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Weekend Guide: 9 great events happening around Ireland

Weekend Guide: 9 great events happening around Ireland


by Sarah Gill
13th Jun 2024

Bloomsday events, book festivals, Taste of Dublin and much, much more…

Bloomsday

11-16 June, various locations around Dublin, more info here

Celebrating the day across which James Joyce’s Ulysses is set—16 June 1904—and the character of Leopold Bloom, the celebrations include dressing up like the book’s characters in clothes from the era, concerts, readings, talks, art exhibitions and more, hosted in or around places directly referenced in the book.

Cork Midsummer Festival

12-23 June, various venues around Cork, more info here

Exhilarating theatre, dance and music, trailblazing ideas, joyful spectacle and so much more await at Cork Midsummer Festival. Whether you’re there for theatre, the orchestra, visual art, circus performances or more, there’s something for everyone and every age.

Dalkey Book Festival

13-16 June, Dalkey, more info here

Dalkey Book Festival celebrates and fosters literary talent in Ireland as well as hosting some of the world’s leading writers and thinkers. This year’s lineup includes conversations with Irish literary greats including the likes of Sinéad Gleeson, Anne Enright, Paul Murray, Claire Keegan and Colm Tóibín. While you’re there, don’t miss the pop-up Sidecar Bar, The Westbury’s 1930’s cocktail bar, visiting Dalkey just for the festival.

Taste of Dublin

13-16 June, Merrion Square, Dublin, more info here

Whether you want to learn chef skills from the best, shake your way through a cocktail masterclass, transport yourself to a tapas bar in sunny Spain or find a fellow food lover to feast with, there’s plenty to see, do and devour at Taste of Dublin.

Cruinniú na nÓg

15 June, various venues across Ireland, more info here

Ireland is the first and only country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18. Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth Plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people. Delivered in partnership with the 31 local authorities and supported by RTÉ, you are invited to participate in a programme of fun, free, creative activities; from graffiti art workshops to stop-motion animation, to coding and architecture workshops.

Paddy Casey & Band

15 June, The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Dublin, more info here

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Paddy Casey’s living album. In celebration, Paddy will be performing with the full band for the first time in nearly two decades, playing all the songs from the album and a bunch of other beloved favourites.

Absolute Bowie

15 June, The Button Factory, Dublin, more info here

Now in their 19th year of touring, the UKs ‘Best Tribute Band’ and ‘Best Bowie’ act are bringing an electrifying performance to Dublin that promises to take you on a musical journey through the greatest hits of David Bowie. The band will leave you wanting more from the most genuine David Bowie tribute out there.

Fragments of Lucia

16 June, Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, more info here

This solo guitar performance by Joseph Chester of his highly-acclaimed album LUCIA is a suite of ten pieces inspired by fragments of the life of Lucia Joyce. Joseph Chester is a multi award-nominated songwriter, composer and musician whose albums have featured in the books 101 Irish Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Tony Clayton-Lea, Buried Treasure by Dan Hegarty and in The Sunday Times list of the best Irish albums of all time.

The Quickening by Deirdre O’Mahony

All weekend, The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin, more info here

This powerful new artwork by ground-breaking artist Deirdre O’Mahony responds to issues facing farming, food production and consumption, in the face of present ecological and climate crises by bringing together urgent conversations, original music and moving images. A nationwide project, the culmination of over three years of research, The Quickening is an extremely ambitious exhibition.