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

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.

Update: This event has been postponed due to concerns about bad weather.

Because the Dublin Event Guide sometimes gets sent a little late for Friday night events, it could be that it is too late for this event tonight, but if you are interested, check if it will take place again next week:

The 1st Dublin Friday Night Skate from Merrion Square (Meet opposite the National Gallery) to the Portobello Plaza (approx. 3km) will take place tomorrow. All details can be found on the Facebook Event Page below.

I will fish out my Rollerblades behind a few boxes of books and will go to one of the events before the summer is over and if you are interested too, check the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/skatedublin

During the Bray Summer Fest there are numerous gigs taking place on the Bandstand at the Seafront and all gigs are free. Two gigs take place per night. The first starts at 20:00 and the second at 21:30. The line-up is:

Fri 02 Aug: The Cujo Family / Empire Saints

Find all details on the website www.braysummerfest.com or download the programme brochure here www.braysummerfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/BSF-2013-Brochure.pdf

“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.

Storyfold are performing in the Midnight Hour slot at Whelan’s. Admission is free before 22:30.

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.

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

If you go to Dublin Castle over the weekend, you can still see the creation process and from Tuesday you can admire the end product. I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

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.

“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 required 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.

As part of Eason’s Get Into Reading campaign, there will be a reading of a specially selected children’s book at 11:00 each Saturday in every Eason store in the country. The schedule of Story Time books, covering mid-June through mid-September, is on the website below.

And children attending the in-store kids’ book readings throughout the summer will receive their own Story Time Reward Card and they will get a special Story Time sticker on their card for each reading they attend. Children who collect three stickers will receive a free copy of Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson. For more information check the website below too.

On Saturday and Sunday about 30 exhibitors (according to the floor plan it is about 30, the website claims “over 60” though) are in the former Burlington Hotel for a Health & Fitness Expo. The expo is there for Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon Members to collect their race number etc and while they are there, they can get free samples and buy running gear, sports nutrition etc. But not only race participants are welcome, admission is free for everyone.

The former Burlington Hotel will from September be part of the “DT (Double Tree) by Hilton” group and will be called DT Dublin Hotel.

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.

Ogham is the earliest form of writing in Ireland and Ogham writing was often carved onto standing stones. At this activity, discover more about this ancient writing and make your own ogham-inspired bookmark to take home. Drop-in session for Ages 6+ in the Learning Resource Room, first floor. Admission is free and no booking required.

This will be the fourth year for “Yoga in the Park” and I think it is a brilliant initiative for a very worthy cause. From May until September, Fiona from www.twopalmsyoga.com and her team of teachers invite to an hour of Yoga in Phoenix Park every Saturday. No booking is required and you decide how much you give, the class is donation based.

All proceeds go to the Dublin Simon Community, a charity that does invaluable work for the homeless people in Dublin. Just bring a mat or a towel, some water and (hopefully) even some sun protection to the class. Should the weather be bad, the bandstand will be shelter or even training location. The training is suitable for all levels, so even total beginners are very welcome.

A DanceWalk from the car park at the Northern end of Bray’s Seafront to the Southern end (near Bray Head) will take place and participation is free.

The last weekend of the 4-week long Bray Summer Fest 2013 has arrived and it is a “Retro Weekend” with

+ Retro Seaside Cinema (Sat + Sun: 14:00 + 16:30) at the Southern Seafront-Opposite Esplanade Hotel
On a giant outdoor screen some of the best films from the last few decades will be screened. Bring the family and have a picnic. The movies are Back to the Future (Sat 14:00), Cool Running’s (Sat 16:30), Toy Story (Sun 14:00) and Footloose (Sun 16:30).

+ Flashback Zone (Sat + Sun: 12:00-16:00) at the Southern Seafront
Immerse yourself images from the 80s & 90s and take a look at a replica Back to the Future DeLorean. There will also be a retro DJ playing some beats to bring you back in time.

+ Garden of Ireland Vintage Car Club Display (Sat + Sun: 12:00-17:00) at the Middle Seafront
See a wide range of classic cars on display.

+ The Big Toy & Teddy Picnic (only on Sunday: 13:00-15:00) at the Southern Seafront
Bring your favourite toy or teddy and join this big picnic and watch Toy Story on the big screen. You may even see Buzz and Woody on the seafront.

The Summer Fest Fun Fair and the Kidszone are available until 05 Aug (individual charges apply).

The Exchange’s Art & Craft Market is taking place this Saturday. Admission is free and all are welcome.

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.

The current Science Gallery exhibition “ILLUSION: Nothing is as it seems” will run from 12 July-29 Sept and is really interesting. Admission is free.

The exhibition is all about Illusions and it is a “perception-shattering insight into the human mind, playfully combining the techniques used by magicians and explored by psychologists.”

More than 20 installations will deceive your eyes (and ears) and will show you that what we perceive is often radically different from the reality. You will find impressive and amazing things, but nothing will be boring! The exhibition is suitable for all ages, so bring your children or – if you don’t have any – just bring yourself.

