Dublin Event Guide 508: Fix Jam Repair Cafe, Fusion Sunday Market, St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin Bay Prawn Festival

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

A Family History Day will take place on Saturday. It is a full day seminar on family history. Meet other researchers and get new inspiration. Speakers will be Hilary McDonagh, Pádraig Yeates, Frank Whearity, James Robinson and John Gibney.

The full programme can be found here. The relevant talks are listed below:

10.00 – 10.45 Hilary McDonagh, ‘Uncovering our Ancestors’ childhood: Children in Genealogy Records’
10.45 – 11.30 Pádraig Yeates, ‘Widows of the Revolution.’
12.00 – 12.45 Frank Whearity, ‘A part of Dublin’s industrial heritage: George Watt Ltd, Soho Engineers, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin’
2.00 – 2.45 James Robinson, Tracing your family History – my Journey
2.45 – 3.30 John Gibney, Glasnevin cemetery.

Admission is free and booking is not required. Further information via 01 674 4800.

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.

At the Career Zoo, you can meet employers who are hiring, attend panel discussions and tech workshops.

Admission is free. Registration is required and you can do that via the Eventbrite link here or at the venue.

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 was free in 2016, but lucky for us, Dublin City decided to also waive the admission charge for 2017.

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

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.

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.

An Intercultural Tour in Mandarin Language with Community Ambassador Vicky Wang will take place.

Admission is free.

Come to this special workshop on St. Patrick where you can learn all about the Irish patron saint and his relics. Take a closer look at St. Patrick’s bell and shrine and make your own bell to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.Suitable for Ages 8+

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

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 “Humans Need Not Apply” (10 Feb – 14 May) in the Science Gallery is looking at the influence robots will have on our society, on our lives and on jobs. How will robots replace humans? How can robots be creative? And is automation maybe going too far?

About 27 exhibits will ask and answer these questions. When you come into the exhibition space in the Science Gallery the little desk lamp robot Pinokio will greet you with all its friendliness and curiosity (that’s MY interpretation of Pinokio’s behaviour). And the three Doppelgänger robots upstairs will move, even dance with you. But more robots and automation will also have possibly some negative effects and “The Great Disengagement” looks at how we human beings might rebel against robots when they have taken our jobs and more away.

The exhibition has many many facets and it is extremely interesting. There are fascinating and intriguing exhibits and maybe more unexpected ones like the “tickle robot”. I strongly recommend the exhibition and can definitely say that it is suitable for ALL ages, even younger kids can get something out of it.

Use the help of the amazing mediators, who can explain everything you see, especially if you don’t want to read all the explanations that are next to every exhibit.

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.

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.

The Fix Jam is a repair cafe for all your broken household items. So, pack your broken stuff, bring it to Belvedere Court and get it repaired and at the same time learn how to repair things yourself.

Admission is free. For each repair a donation of EUR 5 is suggested (unless you can’t afford it), which is an extremely low cost for getting a new lease of life out of your broken things.

Explore the Library’s rich architectural history and heritage. The tour begins in the main hall of the Library and includes a visit to the Library’s iconic reading room. This tour takes place on the second Saturday of every month.

Admission is free and all are welcome.

The In Focus Tour “Symbolism in Chinese Art” with Joan Barnwell, Guide, Chester Beatty Library will take place and admission is free.

Meeting point is in the Atrium.

“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.

Beavers are one of nature’s largest living rodents and champion engineers. COme to this tour and find out more about the animal kingdom’s top engineers and the dams, burrows and nests they build.

Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for Ages 8+.

The tour will take place at 14:15 and at 15:30.

A Haiku workshop will take place for 15-17 year olds and there are still some places available (the workshop for 12-14 year olds is booked out). You are meant to register via the website but there is not enough time for that, so I suggest you go directly to the Chester Beatty library and check there.

Meet Eriko Tsugawa who will give you a history of haiku, a short three-lined poem. We will explore haiku masters and amateurs alike and you will then compose your own haiku. You will experience Japanese calligraphy using traditional inks and brushes. Limited to 15 teens per session.

The Clandestinos are playing Ska/Funk/Reggae in the Bowery in Rathmines on Saturday.

Admission is free.

Bitches Brew & F-Festival are inviting a “Repeal the 8th” Gig Night with this line-up

Pretty Beast, Montauk Hotel, Leila Jane & The Healers, Bang Bang Caoimhe Barry

Admission is free, but a donation of EUR 5 is suggested.

The Led Zeppelin Band “LedZ Presence” will play a gig in the Harbour Bar.

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.

Tiny Telephone Exchange are playing a gig in the Tivoli Backstage.

Admission is free.

The double bill Rev JM’s Panic Worship and Poison Hearts will play a gig in the Patriot’s Inn.

Admission is free.

The F Feestival will take place in the Grand Social and Plutonic Dust is the live band.

Admission is free.

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.

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 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.

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.

A free Feltmaking Workshop will take place in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

For more information contact 01-6770095 or phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie

“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.

