Dublin Event Guide 482: Dublin Fashion Festival, Airfield Festival of Food, SARI Soccerfest, Fusion Sunday Market, Farmleigh Family Day, Culture Night

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.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and up to 75 landmark buildings in Ireland will be lit up in orange to spread the message “It’s OK not to feel OK and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help!” In Dublin the Mansion House will be orange, for example, and also DCU, Liberty Hall, Christchurch Cathedral and St Patrick’s Hospital.

You are also invited to light a candle or an orange lamp in your window at 20:00 to spread the message.

A few years ago, Apple iOS Maps thought that Airfield Estate is an airport, but that couldn’t be more wrong! Instead Airfield Estate is a working Farm and a Garden in the middle of Dundrum. It was originally a private farm, but is now a charitable organisation and opens its doors every day to the public. They do run interesting events, but you never read about it in the Dublin Event Guide because admission is not free (EUR 10 for adults and EUR 5 for children).

———-

On Saturday and Sunday, Airfield Estate is now inviting to a Festival of Food and this time admission is free.

The mission of Airfield is to inspire people to refresh their connection with food and the land it comes from and this festival is aiming for exactly that as well. There will be 13 food, farming and nature related talks on Saturday and Sunday (for example “Biodiversity and Bees” or “Nutrition and Diet” or “Food Too Good To Waste”). Throughout the day there will be an Art Exhibition, Children’s Art Workshop, Music Centre for Children, Children’s Grow Centre and a Farm Obstacle Course and the eggs will be collected from the hen house (10:00), the Jersey Cows will be milked (10:30), a Tour of the Family House on the Estate will take place (11:30) and wild food will be foraged. Some non-free workshops for adults will also be offered.

And on top of all that a huge food market with more than 35 food stalls will will be on site.

The full schedule is here: www.airfield.ie/uncategorized/weekend-activities-festival-of-food-2016/

Sounds like a great event with plenty to do!

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.

A whole range of Parkruns take place every week (and if you know some more, please tell me):
+ Malahide Park, Dublin Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin
+ Cabinteely Park, Old Bray Road, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
+ Shanganagh Park, Shankill, Co. Dublin
+ Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin, Co. Dublin
+ St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5
+ Father Collins Park, Donaghmeade/Clongriffin, Dublin 13
+ Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24

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.

Dublin City Hall has a museum/exhibition in the basement, called “The Story of the Capital”, it is an exhibition that you should definitely check out at some stage.

To celebrate the Easter Rising Anniversary, admission to that exhibititon is free for the whole year!!

Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:15.

The Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta, called the Hong Kong Dublin Dragonboat Regatta, because it is sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, takes place at Grand Canal Dock this Saturday (10:00-18:30) and Sunday (10:00-18:00). Up to 16 paddlers and 1 drummer man each Dragonboat.

If you are interested in watching Dragonboat races from Grand Canal Square and to support the teams, this is for you. If you expect anything else, for example a street festival atmosphere maybe with food stalls etc. then you would be disappointed. It is a Regatta, nothing else.

Admission is free.

The Dublin Fashion Festival is back from 05-11 Sept (Monday-Sunday).

Throughout the week there will be a Fashion Exhibition in Powercourt Townhouse Centre and daily free Mini Makeovers in Body Shop. From Thursday until Saturday Fashion Shows will take plays in Henry Street and Grafton Street between 12:00 and 17:00. And on Sunday a Funday for kids from 12:00-15:00 will happen in the Ilac Centre. Also on Sunday (14:00+16:00), there will be a Cherry Bum Charity Fashion Show in aid of Ronald McDonald House in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.

In-store Fashion shows will happen on Saturday and Sunday in Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and Ilac Shopping Centre.

More details are on www.dff.ie/festival/schedule and the exact times for the on-street Fashion Shows can be found here: dff.ie/shop/day-1-on-street-show-full-schedule

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 County Council Market (CoCo) in Marlay Park is taking place every Saturday and Sunday. You will find a wide range of products. There will be food to eat there and food to cook at home but also crafts and arts and books and lots more.

Sculpture in Context is Ireland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition and it is a brilliant exhibition in the beautiful surroundings of the National Botanic Gardens. Some of Ireland’s best artists are showing new work and the sculptures are displayed throughout the gardens, ponds, Great Palm House and Curvilinear Range, with the smaller works exhibited in the in the gallery in the Visitors Centre.

The exhibition opened on 08 Sept and will run until 21 October.

Admission is free.

Over 40,000 visitors are expected at this show from Friday until Sunday (09-11 Sept) for home owners where you will get ideas, inspiration and advice for your Self Build home or for improving your home. 150 exhibitors will promote their products and there will also be talks and “clinics” for kitchen design and interior design.

Admission is free by simply using the Promotional Code WEB.

Find all details on the website below

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

The Franchise Show 2016 is taking place in the Main Hall at the RDS on Friday and Saturday (09+10 Sept). Over 80 franchise brands will be at this show to offer their franchising model to you.

There will also be impartial advise on Franchising, on financing and the Franchise Show is not just useful if you are looking at buying a franchise, but also if you are interested in starting a business in general. There will be general business inspirational, educational and motivational seminars, covering the essentials of successful practice.

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

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 Irish Writers’ Centre is inviting to an Open Day on Saturday.

There will be
+ Free prose and poetry creative writing classes
+ Professional Development Information Session
+ Tours of the building
+ Novel Fair Information Session
+ Join in with the Inkslingers and New Irish Communities, the open creative writing groups that meet on Saturdays at the Irish Writers Centre
+ Free teas, coffees, cakes and biscuits

Admission is free and the full schedule is on the website below.

The 20th Soccerfest organised by “Sports Against Racism Ireland” (SARI) is taking place on Saturday on the Garda Football pitches in Phoenix Park.

In addition to the football tournament where 32 teams are competing, there will be music, food and free entertainment for children and the European Week of Sports will be launched with this event.

Admission is free.

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

The exhibition “SEEING – What are you looking at?” (24 June – 25 Sept 2016) in the Science Gallery is exploring the sensory experience of vision, understanding and perception. It looks at how us human beings see by using eye tracking technology, eye tests and colour perception, but it also shows how machines see and what their limitations are.

It is a great exhibition full of intriguing exhibits, some are very clear, others need some more explanation or you should at least read the explanatory labels that every exhibit has.

Like all Science Gallery exhibitions, SEEING is suitable for all ages with a particular focus on the age group of 15-25, but I would say that children from 10 years of age can understand the whole exhibition if they get some additional explanations and there are even some exhibits that would work for younger children.