I have seen nearly every Science Gallery exhibition and I would say this is definitely one of the best.

ILLUSION was curated by psychologist, author and magician Richard Wiseman, and was researched by deception artist Paul Gleeson and a large group of mediators are available in the gallery to explain all the things that you see (or hear) to you.

Have a look at the website below to see an outline on what is on show. I strongly recommend that you see the show and tell me afterwards what you thought about it: dublineventguide@gmail.com (During the week (Tues-Fri) the exhibition is open until 20:00 and from 12:00 and on Sat+Sun; 12:00-18:00).

The Northside Music Festival got bigger and better! It will run from 03-25 August and there are lots more events this year than in previous years, which is great!

It will start on Saturday and Sunday with an Urban Fleadh at Wolfe Tone Square. Traditional Irish Music will open the event at 12:00. at 12:15 the festival will be formally launched by Dublin’s Mayor, followed by more traditional Irish Music at 12:20. At 13:00 an exhibition of Sean Nos Dancing will take place and at 13:30 you are invited to take part in the dancing. More traditional music from 16:30 and another round of dancing from 17:00. Then at 18:00 the Ronan O Snodaigh Trio will perform.

During the day there will be Lice music in smaller session tents as well and in the evening after the gig, the fleadh will continue in pubs nearby (Church Bar, Parnell Heritage Pub, McNeills, Nealon’s, Boar’s Head).

Children’s Games and Storytelling will also take place.

On Sunday the same schedule will apply again, the only change is that at 18:00, The Woodbines, a Celtic Rock Band will perform.

The Facebook Group is here the downloadable and printable (but not easily readable) programme brochure is linked below.

Sillybilly provides event entertainment and they have a whole range of events (usually free for the parents and children) taking place in July and August. At events they usually provide Music & Magic Shows and Ballon modelling and often also Face Painting. On the Facebook Page below, the locations wehre SillyBilly will be are listed and you best check them out and then bring your kids there to entertain them. ;-)

Every Saturday for 6 weeks Dublin City is inviting to “Summer in Dublin” events in different streets. There will be face painting, children’s entertainers, music, clowns, balloons, giant novelty games, ice cream courtesy of Murphy’s Ice Cream, performances coordinated by the Abbey Theatre and more. And all for free.

Dates and locations for the remaining Summer in Dublin events are:

+ 03 Aug: South William Street
+ 10 Aug: Talbot Street

The IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

Greystones is even a little further from Dublin than Bray, but it is just a DART ride away, so it is definitely reachable. And the 4th Greystones Americana & Roots Festival looks better than ever before!

Gigs take place on 4 stages in the BeachHouse and there will be children’s entertainment throughout the weekend.

Some of the local and international artists are:
The Cujo Family, Gypsy Rebel Rabble, The Baskersvilles, The New Peasants, The Big Muddy, Della Belle, Great Salt Lakes, Lemon Kush, Al and Conor, The Daily Howl, B and the Honeyboy, Greasy Coat String Band, Paul Coates, Huegrass, Diego Tijuana and Tucker. And the schedule is here.

Admission to all gigs is free.

A big flea market will take place in Portrane, North County Dublin on Sat, Sun and Mon. To get there take Exit 4 off M1 or take the train to Donabate and follow the signs) There is free parking and admission is free.

There will be designer clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, antiques, beautiful china and glass, used furniture, books, garden supplies and plants, a Christmas stall and much more.

Unfortunately I don’t have a link or any other supporting information.

The New THeatre supports new writing and invites to a playreading in the beginning of every month. This time it is “The Puffin’s Nest” by Oliver McQuillan, a gothic comedy. Admission is free, but a donation of EUR 2 is appreciated.

Have ‘Fishy fun’ in the Natural Mussum when you are having an in-depth look at marine animals on this family tour, including the sharks and whales. Admission is free and no booking required.

The Rónán Ó Snodaigh Trio will play An Urban Fleadh at Wolfe Tone Square this Saturday 3rd August.

Ronan is slightly mad ;-) but he is an amazing musician and teacher. He taught me at some stage how to play (babysteps!) the Bodhran and it was SOME experience.

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.

The bandstand at the seafront in Bray is the yearly venue for a whole range of bands throughout the 4 weeks of the Bray Summer Fest. At this last weekend, you can listen to

+ Jamie Duff (Sat 20:00-21:30)
+ Robbing Williams (Sat 21:30-23:00)

+ Martello Bar’s M Factor Winners: Ailish O’Sullivan and Sinead McConville (Sun 15:00-16:00)
+ Robbie Doyle (Sun 16:00-17:00)
+ Conor Linnie (Sun 17:00-18:00)
+ Storyfold (Sun 20:00-21:30)
+ Smash Hits (Sun 21:30-23:00) – Dance and 90s Pop Tribute band

The last gig on Sunday will be followed by the Finale Fireworks.