Unfortunately I was too late out of the blocks yesterday to tell you about the free Apples in three locations in Dublin. Apologies!

But there is ONE left! In Dun Laoghaire’s People’s Park Market, you can get free apples for World Pi(e) Day, which is on 14 March (Tuesday). Check the listing in this Dublin Event Guide for Tuesday to find out more.

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 Kilkenny Shop Cafe is inviting to a Jazz Brunch Sunday every Sunday from 11:00-14:00 and from 14:30-16:30 a Bluegrass Band is taking over. Unfortuantely they don’t specify who the bands are.

Admission is free.

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

The National Gallery is running a series of free themed family drop-in workshops from 11:30-13:30 every Sunday.

Inspired by the collection and the exhibitions in the National Gallery, these workshops are suitable for all ages from approx. 18 months to age 8. You can choose to stay for as long or as short a time as works for you.

The space will be divided by age and ability, and each child will be encouraged by Artist and NGI Education Assistant Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire and the week’s guest artist to create their own work on the week’s theme.

Admission is free and no booking required. Numbers are limited to 40 people at any one time but you can drop in and out whenever it suits you and as long as there is still space. Children have to be supervised at all times. The event takes place in the Atrium.

This week’s theme is: Colours Around the Shade by William John Leech

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 “Humans Need Not Apply” (10 Feb – 14 May) in the Science Gallery is looking at the influence robots will have on our society, on our lives and on jobs. How will robots replace humans? How can robots be creative? And is automation maybe going too far?

About 27 exhibits will ask and answer these questions. When you come into the exhibition space in the Science Gallery the little desk lamp robot Pinokio will greet you with all its friendliness and curiosity (that’s MY interpretation of Pinokio’s behaviour). And the three Doppelgänger robots upstairs will move, even dance with you. But more robots and automation will also have possibly some negative effects and “The Great Disengagement” looks at how we human beings might rebel against robots when they have taken our jobs and more away.

The exhibition has many many facets and it is extremely interesting. There are fascinating and intriguing exhibits and maybe more unexpected ones like the “tickle robot”. I strongly recommend the exhibition and can definitely say that it is suitable for ALL ages, even younger kids can get something out of it.

Use the help of the amazing mediators, who can explain everything you see, especially if you don’t want to read all the explanations that are next to every exhibit.

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 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, guided tours were provided and were meant to run for three months until end of October 2016. But the interest was so great that the OPW decided to continue the tours even through the winter months, They will take place every Sunday at 12:00, but 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.

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 feature “Thought Bubbles” with Izumi Kimura, piano and Barry Guy, bass

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.

The Intercultural Tours in Japanese Language with Community Ambassadors Hiromi Anzai will take place.

Admission is free.

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

The Bagots Hutton Jazz Brunch takes place on Sundays from 12:00 with Jazz music from 14:00. The Noel Dumont and band will perform a mix of jazz, soul and lounge music.

Admission is free.

Join in a ‘meitheal’, one of many Irish terms for groups coming to work together. Desinger and curator Alison Conneely will take you on a tour of her Shuttle Hive. Followed by a weaving meitheal workshop with anthropologist Steve Coleman and historian Caoilfhionn Ní Bheacháin through Irish and English in response to the exhibition. No weaving experience necessary.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-6777444. Suitable for adults.

Come to the exhibition “The Art of Friendship: Japanese Surimono Prints”, then take a journey back in time with storyteller Rósín Murphy, as she recounts tales from thousands of years of Japanese culture. Suitable for all ages.

Admission is free and no booking required.

“Caravaggio: An Artist’s Perspective” is the title of the free Sunday talk with Gearóid Hayes, Artist.

The talk takes place in association with the exhibition Beyond Caravaggio, but it won’t be in the area of the Caravaggio exhibition (which is not free). Tickets for the exhibition have to be booked separately via the website below.

Admission is free.

Every Sunday two free guided tours will take place in the Chester Betty Library. The first one is at 15:00 and the second one at 16:00.

In addition there is another free tour every Wednesday at 13:00.

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.

Celebrating St Patrick’s Festival, storyteller Rósín Murphy will delve into much loved Irish stories that have been passed down through the generations, ó lámh go lámh, ó glúin go ghlúin. This event will be in English and Irish. Suitable for all ages.

Admission is free and no booking required.

The great people from ALT Events are running another Game Night on Sunday. You can bring your own board games or play one of the many that they will bring along. There will also be some baked goods. All of it is for free!

Raimonda Masiulyte (vocals) & Eamonn Moran (guitar) will perform jazz in The Barbers Pub.

Admission is free.

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! ;-)

Funk, Soul and Blues with “Soul Badger”, “Fever Solstice” and “Popgun Warfare” will be the Sunday evening gig at the Bowery.

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.

The Rock ‘n’ Rock 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.

Enjoy music, song, rhyme and movement with your toddler at this Musical Movements event with Carla Fazio.