When you go to see the exhibition, get help from the Science Gallery mediators! They are helpers (usually students or graduates) that know the whole exhibition inside out and are very happy to help with a lot more information than the little labels at the exhibits can provide. Use their excellent service and it will help you soo much more to have a better experience

The Science Gallery has very visitor friendly opening hours of Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00.
Admission is free.

Tallafest is a community fest in Tallaght this Saturday.

There will be a Kids Zone, an Arts & Heritage Programme, a Nature Zone, live performances on stage and a Craft Market.

Detailed information couldn’t be sparser at the time of writing this. The website claims that the programme will be revealed in July, but the page is empty and the Facebook Page shows a poster and a bit more information, but lots of details are still missing. Let’s hope that either of the two will be populated with starting times and locations soon.

The main live acts on stage will be Bipolar Empire and Level Heads.

Admission is expected to be free to all or at least most events.

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

The Bernard Shaw Flea Market is a weekly market (every Saturday) with approx 16 stalls, music, pizzas from the Big Blue Bus and the Bernard Shaw Garden Bar. Expect vintage clothes, shoes, jewellery, art, records, bric-a-brac and more and DJs will provide the entertainment.

Admission is free.

This tour will explore the Library’s rich architectural history and heritage. It begins in the main hall of the Library and will include an introduction to the Signatories exhibition – a selected display of key items relating to the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. The tour also includes a visit to the Library’s iconic reading room.

Admission is free.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher runs every Saturday. It is 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!”

The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is required via myfavouritesdublincitywalktour@gmail.com or 085-2725095

Every Saturday a kid’s book will be read in 27 Eason’s stores all over Ireland. In O’Connell Street the reading takes place at 14:00. In the other Eason Stores, the times vary between 11:00 and 15:00 (see website below). Suitable for age 0-6 with their parents.

Admission is free.

Evolve Paint Jam is an Urban Art event with DJs providing the soundtrack. Street Art & Graffiti from the some of the best street artists from Ireland will be applied to the walls around the Bernard Shaw and the music will be provided by Slow Raost Disco / We Three Kings.

Admission is free.

A free guided tour will take place at the National War Memorial at Islandbridge every Saturday at 14:00 until the end of October.

The tour will focus on World War I, in which so many Irishmen died. You will also hear about the main features of the gardens at this tour.

Meeting point is the car park at 14:00. For further information contact 01-8155914.

Two “Dead Zoo Tours” will take place for everyone from Age 8 and up. The first tour is at 14:15 and the second at 15:30.

“Where can you find an eel that swallowed a frog, a smelly pilot whale skull and a hairless bat? Take a tour of the Dead Zoo to discover more about the animals on display at the Museum.”

Admission is free.

The theme this week is ‘A Night at the Gallery’ with Janine Davidson. The free Saturday Family Workshops encourage families to enjoy creating and learning together as they explore our collection and exhibitions through drawing, crafts, and storytelling. All materials are provided and the workshops are most suitable for families with children aged 4-10.

Admission is free, but places are limited.

A fundraising event is taking place this Saturday in the Italian quarter to raise funds for the vicitims of the earthquake in central Italy on 24 of August. The money will be donated to the Italian Red Cross.

The Enoteca delle Langhe in the Italian Quarter will cook the traditional delicious Pasta Amatriciana (pasta, tomato sauce, pancetta, parmesan and pecorino cheese!) as it was invented in the tiny village of Amatrice, one of the towns that have been most affected by the earthquake.

A bowl of pasta wil lbe available for EUR 6 and the entire amount will be donated to the Red Cross. There will be a food stand outside and there will be also drinks, music, communal table along the Italian quarter.

The event starts at 18:30 and will continue until late. Admission is free.

Bunoscionn are playing trad & folk at this gig.

Admission is free.

The Dublin Sidewalk Astronomers meet in Clontarf on the seafront car park, on Clontarf Road, opposite the Clontarf Bus Depot for a public star-gazing. Members bring along their telescopes and share the wonders of the night-sky with you. Admission is free.

The event is weather dependent, so check www.irishastrosoc.org/events/events.htm after 18:00 on the night in the case of poor weather, to see if it is going ahead.

New band “Kevyn” will play a gig in Whelan’s.

Admission is free.

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

Wastefellow will be for a gig in Sin E and support will come from Luka Palm and Webbs.

Admission is free.

Rock ‘n’ Roll band “The Fontaines” will play a gig in Whelan’s and they will be supported by Punk Rock 2-piece band “Vulpynes”.

Admission is free before 22:30 or if you you sign for the guest list via the website below.

Travellin’ Band is a 4-piece covers band from Dublin. They will be in the Mezz for a free gig.

In addition to the Saturday Car Boot Sale in Tallaght, Irish Car Boot Sales run a weekly Sunday Car Boot Sales in Ballymun.

Admission for buyers is free.

A few years ago, Apple iOS Maps thought that Airfield Estate is an airport, but that couldn’t be more wrong! Instead Airfield Estate is a working Farm and a Garden in the middle of Dundrum. It was originally a private farm, but is now a charitable organisation and opens its doors every day to the public. They do run interesting events, but you never read about it in the Dublin Event Guide because admission is not free (EUR 10 for adults and EUR 5 for children).

———-

On Saturday and Sunday, Airfield Estate is now inviting to a Festival of Food and this time admission is free.

The mission of Airfield is to inspire people to refresh their connection with food and the land it comes from and this festival is aiming for exactly that as well. There will be 13 food, farming and nature related talks on Saturday and Sunday (for example “Biodiversity and Bees” or “Nutrition and Diet” or “Food Too Good To Waste”). Throughout the day there will be an Art Exhibition, Children’s Art Workshop, Music Centre for Children, Children’s Grow Centre and a Farm Obstacle Course and the eggs will be collected from the hen house (10:00), the Jersey Cows will be milked (10:30), a Tour of the Family House on the Estate will take place (11:30) and wild food will be foraged. Some non-free workshops for adults will also be offered.

And on top of all that a huge food market with more than 35 food stalls will will be on site.

The full schedule is here: www.airfield.ie/uncategorized/weekend-activities-festival-of-food-2016/

Sounds like a great event with plenty to do!

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

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

The Dublin Dragon Boat Regatta, called the Hong Kong Dublin Dragonboat Regatta, because it is sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, takes place at Grand Canal Dock this Saturday (10:00-18:30) and Sunday (10:00-18:00). Up to 16 paddlers and 1 drummer man each Dragonboat.