Dublin singer/songwriter Donna Dunne will perform in The Beerhouse in Saturday from 22:00. The evening will start with the Beerhouse regulars The Aqualights from 20:00.

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.

I don’t get it, so I will quote directly ;-) :

“A live art piece designed to emphasise the comparisons between performance art and stylised religious rituals. An experiment in magical thinking, and an observation of our own projections and meanings. A self-designed black and white mass. An exorcism, and a summoning. Featuring David Magee, Angel Croitor, and Sian Ni Mhuirí.”

Admission is free.

The Button Factory and Totally Dublin invite to a free gig with Diamond Dagger, Jet Setter and Forza Italo DJs.

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

Booka Brass are performing in the Midnight Hour in Whelan’s and admission is free before 22:30.

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

If you go to Dublin Castle over the weekend, you can still see the creation process and from Tuesday you can admire the end product. I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

The Farmleigh House Food Market takes place on Sunday and Monday. It is Farmer’s Market and Artisan Food Market in the “Farmyard” area of Farmleigh House.

There will be music on the bandstand as well: From 14:00-16:00 the Lucan Concert Band will perform.

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

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 Children’s Art Cart Workshops will be held again in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre (01-6770095) every Sunday from 24 March to 22 December 2013. Currently the workshop is still free, but there is a possibility that a fee will be introduced at some point. Children must be over 6 years of age and must be supervised by an adult.
You can’t pre-book, so early arrival is required because there are only 20 places per session.

The themes are:
28 July: Medieval Life – includes a visit to Ashtown Castle
04 Aug: Creepy Crawlies in the Park
11 Aug: Animal Masks
18 Aug: Trees – what would we do without the them?
25 Aug: Make a Surprise

On Saturday and Sunday about 30 exhibitors (according to the floor plan it is about 30, the website claims “over 60” though) are in the former Burlington Hotel for a Health & Fitness Expo. The expo is there for Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon Members to collect their race number etc and while they are there, they can get free samples and buy running gear, sports nutrition etc. But not only race participants are welcome, admission is free for everyone.

The former Burlington Hotel will from September be part of the “DT (Double Tree) by Hilton” group and will be called DT Dublin Hotel.

There seem to be TWO weekly markets on Long Mile Road and both are very close to each other. One is behind Wigoders on Long Mile Road (across the road from Aldi). It hosts more than 50 stalls and there is also a Cafe on site. www.facebook.com/WigodersLongmileMarket And the other one is just on the other side of the road, next to Aldi. www.facebook.com/TheLongMileRdMarket

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.

Normally the Pure Vintage Fair takes place on the 1st Sunday of the month, but surprisingly the Facebook Page for the fair doesn’t indicate anything yet. So, what should you do? Check the Facebook Page below before you go to Newmarket Square. If there is a clear announcement that the market will go ahead, all is good. If there is a cancellation all is clear too. If you do NOT find any notice, then you should assume that it is not taking place.

Normally I would write: The Pure Vintage Fair is what it says on the tin. A market/flea market for vintage items, which will take place on the first Sunday of every month. There will be vintage clothes, furniture, collectibles, jewellery and many more vintage items. Sounds interesting and with 30 stalls, it is well worth a visit. There will also be food, hot drinks and a DJ.

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.

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.

The last weekend of the 4-week long Bray Summer Fest 2013 has arrived and it is a “Retro Weekend” with

+ Retro Seaside Cinema (Sat + Sun: 14:00 + 16:30) at the Southern Seafront-Opposite Esplanade Hotel
On a giant outdoor screen some of the best films from the last few decades will be screened. Bring the family and have a picnic. The movies are Back to the Future (Sat 14:00), Cool Running’s (Sat 16:30), Toy Story (Sun 14:00) and Footloose (Sun 16:30).

+ Flashback Zone (Sat + Sun: 12:00-16:00) at the Southern Seafront
Immerse yourself images from the 80s & 90s and take a look at a replica Back to the Future DeLorean. There will also be a retro DJ playing some beats to bring you back in time.

+ Garden of Ireland Vintage Car Club Display (Sat + Sun: 12:00-17:00) at the Middle Seafront
See a wide range of classic cars on display.

+ The Big Toy & Teddy Picnic (only on Sunday: 13:00-15:00) at the Southern Seafront
Bring your favourite toy or teddy and join this big picnic and watch Toy Story on the big screen. You may even see Buzz and Woody on the seafront.

The Summer Fest Fun Fair and the Kidszone are available until 05 Aug (individual charges apply).

Dublin’s only handmade-only craft fair with a selection of very talented crafters including cake making, fabric crafts, decoupage, crochet, knitting, jewellery and more, takes place on Sun. Free face painting. Admission is free.

The current Science Gallery exhibition “ILLUSION: Nothing is as it seems” will run from 12 July-29 Sept and is really interesting. Admission is free.

The exhibition is all about Illusions and it is a “perception-shattering insight into the human mind, playfully combining the techniques used by magicians and explored by psychologists.”

