The International Women’s Day takes place on Friday and some venues run special events on the day, for example the Hugh Lane Gallery.

The Digital Dublin Day will take place on Fri 08 March. Details are still a little sparse, but to make sure that you will find out about it and know as much as possible about the activities on the day, I will list here the list of planned/intentional events and if you go to m.dublineventguide.com during the coming week, I will try to update the information as it emerges so that you should have most deails available on Friday.

The goal is to have a “basecamp” on the forecourt in front of the Mansion House but also to have other activities in other locations around the City Centre.

Activities planned for Mansion House basecamp include:

– Free Public WiFi in local area
– Coder Dojo involving local schoolchildren with James Whelton.
– ‘Apps for Fingal’ display showcasing the use of Open data
– eCommerce demonstrations.
– Electric Cars onsite and available for test drive (prebooking required)
– Creation of digital stories via StoryMap
– The story of the Mansion House via StoryMap
– Bloggers onsite blogging about digital in the city.
– Techspace editing and displaying video interviews with citizens recorded on the day.
– Onsite survey re digital with real time display of results.
– WiFi provider Gowex on site
– International Womens day ‘vibes of Ireland’ Twitter visualisation.(International Womens’ Day March 8th)
– Soundwave.me displaying what music local DigiDubs are listening to
– ‘Digital’ talks with James Whelton, Johnny Ryan and others.

About the city activities include:
– Libraries mobile bus: Create a digital memory; scan of old photos for silver surfers.
– Digitise the nation bus: Mobile eLearning
– Video interviews recorded with citizens at WiFi locations;
– Digital treasure trail with StortMap
– Presence at accenture International Womens Day event RDS.
– Digital Workshops for young and older people at the Digital Hub.

The International Women’s Day Public Tour “Celebrating Female Artists” is taking place in the Hugh Lane Gallery with Guide Michelle Doyle. Admission is free, but places are limited so arrive early.

BIMÍS AG SIÚL AGUS AG CAINT – Celebrate International Women’s Day with Dublin City Council’s Irish language walking group as they visit Leinster House where they’ll be meeting with Independent Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan and receiving a tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas. This event is free and no advance booking necessary.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

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.

Idir Mná presents a series of new play readings at 13:00, 15:00 and 16:00 in conjunction with the International Womens Day. Not all the playwrights are female but all plays celebrate women. Admission is free, but booking via idirmna@gmail.com is required. There will be two readings on Friday and three on Saturday and the website provides the details.

The National Business Expo will take place from Fri 08-Sat 09 March in the Industries Hall (Hall4) of the RDS. The Expo offers an Exhibition with over 80 exhibitors, Seminars and Workshops for Start-Ups and SMEs wanting to Start, Grow or Export. If you are working on a business idea and need some further information, help and support, check go to this expo.

Tickets are free if you register online at www.businessexpo.ie but are EUR 10 at the door. Opening hours are 13:00-18:00 on Friday and 11:00-17:00 on Saturday.

Digital Dublin Day is an initiative of Dublin City Council, and will see activities and events taking place throughout Dublin City on Friday 08 March.

One of these a activities is a free workshop for anybody who wants to learn how to use Skype, maybe to talk to the children or grandchildren who live away from home. The workshop will provide hands-on, practical information on everything you need to know to use Skype. Instructors will walk you through setting up Skype on your computer, adding contacts and making calls. Bring along the contact information for your loved ones abroad and you can Skype them live from the workshop for the very first time.

Admission to the workshop is free, but youhave to register with Louise Morgan in The Digital Hub: Tel: 01-4806200 or Email: lmorgan@thedigitalhub.com.

The course takes place from 13:00-14:00 or from 15:00-16:00

“Women, Violence and Social Change” is the title of this public lecture with Dr. Melanie Hoewer, UCD SPIRe and IBIS. Admission is free. It will take place in G317 of the Newman Building. www.tcd.ie/tidi, or www.ucd.ie/hdi/

Selina Guinness will be in the IWC for a lunchtime reading.

Her memoir “The Crocodile by the Door”, her first novel novel, recounts the trials and tribulations of farming valuable land on the edge of Dublin at the height of the property boom. Selina has also edited an anthology of Irish poetry published by Bloodaxe, called “The New Irish Poets.”.

Admission is free.

A Butoh Dance Workshop with performance Ambra G. Bergamasco and Enda Moran (sound scapes) will take place on Friday. The title is “MUD- Tsuchi kara umareta” and everybody is welcome. Admission is free and no previous experience is required.

“Butoh dance is a non-representational dance of which movements stem out from visualization and internal movements.
The night will offer a Butoh dance workshop of 1.5 hrs followed by a performance. The workshop will explore the themes of the performance and provides the necessary codes to understand the process that a Butoh piece is involved with, this in order to facilitate and develop the understanding of the dance form. The themes related to this event are those of mud, fire water and springing of newness.”

A free Greek and European Folk Dance class open to all. Contact Katerini Papathanasiou on papath.kat@gmail.com

Left, Right & Centre are performing their rock ‘n’ blues in the “Live from the Window” series in Whelan’s. Admission is free.

Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street, Temple Bar (next to IFI, ring bell no. 3)

A drop in class, with newcomers welcome.