It will take place on 09, 16, 23, 30 January, 06, 13 February and 06, 13, 20, 27 March in Blackrock Library.

The time is 10:15-11:00 for Ages 2-3 and 11:15-11:45 for Ages 18 months – 2 years.

Admission is free and no booking required, but there are only 15 places and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

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!

Using storybooks both familiar and new, Magda from Yo-Yo Yoga presents a unique opportunity for children to experience yoga through the medium of storytelling.

Suitable for ages 5-9 (max 15 children).

Admission is free, but booking is required via dundrumlib@dlrcoco.ie or 01-2985000.

Malcolm Gaskill (University of East Anglia) will talk about “Witchcraft, Emotion and Social Change in Seventeenth-Century New England” in the next talk of the Trinity Centre for Early Modern History Seminar Series.

Admission is free.

The Trinity Long Room Hub’s ‘Behind the Headlines’ discussion series offers background analyses to current issues by experts drawing on the long-term perspectives of Arts & Humanities research. It provides a forum that deepens understanding, combats simplification and polarization and creates space for informed and respectful public discourse.

The next event has the following topic “Abortion in Modern Ireland”.

+ Dr Georgina Laragy (School of Histories and Humanities) will look at how the criminalisation of abortion has been shaped through various historical factors, including medicine, religion and class.

+ Dr Catherine Conlon (School of Social Work and Social Policy) will look at the emergence of crisis pregnancy as a policy construct, focusing particularly on how women’s abortion narratives both gave shape to and have been shaped by this construct.

+ Professor Ivana Bacik (School of Law) will examine the 1983 Amendment and post 1983 cases and provide a snapshot of the current political and legal context.

+ Professor William Binchy (School of Law) will seek to identify the values that underlie the Eighth Amendment and to assess how they compare with those underlying the case for repeal.

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

The film “Koyaanisqatsi” (1982) will be screened in the “Sun, Sea and Soil: Our Planet in the 21st Century” series of film screening in the Music Room of Christ Church Cathedral.

About Koyaanisqatsi: A cult American experimental film examining the relationship between, humans, nature and technology, introduced by Daniel Fitzpatrick, film writer and curator.

Admission is free.

Enda Reilly will be in Walkinstown Library to perform songs from his new album “Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge”.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-4558159

The Lithuanian film “A Promise delivered. Secrets of Vilnius” (2014) will be screened in the Month of Francophonie.

Not many among the vast crowd of readers, who made Romain Gary one of bestselling French novelists of 20th century, know that he was born and spent his childhood in Vilnius, Lithuania. The film “A Promise delivered. Secrets of Vilnius” speaks about that nebulous period of the writer’s life, connections with Vilnius in his life and works. The title of the film is an allusion to one of most famous books of R. Gary – “Promise at dawn”. Comments, made by literary experts and historians, new findings in Lithuanian and French archives bring more light on mysterious personality of R.Gary – the only person who won Le prix Goncourt trophy twice, a decorated war hero, politician, diplomat and homme fatale.

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

EnviroSoc at TCD is inviting to an event with Bea Johnson, author of the blog and best-selling book Zero Waste Home, and founder of the Zero Waste movement.

Bea and her family have followed a zero waste lifestyle since 2008, and since then she has become an expert and pioneer of the movement. Her book has been published in 14 languages and she gives talks all over the world. She will share her tips and tricks for reducing the amount of waste we produce.

Admission is free.

This is a weekly gig with authentic old-time fiddle tunes and Appalachian music.

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.

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.

We Bloom have a regular slot in the Workman’s Club and on Monday they will feature:

Des Garvey & This Fresh Hill and support is provided by Cat Palace and by Dunny.

Admission is free.

The Bowery Stand-up Comedy Night will present five comedians to you.

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).

Gavin Povey is playing Rock ‘n’ Roll and more on the piano.

Admission is free.

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 Jimmy Smyth 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.

That’s It Recordings is an open mic every Monday at Sin E. Just turn up and play. Sign up before 22:00 to ensure you get a slot. Bring a USB stick along and you will get a recording of your music to take home.

Admission is free.

The Royal Irish Academy, as a member of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), will host a breakfast briefing on the recent EASAC report: Indicators for a Circular Economy.

Admission is free, but registration is required via RSVP to Dr John Maguire, Senior Programme Manager: j.maguire@ria.ie

Today is World Pie Day and Bord Bia and the Irish Apple Growers Association used it for a promotional campaign. Bramley apples were given away for free the weekend before in some places and you were asked to cook an Apple Pie and share it with friends or give it away.

Some where I read that Ireland grows 1/3 of the world’s Barmley apple supply and I was surprised. Not because it is so much, but because it is so little. To me Bramley apples are an abomination of an apple. They should just not exist. Useless unless for cooking! ANd for that reason I am surprised that they are any other countries that grow them. Maybe UK? That would explain. ;-)

Ohh and if you wonder why World Pi(e) day is today, then look at the American way of writing the date (3.14). 3.14 = Pi, so that is where this is all coming from.