More than 20 installations will deceive your eyes (and ears) and will show you that what we perceive is often radically different from the reality. You will find impressive and amazing things, but nothing will be boring! The exhibition is suitable for all ages, so bring your children or – if you don’t have any – just bring yourself.

I have seen nearly every Science Gallery exhibition and I would say this is definitely one of the best.

ILLUSION was curated by psychologist, author and magician Richard Wiseman, and was researched by deception artist Paul Gleeson and a large group of mediators are available in the gallery to explain all the things that you see (or hear) to you.

Have a look at the website below to see an outline on what is on show. I strongly recommend that you see the show and tell me afterwards what you thought about it: dublineventguide@gmail.com (During the week (Tues-Fri) the exhibition is open until 20:00 and from 12:00 and on Sat+Sun; 12:00-18:00).

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

The Northside Music Festival got bigger and better! It will run from 03-25 August and there are lots more events this year than in previous years, which is great!

It will start on Saturday and Sunday with an Urban Fleadh at Wolfe Tone Square. Traditional Irish Music will open the event at 12:00. at 12:15 the festival will be formally launched by Dublin’s Mayor, followed by more traditional Irish Music at 12:20. At 13:00 an exhibition of Sean Nos Dancing will take place and at 13:30 you are invited to take part in the dancing. More traditional music from 16:30 and another round of dancing from 17:00. Then at 18:00 the Ronan O Snodaigh Trio will perform.

During the day there will be Lice music in smaller session tents as well and in the evening after the gig, the fleadh will continue in pubs nearby (Church Bar, Parnell Heritage Pub, McNeills, Nealon’s, Boar’s Head).

Children’s Games and Storytelling will also take place.

On Sunday the same schedule will apply again, the only change is that at 18:00, The Woodbines, a Celtic Rock Band will perform.

The Facebook Group is here the downloadable and printable (but not easily readable) programme brochure is linked below.

Sillybilly provides event entertainment and they have a whole range of events (usually free for the parents and children) taking place in July and August. At events they usually provide Music & Magic Shows and Ballon modelling and often also Face Painting. On the Facebook Page below, the locations wehre SillyBilly will be are listed and you best check them out and then bring your kids there to entertain them. ;-)

The Dublin International Piano Festival invites to a Piano recital in the Hugh Lane Gallery with Archie Chen & Lance Coburn. They will perform pieces from Chopin, Godowsky, Alkan, Beethoven and Carl Vine.
Admission is free.

The IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

Greystones is even a little further from Dublin than Bray, but it is just a DART ride away, so it is definitely reachable. And the 4th Greystones Americana & Roots Festival looks better than ever before!

Gigs take place on 4 stages in the BeachHouse and there will be children’s entertainment throughout the weekend.

Some of the local and international artists are:
The Cujo Family, Gypsy Rebel Rabble, The Baskersvilles, The New Peasants, The Big Muddy, Della Belle, Great Salt Lakes, Lemon Kush, Al and Conor, The Daily Howl, B and the Honeyboy, Greasy Coat String Band, Paul Coates, Huegrass, Diego Tijuana and Tucker. And the schedule is here.

Admission to all gigs is free.

Children can meet their animal friends in the “Pembroke Square” area of Dundrum Town Centre. Admission is free.

Check the website before you raise the hopes in your children. Dundrum Town Centre cancelled lots of events because of the totally incorrect “Severe weather warning” from Met Eireann. So it could easily happen that they cancel the Animal Farm event too.

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!

A big flea market will take place in Portrane, North County Dublin on Sat, Sun and Mon. To get there take Exit 4 off M1 or take the train to Donabate and follow the signs) There is free parking and admission is free.

There will be designer clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, antiques, beautiful china and glass, used furniture, books, garden supplies and plants, a Christmas stall and much more.

Unfortunately I don’t have a link or any other supporting information.

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

Oscar’s Cafe Bar invites to their Jazz Brunch every Sunday. The brunch starts at 11:30 and there will be Jazz Music from 14:30-17:00. Admission is free.

The line-up is 04 Aug: Emilie Conway and Leopoldo Oslo (piano)

The public tour “The Municipal Gallery Revisited” with guide Ciaran Woods will take place. Admission is free and all are welcome, but places are limited.

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 Sunday Talk “Military History of the Phoenix Park” with Brian Curtain & Jerry Conroy will take place. Admission is free.

The first Irish Rum Festival will take place on Sun and Mon in the Twisted Pepper. The event starts at 16:00. (The live gig from 22:00 with Derrick May from Detroit is not free, though.) Salsa performances, DJs, Samba Band performance, Mai-Tai and other Masterclasses, Giant Jenga and the screening of the film “Bartender” will take place and a variety of Rum brands will offer their products.

A chess simultaneous game where up to 20 chess players will challenge chess master Jonathan O’Connor will take place and you can participate for free. A Cuban Rum & Cigar Pairing Workshop will also take place, but the website for it was unavailable when I found out about it and therefore I am not sure if this is free or not.

