Food festivals, film screenings, and new exhibitions are among our top picks for the best events happening around Ireland this weekend…
Looking Back to Look Forward: 50 Years of the Irish in Britain
All month, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, more info here
This landmark exhibition explores the personal stories, struggles and triumphs that have shaped the Irish community in Great Britain over the last 50 years. The exhibition, created by the national charity Irish in Britain thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, also features contributions from notable Irish cultural figures, actors Siobhán McSweeney, Adrian Dunbar and Aisling Bea, broadcaster Terry Christian, musician Jah Wobble and Moth Poetry Prize Winner Laurie Bolger, who has composed a bespoke poem.
Waterford Festival of Food
19-21 April, Waterford, more info here
Waterford Festival of Food is one of Ireland’s largest and longest-running community food festivals. Highlights include guided taste tours, kitchen table talks with influential people from Ireland’s food scene and beyond, high profile guest chef dining events, sustainability workshops, and pop-up experiences in unusual locations. There will also be foraging walks, food waste talks, bus tours to farms and mountains, live cooking demos, and the festival’s famous market which is Ireland’s largest outdoor market, in Dungarvan’s market square on the final day.
Matches and Old Flames
19 April, Glór Ennis, more info here
It’s the brand new Irish comedy play by Tommy Marren – writer of It’s The Real McCoy, 3 Hail Mary’s and Nobody’s Talking To Me – it promises audiences another night of rip-roaring comedy. Maureen Corcoran decides to find love for her two maturing sons (Joe and Pat) who have no interest in marriage. She spots an advertisement in the Ireland’s Own magazine where two equally ‘mature’ ladies are on the lookout for romance and without consulting her sons Maureen invites the ladies to come and inspect the ‘talent’ for themselves!
Fashion Revolution: Mending and Maintenance
20 April, Dublin, more info 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 an event on becoming a fashion revolutionary at the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin, which kicks off with a ‘How To Green Your Wardrobe’ presentation.
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.
The Five Lamps Arts Festival 2024
Until 20 April, Dublin, more info here
The North Inner City community lights up with over 200 artists and more than 30 events taking place across 15 different venues, with more than 30 nationalities united to celebrate culture, history, and inclusivity. The festival is packed with a range of exciting shows, interactive workshops, live performances, and insightful talks, with a programme for all ages.
Generation Fresh
21 April, Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway, more info here
Film enthusiasts, prepare to be captivated by a cinematic experience like no other as this unique film screening event takes place at selected Omniplex Cinemas across Ireland including Cork, Galway, Dublin (Rathmines) and Limerick. Featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of 15 short films, spanning various genres and themes, Generation Fresh offers a fresh perspective and innovative storytelling on the big screen. Each film provides a glimpse into the boundless creativity of today’s emerging filmmakers.
Self-Determination: A Global Perspective
Until 21 April, IMMA, more info here
One of the largest exhibitions in the museum’s history, Self-Determination: A Global Perspective focuses on the nation-states that emerged in the wake of the First World War, exploring the role of art and artists in relation to the expression of national identities, nation-building, and statecraft.
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