest is coming to an end this weekend with one gig and a Fireworks.

The gig is on Sunday 02 Aug: Smash Hits, the “Ultimate 90s Band” will be on the Bandstand from 21:30 and Jamie Duff will be the supporting act.

And on Monday evening, a Firework is meant to be the final event at the Sea Front from 22:00

Admission to both events is free.

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

Electric Lemon will be playing a mix of Rock & Roll and all the hits from the 80s. Admission is free.

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 68s will play in The Mezz and admission is free.

The yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

The Bay 10k is a 10km road race in Dun Laoghaire.
It seems that you can still register until 10:30 on the day, but participation in these races is never free. Supporting the runners however is.

This race starts at Newtownsmith Green and will then go through Seapoint, Monkstown, Glenageary, Killiney and Sandycove before finishing close to Dun Laoghaire Town Hall. (A map is on the website at www.dlrbay10k.ie)

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

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 “Fiestaval” on Sun and Mon (02+03 Aug) is a new Food Festival on Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square.

There will be food from the five Temple Bar restaurants, The Boxty House (traditional), The Chameleon (Indonesian), Klaw” by Niall Sabongi of Rock Lobster (Seafood), Bar Pinxto (Spanish) and Monty’s of Kathmandu (Nepalese).

We certainly love a good festival, but does this event qualify as a festival or is it just five or so food stalls around Meeting House Square? Because in that case the name “festival” might be a little too ambitious….or should we call the Temple Bar Food Market every week on Saturdays the REAL and much bigger “Temple Bar Food Festival”?

The only non-food-stall element is the entertainment part that lists “Giant games, Craft club, Face painting and Live DJ”.

Admission to Meeting House Square 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.

Circus Entertainment on the Bank Holiday weekend…and all is free!

Roustabout is a new contemporary circus experience performed in a gigantic tree. It is suitable for all ages and there will be shows on the Farmleigh House front lawn at 13;00 and 16:00 on Sunday 02 and Monday 03 August. Admission is free.

There will also be the Food & Craft Market in the Farmyard on both days (10:00-17:00) and Brass Bands will play from 14:00-16:00 in the Bandstand,

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:

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The National Gallery runs two Drawing Workshops for adults this week. The first one is on Monday and will focus on “Figure” and the second one is on”Colour” on Wednesday.

Admission is free. Materials will be provided- No booking necessary, but places are limited.

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.

The Bray Summerfest is not what it was before. It got partially cancelled but is still kind of running. The website lists two more events and the Twitter feed seems to confirm that they are going ahead:

The final event of the Bray Summerfest 2015 will be the Fireworks. It was spectacular (not in compariosn to US fireworks, but in the Irish context) in previous years, but who knows how it will be this year.

The build up will start at 21:30 and the Fireworks kicks off at 22:00.

Admission is free.

The yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

Storytelling with Mike Breathnach for 3-6 year olds will take place in Pearse Street Library on Tuesday. Admission is free and no booking required.

“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

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

Create bee-themed bookmarks and fridge magnets at this workshop. The workshops are suitable for ages 7-12. All materials are supplied.

Admission is free, but booking is required on 01 8304341

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.

In August and September a series of talks introducing a broad range of topics in Irish family history will take place in the National Library every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 13:00-14:00. Booking is not required and admission is free.

+ 04 Aug: The Irish DNA Atlas with Speaker Gianpiero Cavalleri

“The Irish DNA Atlas is a genetic study of the Irish population. The aim of the project is to describe patterns in Irish DNA, in the context of European and global genetic diversity. This work can inform the history of the Irish population, as well as aid in the efforts to better understand the role of DNA in disease. The project is being run as collaboration between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Irish Genealogical Society. Dr. Cavalleri will update the audience on how recruitment to the study is progressing, and the latest results to emerge from the project.”

You would like to study Medicine but are missing some essential points? You could consider studying in Poland through English.

This event will provide information on opportunities to study medicine and related subjects through English in Poland. Irish students can still apply this year and have more options to study abroad. You could become doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, veterinary surgeon or dentist.