The full programme for Sunday is here www.bodytonicmusic.com/events/3919/

The Trinity Bar, nect to the Cetntral Bank on Dame Street, has live music four nights/afternoons every week and admission is free:
Tues – 20:00: Theo Red (Alternative Rock)
Wed – 20:00: Tara Hill (Folk Rock, Celtic and Traditional)
Thurs – 20:00: Pachino Brothers (cover versions, oldies and own material)
Sun – 17:00: Traditional LIve Music

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

The Spanish surf ‘n’ roll band Durango14 is performing in Whelan’s from 19:00 in “Live from the Window”

A Bank Holiday Sunday Party with Live Music, Karaoke Club and DJ will take place in the Workman’s Club. The live music line-up is Tandem Felix, Jetsetter, My Mind Races, Frank Franko and Zebra.

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 with: Beach, Humalaya, The Capitol. Richard Farrell / The Last Tribe, Shadowboxer, C, THe Nuisance, Brendan McGlynn.

The bandstand at the seafront in Bray is the yearly venue for a whole range of bands throughout the 4 weeks of the Bray Summer Fest. At this last day, you can listen to

+ Martello Bar’s M Factor Winners: Ailish O’Sullivan and Sinead McConville (Sun 15:00-16:00)
+ Robbie Doyle (Sun 16:00-17:00)
+ Conor Linnie (Sun 17:00-18:00)
+ Storyfold (Sun 20:00-21:30)
+ Smash Hits (Sun 21:30-23:00) – Dance and 90s Pop Tribute band

The last gig on Sunday will be followed by the Finale Fireworks.

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.

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). There will be Status of us, Race The Flux, Ms Sands, The Lany Ways.

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 Finale Fireworks for this year’s Bray Summer Fest will take place near the bandstand. Fireworks in Bray are usually of the better type, so it is worth going there, but be aware that there will be lots of people going, so traffic in the area will be heavy.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon takes place on Monday and it is a 21 km long street party, according to the organisers. Participation is not free, but if there is a street party then even the audience should benefit nicely from it. But it starts inconveniently early for a street party! The Start Line is at St. Stephen’s Green and the Finish Line is at Earlsfort Terrace.

From the start line at the Harcourt Street end of St. Stephen’s Green, the race goes to Kevin Street, Patrick Street, passing by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, then Christ Church Cathedral onto the South Quays to Heuston Station. The next 7.5 km are in Phoenix Park, which it leaves at Islandbridge, then onwards to Chapelizod, then to fringes of Ballyfermot (Sarsfield Road), to Kilmainham, South Circular Road, through Rialto, Dolphins Barn, Portobello, Charlemont Street, Harcourt Terrace and then onto Earlsfort Terrace with a finish outside the Conrad Hotel. The stage for the gig at the Finish Line is at the Leeson Street corner of St. Stephen’s Green.

A number of bands will play along the course and some of the better known performers are Moo, Santoria, Jupiter Forest, Radio Friendlies, Elevation Falls and at the finish line, The Delorentos (11:00-12:00). Performance areas are about every mile in sometimes unexpected places and you should check the map at ie.competitor.com/dublin/course to find them.

8000 participants are expected by the organisers and rolling road closures will take place from 08:10 until 14:00 with earlier closures for the zones around the start and finish line.

If you like a bit of music in the morning, check the band list, but since there is no list available that identifies which band performs where, it all is a bit of a lucky dip apart from the Finish Line performance by The Delorentos.

I have to admit that I expected a bit more Street Carnival and crowd entertainment when I heard about this event a few months ago, but I keep forgetting that it is a race that is organised by a commercial organisation, so the focus might be on something else.

Participants have to collect their gear and for this there is an Expo that has free admission. You could still register for the race there if you want but you can imagine that it is not free (EUR 55). More information about the Expo in a separate entry on Sat + Sun.

The August Bank Holiday Monday is typically a relatively quiet day as far as events are concerned. Nearly all shops are open as normal, but be aware that many museums and touristic sites are closed on Mondays (and that includes Bank Holidays). Some of the regular events are also affected by bank holidays. Some Monday events might not take place, but even some SUNDAY events could not take place or could be postponed to the Monday (as the last day of the weekend). Ideally you double check the events you want to go to to make sure that is is happening.

If you drive a car: Bus Lanes and Loading Bays and other day restricted “things” like cycling lanes do stick to the day and don’t care if it is a holiday or not. So don’t park or drive in a bus lane or on a cycling lane that is active on a Monday. The only exception: Pay & Display Parking is not enforced on bank holidays.

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

If you go to Dublin Castle over the weekend, you can still see the creation process and from Tuesday you can admire the end product. I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

Bootcamp Ireland run outdoor fitness classes and are now on the hunt for new recruits. To give you a chance to try out their training, they are running free BootcampGO session this month at a whole variety of parks in Dublin.