If you are interested in watching Dragonboat races from Grand Canal Square and to support the teams, this is for you. If you expect anything else, for example a street festival atmosphere maybe with food stalls etc. then you would be disappointed. It is a Regatta, nothing else.

Admission is free.

The Dublin Fashion Festival is back from 05-11 Sept (Monday-Sunday).

Throughout the week there will be a Fashion Exhibition in Powercourt Townhouse Centre and daily free Mini Makeovers in Body Shop. From Thursday until Saturday Fashion Shows will take plays in Henry Street and Grafton Street between 12:00 and 17:00. And on Sunday a Funday for kids from 12:00-15:00 will happen in the Ilac Centre. Also on Sunday (14:00+16:00), there will be a Cherry Bum Charity Fashion Show in aid of Ronald McDonald House in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.

In-store Fashion shows will happen on Saturday and Sunday in Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and Ilac Shopping Centre.

More details are on www.dff.ie/festival/schedule and the exact times for the on-street Fashion Shows can be found here: dff.ie/shop/day-1-on-street-show-full-schedule

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 Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park is unusually neglected and at the same time unusually rich in history. Many have seen it as a barred off concrete fortress in a corner of Phoenix Park and even more don’t even know or have forgotten that it exists. The old Phoenix House, the home of the British Viceroy, was on the site where the fort was built from the early 17th century and then in 1734 the Fort was built and extended in 1801.

In 1916 the Fort was raided by the rebels who expected to find a lot of explosives there, but found the Fort nearly empty. In 1939 the IRA raided the Fort and stole more than a million rounds of ammunition, but most of it was recovered over the following weeks.

Since 1988, the Irish Army doesn’t use the Fort anymore and gave it back to the Office of Public Works (OPW), but not much good has happened to the Fort in the last 28 years (!!) and there were numerous speculations about the reasons for that.

Finally, this year, there will be guided tours at the Fort for three months from 31 July until the end of October. The tours take place on Sundays and Fridays at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30 and only 20 places are available on each tour.

Tickets are available at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on a first come, first served basis and can not be pre-booked. A shuttle bus will bring the ticket holders to the Fort.

I definitely want to visit the Magazine Fort, so you will find me in the queue at some stage.

The County Council Market (CoCo) in Marlay Park is taking place every Saturday and Sunday. You will find a wide range of products. There will be food to eat there and food to cook at home but also crafts and arts and books and lots more.

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.

Sculpture in Context is Ireland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition and it is a brilliant exhibition in the beautiful surroundings of the National Botanic Gardens. Some of Ireland’s best artists are showing new work and the sculptures are displayed throughout the gardens, ponds, Great Palm House and Curvilinear Range, with the smaller works exhibited in the in the gallery in the Visitors Centre.

The exhibition opened on 08 Sept and will run until 21 October.

Admission is free.

Over 40,000 visitors are expected at this show from Friday until Sunday (09-11 Sept) for home owners where you will get ideas, inspiration and advice for your Self Build home or for improving your home. 150 exhibitors will promote their products and there will also be talks and “clinics” for kitchen design and interior design.

Admission is free by simply using the Promotional Code WEB.

Find all details on the website below

The Drumcondra Village Market is an arts and crafts fair in the centre of Drumcondra. There will be Food Stalls, Flea Market, Vintage Clothing, Arts&Crafts and a Pop-Up Record Store.

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.

Farmleigh Estate is inviting to a Family Fun Day on Sunday with old games and walkabout performances and the Farmleigh House Food & Craft market is also happening (10:00-17:00).

The “old games” are Egg & Spoon Races, Skipping, Jenga, Draughts, Connect 4, Duck Hook & more.

In addition…
…the Cowshed Theatre will have an exhibition of Nepalese Photographs
…Farmleigh Gallery willl show an exhibition inspired by life&work of William Shakespeare
…Farmleigh House is open for free guided tours every hour.

Admission is free.

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 Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association (FIBKA) is inviting to the Phoenix Park Honey Show with a large assortment of honey and bee-related products on display and plenty of talks and walks during the day.

Honey judging is also taking place from 10:15 and the honey exhibition is open for everyone after the judging and the prizes will be presented at 16:30.

The schedule for talks and tours is:

11:00 Tour of Walled Garden with Brian Quinn
12:00 Honey – the oldest known medicine to mankind in the Lecture Theatre with Philip McCabe
13:00 Pollination, Education and Bumblebee Walk at Visistor Centre with Leif Barry
14:00 Tour of Ashtown Castle with Margaret McGuirk
15:00 All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – how you can help! in the Lecture Theatre with Dr. Úna FitzPatrick, Biodiversity Ireland

Admission is free and you can download the full schedule here.

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.

Every Sunday, the National Botanic Gardens invite to two guided walks. The first one is at 12:00 and the second one at 14:30.

Admission is free.

The exhibition “SEEING – What are you looking at?” (24 June – 25 Sept 2016) in the Science Gallery is exploring the sensory experience of vision, understanding and perception. It looks at how us human beings see by using eye tracking technology, eye tests and colour perception, but it also shows how machines see and what their limitations are.

It is a great exhibition full of intriguing exhibits, some are very clear, others need some more explanation or you should at least read the explanatory labels that every exhibit has.

Like all Science Gallery exhibitions, SEEING is suitable for all ages with a particular focus on the age group of 15-25, but I would say that children from 10 years of age can understand the whole exhibition if they get some additional explanations and there are even some exhibits that would work for younger children.

When you go to see the exhibition, get help from the Science Gallery mediators! They are helpers (usually students or graduates) that know the whole exhibition inside out and are very happy to help with a lot more information than the little labels at the exhibits can provide. Use their excellent service and it will help you soo much more to have a better experience

The Science Gallery has very visitor friendly opening hours of Tue-Fri 12:00-20:00 and Sat+Sun 12:00-18:00.
Admission is free.

The Sundays at Noon Concert Series continues in the Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. This series of free (mainly classical) concerts continues to present the best of Irish and International music and musicians. Concerts run from September to June.

The next concert will be “I Have Five Things to Say” with a Chamber Ensemble playing

+ Maurice Ravel: Chansons Madécasses
+ Linda Buckley: I Have Five Things to Say
+ Guillaume de Machaut: Selected Songs

A Carnival afternoon will await you in Cabinteely Park at this family fun day with circus performers, activities and a chance to learn some circus skills. Bouncy Castles, Antique Carousel, Circus Skills classes for kids, Facepainting and Walkabout Entertainers will be there and on top of that the line-up is:

+ The Barren Carrousel is an international duo trapeze act, featuring Kelsey Long (USA) and Anita Woods (Northern Ireland).
+ Jack Wise is a great Magician and also a Ventriloquist, Pickpocket & Sword Swallower!