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.

Astronomy Ireland’s weekly free telescope nights are beginning again, and will take place each Friday night at 20:00 if the weather permits. Check the website below for a weather forecast and to find out what you will be able to see at the telescope night. The focus will be on Jupiter and Moon.

“Dublin Tribal Spirit” is a weekly event that gives you the great experience of a drumming circle with african drums and authentic tribal rhythms. Tom and Sinead, who run that event are providing lots of drums for it and teach you the rhythms.

There is no formal admission charge for this event, but donations are expected. The organisers bring their own 20-30 drums to it every week, so they are looking for donations to keep the event going.

The Addison Lodge are inviting local bands, musicians, poets, comedians and performers to share their talents at the new Addison Lodge Open Mic Nights in Glasnevin (opposite the Botanic Gardens). The event will take place every week. Admission is free.

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below. It will be on Fri 08 March: Badge and on Sat 09: 20th Century Gold

“The Vincent(s)” are performing at the Midnight Hour in Whelan’s. Admission is free before 22:30 and the gig will start at midnight.

The next French Friday will take place on 08 March. Expect electro, house and drum n bass/dubstep tunes, free admission and lots of French and francophile people.

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

The Dublin Food Co-op is open every Saturday at Newmarket for organic wholefoods and sustainable household products, plus over a dozen producer stalls offering organic fruit and veg., baked goods, dairy produce, wines, hot and cold food, etc. The Co-op is also open on Thursdays 12:00-20:00.

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

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

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

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

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a relatively new weekly market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. Sounds interesting and I will check it out over the coming weeks. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel). www.facebook.com/merchantsindoormarket

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

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 Buddhist Centre in Rathgar/Terenure is holding an Attic Sale with CDs, books, clothes, toys, plants, outdoor equipment, games, household goods and more… There will also be face painting, guided tours of our Meditation Room and a cafe and shop open all day. Admission is free and everyone is welcome even if you are just curious to see inside a Buddhist Centre. If you would also like to support the centre by contributing things to sell, call on 01-7078809 to arrange a drop off time.

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

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

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

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

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.

Eason Story Time is back. As part of Eason’s “Get Into Reading” campaign, a specially selected children’s book will be read at 11:00 each Saturday in every Eason store in the country. On the website below are the dates and book titles from now until mid-June and for the next two months I have them included here:

09 Mar: Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
16 Mar: Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
23 Mar: Brave Beast by Chris Judge
30 Mar: Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson

The Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Sat 09 March the following free events will take place;

11:00 Children storytelling and drawing: Russian Fun and Russian Lessons at the National Library of Ireland
13:00-14:00 Cultural talk at the National Gallery of Ireland: Justin Doherty, ‘The Exotic in Russian Art and Music’
15:30-16:45 Conversation Exchange in Ilac Library, Russian & English 18.00 –
19.30 Literary Evening with Dimtry Bykov at the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin

The National Business Expo will take place from Fri 08-Sat 09 March in the Industries Hall (Hall4) of the RDS. The Expo offers an Exhibition with over 80 exhibitors, Seminars and Workshops for Start-Ups and SMEs wanting to Start, Grow or Export. If you are working on a business idea and need some further information, help and support, check go to this expo.

Tickets are free if you register online at www.businessexpo.ie but are EUR 10 at the door. Opening hours are 13:00-18:00 on Friday and 11:00-17:00 on Saturday.

Kings of Concrete is the cool crowd that organises the yearly event in Dublin by the same name. An event for the younger ages with Skateboarding, BMX, Break Dancing, Graffiti etc workshops and demonstrations.

Kings of Concrete is now providing training as well and are inviting to the second monthly skills weekend on Saturday. Admission and participation is free, but you have to register before the event by e-mail or facebook mail (include your phone number!)

The event is open to all ages from 10+ and anyone looking to try out new fun creative things or get better at what your currently doing can chose from the following workshops:
+ Skateboarding
+ Graffiti/illustration
+ T-shirt design and print
+ Parkour/free-running
+ Photography
and newly added:
+ Longboarding
+ Wakeboarding basics
+ Stencil art

The event starts at 11:00 with some intro/orientation. The first module then takes place at 12:00-13:00, then there is a lunch break from 13:00-14:00 and module 2 will run from 14:00-15:00. Followed by an Open session/discussion from 15:00-16:00.
Attendees can choose to do either one or two modules in a day.

www.facebook.com/kingsofconcrete

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

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.

An Architectural Tour of Charlemont House (the building in which the Hugh Lane Gallery is at home) will take place with Elizabeth Wilms, Collections Assistant. Admission is free and no booking required, but places are limited.

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. Dux & Co will offer food and the Grand Social’s Bar and Gourmet Coffee options are available.

Composer George Higgs’ inaugural performance of his new work, featuring Sean Carpio and musicians from St Mary’s School for Deaf Girls

Saturday sees the first performance of a new work by The Lost and Found Sound Assembly, formed by US composer George Higgs. The work, part of Dublin City Council’s Per Cent for Art scheme, will be performed on a music structure or ‘Higgstrument’ made from materials taken from Dublin City Council’s Recycling Centres. George will perform the work with four students from Cabra’s St Mary’s School for Deaf Girls and percussionist Sean Carpio.