The Department of Religions & Theology, Trinity College is inviting to the Seminar “Religion and Education in Antiquity” on Tuesday. There will be three talks and the PDF here list the programme.

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.

“Generating Understandings of Women’s Concealing Pregnancy Narratives Through Opera” by Catherine Conlon, School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD is the next lecture in the Medical Humanities & Health Initiative Seminar Series.

Admission is free.

Canadian Rock Band Monster Truck will be in Tower Records for an In-Store gig ahead of their show in the Academy 2 on Tuesday.

Admission is free.

“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

“Aspects of Love” is a Classic film screening in Rathmines.

To find out the title of the film that will be screened, you will have to contact the library via 01-497 3539 or rathmineslibrary@dublincity.ie

Admission is free.

“Storytime sessions with Fionnuala Griffin” for 3-7 year olds will take place every Tuesday from 17 Jan until end of March.

Fionnuala Griffin has over fifteen years experience working as a children’s entertainer and has a background in arts and drama.

Admission is free and no booking necessary.

The Canadian film “Les Mauvaises herbes” will be screened as part of Le Mois de la Francophonie.

It is a humorous Québecois film from 2016 that tells the story of Jacques, an actor, who flees to the country to escape his gambling debts. He meets Simon, a rough and wily farmer who manipulates him into a business relationship. Following a difficult start, they help each other to grow mari juana. Later, they meet Francesca, a sharp young woman who embraces their venture. By the time they get to the winter harvest, the three have learned to live together, but outside forces threaten the delicate balance of their little business… In French with English subtitles.

A reception will be held in advance of the screening at 17:30.

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

The new book “The Alhambra Revealed” by historian Micheal B Barry from Dublin will be launched by the Spanish Ambassador José María Rodríguez Coso. (in English)

“If you enter the Alhambra in Granada for the first time, be prepared for a shock, it is almost a sensory overload. You have never seen anything like it. Within the walls and towers, there is a sprawling complex of graceful Nasrid palaces, which comprise together one of the jewels of World Heritage. This lavishly illustrated book gives a panoramic description of the Alhambra, written with a depth of knowledge and enthusiasm.”

A wine and appetiser reception will follow the launch.

Admission is free.

This is a weekly event in Buskers on the Ball. They have 5 table tennis table and are now running a social league on Tuesdays. Free play at the tables and drinks specials are available.

Enda Reilly will be in Walkinstown Library to perform songs from his new album “Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge”.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-4558159

Michael McCaughan is launching his book “Coming Home” about one man’s return to the Irish language.

Admission is free.

“There is on-going stigma in society associated with mental illness and also with suicide. Interventions around stigma are most effective where there is deep collaboration and inclusive leadership. Lived Lives is a longitudinal science / arts community intervention research project brought about by the collaboration between a clinical scientist (Prof Kevin Malone) and artist (Dr. Seamus McGuinness), together with suicide-bereaved families. The project addresses stigma through its ability to contain, mobilize and actively engage communities sensitively, inclusively and with compassion.”

A mediated, interactive talk by the artist and scientist about the impacts of the Lived Lives project within communities will take place on Tuesday and admission is free.

“Raising happy kids in an anxious world” with Stella O’Malley help parents to rekindle the joy in family life with practical tips and strategies for parents to use in their day to day life when stresses got in the way of raising happy kids. Stella O’Malley is a psychotherapist and is author of “Cotton Wool Kids”.

Admission is free, but booking is required via blackrocklib@dlrcoco.ie or 01-2888117. There are 40 places.

Renata Sperandio, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture, will accompany you in your journey through Dante’s Divine Comedy, the masterpiece of Italian literature. The explanation will be in English, but the purpose is to make it possible for the readers to follow and enjoy the Italian original.

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

The Dublin Rock LIne Choir will have a rehearsal and vocal training in J.W. Sweetman’s and everyone who loves to sing is welcome.

Admission is free (donations are welcome), but registration via the Meetup group here is requested.

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 Shipstern Open Session is the Open Mic night in the Bowery in Rathmines. A weekly event where everyone is invited to take part, sing, play an instrument of even tell some jokes. And anybody who will perform on stage will get a cocktail voucher. Sometimes even big names come in to try out their new material.

The night is hosted by Cian from the tband MKAI.

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.

Forbidden Planet Dublin invites to a Pubcast about the Wolverine. Wolverine is one of the most recognised Comic Book characters and the discussion will be recorded for a Podcast.

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).

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.

Dr Tandy Shermer is Assistant Professor of History at Loyola University Chicago. Her fellowship at the Trinity Long Room Hub is in collaboration with the School of Histories and Humanities. She will participate in a ‘Fellow in Focus’ conversation with Dr Daniel Geary.

More information on the website below.

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.

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.