Admission is free. Be aware: Parking is very limited at Cabinteely the park so we recommend you walk or use public transport.

As part of the 1916-2016 Centenary Commemorations, a free tour will take at Arbour Hill Cemetery every Sunday at 14:00. (from March until end of October).

No booking necessary. The meeting point is at the 1916 Memorial Wall towards the back of the cemetery.

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!

Every Sunday a free tour takes place in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

Admission is free and booking is not required, but places are limited, so early arrival is recommended.

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

This event gives you an opportunity to explore some of the artefacts from the Museum’s collection of objects for handling with Museum educators. This drop-in handling session is suitable for all ages.

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.

The Sunday Talk in the National Gallery is “The Printed Image: Mediums and Methods” with Robert Russell, Director of Graphic Studio Dublin. It is part of a free lecture series in September themed around the current exhibition “Eclectic Images: Recent Acquisitions 2011-2016.”

Admission is free.

At this tour, you will get a chance to look at some of Ireland’s greatest archaeological treasures including the Broighter Hoard, the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice.

Admission is free. Suitable from Age 8+

“Not Quite Mass” is a new weekly Comedy show in the Workman’s Club. There will be stand-up comedy and more (games, interviews, panel discussions and some madness). The event is organised and lead by Steve Bennett.

The first “Note Quite Mass” will be this Sunday and the line-up will be Joe Rooney, Donal Vaughan, Jim Elliott, Alison Spittle & host Steve Bennett.

We can never have enough Comedy! So check it out and tell me about it afterwards. ;-)

Admission is free (donations are welcome).

The New Breadwinners are a 3-piece Bluegrass band and they are playing every Sunday in the Leeson Longe.

Admission is free, donations are appreciated.

Every Sunday evening from 18:00-20:00, the Wiley Fox is hosting a trad session, where some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians will play for you.

Admission is free.

The Dixeland Jazzmen play a weekly gig in Sin E. 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 Gardiner Street Gospel Choir sings every Sunday from September to June at their “Gig in God’s Gaff”, a Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street.

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, one of the best known gospel choirs in Ireland will give you a chance to experience a mass with a difference. It is uplifting and inspiring and everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness or your relationship with the Catholic Church in other contexts.

Disclaimer: I am involved with the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, so the description above MIGHT not be totally unbiased. But just take it from me, they are brilliant! ;-)

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is inviting to a series of organ recitals, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Max Reger. The “Chorale Fantasias” recitals will be played by David Leigh. The schedule is

11 September: Ein feste Burg
18 September: Freu dich sehr, meine Seele
25 September: Wie shön leucht uns die Morgenstern
2 October: Straf’ mich nicht in deinem Zorn
9 October: Alle Menschen müssen sterben
16 October: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
23 October: Hallelujah! Gott zu loben

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Get them via the website below.

The Square Pegs will play “good time blues” at this gig.

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 Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. 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 with live music (Rockabilly) and DJs. Admission is free.

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 Rock ‘n’ Rockk and Swing Band “The Jive Cats” will perform in the Mercantile every Sunday from 22:00.

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 Dream Band will play a free gig in the Mezz on Sunday.

Dublin City Hall has a museum/exhibition in the basement, called “The Story of the Capital”, it is an exhibition that you should definitely check out at some stage.

To celebrate the Easter Rising Anniversary, admission to that exhibititon is free for the whole year!!

Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:15.

Feel calm & relaxed and discover new techniques to release stress in your daily life. A Zen Walk will help you to get the positive effects. The walk will last about 20-30 minutes and is suitable for everyone who simply wants to find calmness, relaxation and harmony in their busy lives.

The walks take place in a variety of locations in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire and at different times. Check the website below for details about the walk and then check the dates and times and register here: www.xiufengshui.com/en/events/zen-walk/dates-and-registration

Your first walk is free, after that there is a charge of EUR 8.

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.

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!

Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday would be on 13 September and to celebrate this, Cabra Library invites children to a Storytime event, where a selection of Roald Dahl’s favourite stories will be read.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8691414

This is a 3D printing workshop for people that did either the Introductory course at the dlr Lexicon (which will resume again later this month) or if you already have some prior CAD experience or even 3D printing experience.

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

Poet and writer Louis MacNeice was born on 12 September 1907 and to celebrate the anniversary of his birthday, some of his poems will be read at an event in Rathmines.

Admission is free. More information can be found via the link below.

Yamamori is celebrating 21 years in Dublin and they will celebrate it in style and invite friends and followers. There will be food, drinks and dancing and it will be a busy night, at the time of writing this 840 people have already said that they are going.

The event will take place in both Yamamori Sushi and the adjoining Yamamori Tengu and if you also want to be part of it, you have to confirm on Facebook (see link below) and once you have said that you are attending, they will put your name on the guest list with the option to bring a friend.

Entrance is on Ormond Quay, complimentary food and drinks and some great djs will start at 18:00.

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.

The Circle Sessions is an “Open Mic” that provides an opportunity for up and coming musicians, spoken word artists, poets and comedians to perform.

Come to this weekly show to perform or to simply watch a great mix of music, poetry, spoken word and comedy.

Admission is free.

Every Monday the Woolshed Bar hosts “The Comedy Shed”, usually with 3 headline acts.

Admission is free.

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday, 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).

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).

An Open Trad Music Session is taking place every Monday in Mother Reilly’s. Admission is free.

Donal Kirk and Anto Drennan are playing music from Lowell George Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, Free, Bad Company, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Beatles, Bobby Bland, Vince Gill, Ray Charles, Etta James, Elvis, Ry Cooder, Dobie Gray, Guy Clarke, early ZZ Top, Dave Edmunds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson.

Admission is free.

The wedding and party band The Retronauts will play a gig (nearly) every Monday in the Mezz. Their music is Funk, Rock, Disco, Blues, Reggae.

Admission is free.

“Eclectic Images: Print Conservation: varied techniques and treatments” with Niamh McGuinne, NGI is the Tuesday Talk in the National Gallery. It is part of a free lecture series in September around the exhibition Eclectic Images: Recent Acquisitions 2011-2016.

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.

“These Are a Few of My Favourite Things” is the title of a Walking Tour that Emily Gallagher runs on Tuesday and Saturday. It is 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!”