The materials used in Higgs’ bespoke structure include steel pipes and tubes, bike wheels, copper and wavin pipes, kitchen tins, discarded wood and drums made out of steel boilers.

The next film screening in the series “New Directors: Spanish Emerging Filmmakers” will take place at the unusual time of midday on Saturday. The film will be “Nocturna” (2007) by Adriá García, Víctor Maldonado. The film will be in English with Spanish subtitles.

Idir Mná presents a series of new play readings at 13:00, 15:00 and 16:00 in conjunction with the International Womens Day. Not all the playwrights are female but all plays celebrate women. Admission is free, but booking via idirmna@gmail.com is required. There will be two readings on Friday and three on Saturday and the website provides the details.

Patricia Scanlan will sign her latest book “With All My Love.” Admission is free.

Astronomy Ireland are continuing their weekly Sun Shows at the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Swords. Each Saturday, the staff of the Astronomy Ireland Shop will be showing you amazing views of our nearest star. Using special filters and some of the largest telescopes in Ireland you will get to see sunspots bigger than Earth and huge solar flare bursting from our nearest star. If it’s cloudy, there will be a telescope demonstration and you will find out how you can safely observe the Sun and undertake some daytime astronomy using your own telescope.

The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in February.
The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here:
02+9+16+13+30 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-9/
The Monday/Wednesday programmes are here
04+13+18+27 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-25/
06+11+20+25 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-24/

“Did St Patrick chase all the snakes from Ireland or are there some hiding in the Museum? Help us find them on the artefacts and make your own St Patrick’s day crafts. Located in the Learning Resource Room, first floor. No booking required. Places limited, first come basis.”

To celebrate National Tree Week 2013, the Dublin Branch of IWT is running a Tree Walk on 09 March in Phoenix Park. The walk will be lead by Niall Mac Coitir and we will look at some of the fascinating facts and stories surrounding our native and naturalised trees. Email dublinbranch@iwt.ie if you would like to reserve a place. Admission is free. Meeting Point is the Visitor Centre in Phoenix Park.

Relay for Life is a 24 hour, overnight community celebration which honours current and former cancer patients, their families and friends. It began in the US in the mid 1980’s and has now become a major international fundraiser. This is the first time that the event takes place in Ireland and RCSI and Trinity Cancer Societies decided to team up to bring the first Relay to the City Centre.

Teams of friends, neighbours, families and colleagues come together in groups of 10-20 people to take part in the event. The event is also open to the entire community, so all are welcome to attend. Teams raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society prior to Relay and the event itself is free. Baked goods, raffle tickets, etc will be sold on the day and all funds raised going to the Irish Cancer Society to support their work.

Relay for Life will take place at the YMCA Sports Ground in Sandymount on Sat 09 March from 17:00 until Sunday 17:00. Because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the 24-hour event. Otherwise team members and guests are free to socialise, picnic, play games, enjoy 24 hour live entertainment and participate in lots of fun activities. There will be bands, dance groups, speakers, a date auction, and lots of other events. Everybody in the community is invited to come along and experience this inspiring event of celebration and commemoration. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlgrNlvzt88

Crow Black Chicken will perform in the “Live from the Window” slot at 19:00 AND in the “Midnight Hour” at Whelan’s. Admission is free to the first event and is free if you arrive before 22:30 for the second event. Doors open at 23:30 for the second gig.

www.whelanslive.com/index.php/the-midnight-hour-w-crow-black-chicken/
www.whelanslive.com/index.php/live-from-the-windoww-crow-black-chicken-2/

Crow Black Chicken will perform in the “Live from the Window” slot at 19:00 AND in the “Midnight Hour” at Whelan’s. Admission is free to the first event and is free if you arrive before 22:30 for the second event. Doors open at 23:30 for the second gig.

www.whelanslive.com/index.php/the-midnight-hour-w-crow-black-chicken/
www.whelanslive.com/index.php/live-from-the-windoww-crow-black-chicken-2/

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.

Able Archer will perform on Saturday. Admission is free.

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

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are listed on the website below. It will be on Fri 08 March: Badge and on Sat 09: 20th Century Gold

If your mother is still around, make sure that you don’t forget Mothers Day. Even if you are not Irish – and most other countries do NOT have the Mothers Day this Sunday – you could ring her and thank her for what she did for you if that is appropriate. I am sure she will be happy to hear from you! :-)

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 Long Mile Road Market behind Wigoders on Long MIle Road (across the road from Aldi) hosts more than 50 stalls and there is also a Cafe on site.

The Merchants Market on East Wall Road is a relatively new weekly market on Saturdays and Sundays with more than 80 stalls. There is everything from furniture and antiques to paintings and mirrors, electronics and hot food to bicycles and buns. Sounds interesting and I will check it out over the coming weeks. It is just a few minutes walk away from the Point Theatre/O2 (walk in the direction of the Port Tunnel). www.facebook.com/merchantsindoormarket

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 Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Sun 10 March the free Family Day at Cow’s Lane in Temple Bar will take place:

There will be a Russian Food and Craft Market in Cow’s Lane/Essex Street West in addition in the same area there will be
10.30 Violinist Vladimir Jablokov
11.00 Official opening
14.00 Choir Unison
14.40 Children’s choir: Happy Tones
15.00 Street music workshop
In the Gutter Book Shop Russian folk and fairy tales will be read for children (in English at 11:40 and at 12:20 in Russian)
In the Wood Quay Venue a musical show and games for children will take place (in Russian: 11:00, in English 12:15) There will also be more performances between 13:30 and 16:00 followd by a Disco at 16:00.
In SMock Alley a Children’s Art Workshop will take place from 11:00-14:00

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. Admission is free.