“BootcampGO is a free one-hour mixed ability group fitness class led by Bootcamp Ireland’s instructors. Sessions are designed to give newcomers an introduction to “Life Style Sports Bootcamp Ireland” a fun, exhilarating and highly effective way to get outside and get fit with a group of like-minded class mates.” All classes are free but places limited. Check the website below for locations and availability at your local Park.

The upcoming locations are
05 Aug: Marino Institute at 19:00
06 Aug: St Annes park at 19:30
06 Aug: Mummy Bootcamp Marlay Park (10:30)
07 July: Herbert Park (19:15)

The Farmleigh House Food Market takes place on Sunday and Monday. It is Farmer’s Market and Artisan Food Market in the “Farmyard” area of Farmleigh House.

There will be music on the bandstand as well: From 14:00-16:00 the Tallaght Youth Band will perform.

The North Face store in Temple Bar is launching their August sale with an free outdoor climbing event on Bank Holiday Monday. Outside Filmbase on Curved Street in Temple Bar, Irish rock climbing expert Dave Ayton from the Awesome Walls Climbing Centre and his team will give free master classes to everybody interested (from Age 6-99) on the 9m x 4m mobile climbing wall.

If rock climbing is something you always wanted to try, this is your perfect opportunity. There will be a safe environment and free expert tuition.

The North Face store sale will run from Mon 05 Aug – Sat 31 Aug with up to 40% off all clothes, footwear and accessories.

The Dun Laoghaire Rathdown 10 km Race takes place. The race is not free, but watching, supporting, and cheering the runners on is. Start is at Newtownsmith Green (between the West Pier and the 40 ft) and the finish is at Dun Laoghaire Town Hall. All race information and a map of the route can be found here: www.dlrbay10k.ie/info.html

Sillybilly provides event entertainment and they have a whole range of events (usually free for the parents and children) taking place in July and August. At events they usually provide Music & Magic Shows and Ballon modelling and often also Face Painting. On the Facebook Page below, the locations wehre SillyBilly will be are listed and you best check them out and then bring your kids there to entertain them. ;-)

The IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

You are invited to a yoga & relaxation class at Exchange Dublin on Mondays at lunchtime. All levels of experience are welcome. The class will focus on finding and creating space to breathe, relax and expand into the body as we move and practice yoga. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring along a yoga mat if possible. The class is free of charge but donations are welcome.

A big flea market will take place in Portrane, North County Dublin on Sat, Sun and Mon. To get there take Exit 4 off M1 or take the train to Donabate and follow the signs) There is free parking and admission is free.

There will be designer clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, antiques, beautiful china and glass, used furniture, books, garden supplies and plants, a Christmas stall and much more.

Unfortunately I don’t have a link or any other supporting information.

This regular open-mic poetry/literary event is held on the first Monday of every month and anyone can come along to read aloud one or more of your favourite pieces from literature at the event or you can even request that someone else reads your favourite piece, if you don’t want to. The literary pieces don’t have to be in English or in Irish. Recently an extract from Dante’s ‘Inferno’ was read in the original Italian and some piece from Lorca was first read in Spanish and then translated into English. Admission is free.

The first Irish Rum Festival will take place on Sun and Mon in the Twisted Pepper. The event starts at 16:00. Salsa performances, DJs, Samba Band performance, Mai-Tai and other Masterclasses, Giant Jenga, the screening of the film “Bartender” and a talk about making great rums and another one about the history of the cocktail shaker will take place and a variety of Rum brands will offer their products. There will also be a Cocktail Competition.

The full programme for Monday is here www.bodytonicmusic.com/events/3920/

Song Cycle is a weekly Singer/Songriter showcase. This week the line-up is: Edisons, Funzo, Doppler plus guests: 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.

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.

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

Bootcamp Ireland run outdoor fitness classes and are now on the hunt for new recruits. To give you a chance to try out their training, they are running free BootcampGO session this month at a whole variety of parks in Dublin.

“BootcampGO is a free one-hour mixed ability group fitness class led by Bootcamp Ireland’s instructors. Sessions are designed to give newcomers an introduction to “Life Style Sports Bootcamp Ireland” a fun, exhilarating and highly effective way to get outside and get fit with a group of like-minded class mates.” All classes are free but places limited. Check the website below for locations and availability at your local Park.

The upcoming locations are
05 Aug: Marino Institute at 19:00
06 Aug: St Annes park at 19:30
06 Aug: Mummy Bootcamp Marlay Park (10:30)
07 July: Herbert Park (19:15)

Vikings told poems, stories and sagas about their gods and other mysterious creatures and wrote in special symbols called runes. Can you work out the secrets of the Viking Sagas by deciphering the runic riddles during this drop-in session? Located in the Learning Resource Room, first floor. Admission is free and no booking required. Suitable for Ages 6+

The IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

The National Library of Ireland is hosting a series of lunchtime lectures on different aspects of Irish family history research in July and August and the lecture on Tuesday is with Susan Hood, from the Representative Church Body Library about “Gathering Church of Ireland records”. Admission is free.