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

There will be free comedy upstairs in the Wicked Wolf in Blackrock on every second Tuesday. New acts and surprise guests will entertain you and the event is organised by Maxine Jones.

The dates are 04+18 Aug. Put the dates in your calender as I will probably not be able to include the event every week.

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.

Entry charges at nearly all OPW sites are waived once a month. The Office of Public Works (OPW) wants to encourage people to visit the historic sites that it manages and has therfore started this initiative in 2011.

Most OPW owned sites can already be visited for free, but the sites that normally charge a fee will be free every first Wednesday as well. In the (extended) Greater Dublin Area this means you can visit the following sites for free:
+ The Casino, Marino
+ Dublin Castle, State Apartments
+ Kilmainham Gaol
+ Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange
+ Glendalough Visitor Centre in Wicklow

As you can imagine, this event is very popular and therfore it is strongly recommended to arrive early at the venues. Once the day’s tickets are given out, you will not get access anymore (e.g. at Kilmainham Gaol and Newgrange). At Dublin Castle there will be self-guided tours throughout the day, but if the queue gets too long (it has happened) then it is possible that no more people will get admitted into the queue.

The yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

Did you ever want to give drawing a go? Or maybe you are a budding artist looking for like-minded people to draw with? The Creative Den in Rua Red runs free weekly drawing sessions on Wednesdays at 11:00 (05, 12, 19, 26 Aug).

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

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.

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.

Create bee-themed mugs and plates at this workshop in Ringsend. Suitable for ages 7-12. All materials will be provided.

Admission is free, but booking is required on 01 6680063.

The film screening of “The Secret Garden” is free and suitable for the whole family. No booking required.

A newly orphaned young British girl, born and raised in India, goes to England to live with her uncle. Neglected by her mourning guardian, she begins exploring her uncle’s estate where she discovers a cousin she never knew she had and a secret garden in desperate need of repair. 1993; PG; (101 min).

A workshop for kids who would like to become plant collectors. Join this expedition through the gardens identifying and collecting suitable plants for pressing before constructing your own flower press and starting your dried plant collection.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8040300.

In Early Bronze Age Ireland, people made beautiful gold discs to look like the sun. Drop in to find out more about these precious objects and make your own shining sun disc. Located next to the Treasury exhibition, ground floor.

Admission is free and no booking required.Suitable for Ages 6+.

The National Gallery runs two Drawing Workshops for adults this week. The first one is on Monday and will focus on “Figure” and the second one is on”Colour” on Wednesday.

Admission is free. Materials will be provided- No booking necessary, but places are limited.

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.

Paula McGrath will launch her debut novel “Generation”. Admission is free.

Muse Open Mic is a platform for poets, musicians, singers, actors and prose writers to perform new and original material in a supportive environment. Each performer is limited to three minutes per slot,

Admission is free.

www.facebook.com/pages/Muse-Open-Mic/664089283674416

The Brand New Switcharoo are performing a Roots Gig in Bray. Admission is free.

Hannah Rickard & The Relatives, “The New Queen of Rock and Roll”, will be in The Mezz for a gig on Wednesday. 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 Square Pegs are playing Chicago Blues, 50s R&B, New Orleans Blues and more. Admission is free.

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.

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 yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

“Art Al Fresco” sounds like a great event at the Museum of Madern Art, but Irish weather is unfortuantely often not very supportive of these great events:

Enjoy a morning of fresh air in the beautiful Formal Garden at IMMA. The resident Gardener will give an introductory talk on the history of the Garden, followed by a walking tour led by IMMA staff focusing on the interrelationship of nature, architecture and art, exploring the Garden’s sculptures and including some outdoor art-making.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the website below. Meeting point is at IMMA’s main reception at 11:00.

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

EveryThursday, 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.

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 Fernando Sanchez, RHA Academy Co-ordinator, when he will share his highlights of the show.

The RHA website also says “Please note that this talk will be delivered in the Irish language and there will be no translation services available.”