The Irish government is giving away the natural resources. Oil and Gas exploration licences have been handed out to big multi nationals under terms that mean the people in Ireland do not gain jobs, a revenue stream or security of supply. Practices with serious environmental consequences, such as fracking, are not ruled out under law.
In other areas (forests, water, fishing) the government also is about to sell of, privatise or gave away rights to the detriment of these resources and of the people in Ireland.

The event is hosted by Richard Boyd Barrett TD & Chair of Save our Seafront with speakers Dr Helge Ryggvik (Norwegian Economic Historian), Catherine Murphy TD, Jessica Ernst (Canadian Scientist Living Fracked), Frank Connolly (Author of SIPTU produced Optimising Ireland’s Natural Resources), Stein Bredal (Norwegian former Oil Worker), Andrew St Leger (Woodlands League), Cllr Brid Smith (People Before Profit),Padraing Campbell (Former Oil Rig Worker), Paul Murphy MEP (Socialist Party), Maura Harrington (Shell to Sea), Pat “The Chief” O Donnell (Fisherman Porturlin Co Mayo).

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 Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

A Russian Food and Craft Market will take place at Cow’s Lane/Essex Street West all day on Sunday (approx. 10:30-17:00)

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

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.

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

The Sundays at Noon Concert Series continues in the Sculpture Gallery at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Now in its 36th year, 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 Izumi Kimura (piano) performing music by Nancarrow, Ligeti and Guilfoyle.

Learn why your mind is playing tricks on you and ways to outsmart it. This is a two hour informative and experiential meeting about the power of the mind and how to harness it.Learn how your own mind works, realise the (negative) impact it can have in your life and discover what you can do about it. You will also learn about the EFT technique (aka Tapping) and PSYCH-K as a way to switch from limiting to supporting beliefs.

Georgina Kearney, Business Coach and EFT Practitioner, in collaboration with Julie Pône, Stress Management Consultant and PSYCH-K Practitioner will inform, educate and enlighten you.

Admission is free, but booking is required (see phone number on website).

This workshop will explain how to “Understand Domestic Violence” and you can read all details and instructions about how to register on the website below. Admission is free, but a donation is expected.

The “Dublin Sketchers” is an informal group of typically hobby artists who go somewhere different in Dublin every Sunday (e.g. National Museum, Maritime Museum, Dublin Flea Market, Farmleigh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin Castle), 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 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!

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

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

In celebration of National Tree Week a special guided tour will be presented introducing some of the most beautiful and interesting trees of the National Botanic Gardens. Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre

The Public Lecture “Contemporary Irish Women Artists” with Lecturer Yvonne Pettitt will take place. Admission is free and no booking required but places are limited.

This is an opportunity to explore some of the artefacts from the Museum’s collection of objects for handling – a drop in handling session for all ages. No booking required.

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

The next Sunday Sketching for 7+ Year olds has the title “A Time to Rhyme”. No booking necessary. Admission is free and early arrival is recommended.

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

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

Carried by Waves, Tha Jacks, Hypnopuppet, Humalaya, Clara Monaghan, Andy Sheridan, Myles Manley.

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Mass invites to a Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, one of the best known choirs in Ireland will sing during the mass and everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness.

Every Sunday a band will play from 21:00-22:30, a Latin Beat Club, Brazilian DJs and Salsa Classes (from 18:00) are additional features. Admission is free.

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

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

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

“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event on Sunday night in The Globe in Sth Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. It is a Rockabilly, R’n’R, Roots night with alternating (week by week) live bands Pavement Kings, Donna & The Sazzy Catz, The Mosquitoes and The Pacifics from 21:00 and with DJs from 23:00-01:30. 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 weekly Sunday Roast is a free event in the Mercantile where live music is combined with free roast potatoes. The line-up for the upcoming Sunday Roast is available via the Sunday Roast Facebook Page (see link below). It will be_

Darken the Distance, Dylan Tighe, Laura Elizabeth Hughes, The Couth.

The Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Mon 11 March the following free events will take place;

Children’s Art Exhibition at Ilac Library
Photographic Exhibition at Pearse Street Library

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 IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in February.
The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here:
02+9+16+13+30 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-9/
The Monday/Wednesday programmes are here
04+13+18+27 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-25/
06+11+20+25 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-24/

Fracking is the meachanic (hydraulic) creation of fractures in rock layers to get easier access to natural gas and oil. The process of fracking brings lots of risks because it can remove the natural separation between drinking water and oil or gas, which means that the drinking water could easily get contaminated.

The Friends of the Earth are inviting to a talk about the huge risks of fracking and why we need to know about it. Jessica Ernst, a Canadian expert about this topic, who has been on both sides of the discussion will give the talk.