“First Up: Creative entrepreneurs on breaking through” is a series of lunchtime talks from the creative minds at the forefront of Irish culture, science and the arts. The individuals featured in the First Up series believed in an idea and did everything possible to make that idea work. They invested in their own talent and creativity in order to create a career or lifestyle suited to their vision and personal aspirations.

At this week’s First Up, Graham McLaren and Neil Murray will feature. They were appointed as joint Directors of the Abbey Theatre in 2016. Both came to the Abbey Theatre from the National Theatre of Scotland, Graham as Associate Director and Neil as Executive Producer. Together, they are responsible for the Abbey’s programming from 2017 onwards.

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

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

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

www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=dubevg

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

This is a public tour of the “Beyond Leaving” exhibition in the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar.

Photographer David Monahan’s Beyond Leaving is the most recent expression of a collaborative project ongoing since 2010. Through photography, Skype interview and video, he tries to understand the distance between expectation and reality for the current Irish emigrant. The tour will be led by photographer Dave Monahan.

Admission is free.

The next New Parents’ Tour will take place on Wednesday. It is a free public tour for parents, guardians, and carers of infants and young children. The route of the tour is suitable for prams and strollers.

You are invited to this informative Tree Walk around Ashtown Castle Arboretum, beside the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

The walk will be led by the OPW Arboricultural (Tree) Officer and will take in some of the magnificent specimen trees that are in Ashtown Demesne. (Meet at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre at 14:00 sharp.)

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01 677 0095 or phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie

The next lecture in the Trinity Centre for Contemporary Irish History Seminar Series will be “A Double Life: Ernest Blythe in Newtownards, 1910-13” with Professor David Fitzpatrick, TCD.

Admission is free.

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.

The Book Launch of “A Dangerous Crossing” by Jane Mitchell will take place.

The book is based on the experiences of real Syrian families. Running with his cousin through the blown-out shops and bombed stalls of Kobani’s old souq, 13 year old Ghalid Shenu feels invincible; until the pair of them are caught in a barrel-bomb explosion. Ghalid escapes serious injury but his parents decide they must flee the war, and so the family begin the long and dangerous journey from their home in Syria to Europe

The book will be launched by the Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman.

Admission is free.

Speaking Words in Pearse Street Library is a monthly events with writers who read from their work, poetry, prose and the occasional short play. The readings include musical interludes and are often accompanied by imagery from the visual arts. Light refreshments are included.

On Wednesday 15 March there will be drama, poetry and music with James Conway, Mary Guckian and Victor Feldman.

Admission is free.

The Museum of Capitalism is an institution dedicated to educating this generation and future generations about the ideology, history, and legacy of capitalism. The Museum will open its inaugural exhibition in 2017 in Oakland, California and the founders and curators of the museum will tell their story at this talk in the Long Room Hub.

Representing the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team of curators, historians, economists, educators, writers, artists, and designers, the Museum strives to broaden public understanding of capitalism through multifaceted programs: exhibitions; research and publication; collecting and preserving material evidence, art, and artifacts related to capitalism; and commemorations, reenactments, and other events.

In this presentation, the museum founders and curators will share some of the process behind the institution’s beginnings, as well as the controversies surrounding what some consider its untimely memorialization. The discussion will deal with the writing of history, the art and politics of curating, institutions and artist-led critique, museums in the Anthropocene, and the challenges of exhibition-making in a “post-truth” era.

Admission is free.

The Business Library in the Central Library is inviting to a new Networking Meet up on Wednesday.

Admission is free, but booking is required via 01-8733996

Reginald Gray (1930-2013) was an Irish artist who worked as a portrait painter, celebrity photographer, set designer and fashion designer (for Vogue, Fairchild, Condé Nast, WWD) in Paris and New York.

On Wednesday an exhibition with a selection of portraits by Reginald Gray of Yves Saint Laurent in Paris and Morocco will be launched. It was chosen to illustrate the upcoming Franco-Irish Literary Festival that will concentrate on Fashion.

The exhibition will be opened by Eleonore Gray, daughter of the artist, and followed by the screening of the documentary “Reginald Gray: Portrait of a portrait artist” at 19:30 in the Library.

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

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 Wednesday and admission is free.

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.

The Resident Open Mic is a new weekly open mic on Wednesdays with a bit of a difference: Each week a different established artist will go back to their roots by not just playing at the open mic but by hosting it. This gives the artists a chance to try out new songs, play some of their classics and most importantly it gives a chance for new songwriters to play their music in front of some of their favorite songwriters.

Admission is free.

The Last Waltz is a music film from 1976. Admission is free.

The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group the Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The Last Waltz was advertised as the Band’s “farewell concert appearance,” and the concert saw the Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, Neil Diamond, Bobby Charles, The Staple Singers and Eric Clapton. The musical director for the concert was the Band’s original record producer, John Simon.

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).

“GPO Witness History: Meet the Archivist” will take place from 10:00-12:00 and from 14:00-16:00 on Thursday.