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

August is the month for the yearly “Opera in the Open” at the Amphitheatre behind Dublin City Offices and not far from Christ Church Cathedral. This year’s events are organised by Dublin City and the French Embassy and consequently there is a strong French bias, but the narration os in English. The upcoming performances are:

+ 06 Aug: Carmen by Georges Bizet
+ 13 Aug: Pygmalion by Jean-Phillippe Rameau
+ 20 Aug: L’Heure Espagnole by Joseph-Maurice Ravel
+ 27 Aug: Orphée aux Enfers by Jaques Offenbach

Admission is free. In bad weather it can happen that the event will get cancelled. In that case notifications should be on www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil

In August and September a series of talks introducing a broad range of topics in Irish family history will take place in the National Library every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 13:00-14:00. Booking is not required and admission is free.

+ 06 Aug: Secrets of the Bog bodies with Speaker Ned Kelly

“Bog bodies are rare survivals of human remains from earlier times. The properties of bogs are such that, occasionally, bodies are preserved to an exceptional degree with hair, skin, hands, internal organs and other soft tissue intact. Prehistoric bog bodies found recently in Ireland have provided important new insights into pagan Celtic times. The killings were ritual in nature and related to ancient sovereignty rites. The talk will present some of the results of the forensic analysis of the Irish bog bodies to see what insights they provide into the ritual killings. The wider archaeological context of the finds will be examined including historical, mythological and folklore material, to provide insights into the secrets of the bog bodies.”

A public tour of the exhibition “Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats” is taking place on the first Thursday of each month from March – October 2015.

As this year marks the 150th anniversary of the poet’s birth in 1835, the tour will introduce the life and work of WIlliam Butler Yeats.

Admission is free and booking is not required, but places are limited.

Create bee-themed mugs and plates at this workshop in Finglas. Suitable for ages 7-12. All materials will be provided.

Admission is free, but booking is required on 01 8344906

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.

The new Science Gallery exhibition is “SECRET – Nothing to see here” and the launch party for this exhibition will take place on Thursday.

Everybody is invited and admission is free, but you need to register via rsvp@sciencegallery.com

The exhibition is all about secrecy, surveillance, security and spying with a whole range of interesting exhibits. The launch party celebrates the classified and the cloak-and-dagger with food, drinks and music.

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.

The Dublin Mountain partnership is running an “Introduction to Basic Orienteering” evening at the Hell Fire Club, where you will walk along a short orienteering course and learn lots.

The events will start at 18:30 and will last for 2-3 hours. The walk is 2-5km long

Admission is free and booking is not required, but you are asked to contact reidyd@hotmail.com if your group is bigger than 4 people.

“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.

Kochuu (2013), a film about modern Japanese architecture, will be screened in the The Liquor Rooms on Thursday. Doors open at 17:00 and the film starts at 19:00. Admission is free and no booking required.

Shakespeare in Iveagh Gardens is back!!

The theatre production company Fortune’s Fool Productions under the leadership of the great Stephanie Courtney is coming back to Iveagh Gardens this year with eleven (!!) Open Air performances of “(Not a Traditional) Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare.

If you have been at their plays in previous years in Iveagh Gardens and Ranelagh Park, you know that they are high-class performances of popular Shakespeare plays that are provided completely free. All actors are super talented and passionate and the event is hugely popular every year. Let’s just hope for good weather!!

The dates this year are 06-16 August with plays during the week (6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 August) at 19:00 and at the weekend (8, 9, 15, 16 August) at 15:00.

If you are not very familiar with Shakespeare plays, you might want to read some information about the play here, so that you can follow it easier. But keep in mind that the play has “(Not the Traditional)” in the title, so expect some interesting modernisations.

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.

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.

Gangs, a four piece Rock ‘n’ Roll band are performing in the Bernard Shaw Pub in the “Good Name” slot.

Admission is free.

A free Table Quiz takes place in the Grand Social. Teams of 4 people (or at least 2 people) will compete against each other over questions from the areas of General Knowledge, Music, Film, Sports & Entertainment.

The Fever are performing in the Harbour Bar on Thursday. Their style us Heavy Soul and Blues Rock. Admission is free.

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.