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

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.

A meeting group for women (age 18 and over) to learn to celebrate femininity, discuss themes ideas and philosophies, share, heal, drink tea, support each other, have some fun and make new friends. Discover and celebrate your inner Goddesses together.

Admission is free, but donations of up to EUR 5 to cover tea and for the use of the space are appreciated.

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 Trinity Bar, nect to the Cetntral Bank on Dame Street, has live music four nights/afternoons every week and admission is free:
Tues – 20:00: Theo Red (Alternative Rock)
Wed – 20:00: Tara Hill (Folk Rock, Celtic and Traditional)
Thurs – 20:00: Pachino Brothers (cover versions, oldies and own material)
Sun – 17:00: Traditional LIve Music

Exchange Words, a new scriptwriting (film and theatre) group is starting up again. It is a safe space where writers, artists and actors can come together to collaborate, create and have fun. The workshop is free and open to all.

More detail is here

www.exchangedublin.ie/ai1ec_event/exchange-words-is-back?instance_id=1296118

The weekly “Grand Folk Club” will feature Trad, Ballads, Americana, Folk, World Music & More. This Tuesday, the line-up is not yet announced, so check the website below closer to the date. Admission is (usually) free.

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

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

Bootcamp Ireland run outdoor fitness classes and are now on the hunt for new recruits. To give you a chance to try out their training, they are running free BootcampGO session this month at a whole variety of parks in Dublin.

“BootcampGO is a free one-hour mixed ability group fitness class led by Bootcamp Ireland’s instructors. Sessions are designed to give newcomers an introduction to “Life Style Sports Bootcamp Ireland” a fun, exhilarating and highly effective way to get outside and get fit with a group of like-minded class mates.” All classes are free but places limited. Check the website below for locations and availability at your local Park.

The upcoming locations are
05 Aug: Marino Institute at 19:00
06 Aug: St Annes park at 19:30
06 Aug: Mummy Bootcamp Marlay Park (10:30)
07 July: Herbert Park (19:15)

A guided walk “Sporting History of the Park” with Roy Barron will take place in Phoenix Park. Participation is free.

Join the team from Birdwatch Ireland to hear on this tour about record breaking birds – from the world’s fastest to Europe’s smallest and everything in between. For families with children 4-8 years. Admission is free and no booking required.

The IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

The lunchtime talk “Nature’s Medicine” with Philip McCabe (Irish Beekeeper’s Association) willt ake place. Admission is free.

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

Become a History Detective and look for clues hidden in the Museum’s galleries. Activities are free and materials are provided. No booking required. Suitable for Families.

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 new crime thriller “The Doll’s House” by Louise Phillips will be launched in the Gutter Bookshop on Wednesday. Admission is free and everybody is welcome.

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 Trinity Bar, nect to the Cetntral Bank on Dame Street, has live music four nights/afternoons every week and admission is free:
Tues – 20:00: Theo Red (Alternative Rock)
Wed – 20:00: Tara Hill (Folk Rock, Celtic and Traditional)
Thurs – 20:00: Pachino Brothers (cover versions, oldies and own material)
Sun – 17:00: Traditional LIve Music

“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).

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

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 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 IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

In its 13th year, Dublin City Council’s Art Office is inviting you to “Opera in the Open” every Thursday at 13:00 during August. Admission is free and the programme for 2013 is:
08 August: Werther (Massenet)
15 August: The Turn of the Screw (Britten)
22 August: L’Elisir D’Amore (Donizetti)
29 August: Candide (Bernstein)
The leaflet is here: www.dublincity.ie/Press/Documents/OperaInThePark.pdf

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

The National Library is hosting a series of free lunchtime lectures on different aspects of Irish family history research in July and August. On Thursday 08 August Ciaran Reilly, NUI Maynooth will discuss The Roscommon Famine Diaspora.

St Ann’s CHurch will be the venue for the “Tribute to Ravi Shankar” lunchtime concert on Friday with Debajyoti Sanyal, tabla and Joyeeta Sanyal, sitar.

Admission is free, a donation is welcome.

Examine some pieces of outer space from the Natural History Handling collection including a meteorite that is 4 billion years old during this drop-in session. Admission is free, no booking required and suitable for all ages. Drop-in activity.

The last (for now) Temple Bar Night Market will take place on Thursday. There will be arts and crafts (e.g. handmade soaps, candles, beadwork, fashion, upcycled arts & crafts and jewellery) on sale at a range of stalls.

It is a great idea to have a market like that. I know that some people were wondering if it is just a repeat of the Designer Mart that takes place on a Saturday. I didn’t make it to the Night Market yet and am therefore not sure, but there would not necessarily be anything wrong with that as it has to start somewhere and then grow. Other critique was that there are no food stalls, but I would say the Temple Bar traders would prefer if you came to their premises for food. ;-) So not having additional food stalls probably makes a lot of sense to them!?