The tours are free but donations are welcome and booking is required via myfavouritesdublincitywalktour@gmail.com or 085-2725095

Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday would be on 13 September and to celebrate this, Coolock Library invites children to a Roald Dahl workshop.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8477781

Do you have an idea but need some help figuring out where to get started or what creative technologies might help bring the idea to life? Maybe you just want to bounce your idea off someone else?

Drop in to the Dún Laoghaire LexIcon Lab where Creative Technology Curator, Dr. Jake Rowan Byrne, other “makers” and
members of the community will be there and keen to help out.

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

A new weekly Board Games night is taking place in the Black Sheep Pub. Lots of games are available and you can also bring your own.

Admission is free.

EveryTuesday at 19:00, The Dublin Language Exchange takes place in the Czech Inn. It is the biggest free meeting of people from all around Dublin that are interested in learning languages and communicate with speakers of other languages.

Admission is free and the meetup is completely informal. No booking required.

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

The King Kong Club is a weekly music game-show in Whelan’s.

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. Admission is free.

A public meeting to discuss the campaign “Repeal the 8th” will take place on Tuesday.

Brid Smith (TD) will host the meeting chaired by Ailbhe Smyth and speakers are Adrienne Wallace (People before Profit), Laura Duggan (Trade Union), Ellie Kisyombe (MASI).

The band Mongoose will show their video “Doing things wrong”

Admission is free.

This is a weelly acoustic roots and blues session every Tuesday in Arthur’s Pub.

With Anthony Mannion(Guitar/vocals) and Luke Mercer(Guitar/vocals). Admision 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.

The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy event every Sunday, 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 Lounge Quintet plays this gig every Tuesday: Jazz Standards, Latin and Bebop. Often guest musicians and singers join them. Admission is free, donations are welcome.

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 Tuesday, a pub quiz is taking place in the Woolshed.

Admission is free. Max team size is 6 people.

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.

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.

Dr. Beatrice Doran, author of “Donnybrook, My Hometown” will tell stories from her book.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-6689575

The lunchtime lecture “St Caillín and the Book of Fenagh (1516-2016)” with Dr Padraig O Riain (MRIA, UCC) will be given on Wednesday.

“The Book of Fenagh, an Irish manuscript commissioned in 1516, tells the story of the life of St Caillín, founder of the early Christian monastic community at Fenagh. The manuscript reflects the politics of early sixteenth-century north Connacht, with the saint’s life being used for propaganda purposes. It is the work of an expert scribe, Muirgheas Ó Maoilchonaire, and is an excellent example of late medieval Irish manuscript production. The exhibition in the Academy Library tells the story of scribes and scholars associated with the manuscript.”

Part of the ‘Ageing Creatively: Creative Art 55+’ programme of events is this Printmaking Workshop led by Deborah Ando (printmaker). The event is suitable for everyone over 55 and admission is free. Experience is not required. Booking is not necessary, but there are only 10 places and they will be allocated on first come, first served basis.

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

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 IWT is inviting to an afternoon talk at St Enda’s Park Nature Room on Wednesday. The talk will explore the world of Ireland’s resident reptiles. You will learn about amazing creatures such as the viviparous lizard and the slow worm, how they survive in Ireland and where to spot them.

Admission is free. If you need more information contact the IWT on For further information of this event contact conservation@iwt.ie

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.

Stefano Benni is one of Italy’s best novelists. His combination of social satire and magical realism has turned each of his books into a national best-seller. Some of his novels are Bar Sport, The Company of Celestini, The Cafe Beneath the Sea and Margherita Dolce Vita. Benni is also the author of several volumes of essays and poetry and many collections of short stories.

The author will be a guest of the Italian Institute of Culture and the event will take place in the Sugar Club.

Admission is free.

“Players or Patriots? The Gaelic Athletic Association and the 1916 Rising” with Dr Richard McElligott (UCD) is a talk about the GAA’s growing relationship with militant nationalism in the months and years before the Rising. It will also illustrate the contribution of GAA figures in the rebellion itself and the dramatic consequences of this for the GAA nationally in the following years.

Admission is free.

The “Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII” performance consists of the world premiere of “Ode to Ettie Steinberg” by the playwright Deirdre Kinahan and a collection of monologues by writers Mary Moynihan, Fiona Bawn Thompson and Paul Kennedy. The performance will remember and celebrate the role of powerful women during World War II including the women who actively campaigned against Fascism and Nazism and promoted liberty.

The performance will take place three times on 14/15/16 September. Admission is free, but booking is required via the Eventbrite link below.

The Roots Band “Brand New Switcheroo” will perform in the Harbour Bar. Admission is free.

The Anseo Comedy Club 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.

Surf Punk band Zalupa is playing a gig in Whelan’s.

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 Harleys are a popular coverband and they will be in the Mezz every Wednesday at midnight.

Admission is free.

Every Thursday a free tour of Grangegorman Military Cemetery on Blackhorse Avenue takes place. Meet inside the Cemetery Gates. Admission is free and everybody is welcome. Ring 01-6770095 for more information and to check if the tour is going ahead.

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 hugely popular Oktoberfest in Dublin takes place from 15 Sept – 02 Oct again. It is a German Beer Festival with Erdinger Weissbräu Beer (including alcohol-free wheat beer), lots of German Bavarian Food and authentic Bavarian music.

Opening hours are Mon-Wed 12:00-23:30, Thur-Sat: 12:00-00:30, Sun 12:00-22:30.

The best place to experience the festival is in the Festival Tent on the platform in George’s Dock. But because the yearly festival is soo popular, there are at times long queues due to severe admission restrictions (quantity of people). Last year the queues already started at 17:30. Luckily around George’s Dock are more food and drink stalls so that you don’t HAVE to be in the Festival tent to enjoy the event.

Admission is free, but after 22:00 an odd meal voucher system kicks in: You will have to buy a wristband for EUR 6 that gives you a food voucher if you want to buy any alcohol. Allegedly licensing rules force them to do that.

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 talk “The Archaeology of the Decade of War: The Geography of the War of Independence and Civil War in Dublin” by Muiris de Buitléir, he will discuss the geography and architecture of Dublin during the period of the War of Independence and the Civil War. And will look at buildings associated with the actions of the period, with a particular look at traces of the events that still remain.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-6486332 or email educationarch@museum.ie

A series of three illustrated talks by Michael Grant will discuss Opera Librettists and Libretti. Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8734333 Ext 5.

Thurs 08 Sept: ‘Lorenzo da Ponte and Mozart’
Thurs 15 Sept: ’19th Century Grand Opera’
Thurs 22 Sept: ‘The librettists of Verdi and Puccini’

In these three talks, illustrated by musical examples, Michael will look at the lives and work of the literary artists who provided the plots and the libretti for many of the great opera composers.