A weekly Trad Music Night is taking place in McLoughlin’s in Dun Laoghaire. It is an acoustic night and all musicians are welcome. Admission is free.

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 yearly Sand Scultpures exhibition will be in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle again.

“Emotional States” is the theme this year and the carving started on 27 July. The work is weather dependent and while the artists are working on it, you can watch them doing their thing (The artists are from Fleeting Sculpture and often are happy to answer questions.) The exhibition will run until 25 August and admission is free.

People ask usually how the sand withstands the rain and want to know if something is mixed in, but it is just normal sand with no added stuff. Once the carving is finished the “skin” will be sprayed with something to make it a little harder, but the holding together of the sculpture is purely down to the compacting of the sand.

The National Gallery still runs an intensive programme of daily Family Workshops, lots of talks and Documentary screenings. Have a look at their website nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Here are some of the Family workshops for this week:
+ 01 Aug: Inspired by…Pointillism
+ 03 Aug: Inspired by…the Baroque
+ 04 Aug: Inspired by…Abstract Art
+ 05 Aug: Inspired by…Costume
+ 06 Aug: Inspired by…Icons
+ 07 Aug: Inspired by…the Dutch Golden Age.

All workshops are suitable for ages 4-10. Materials will be provided. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

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 new Science Gallery Exhibition is called “SECRET – Nothing to see here” and runs from 07 Aug – 01 Nov.

I am tempted to tell you that I can’t tell you anything about the exhibition because it is secret, but you wouldn’t believe me, so here is some information:

Cryptography, leaks, hidden messages, secret satellites, big data, conspiracy theories, puzzles, Easter eggs and cryptocurrencies, SECRET asks how hackers, spies, journalists, psychologists, criminals, companies and governments are approaching the new world of secrets.

Admission is free. And there will be more details next week!

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.

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 Secrets behind Secret” is a lunchtime talk of the curators, researchers and artists of the brand new Science Gallery exhibition. They will let you peak behind the curtains and tell you about their work, themselves and ideas including disguised acts of protest and commemoration, surveillance and undercover identity.

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

A Garden Walking Tour with Christopher Heavey takes place. Assemble at the Walled Garden.

Admission is free.

Issue 4 of the HeadSpace Magazine launches on Friday. The magazine deals openly with issues around mental health and this issue of the magazine explores mental health through platforms of creative writing, poetry, art and photography. At the launch some of the contributors will perform their work on stage.

Music will be provided by singer-songwriter Aoife Leigh.

Admission seems to be free.

There is a timeless principle: what goes around, comes around. Sometimes we can see this in obvious ways. The liar gets lied to – the honest person gets a lucky break. But often the dots are too far apart, or the cause and effect too subtle to work out the patterns.

Maureen Goodman will talk about Karma and how it operates.

The event is organised by Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organisation with more than 8500 centres in 100 countries. More information can be found here: www.brahmakumaris.org/whoweare/faq

Admission is free.

Shakespeare in Iveagh Gardens is back!!

The theatre production company Fortune’s Fool Productions under the leadership of the great Stephanie Courtney is coming back to Iveagh Gardens this year with eleven (!!) Open Air performances of “(Not a Traditional) Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare.

If you have been at their plays in previous years in Iveagh Gardens and Ranelagh Park, you know that they are high-class performances of popular Shakespeare plays that are provided completely free. All actors are super talented and passionate and the event is hugely popular every year. Let’s just hope for good weather!!

The dates this year are 06-16 August with plays during the week (6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 August) at 19:00 and at the weekend (8, 9, 15, 16 August) at 15:00.

If you are not very familiar with Shakespeare plays, you might want to read some information about the play here, so that you can follow it easier. But keep in mind that the play has “(Not the Traditional)” in the title, so expect some interesting modernisations.

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 ‘Amazing Apples’ are a 5 piece multi instrumentalist Indie/Folk band from Galway and they will perform in the Harbour Bar. Admission is free.

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

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.

“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.

The Stuart Kenny Band will play a gig in Mother Reilly’s. Admission is free.

The Seattle Grunge Experience will feature the music of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and more. Admission is free.