The event was completely booked out, but the interest was so huge that Friends of the Earth have moved it to a bigger room in the Smock Alley Theatre and no more places became available. You can book your free place here www.eventbrite.ie/event/4001927874 Find more details on the website below. www.facebook.com/events/484615198265216/?fref=ts

Every Monday, starting on 25 February, the SCOOP Foundation will be hosting Jurassic Paradiso, a free Classic Cinema Night for the community. The event, which will be held at the Generator Hostel and will help raise money for The SCOOP Foundation, a locally based charity that helps support children out of poverty in Cambodia and India.

During the event, attendees can watch a classic blockbuster such as Back To The Future, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Terminator 2, etc. The movie of the week will be voted on before hand on the Facebook page and there will also be featured themed nights.

Free popcorn will be available and low priced food and drinks can be provided by the Generator Hostel. After the movie there will be a brief movie discussion if you are interested and 2 hours of tunes focused around the movie, it’s genre, and the decade it was made.

The SCOOP (Supporting Children Out Of Poverty) Foundation is an innovative and dedicated charity and endeavors to raise funds through their own unique events and ideas to build schools and opportunities for children caught in the poverty trap in Cambodia and India.

Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Monday from 19:00 in Blakestown Community Resource Centre (next to Lidl).

This is a drop in class, with newcomers are welcome.

Séamus Mac Gearailt, Director in Roughan O Donovan (ROD) Engineering, will present on “Planning Dublin’s Cycle Network”. The presentation will delve into the research and thinking underpinning the development of the proposed network spanning seven Local Authority areas. The proposed network has the potential to revolutionise the development of cycling in the Greater Dublin Area and his talk will consider the potential improvement of commuter routes, inter-urban connections and ‘green’ corridors. A Q&A session will follow the talk. Don’t miss this event if you have views on how routes should and should not be made more bicycle friendly. All welcome and admission is free.

The Irish Astronomical Society has a meeting every month and at that meeting a talk about current Astronomical hot topics takes place. The March meeting will be on Monday. The title of the talk has not yet been announced, so check the website. The meeting is open to everybody and admission is free.

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

Exchange Focus is a free collective photography group. They act as a forum and meeting point for Dublin photographers to share techniques and collaborate on projects. The group meets every second week on Monday nights. All levels of experience are catered for.

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

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

Every Monday, a mix of musicians from bands like The Seven Deadly Skins / Animal Cracker / Upbeat Generation / Crete Boom & more come together to play a free night of Rock & Reggae.

The Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Tues 12 March the following free events will take place;

10.00 1. “A year in Russia: An Irish Student’s perspective” – Trinity College undergraduate talk – 2. “What do we know about Russia?” – schools Transition Year Quiz. Both events happening at the Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices, Wood Quay
13.00 Lunchtime talk by Vera Smyth, ‘Russia Flicking Through The History Books’, at Ilac Library
21.00 Fusion of Irish and Russian Music – Farringtons, Temple Bar

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 next Exchange Market takes place this Sunday and you can find there hand created pieces and all kinds of art & crafts. Admission is free.

‘Philosophies of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in the Medieval Cultural Space’ is a lecture by Prof Rémi Brague, Universities of Munich and Paris Sorbonne, organised in conjunction with the School of Religions, Theology and Ecumenics.

This lecture will compare the different understandings of philosophy which the three monotheistic religions developed in the Middle Ages.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Historian and biographer Thomas Morrissey S.J. will mark the centenary of the 1913 strike and lockout with a lecture entitled “Dublin’s Catholic archbishop, clergy and religious during the 1913 Lockout” . All are welcom, admission is free.

The Little Green Gallery is inviting to 80s Movie Nights every Tuesday in March. Expect movies like “Stand By Me”, “Labyrinth” or even “Batteries not included”. Two films will be shown back to back and free popcorn is provided. So, for a little bit of nostalgia, make it over to High Street in Dublin 8!

The coming Tuesday it is the night for “The Goonies” and “Who Framed Rodger Rabbit”.

Milk and Cookie Stories is a story telling event for for anyone who has a story to tell, or wants to hear a tale told well, in a relaxed, friendly environment – a place with tea, cushions, cookies and friends. Admission is free, everyone is welcome and stories of all kinds are welcome. If you would like to tell a story, just come along and sign up on the night, or “if you feel inspired to share your own home-baked goods with Dublin’s friendliest audience, we’ll also be having our awesome Bake-Off.” At the March event, the theme will be “Death by Chocolate”. www.facebook.com/events/512945842082721/ For a change, ths month’s Milk& Cookies Stories will take place in the Chocolate Factory not the usual venue at the Exchange Dublin.

The Bloomsday Survival Kit, a Ulysses travelling reading group who are travelling around Dublin reading Ulysses “in location” will read Chapter 9 from Ulysses, Scylla and Charybdis. Admission is free and booking is not required.

Mark Stevenson, a successful writer/comedian (writing for stage, radio and print) and expert in future narratives, institutional innovation, engineered serendipity and learning will take about “An Optimist’s Tour of the Future”. Admission is free and there will be some complimentary finger food.

This is an open mic night with Special Guests. Arrive, sign in (from 19:00) and play and if you are a performer you get a free beer. Admission is free.