[And if you are not sure what “libretti” really means, here is the definition that I had to look up myself because I wasn’t sure:
A libretto is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera or operetta. Libretti is the plural of libretto and the librettist is the person that creates/writes the libretto.]

Rising is a major photographic exhibition in the National Photographic Archive which showcases the National Library’s rich imagery of the events and locations of 1916. It consists of 60 photographs, including a number of large scale photographs which emphasise the Rising’s impact on Dublin’s city centre and the images are enhanced by audio recordings of actors reading from selected letters and diaries detailing first-hand accounts of the Rising.

On Thursday a Walk and Talk tour will take place and admission is free.

The 1escape health club in Block G at Smithfield Plaza is inviting you to a Guinness World Record event for the largest exercise ball class. The attempt happens on the evening before the National Fitness Day and they need 400 participants to break the record, so your help is needed.

Every participant needs to register via the Eventbrite link below first. Then you need to be at Smithfield between 17:00 and 18:00 on Thursday to register there and to get a complimentary fitness ball (sponsored by Argos), a free 5 day gym pass and also to qualify for the World Record Certificate if the attempt is successful.

The 30 min fitness class will start at 18:30.

Admission is free. The charity for the event is MS Ireland and you are invited to donate to this charity.

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.

Twice every year, the Central Library together with the Local Enterprise Office in Dublin City are running a series of six free Business Lectures for everybody who wants to start or grow a business. The lectures will cover subjects such as the characteristics needed to run and fund your business. Digital marketing strategies and writing business plans will also be included.

The next series will take place on Thursdays from 18:30-20:00 between 15 September and 20 October.

Admission is free, but booking is required here. All topics and speakers are listed on that same website, but to make it easier for you, they are also here:

15 Sept: Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur – How You Can Create and Produce Ideas
22 Sept: Creating the best Business Plan for your Business
29 Sept: Market Research Skills – What You Need To Do To Be Successful
06 Oct: Managing your Online Presence – Having A Digital Plan To Help You Increase Sales
13 Oct: Essential Supports and Services for Entrepreneurs – Who’s Out There To Help You
20 Oct: Financial Support and Grants for Entrepreneurs

“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

An expatriate or expat is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship.

And this is a weekly meeting for all Expats in Dublin (new and old!). If you are new to the city, this is an excellent way to meet people.

Admission is free (no booking required!), but you are asked to give the same kind of welcoming to new members as is given to you.

This is a weekly Board Gaming Name on Thursdays with a focus on Introductory Board Games, so if you haven’t for a while (or ever) played Board Games, this is for you.

Admission is free.

The Dublin Jam Session is an open Jam with full back line. It is open to all levels of musicians and singers and all genres of music and the only rule is that you must jam with others (not all your own band).

It takes place every Thursday and admission is free.

The “Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII” performance consists of the world premiere of “Ode to Ettie Steinberg” by the playwright Deirdre Kinahan and a collection of monologues by writers Mary Moynihan, Fiona Bawn Thompson and Paul Kennedy. The performance will remember and celebrate the role of powerful women during World War II including the women who actively campaigned against Fascism and Nazism and promoted liberty.

The performance will take place three times on 14/15/16 September. Admission is free, but booking is required via the Eventbrite link below.

Davie Furey is playing Roots, Folk and Rock in the Harbour Bar.

Admission is free.

Good Name in the Bernard Shaw Pub are presenting “Rory Grubb and the National Sympathy Orchestra” for this live gig.

Admission is free.

Highly Strung are playing classic rock at a gig in the Hard Rock Cafe.

Admission is free.

Brazlian band Namangaia will play Forro music every Thursday in the Mezz.

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.

A live music open mic session, called “Keep on Trucking” takes place every Thursday in Peadar Brown’s Pub, it is presnted by Joey Magic.

Admission is free.

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

Admission is free.

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 “Women, War and Peace International Symposium” features guest speakers, workshops, a film launch, reflection, discussion and debate and takes place at the Samuel Beckett Theatre on Friday to create a remembrance of women’s stories from World War II and ways to promote peace and to explore the power of the arts and the EU to promote peace and gender equality.

Guest speakers are Ruwanthie de Chickera, Sri Lanka, a playwright who is currently working with the Sri Lankan government to develop an arts policy for the country and Senator Ivana Bacik, Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin.

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

The Disabled Drivers Motor Show on Friday and Saturday (16+17 Sept) provides product and service information for people with limited mobility and their carers about vehicles and related products.

In addition there will be a conference that covers key topics for disable drivers and passengers including recent changes to the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Tax Relief Scheme, Changes to the Fuel Grant Scheme, Vehicle Finance and Adaptations available.

Admission to the show and the conference are free, but registration is required via the Eventbrite site here.

Dublin City Hall has a museum/exhibition in the basement, called “The Story of the Capital”, it is an exhibition that you should definitely check out at some stage.

To celebrate the Easter Rising Anniversary, admission to that exhibititon is free for the whole year!!

Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:15.

Park(ing) Day was started in 2005 in San Francisco and has reached many other cities by now. On this one day per year participating cities are turning car parking spaces into small public parks, games or art installations with the goal to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play.

In previous years a map was posted on the relevant websites here:
www.dublinparkingday.org/
www.facebook.com/Dublin-Parking-Day-536323116446244/
The map showed all the car park spaces in Dublin that were turned into mini-parks by a variety of organisations and individuals.

I am not expecting that map to appear before Wednesday or even Thursday, but once it is there, have a look to see if you can get to one of the temporary parks and have a chat with the creators. On the website above you can find some pictures from other Park(ing) Days in previous years.

The Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park is unusually neglected and at the same time unusually rich in history. Many have seen it as a barred off concrete fortress in a corner of Phoenix Park and even more don’t even know or have forgotten that it exists. The old Phoenix House, the home of the British Viceroy, was on the site where the fort was built from the early 17th century and then in 1734 the Fort was built and extended in 1801.

In 1916 the Fort was raided by the rebels who expected to find a lot of explosives there, but found the Fort nearly empty. In 1939 the IRA raided the Fort and stole more than a million rounds of ammunition, but most of it was recovered over the following weeks.

Since 1988, the Irish Army doesn’t use the Fort anymore and gave it back to the Office of Public Works (OPW), but not much good has happened to the Fort in the last 28 years (!!) and there were numerous speculations about the reasons for that.