Give it a go. It is the last market unless more will be scheduled soon and it can only get improved if people go to it….otherwise it will disappear again.

Live music will be performed at the Mill Pond at Dundrum Town Centre. Check the website before you go a) for the name/type of performer and b) to find out if the event will go ahead.

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.

The Trinity Bar, nect to the Cetntral Bank on Dame Street, has live music four nights/afternoons every week and admission is free:
Tues – 20:00: Theo Red (Alternative Rock)
Wed – 20:00: Tara Hill (Folk Rock, Celtic and Traditional)
Thurs – 20:00: Pachino Brothers (cover versions, oldies and own material)
Sun – 17:00: Traditional LIve Music

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.

Every Thursday a free Trad Session takes place in McNeills and often there are high profile Trad musicians performing. Until the end of August, that Thursday Session is part of the Steeple Sessions programme (www.steeplesessions.com )

This is a cool art installation! Every year for the last 11 years, a group of sculptors turns more than eighty tons of sand in a unique exhibition/installation outside in the Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle.

This year’s theme for the sculptures is “The Bright Side” and will show what is good about Ireland and being Irish. Three big sand sculptures will be carved by the artists from Duthain Dealbh (Irish Sand Sculpture) from 29 July – 05 Aug and a fourth sculpture will be created from 10-14 Aug. The exhibition will run from 06-28 Aug and all will disappear on 29 Aug.

I have seen the Sand Sculpture Exhibition in previous years and definitely recommend a visit. Admission is free.

A Tower Records 20th Anniversary Gig with the Hot Sprockets is taking place on Friday, but I don’t have any details for it yet. I am not even sure if it will be free. So if you are interested, check the Tower Records Facebook Page and hopefully all relevant information will be there at some point closer to the day.

If you are trying to trace your family tree, you should come along to a free genealogy open day in the Dublin City Library and Archive where you can meet and get advice on your research from genealogists. Drop in anytime over the day to get information and a free search on family history resources. Various Irish genealogy organisations will have information stands. Dublin City Library and Archive will also showcase its array of family history resources. Admission is free.

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 IFI continues with its free “Archive at Lunchtime” screenings and is increasing it to a daily screening in the summer months. The times vary a little from day to day (for the double bill on Saturdays 12:45), so make sure that you check the link below for the relevant day.

The daily programmes are
01+04+06+08+12+14+16+18+20+22+26+28+30 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-1-free/
02+05+07+09+11+13+15+19+21+23+25+27+29 Aug: www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-programme-2-free/
03+10+17+24+31 Aug: Saturday Double Bill www.ifi.ie/film/archive-at-lunchtime-double-bill-free/

For July and August, the National Gallery is inviting to near daily summer talks (two talks of 30 min, Mon-Sat) on aspects of Irish & European art. All talks take place in the National Gallery Lecture Theatre and admission is free. No booking is required.

The themes are:

+ Monday & Thursday: 13:00: Early 20th century Irish art / 15:00: Highlights of the Gallery’s Collection
+ Tuesday & Friday: 13:00: The World of Jack B. Yeats / 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection
+ Wednesday: 13:00: Exploring a Picture / 15:00: Aspects of Irish Art
+ Saturday: 15:00: Masterpieces of the European Collection

An interactive Circus Skills workshop for all ages will take place at the “Pembroke Square” area of Dundrum Town Centre.

A Garden Walking Tour with Guest Speaker Carmel Duignan will take place. Meet at the Walled Garden.

The new Flea Friday, a Flea Market in the Dark Hose Inn on Fridays will start from 19 April. You will find clothes, jewellery, cake, records, art, etc at the market. Admission is free.

D-Riculous All Stars are performing in Whelan’s “Live from the Wondow” slot. Admission is free.

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

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.

On 02 Aug the first Dublin Friday Night Skate took place and if the project continues there should be a second one on Friday 09 Aug. For starting time, route and meeting point, check the Facebook Page below.

Elevate Arts Production is a group of DCU MA in Multimedia students, who did a group dissertation and have developed a short film as part of it.

The short film creatively expresses the ideas and philosophies behind the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow believed that we all have the ability to transcend our emotional and psychological state to a higher level of being, but that we also have a set of needs that are arranged in five hierarchical stages (physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualization). Maslow’s ideas are very interesting if you are interested in the slightest in personal development and you can read more about it here.

Maslow’s theory will be interpreted in the short-film and expressed through the protagonist Laia, who travels through each
physiological and psychological stage within the film.

The film will be screened from 09-11 August in the Exchange all-day on a continual loop and the audience is encouraged to interact and assess the theory and maybe/hopefully reflect about it and develop an interest in personal growth.

The screening will start on Friday at 12:00 and in the evening from 19:30-21:00, the launch will take place.

“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 Bridges of Madison Counnty” and the :Hounds: ae performing in the Midnight Hour slot and admission is free before 22:30.