Open Mic Night with The Last Tycoons in O’Donoghue’s on Suffolk Street every Tues from 20:00. It’s free and anyone can get up, sing a song or do whatever they like.

The weekly “Grand Folk Club” will feature Trad, Ballads, Americana, Folk, World Music & More. This Tuesday, the line-up is: Shay Cotter (Folk/Blues/Pop) and Woodlark (Folk/Contemporary). Admission is free.

White Chocolate is playing Rock Covers from 23:30 in The Mezz in Temple Bar.

The Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Wed 13 March the following free events will take place;

10.00 “Teenagers Chess Workshop with Grandmaster Alexander Baburin” at Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices, Wood Quay
13.10 “Irish haiku in Russian. Why not?” Literary talk and reading by poet Dermot O’Brien, Russian translation by Vera Smyth at the National Library of Ireland
13.30 “Public Chess Challenge with Grandmaster Alexander Baburin” at Ilac Library
16.00 “Lecture and simultaneous play exhibition by Grandmaster Alexander Baburin” at Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices, Wood Quay
19.00 – 20.30 Literary Reading – Poetry of the Russian Silver Age at the Atrium, Trinity College Dublin

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 Irish Craft Beer Village is six-day celebration of Irish drinking culture on the platform in George’s Dock. Traditional Irish music, local artisan food and Irish Craft Beers are the features of this event.

The music only starts at 18:00 from Wed-Fri (on the free-admission days) so you won’t get much of a chance to enjoy it. On Sat-Mon it will start at 13:00. The food is pies, Bratwurst and Crepes and if the Ely Bar and Restaurant didn’t offer Irish Stew, you would seriously have to wonder about the Irishness of the Artisan food.

Admission is free on 13+14+15 March from 12:00-19:00. After 19:00 and all day on Sat, Sun and Mon, admission is EUR 5.

The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on three days every week in February.
The Double Bill on Saturdays is described here:
02+9+16+13+30 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-9/
The Monday/Wednesday programmes are here
04+13+18+27 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-25/
06+11+20+25 March: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-24/

Irish Folk Furniture recently scooped the Best Animation Award at the Sundance Film Festival. This warm and witty film from rural Tipperary follows the restoration of traditional Irish furniture with a stop-motion twist. In this month’s Afternoon Talk (free but you need to book tickets), it will be screened with Donoghue’s previous short My Parish – 6 Farms and followed by a discussion with Donoghue about his distinctive approach to filmmaking.

The Italian Institute of Culturein collaboration with Divertitaliano are inviting you to the event: “Chi conosce l’omino dei sogni?” with Simona Roveda and Anna Tosatto. It is a story based onGianni Rodari’s novel, “L’omino dei sogni”, where puppets are the main actors, and they interact with objects, music and noises. The performance is in Italian and English. Admissionm 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 next talk in the RDS Speaker Series is with Jackie Hayden. His talk is entitled “Dylan, Dylan and Me: How I discovered the works of Dylan Thomas through the music of Bob Dylan”.

Jackie Hayden has spent virtually all his working life in the music business and the music media. As marketing manager of Sony Music (then called CBS) he signed U2 to their first record contract. As General Manager and Contributing Editor at Hot Press he interviewed a wide range of people, including Bob Geldof, Gerry Adams, Christy Moore, Michael D Higgins, Paul McGrath, and many others. He is the author of ten books, most recently ‘A Map of Love’ the follow up to “My Boy -The story of Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy”.

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

A film screening in the film series “New Directors: Spanish Emerging Filmmakers” will take place on Wednesday. The film is “Planes para mañana” (2010) by Director Juana Macías. It will be screened in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free.

The Temple Bar Gallery + Studios invite you to “Studio Talk: The Performance Collective” in conversation with Liz Burns. This is a free event and to book your place just contact info@templebargallery.com.

‘The ESM and its Constitutionality’ is a lecture by Dr Peter M Huber (German Federal Constitutional Court) as part of the Euro-Visions Public Lecture Series on Europe.Check out more details about this lecture on the website below. Admission is free, but registration is required by contacting Colette Keleher (keleherc@tcd.ie).

“Lyrics in two languages: the short Irish poem in the twentieth century” with Bernard O’Donoghue, Fellow in English, Wadham College, Oxford is an Irish Texts Society – Breandán O’Buachalla Memorial Lecture. Admission is free and no booking is required.

Stuart Wilde will play his “Dark, heartfelt and poetic songs that range from thunderous to tender” in Whelan’s and admission is free.

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

The list of performers is not yet announced on their Facebook Page and I am not sure if it will be put up there, but check it anyway.

“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.

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 Festival of Russian Culture will run from Sat 09 – Thurs 14 March and is encroached a bit by St. Patrick’s Day this year. It is the Russian celebration of the end of winter and the new birth of Spring. It is linked to the Orthodox feast day of Maslenitsa
(Pancake Day).

There will be Children Storytelling events, Cultural talks, Literary talks, a Children’s Art Exhibition and a Photographic Exhibition, talks about history, music performances, chess workshops and – as one of the main highlights for everyone – the Family Day at Cow’s Lane on Sun 10 March.