Finally, this year, there will be guided tours at the Fort for three months from 31 July until the end of October. The tours take place on Sundays and Fridays at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30 and only 20 places are available on each tour.

Tickets are available at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on a first come, first served basis and can not be pre-booked. A shuttle bus will bring the ticket holders to the Fort.

I definitely want to visit the Magazine Fort, so you will find me in the queue at some stage.

Sculpture in Context is Ireland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition and it is a brilliant exhibition in the beautiful surroundings of the National Botanic Gardens. Some of Ireland’s best artists are showing new work and the sculptures are displayed throughout the gardens, ponds, Great Palm House and Curvilinear Range, with the smaller works exhibited in the in the gallery in the Visitors Centre.

The exhibition opened on 08 Sept and will run until 21 October.

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 hugely popular Oktoberfest in Dublin takes place from 15 Sept – 02 Oct again. It is a German Beer Festival with Erdinger Weissbräu Beer (including alcohol-free wheat beer), lots of German Bavarian Food and authentic Bavarian music.

Opening hours are Mon-Wed 12:00-23:30, Thur-Sat: 12:00-00:30, Sun 12:00-22:30.

The best place to experience the festival is in the Festival Tent on the platform in George’s Dock. But because the yearly festival is soo popular, there are at times long queues due to severe admission restrictions (quantity of people). Last year the queues already started at 17:30. Luckily around George’s Dock are more food and drink stalls so that you don’t HAVE to be in the Festival tent to enjoy the event.

Admission is free, but after 22:00 an odd meal voucher system kicks in: You will have to buy a wristband for EUR 6 that gives you a food voucher if you want to buy any alcohol. Allegedly licensing rules force them to do that.

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.

Get a cup of tea, gather the last bit of energy and then bring this work week over the line! And for next week, get some special teas via the ad below and help the Dublin Event Guide while you are doing that. ;-)

Click on the picture below or use this link and if you order any teas that way, you help the Dublin Event Guide because Twinings will pay a small reward if you order after clicking on the picture or link above.

Orders over GBP 35 are free in the UK and if you use Parcelmotel’s Belfast to Dublin service, you can get it delivered for just EUR 3.95 of postage.

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 Tiny Tots Workshop “A Kaleidoscope of Colour” with Beth O’Halloran will take place on Friday. It is suitable for Ages 3 and under and will require a guardian to be present at all times and to take part.

The children will have fun exploring colours, shapes and sounds with storytelling and art.

Admission is free, but there are only 15 places and therefore booking is required via education@ngi.ie. Bookings open the Monday before each workshop. When booking, you are asked to state clearly your preferred day and your child’s name and age.
Workshops are free and last approx 35 minutes.

Culture Night is the best cultural event in Dublin that you can imagine. It is a one day, or more accurate a one evening event that celebrates culture, creativity and arts. All sort of cultural organisations invite to shows, exhibitions, talks, concerts, walks, workshops, Open Door events and anything else you can imagine that would fall under “culture” between 16:00 and 23:00 on Friday 16 Sept.

And everything is available for NO admission charges, even venues that normally charge, waive their charges on that evening. Some events, however do require registration and in other places you have to work your way through a (long) queue before you can get in.

By the way: Culture Night is an Ireland-wide event, but as you know, the focus of the Dublin Event Guide is the Greater Dublin area.

I find it really really hard to pick some of the free events that you should definitely go to, because there is such a vast amount of great things happening, so I strongly suggest that you go to www.culturenight.ie/home/dublin-events/ and have a look at the programme. Another good option for planning your night is to download the Culture Night app (available for Android and iOS). OR you can download the full 53 pages big programme brochure here.

Despite finding it hard to pick, I made an attempt of selecting some outstanding events form the more than 330 (!!!) events on offer and I am listing them separately in this Dublin Event Guide.

Dublin Bus had intended to offer very helpful free Culture Night Buses on four routes in the City Centre, BUT “thanks” to the Dublin Bus drivers strike this might not happen and in that case it will not only interfere with that free offer but also with your ability to come to the City Centre. 16 Sept is currently one of the days of the bus driver strike.

The Casino in Marino got its name not because it has anything to do with gambling, but because it is a small house (Casa). It was completed in 1775 and really looks like a small Greek temple, but that is just an illusion as it actually contains 16 rooms on three floors!!

On Culture Night you can visit the Casino for free and take part in a (free) guided tour.

On Culture Night, the Chester Beatty Library runs guided tours at 18:30, 19:30 and 20:30 and there will also be workshops for Foam Design (17:15 + 18:00) and Origami Zoo for Families (17:30 + 18:15).

Admission is free.

The Dublin Unitarian Church is inviting to their wide variation of Culture Night events:

17:00 “Sanctuary Tales” poems, stories and songs from the immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers of the Dublin City of Sanctuary group
18:00 “Echoes From The Past” a talk about entries to the baptism book of Dublin Unitarian Church by Rev. Bridget Spain
19:00 Come & Sing with Ardú (choral workshop) – an introduction to choral music featuring melody, harmony and rhythm by using their voices, body percussion and even some beatboxing
20:00 Under Pressure: a rehearsed reading of a play about a family having to deal with the menace of drug dealers. Presented by Uncut Diamonds theatre group in the north inner-city
21:00 Come & Sing with Ardú (choral workshop) – an introduction to choral music featuring melody, harmony and rhythm by using their voices, body percussion and even some beatboxing
22:00 Dublin Capital City 1974 / 75 (film), a 1975 silent film featuring footage of Dublin city shot by Jim Mulkerns, improvised score performed by Josh Johnston, organist at Dublin Unitarian Church, with an introduction by the director’s daughter, Helena Mulkerns

There will also be items on display detailing the history of the church building and denomination.

Admission is free.

On Culture Night you can visit the Glasnevin Cemetery museum for free from 17:00-21:00.

Stella Bass will sing songs from Berlin from the 20s and 30s (18:30+19:30+20:30) and Simone Schuemmelfeld (18:00) will tell fairy tales. In addition there will be a German Quiz (19:00) and short animation films for kids.

Admission is free.

On Culture Night, there will be family workshops for all ages and a whole range of tours of the collection for free. In addition live music performances in the Millennium Wing of the gallery will feature CLassic Guitar with Imedla Nagle Ryan at 17:30, the Tolka Hot Club band at 18:00 and Vincent Whelan & Cappella (choir) from 20:30.

Look at the complete list of events via the link below.

Culture Night at the National Print Museum will bring you an an evening filled with interactive activities suitable for all ages. There will be letterpress printing demonstrations by the Print Museum volunteers who are former printers and typesetters, mini craft workshops and self-guided arts and crafts at the Education Area.

