April Event Guide: 12 great events happening around Ireland this month

Clifden Trad Fest 2024

4-7 April, Clifden, more info here

Now in its 13th year, Clifden Trad Fest 2024 will feature marching bands, session trails, instrumental workshops, busking competitions, 5k runs, street spectacles, and an open air headline concert — to name but a few of the fantastic events taking place across the weekend.

Dublin Burlesque Festival

5&6 April, The Sugar Club, Dublin, more info here

The Dublin Burlesque Festival is back for another festival full of fun, frolics, and fabulous burlesque, featuring the very best of Irish and International acts. Expect cabaret, dance, mayhem and mystery, with competitions and prizes to be won over the weekend.

Andriais de Staic: By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

6 April, The Source Art Centre, Thurles, more info here

A special evening of Irish Stories for grown-ups told through words, sounds and music in the bardic style. Andriais brings us on a journey through tales of villages lost to the sea, misadventures of wandering musicians, humorous recitations, abridged folkloric myths, and, of course, his own self-penned outrageous tales of otherworldly events.

One Dublin One Book

Running throughout April in various locations, more info here

An initiative designed to encourage reading for pleasure, the 2024 One Dublin One Book title is Snowflake, by Louise Nealon, which will connect readers with the capital city through a series of free events this month.

CurrentLee Arts Festival

10 April, Cork Opera House, more info here

Overlooking the River Lee, the festival celebrates this unique city by bringing people in and of Cork together. In collaboration with Cork-based artists, this interactive event invites you to create and explore through an immersive journey within Cork Opera House.

National Menopause Summit

11&12 April, Aviva Stadium Dublin, more info here

Now firmly established as Europe’s premier fact-based menopause education empowerment and advocacy event, the 2024 National Menopause Summit will feature an event main stage in addition to compelling and inspirational breakout sessions across both days delivered by best in class speakers including leading clinicians, healthcare practitioners, legal and HR experts, business and union leaders, facilitators and advocates sharing the most up to date knowledge, expertise and research in the area of perimenopause and menopause.

Fashion Revolution: Mending and Maintenance

13&20 April, Galway & Dublin, more info here and here

As Fashion Revolution Week returns for its tenth year, this global event is bringing a series of engaging local events to seventy-five countries. The Irish offering includes a Mending + Maintenance workshop in Galway City Museum, which will demonstrate how to properly fix up your clothes, and an event on becoming a fashion revolutionary at the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin, which kicks off with a ‘How To Green Your Wardrobe’ presentation.

Children of the Sun

From 13 April, Abbey Theatre, Dublin, more info here

Celebrating Rough Magic’s 40th anniversary, Hilary Fannin’s radical adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s classic 1905 dark comedy reworks the original text and draws it into the here and now. Children of the Sun is the story of how a small family, their collection of friends and one eccentric stranger distract, entertain and enrage each other at a moment of crisis. Meanwhile, unseen beyond their fragile walls, their world is being reshaped by unstoppable forces.

What Is The Stars? exhibition

From 19 April, Molesworth Gallery, Dublin, more info here

An exhibition of paintings by acclaimed Irish artist Mick O’Dea in celebration of DruidO’Casey, the theatre company’s production of Sean O’Casey’s Dublin Trilogy, is coming to Molesworth Gallery. Mick O’Dea joined Druid as artist-in-residence for DruidO’Casey, attending rehearsals and performances throughout 2023 in Galway and Dublin. Given unprecedented access to a production of this scale, Mick has now produced a series of paintings that capture the behind-the-scenes activity of a theatre company that audiences rarely witness.

Cork World Book Fest

23-28 April, multiple events, more info here

Cork World Book Fest has been bringing readings by world class writers to a variety of settings for the past 20 years, growing its offering to include book stalls, music, street entertainment, spoken word, and more. This year the lineup includes Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch, debut author Lynda Marron, and Palestinian poet Marwan Makhoul, among others.

Cúirt International Festival of Literature

23-28 April, multiple events, more info here

It seems like each year, the Cúirt lineup gets better and better, and their 39th festival programme might be the best one yet. Highlights include Paul Lynch, Nuala O’Connor, Annie Mac, and Bryan Washington — to name but a few.

A Slovenian wine maker’s dinner

27 April, No.1 Pery Square, Limerick, more info here

No.1 Pery Square is hosting a special evening of wonderful wine and a specially curated six-course tasting menu inspired by local foods with wine pairing. The evening kicks off with a welcome from owner Patricia Roberts and delicious apéritifs sourced by master sommelier Nick O Callaghan. Guests will meet winemakers, Sinead and Liam Cabot over what promises to be a delightful evening.