The complete programme is www.russianfestival.ie/festival-programme/ and in downloadable form here www.russianfestival.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FestivalOfRussianCulture_2013_Programme.pdf

On Thurs 14 March the following free events will take place;

19.00–20.30 Public lecture by Conor O’Cleary on Russia’s brief love affair with America. Davis Theatre, Room 2043, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin.

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

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

The Dublin Food Co-op is open every Thursday at Newmarket for organic wholefoods and sustainable household products, plus over a dozen producer stalls offering organic fruit and veg., baked goods, dairy produce, wines, hot and cold food, etc.
The Co-op is also opened on Saturdays 09:30 – 16:30. 12:00-20:00.

The Irish Craft Beer Village is six-day celebration of Irish drinking culture on the platform in George’s Dock. Traditional Irish music, local artisan food and Irish Craft Beers are the features of this event.

The music only starts at 18:00 from Wed-Fri (on the free-admission days) so you won’t get much of a chance to enjoy it. On Sat-Mon it will start at 13:00. The food is pies, Bratwurst and Crepes and if the Ely Bar and Restaurant didn’t offer Irish Stew, you would seriously have to wonder about the Irishness of the Artisan food.

Admission is free on 13+14+15 March from 12:00-19:00. After 19:00 and all day on Sat, Sun and Mon, admission is EUR 5.

“The ones that got away! – Chester and Edith Beatty’s collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings” with Fionnuala Croke, Director, Chester Beatty Library is the next public lecture in the Chester Beatty Library.

Respicio will perform a selection of Trio Sonatas by Telemann and J.S.Bach to celebrate their birthdays on March 14th and 21st respectively. Performers are Sandra Collins (recorder), Isabelle Fahy (violin), Norah O’Leary (cello), David O’Shea (harpsichord).
Admission is free and donations are welcome.

“Changing Career in Difficult Times” with John Deely of Pinpoint.ie is a free lecture which is part of the Career Direction Development Programme of the Central Library. John Deely will tell you how to take control of your working life and create the best fit between the person you are and the work you do every day.

Admission is free, but booking is required via (01) 8733996 or email businesslibrary@dublincity.ie

Dublin City Centre will host open air performances featuring national and international acts and artists; including walkabout characters, 30 minute circle shows, dance performances and the sounds of drums, pipes and song.

Locations & Times for Thurs 14 March:
Dame Court: 18:00-20:00
South King Street: 18:00-20:00
Coppinger Row: 16:00-18:00
Barnardo Square: 16:00-18:00

The next talk in the RDS Economic Recovery Series is entitled “The Irish-German Business Experience – Case Studies of Irish and German Companies”.

Liam Ryan, Managing Director of SAP Ireland and Gisbert Kügler, Managing Director of the Irish Dairy Board in Germany will offer their insight on German-Irish business relations. Find more details about the two interesting talks on the website.

Admission is free, but booking is required (via the website).

Exploring Dublin through its poetry and song, poet and broadcaster Pat Boran, and Gerard Smyth, poet and Poetry Editor of The Irish Times, present a selection of poems and lyrics, historical and contemporary, famous and less well known, that tell their own story of Dublin.
It seems that this event is free, but booking via the website is required and tickets will be allocated through a lottery.

The Dublin Writers’ Forum welcomes writers of all genres, of all ages and all levels of experience. DWF is an open group of writers who share a common passion for all things literary. It is a safe ‘working space’ where on a weekly basis writers can bring their work to be critiqued by other writers.

Three of Ireland’s most recognised names in traditional Irish music join forces for a special live stage show, during this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival. Trad Stage will feature the band Guidewires, with their high-energy performances; Liam Ó Maonlaí, one of Ireland’s best Sean Nós (traditional Irish) singers on piano, tin whistle, bodhrán and vocals; and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, traditional Irish singer, pianist and composer, who is considered to be one of the most influential female Irish vocalists.

It is absolutely not clear from all the information available if this event is free or not, but because there is also no information available about where to get tickets, I assume that it is free and no booking is required.

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

Bad Boy Jake are every Thursday until the end of February in the newly re-opened Rathmines Inn, playing their rock, blues and Americana.

Jaime Nanci & The Blue Boys are playing a weekly gig in the Mercantile Hotel on Thursdays. Their music is swing, blues, bebop and doo wop. Admission is free.

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

“Thirsty Thursday” Open Mic Night from 21:00 in the Bridge Inn in Chapelizod Village.

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

Wyvern Lingo will perform in the “Midnight Hour” in Whelan’s. Admission is free if you arrive before 22:30. The gig starts at midnight with doors at 23:30.

The St. Patrick’s Festival Fun Fair will take place at Merrion Square West from Friday 15 – Mon 18 March. The fair will be open from 11:00-23:00 from Friday to Sunday and from 11:00-21:00 on Monday.
(Merrion Square West will be closed for traffic from 20:00 on Tues 12 Mar until 06:00 on Wed 20 March.)

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade (Market and Arcade) place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it is a fancy dress market. It’s a flea-market type permanent market with stalls and “chalets” for traders. The Oscar Verne Café on site and (at least at the weekends) live music adds even more character.