You will also be able to visit the Museum’s current temporary exhibition “Seditious Types: Legacy of the Printers of 1916”.

Admission is free.

The Dublin Language Garden is a Culture Night event that takes a snapshot of all the different varieties of languages spoken in Dublin. The Linguistics Researchers from Trinity College Dublin will document these varieties by writing words, phrases and submissions from all visitors to the garden on flowers and leaves, and using them to build up the Dublin Language Garden.

At 21:00 the Night Garden will commence, which will look at a lot more explicit language, including secret languages to hide illicit activities and swearing.

Find out all details via the website below.

The Irish Writers’ Centre invites to an evening of literary fun on Culture Night:

+ 19:30-20:30 The Soapbox – writers from all walks of life will provide some old-school entertainment with Colin Barrett, Alvy Carragher, Gavin Corbett, Tara Flynn, Henrietta McKervey, Róisín O’Donnell and Dave Rudden.
+ 20:30-21:30 The Stinging Fly showcase with Lucy Sweeney Byrne (fiction), Kevin Curran (fiction), Julie Morrissy (poetry), Annemarie Ní Churreáin (poetry)

There will also be a free workshop:
18:30-20:00 Creative writing workshop with the Inkslingers writing group. (Note: this event is booked out)

…and a guided tour of the FX Buckley Collection by the curator Frank Buckley. Registration is required here.

The Rathmines Walking Trail will be launched on Friday with a tour led by Pat Liddy.

Admission is free and no booking required. Meeting point is the Townhall (Rathmines College of Further Education).

Flamenco (18:00+20:00) and Tango (19:00+21:00) demonstrations will be the Culture Night programme of the Instituto Cervantes. In addition there will be workshops for kids from 17:30-19:30 and Spanish and Latin-American food.

Admission is free.

There will be free guided tours of the Cathedral every 15 minutes from 19:00. And before at 17:30 the daily sung service, Choral Evensong, will take place and at 18:15 the Cathedral’s choristers will perform a concert of secular and sacred songs.

No booking required and all is free.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will celebrate ‘A Century of Radio’ on Culture Night 2016. The event will include talks by radio personality and historian Brendan Balfe, as well as an exhibition marking the centenary of the first broadcast in Ireland in 1916, the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the country’s first radio service “2RN” and other notable broadcasting milestones. Listening points will feature a variety of audio clips recorded over the last century from stations across the country.

Admission is free and more information is available at www.bai.ie

The Contemporary Music Centre is presenting excerpts of Aisteach, a fictional history of avant-garde music in Ireland, on Culture Neigh. It is a programme of new music with live performance and will feature two screenings of the film AN GLÉACHT, as well as a short talk on the project by its creator, Irish composer Jennifer Walshe.

The programme is:

18:00: About Aisteach: In conversation with composer Jennifer Walshe
19:00: Introduction to Aisteach + film screening of AN GLÉACHT
20:00: New Music by some of Ireland’s leading contemporary performers, inspired by the characters of Aisteach
21:00: Introduction to Aisteach + film screening of AN GLÉACHT.

These events are free but booking is recommended via sford@cmc.ie

This year’s Alliance Francaise Culture Night programme will bring you a creative challenge, live msuic and a book fair.

+ 18:00-20:30: Pop-Up Paris Challenge for all the family: Unleash your inner architect and join forces to build a futuristic Paris out of upcycled materials. All ages welcome!
+ 20:30-22:30 Live Concert with The Max Zaska Quartet (Disco classics, Funk and Soul)
+ 18:00-22:30 Book Fair sale from the French Library stock / French Food served in the Alliance Francaise restaurant La Cocotte

Admission is free.

Dublin’s City Hall in Dame Street will be a Culture Night hub for choral music.

The schedule/line-up is:
18:00 Dolce (Sacred + popular music – 70 people)
18:40 Cuore (Chamber Choir)
19:20 Hallelujah Community Clown Choir (Singing for the fun of it!)
20:00 Diva Voces (Female choir)
20:40 Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band

Admission is free.

Archaeologist Dave Swift of Claiomh will tell you all about medieval weapons and tactics. Take a look at Claoimh’s museum quality replicas and learn more about the weapons, from swords to crossbows.

Admission is free. Suitable for ages 10+

Opera In The Open will return on Culture Night 2016 to present another fantastic selection of staged scenes from classic operas. The evening’s Opera excerpts will be narrated in English so that the story can be easily followed.

Admission is free.

Join zoologists Rob Gandola and Collie Ennis, specialists in amphibians and reptiles as they uncover the secret lives of ‘Dublin’s Dragons’. Drop by the Discovery Zone to learn more about the behaviours of Ireland’s native reptiles and amphibians which can be found in our capital city.

There will be three ten minutes talks and Q&A sessions at 19:00, 19:30 and 20:00.

The MART Gallery in Rathmines is inviting to an evening of thought provoking and stimulating life art as part of Culture Night through the “Livestock” performance art platform/event.

In addition they will runa poetry event “Just Words” that merges poetry with music.

This is a performance by the Carnation Theatre, which follows the women of 1916 – the dispatchers, the doctors, the gunrunners, the nurses, the smugglers, the big characters and the not-so-big characters of the Easter Rising.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-6777444

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 “Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII” performance consists of the world premiere of “Ode to Ettie Steinberg” by the playwright Deirdre Kinahan and a collection of monologues by writers Mary Moynihan, Fiona Bawn Thompson and Paul Kennedy. The performance will remember and celebrate the role of powerful women during World War II including the women who actively campaigned against Fascism and Nazism and promoted liberty.

The performance will take place three times on 14/15/16 September. Admission is free, but booking is required via the Eventbrite link below.

A “Celebration of Traveller Music” is taking place in the Cobblestone at Culture Night.

Admission is free and donations are appreciated.

Morrissey & Marshall are playing folk & rock at this gig in the Harbour Bar. Eoin Glackin will also contribute.

Admission is free.

Latin Fever and Real Events invite to “El Grito” a Mexican Party in the River Bar to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day and I have it from a reliable source that there will be no WALL built anywhere!! ;-) Just fun and entertainment. The event will start with a fun dance class at 21:30 and then there will be Mexicam music the whole night long.

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.

Gypsy Jazz & Swing band Loco Swing will be in the Patriot’s Inn for a gig.

Admission is free,

The Alt-Country / Country Rock band “The Big Muddy” will be for a gig in Mother Reilly’s

Admission is free.