At this event you are invited to bring letters and photographs that relate to 1916, The War of Independence and the Civil War and meet the in-house archivist, who will digitise your items (up to 3 items per person), provide you with a copy and advise you on storage and preservation. You will also have the opportunity to have your items included in upcoming online exhibitions at GPO Witness History.

I guess the event is especially for visiting tourists with Irish backgrounds that have 1916 artefacts, because most people living here probably considered submitting their 1916 memorabilia before or in 2016.

Admission is free to this event. It is not clear if this free event will also give you free access to the GPO Witness History museum, but I definitely doubt it. Normal admission charges are EUR 10 for adults.

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.

Seamus Dooley (National Union of Journalists) will talk about ‘Crisis in the media: why we should be worried’.

“With the growth of social media threatening mainstream quality journalism on one hand, the growing threat of false news and the power of media barons, there is a real crisis. Good journalism is essential to ensure a working democracy and Seamus is an authoritative voice on behalf of Irish journalists.”

The seminar will take place in TASC’s offices in Castleriver House, 14-15 Parliament Street, Dublin 2. (Entrance on Essex Street East).

Admission is free and tea/coffee will be provided. You are invited to bring your lunch and eat it during the seminar.

Registration is required via Sylvia Byrne on 01 6169050 or sbyrne@tasc.ie

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.

“The Past is the Present: Our Culture Surrounds Us” is a series of lunchtime talks over the St, Patrick’s Day weekend.

On Thursday Lisa Godson from the National College of Art and Design will talk about “the concept of material culture and explores how Ireland’s changing society is reflected in the everyday objects that inhabit our daily lives.”

Admission is free (doesn’t include a visit to the Little Museum), but booking is required via www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/eventreg

Aoife Munn is running a St. Patrick’s Day Craft Session for children in Blackrock.

Make your own leprechaun to bring you luck!

Admission is free, but registration is required via blackrocklib@dlrcoco.ie or 01-2888117 and there are only 15 places.

Explore the story of St. Patrick using collage and imagination at this craft event for children.

Admission is free, but booking is required via stillorganlib@dlrcoco.ie or 01 2889655. There are only 10 places.

The St. Patrick’s Festival “Festival Céilí” will take place on Thursday from 16:30. Bit early for many, I know, but they will keep going for a while there. There will be Irish music and you will be taught some Irsh Dancing steps for classics like the dance moves “Siege of Ennis”, “Shoe the Donkey” and the “Stack of Barley”.

The Matt Cunningham Band and the Devane Family will provide the music, dancers from the Brooks Academy will do the dancing and the caller will be Jery O’Reilly.

Admission is free.

The Spanish film “Tesis” by Alejandro Amenabar will be shown in the Spanish Essentials film series. (In Spanish with English subtitles.)

Why do we find death and violence so intriguing? Is it moral to show violent content in films? If so, should there be any limits to what we see? This is the theme for Ángela’s thesis, a cinema student on the hunt for audiovisual material to illustrate her project. In the process of investigating she finds herself inside what it seems to be a plot in relation to snuff movies (movies showing real violence and killings committed with the sole purpose of facilitating the recording of the film) in which some of her faculty classmates and professors may be involved.

Admission is free.

This storytelling session, with bard Richard Marsh, will reveal a universe of gods, spirits and fantastic creatures that inhabit Ireland and Spain. Discover Ireland through the eyes of the Basque ship Captain Bartolomeo, the arrival of Celtic people from the Iberian Peninsula and other charming stories connecting Spanish and Irish folklore.

Richard, a member of the Dublin storytelling group the Dublin Yarnspinners, explores the Spanish connection by sharing stories of the Galician Saint Patrick, who also evicted snakes from Galicia, fantastical beings such as Mouros, Leprechauns, the Urco and the Púca.

This storytelling session will be in English and is family friendly, suitable for ages 6+.

Admission is free, but booking is required via bookings.dublin@cervantes.es

Every Thursday the Little Museum of Dublin waives their admission charges for two guided tours thanks to sponsorship from Guinness. The first tour is at 18:00 and the second tour is at 19:00. Make sure that you are there at least 10 minutes before the start of the tour to get one of the limited places.

The Little Museum of Dublin has a fascinating collection of artefacts from the last 100 years Dublin’s history.

On other days and other times, admission is EUR 7 for adults and admission is by guided tour only.

The Pulse College is based in Windmill Lane Studios and they are inviting to an evening of performances with Music, Film, Gaming and Science workshops!

Improv Comedy Group KIRSTY will perform and there will be livemusic by “Those Black Marks”.

The itneractive workshops are about:
Oculus Rift
Ableton workshop
Binural Experience
Pulse College film students showcase
Disney’s “INSIDE OUT” ADR workshop
Pulse College game students showcase

Admission is free.

A candlelight rally organised by the Justice for the Undocumented (JFU) campaign will take place at the Central Bank Plaza.

“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.

