October Event Guide: The best of what’s happening around Ireland this month

Ireland Music Week

3—6 October, The Grand Social, The Workman’s Club & Tengu, Dublin

Showcasing the soundtrack to Ireland’s future, Ireland Music Week is an important event in an artist’s development and profile in the music industry. Returning for its 21st year, the main aim is to allow both industry and fans to witness the next crop of Irish talent. The showcases and the robust and busy conference schedule maintain IMW’s essential presence as a key international-facing showcase event.

Tipperary Dance International Festival

3—15 October, Tipperary

According to Artistic Director Alexandre Iseli, curiosity, courage, patience and tolerance are the core focuses of Tipperary Dance International Festival. Empowering the voices of our communities through dance and movement, the programme features an array of incredible performances and workshops. Find more info about the event here.

Oktoberfeis

6, 7, 14 & 21 October, locations across Ireland

From the founders of Bingo Loco, Oktoberfeis features some of Ireland’s top-selling musicians such as Whistlin’ Donkeys, George Murphy & The Rising Sons, Rake the Ashes and many more across 10 locations nationwide this September/October. Putting an Irish twist on the traditional Bavarian experience, think Irish trad bands and dancers, tankards of Irish stouts and beers, authentic Irish food, DJs and an eclectic mix of entertainment and competitions across the evening.

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

13—22 October, Galway

Ireland’s flagship arts festival dedicated to children and families, Baboró celebrates children as audience and artists. The festival has a curated programme of events covering a range of genres and themes suitable for all age groups – so there truly is something for everyone. This year’s festivities include theatre, dance, puppetry, circus, visual art, literature and digital work, with the fun even spilling over into the classroom, school yard and local libraries too.

Hidden Hearth Festival

14&15 October, Lisnavagh House and Gardens, Carlow

Hidden Hearth is an intimate festival of community, connection, creativity, celebration and empowerment. This two-day festival which aims to enchant and nourish all who gather, will honour the end of the outward half of the year, reflect on the bounty we have experienced throughout the brighter months, and let go as we prepare to turn inward for the darker winter months. Spanning music, visual art, poetry, topical talks and debates, performances and crafts, it provides a place where people can retreat from the world and connect with nature.

Belfast International Arts Festival

17 October — 5 November, Belfast

Originally established in 1962, Belfast International Arts Festival covers theatre, dance, classical and roots music, visual, film and digital arts and literature accompanied by outreach and education events. This year marks the 61st edition of the festival, and the new season programme of contemporary arts and culture will spread across 30+ venues around the city. See the full programme here.

CNW Presents A Dinner Party

21 October

Dublin’s hottest Hip Hop & R&B Brunch is back for an unforgettable evening of music, food and fun in the all-new Little Pyg. Dress to impress for CNW’s Hip Hop and R&B Dinner Party at 9pm on October 21, where you can enjoy a three-course meal while you dance and sing along, with a DJ spinning the latest hip hop and R&B hits late into the night. Pick up your tickets now here.

Wexford Festival Opera

24 October — 5 November

Women & War is the theme for this year’s Wexford Festival Opera, the fruition of a long-held concept of Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi, who is intrigued to delve into the implications of this theme in opera. Each of the chosen operas highlights a different aspect of the struggles faced by women – conflict, prejudice and making their voices heard. They’re three very different female characters but are all fighting for something.

Imagine Arts Festival Waterford

24—29 October, Waterford

Imagine Arts Festival brings together the infinite possibilities of all things creative in Waterford City. This multi-disciplinary arts festival features an exciting, eclectic and diverse range of artistic events including theatre, music, visual art, dance, and more. Check out the programme here.

Westival

25 – 30 October, Mayo

Westival is the oldest music and arts festival in the West of Ireland. Originally called the Westport Arts & Music Festival, it was founded almost 50 years ago by a group of local volunteers who wanted to showcase the flourishing arts and music sector in the west of Ireland. This year’s programme highlights include The Scratch, Alison Spittle, and a pop-up trail of incredible live music performances.

Cork Jazz Festival

26—30 October, Cork

Celebrating its 45th year, the world-renowned Cork Jazz Festival will see its biggest programme yet this year, with more ticketed shows than ever before, an extra date added, an extended music trail through the city, and a stellar line-up of Irish and international musicians and emerging talent – all pushing the boundaries of the genre. This year’s highlights include Macy Gray, The Pharcyde, and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Bram Stoker Festival

27—30 October, Dublin

Spanning four days and nights of deadly adventures, Bram Stoker Festival celebrates the legacy of one of Ireland’s most beloved and iconic writers. Now entering its tenth year, the festival draws inspiration from Stoker, his life, his work, the Dublin of his time and celebrates the Gothic, the supernatural, the after-dark and the Victorian. This year’s schedule includes a staged reading of chapters from Dracula: A Journey into Darkness.

Savour Kilkenny Food Festival

27 – 30 October, Kilkenny

Returning for its 15th instalment, the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival features a bustling stall market, cookery demos by top chefs, and dining events for every taste. The 2023 cookery demo line-up is brimming with top talent, rising stars and festival favourites including Darina Allen, Rory O’Connell, Rachel Allen, Derval O’Rourke, Kevin Dundon, and many, many more.

Púca Festival

27—31 October, Meath

This year’s Púca programme brings you some of the most amazing talent in music, comedy and performance, featuring The Charlatans, The Waterboys, Damien Dempsey, Macy Gray, comedic genius such as Jason Byrne, Reginald D Hunter and Emma Doran, as well as fascinating tour, talks and workshops. Check out the full programme here.

October Nights Music Festival

28 – 29 October, Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo

Spanning two special evenings of music in Ballina, October Nights Music Festival is headlined by one of the most exciting names on the Irish hip-hop scene, Celaviedmai, and Síomha, an artist who dances the line between folk, jazz and neo-soul effortlessly. Post-punk duo YOP, Peter Broderick, harpist Alannah Thornburgh, and Laurie Shaw will also perform across the weekend.