A family event for all ages celebrating the wonder of snakes takes place in the Natural Museum. Come see the Herpetological Society with their live snakes, listen to storyteller Jack Lynch telling slimey stories or join Martina Galvin, pattern artist, for a children’s drawing workshops.

The workshop with Martina Galvin will run from 11:00-14:00 and Storytelling with Jack Lynch will take place from 14:00-16:00.

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.

The Irish Craft Beer Village is six-day celebration of Irish drinking culture on the platform in George’s Dock. Traditional Irish music, local artisan food and Irish Craft Beers are the features of this event.

The music only starts at 18:00 from Wed-Fri (on the free-admission days) so you won’t get much of a chance to enjoy it. On Sat-Mon it will start at 13:00. The food is pies, Bratwurst and Crepes and if the Ely Bar and Restaurant didn’t offer Irish Stew, you would seriously have to wonder about the Irishness of the Artisan food.

Admission is free on 13+14+15 March from 12:00-19:00. After 19:00 and all day on Sat, Sun and Mon, admission is EUR 5.

Kathy D’Arcy is writer in residence with Cork literary organisation Tigh Fili (Poets’ House). This reading is part of a series of Lunchtime Readings at the Writers’ centre and is organised in association with Poetry Ireland

The Powerscourt Centre have their own little S. Patrick’s Day Festival, but unfortunately they are seriously challenged (others would say “totally incapable”) when it comes to making readable and comprehensive information available on their website.

I gather that there is Irish Music from 14:00-16:00 on Friday and that is free. There are also two other events, but they are not or might not be free. The Magic Turtles workshop for families is not free (EUR 5 per child, free for adults) but I have no clue if there is an admission charge for the Irish Dancing show.

Take part in this free tour of the Print Museum’s permanent exhibition and come on a journey of discovery through the history of printing. All on the tour will be given the opportunity to print their own St. Patrick’s Festival letterpress poster.

“Brewing in the Time of St. Patrick” is a talk on Fri+Sat at 16:00 at the Irish Craft Beer Village. But only on Friday admission is free to it. look back at the history of brewing, from the days of St. Patrick to the current craft beer resurgence and meet some of the brewers leading the revival.

Dublin City Centre will host open air performances featuring national and international acts and artists; including walkabout characters, 30 minute circle shows, dance performances and the sounds of drums, pipes and song.

Locations & Times for Thurs 14 March:
Dame Court: 18:00-20:00
South King Street: 18:00-20:00
Coppinger Row: 16:00-18:00
Barnardo Square: 16:00-18:00

The St. Patrick’s Festival Ceílí will take place on Friday at St Stephen’s Green North, that’s the side where Top Shop, Londis and the 2Euro shop are, near Dawson Street. It is an outdoor celebration of traditional Irish dancing and everyone is invited to take part. Admission is free, just arrive and listen to the traditional Irish music or take part in the dancing.

It’s a pity that this event does not take place on the Sat, Sun or Bank Holiday Monday so that more people can enjoy it, but hopefully some of you will get a chance to get to it after work on Friday. I haven’t been at the Ceili for a good few years because it has been on a Friday, but before, when it took place on the day of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, I enjoyed the mayhem entirely. ;-)

This event will be curated by Eat My Shorts, one of Dublin’s Short Film Festival, who are dedicated to creating a platform for new and established film-makers and bringing amazing new short films to a wider audience.

As part of the “I Love My City programme”, they have launched an open submission inviting creatives and film makers to tell their city’s story and fill in the blank in ‘I__my city’, through animation, documentary, drama or experimental film in 15 minutes or less.

An industry judging panel will select the best 10 to show at this special St. Patrick’s Festival screening.

The event will take place in th Examination Hall of TCD. Admission seems to be free, but you have to register and with a bit of luck you will win tickets at the lottery-type procedure.

A free Greek and European Folk Dance class open to all. Contact Katerini Papathanasiou on papath.kat@gmail.com

Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street, Temple Bar (next to IFI, ring bell no. 3)

A drop in class, with newcomers welcome.

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.

Astronomy Ireland’s weekly free telescope nights are beginning again, and will take place each Friday night at 20:00 if the weather permits. Check the website below for a weather forecast and to find out what you will be able to see at the telescope night. The focus will be on Jupiter and Moon.

The Dublin Sidewalk Astronomers will meet at the Martello tower car park in Sandymount to observe the 3 day old Moon. This event is free and open to everybody. The event is weather dependent, so you should check the website after 18:00 on the day to see if it is going ahead.

“Dublin Tribal Spirit” is a weekly event that gives you the great experience of a drumming circle with african drums and authentic tribal rhythms. Tom and Sinead, who run that event are providing lots of drums for it and teach you the rhythms.

There is no formal admission charge for this event, but donations are expected. The organisers bring their own 20-30 drums to it every week, so they are looking for donations to keep the event going.

The Addison Lodge are inviting local bands, musicians, poets, comedians and performers to share their talents at the new Addison Lodge Open Mic Nights in Glasnevin (opposite the Botanic Gardens). The event takes place every week. Admission is free.

The Stillorgan Orchard provides regular live music. The upcoming gigs are detailed on the website below.

The Curtain Thieves are performing in the Midnight Hour in Whelan’s. Admission is free before 22:30 and the gig starts at midnight with doors at 23:30.