And this is the third (!) Board Gaming night in Dublin! They are taking over! ;-)

It is a weekly event and on Thursday the focus is 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 Workman’s Club has organised one of their epic bank holiday festivals. The “St. Patrick’s Two Nighter” will happen on Thursday night and on Friday night.

The live music will be:

+ Thursday from 20:00: Vicious Fishes, Free Sunshine Acid, Sun Mahshene, Beach, Workman’s Karaoke Club
+ Friday from 16:00: Bodies, Just Mustard, The Notas, The Fontaines

Admission is free.

Jack Brouwer will play a gig in the Hard Rock Cafe.

Admission is free.

The lecture “A Plantman’s Pick – Exciting, long blooming perennials, sourced from the best nurseries in Europe” by Jimi Blake will take you on a journey through the newest and most exciting perennials in his collection in Hunting Brook Garden, Blessington and from his travels to other gardens and nurseries. He will share with you how he incorporates these choice perennials into his planting schemes in Hunting Brook.

Admission is free.

David Keenan and The Ink-Lings will perform in the “Live at Liquor Rooms” slot.

Admission is free.

A Pop-up Gaeltacht will be declared in the Dame District (pubs between Dame Lane and Dame Court) on Thursday evening.

Any special activities? Doesn’t seem like it. Just Irish speaking (if you can), so this free event is kind of a non-event, but you might be interested if you want to use/practise/try your Irish.

Bunoscionn will play a Trad & Folk gig with a twist.

Admission is free.

Popular high-energy busking band “Mutefish” will perform in Sin E on St. Patrick’s Eve.

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.

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

Admission is free.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival will run from Friday 17 March until Sunday 19 March. The current longterm forecast (It will change, we are in Ireland after all!!) promises a dry weekend with clouds and even some sunshine on Sunday. The temperature is predicted to be aroun 10-12, which is not bad at all!

The festival weekend is made up of the Festival Ceili on Thursday afternoon on Earlsfort Terrace, then on Friday is St. Patrick’s Day with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. On Saturday the Festival Treasure Hunt will take place and on Sunday the “Big Day Out”, a Family Day around Merrion Square will be the final of the main events.

Out of these four headline events, I strongly recommend the Treasure Hunt and the Big Day Out. They are great events for all ages with plenty to do and to see and to experience.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, however is not on my must-see list anymore. Once you have seen one, you have more or less seen all. Don’t get me wrong, the parade has improved SIGNIFICANTLY from maybe 10 years ago, but in recent years it is just an overcrowded “Same as the previous year” event, where the floats are nice and the (American) brass bands are great, but the “Wow” is just missing. It is time again for some rejuvenating of the parade.

Oh and if you read about the number of attendees at the parade afterwards, don’t believe a word! They are completely made up. For years the claim is made that more than half a million people are in the City Centre to see the parade. The actual figures are dramatically different as I have calculated a few years ago. Approx. 200,000 are lining the streets and hald of them can SEE the parade (the others forgot their step ladders :-) and only know that it is happening in front of them, but can’t see it).
Here is my calculation: www.joergsteegmueller.com/2012/03/17/st-patrick-parade-lies-and-statistics-round-2/

Two funfairs will take place in Dublin on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

The Funfairs are at Merrion Square and at Custom House.

Admission to the funfairs is free, but the rides are not.

In addition to the main parade in the City Centre, many towns and village in Ireland have their own parades. In the North Dublin region of Fingal, some of the parades are

+ Swords 11:00
+ Rush 13:00
+ Lusk 13:30
+ Balbriggan 14:00
+ Skerries 15:00
+ Blanchardstown 15:00

And at Swords Castle there is a Castle Fleadh with Traditional Irish Music and Dancing (13:00-17:00) and a Funfair near the Castle (10:00-18:00).

All information and links to further detail for the different towns can be found on the Fingal County website below.

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

On St. Patrick’s Day, Wigwam are launching “Reeling In Your Ears”, a free monthly party with each one dedicated to a different year.

The first one covers 1991 and some of the tracks that were released in that year are:

Nirvana – Smells like teen spirit
Crystal Waters – Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime
The Source featuring Candi Staton – You Got The Love
The Prodigy – Charly
Michael Jackson -Black Or White
Metallica – Enter Sandman

Doors open at 12:00 and admission is free the whole day (Min age: 20).

The Dublin Bay Prawn Festival takes place in Howth over the St. Patrick’s Festival weekend from Fri 17 – Sun 19 March. With less than a week to go, I would have thought that the website is updated by now, but it still shows the programme for the 2016 Prawn Festival at the time I am writing this (on Friday 10 March).

Let’s hope that the people from Howth remember to provide more information about the programme.

In previous years there is live music in pubs and restaurants and on a main stage and there will be food demonstrations in a marquee at Howth Harbour. Street Entertainment, a Fun Fair and Open Days at the Coastguards and Lifeboat Station were other features. There are some non-free events, but a lot of the entertainment is free.

On a nice day, Howth is definitely always worth a visit and if the Prawn Festival is on there is another reason to venture out to there.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 12:00 at Parnell Square, continues down O’Connell Street and then crosses the Liffey on O’Connell Bridge. Then onwards to Westmoreland Street, College Green, Dame Street and then goes to Christ Church. Here it turns left, goes to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and then there is a big change! Instead of ending at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the parade route continues and turns left into Kevin Street and the new end is now at the Kevin Street/Aungier Street junction.

This is quite an extension of the parade route and is the best decision for many years! The problem has always been that the O’Connell Street and Dame Street area was so crowded that the majority of people couldn’t see the parade, but with this extension I suggest that you go to the Patrick Street or Kevin Street end of the parade and you will have the best chance there to see the parade. Partially because many people will not know yet that it has been extended, but also because even in previous years, the Patrick Street area was a lot less busy.

Up to 250,000 people will line the parade route (don’t believe the “official” numbers of 500,000, that figure is wishful thinking and not based on facts) and that is a large amount for such a relatively short route despite the extension.

If you want to see the parade well (especially with children), you will have to watch it on TV! Or alternatively come well before 10:00 to town. Last year some people told me that they arrived at 08:00 to get a front row place.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade is a yearly institution. But like with all “institutions”, the excitement about it has gone lost a bit and it would be good to shake the parade up again.

While it has significantly improved in comparison to the earlier years of the festival, for the last 5-7 years no substantial change has been made. The themes that are given out every year are not really having much of a differentiation effect on the floats and as a visitor to the parade, you might as well forget about the theme as you won’t recognise it in the floats.

The (American) Marching Bands are good in most years and are the most impressive part of the parade, but in general there is too much “same old, same old” for the parade to be a must-go event.

After the parade, I recommend that you leave the City Centre quickly again and stay away from areas like Temple Bar or Grafton Street. Drunken youngsters really spoil the fun and the fact that there is not much else happening apart from getting drunk is a big weakness of the St. Patrick’s Day plans.

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

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

At this lunchtime talk, biographer Anne Chambers profiles the late TK Whitaker, one of the most important figures in modern Irish history.

I had never heard of TK Whitaker and if it is the same for you, then this Wikipedia snippet at least gives SOME context: Thomas Kenneth “Ken” Whitaker (8 December 1916 – 9 January 2017) was an Irish economist and former public servant, credited with a pivotal role in the economic development of Ireland.

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

Brendan Nolan of the Dublin Yarnspinners will tell stories.

“Hear the true story of how St. Patrick came to Ireland and sent the snakes away, forever. Listen to how he pierced an unsuspecting king through the foot with his crozier while converting him from paganism and war to the new religion of peace and brotherliness. And marvel at his conversations with the 300-year-old Oisín newly returned from Tír na nÓg as Patrick sought to understand the Irish. Listen to these and other stories to celebrate the day.”

Admission is free but places are limited and booking is required via the website below.

Whelan’s is running a mega party on St. Patrick’s Day with 14 new and upcoming bands from 15:00-03:00.

Admission is free if you put your name on the guest list and the instructions are here: www.facebook.com/events/377094102675298/

The line-up on Friday is:
MAIN VENUE: Pillow Queens, Bring out the Chimp, Oh Joy!, Brass Phantoms, Chasing Felix, Pretty Beast
UPSTAIRS: Three Underneath, Wolves Of Youth, Young Earth, Pursued By Dogs, Native Ensemble

The Bowery St. Patrick’s Day Party will start at 16:00 with Trad Bands. This will be followed later by “The Goods”.

Admission is free.

The Workman’s Club has organised one of their epic bank holiday festivals. The “St. Patrick’s Two Nighter” will happen on Thursday night and on Friday night.

The live music will be:

+ Thursday from 20:00: Vicious Fishes, Free Sunshine Acid, Sun Mahshene, Beach, Workman’s Karaoke Club
+ Friday from 16:00: Bodies, Just Mustard, The Notas, The Fontaines

Admission is free.

This Ain’t No Disco is a new Irish music programme which contains performance, collaboration and conversation hosted by Donal Dineen and directed by Myles O’Reilly.

Follow Donal Dineen and Myles O’Reilly as they visit New York with one of Ireland’s brightest stars (to be revealed on the night!) who will be spending time with American contemporary composer Nico Mulhy at his Manhattan studios. They will also meet up with Maeve Higgins for some words from the streets where she now resides. And there will be plenty of new Irish music along the way as they track down and chat with musicians in Dublin and in New York.

It seems that the first episode of “This Ain’t no Disco” will be screened from 18:00 and the second episode will then be released at 20:00.

Admission is free, but booking is required via www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/eventreg

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 Untouchables will play a gig with pop, rock & blues.

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.

The Dance & Electro band Robot Rock will play a gig in the Harbour Bar on St. Patrick’s Day.

Admission is free.

Acoustic Metal Trad Rock band The Scratch are playing in Sin E.

Admission is free.

Santoria will play a gig in the Raheny Inn as a 5piece band.

Admission is free.