Arts & Culture

Repurposing? Dublin is full of it these days. Old distilleries become luxury apartments, a former telephone exchange transforms into a supermarket, and an ex-railway station becomes a bar. Check out Bank of Ireland on College Green for an earlier and perhaps more noble example of repurposing in the city. Standing on the traffic island on College Green and looking up, it’s difficult not to be impressed. Surely this is t

‘Would you like to take my card?’ On a sunny Sunday morning in early spring, we’ve accepted business cards from 16 artists having browsed their works on the railings of Merrion Square Park. A card is not just a card here – it’s a magic ticket for these artists, and many of their lives have been changed by the people who accept them. Merrion Square’s outdoor art market is a real Dublin institution. It was first formally regulated by Dublin City Council in 1985, but as some of its veterans tell us, they were tying paintings to the railings long before that. It takes place every Sunday from 10am to 6pm on three sides of the park, as dozens of

Smithfield & Stoneybatter is a short hop from the city centre, and home to a vibrant community of businesses and attractions. Join us for a browse in Bí URBAN, a studio for social creativity and a shop that sells locally-made products, some authentic Italian grub in Grano and a trip to the flicks at Light House Cinema.

As the city grows larger, the diversity of Dublin is growing too. As it stands, around a fifth of the city’s population hails from abroad. Large numbers of people from Poland, Romania, the UK, Brazil, Italy, Spain, France and Lithuania call the city home. Increasingly, migrants from across North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East are settling in the city too. A new initiative for a changing city To reflect the city’s increasing diversity, in 2021, Creative Ireland and Dublin City Council – supported by the Gallery of Photography Ireland and D

“Dublin for me has always been a place to live. It’s always felt like a place where communities are, and a lot of it is not always obvious to the outsider. It’s a suburban city.” Ronán Hession is a Dub through and through. The author, musician, civil servant, husband and father was raised between Beaumont and the north inner city and now resides in Portmarnock. We sat down to chat about his creativity, grá for Dublin and what he’s looking forward to doing in the city post-lockdown. Ronán’s debut novel, Leonard and Hungry Paul, came out in 2019. In 2021, it was chosen for the

Only a short stroll from the city centre, Dublin's Docklands is an exciting bustling area with plenty of options for a great day out. From the chq Building, home to the EPIC Irish Immigration Museum, shops, cafés, and a microbrewery over to BrewDog's Dublin outpost on Capital Dock. Learn about the Irish Famine Story on the Jeanie Johnston, or if you're feeling energetic, there's always kayaking on the Liffey. One thing's for sure, you won't be short of options in the Docklands.

The Liberties is a neighbourhood rich in heritage, community and craft. Join us for a coffee at Two Pups, a tasting tour to Teeling Whiskey Distillery, shopping at Jam Art Factory and a browse through the Liberties Market. You're never short of options in this colourful part of the city.

With so much to see and do on Dublin’s Northside, you’ve got to get out and enjoy it. From guided tours of Croke Park and the GAA Museum, French cuisine at Anderson's Creperie, shopping in the Arts & Business Campus in Drumcondra, or just taking a stroll around the Botanic Gardens, Dublin's Northside has it all.

The Creative Quarter of the city has so many highlights for an enjoyable and safe day out. Follow along as we make a day of it with stops including The Little Museum of Dublin, Powerscourt Centre, Article and San Lorenzo's for contemporary Italian food with a New York twist.

From Dublinia to George's Street Arcade, the Historic Heart of the city has so many highlights for an enjoyable and safe day out. Follow along as we make a day of it with stops including Queen Of Tarts for coffee, the Gutter Bookshop for riveting reads and Christ Church Cathedral for 10 centuries of history.

A different kind of museum experience No street in Dublin illuminates the history of the city quite like Henrietta Street. The vast houses on this cobblestone street have run the gamut from Georgian grandeur to tenement squalor within the 300 years of their existence. Now, Number 14 Henrietta Street has been restored as a museum. It tells the story of the house’s journey from being the grand residence of a family of four in the 1720s to becoming home to over 100 people by 1911. The research history and personal stories are also a huge part of the experience. All the big events of Irish history buffeted the residents here. The Ac

The Wood Quay Summer Sessions, run by Dublin City Council, are a series of free lunchtime gigs that take place every Thursday in July from 1-2pm in association with First Music Contact (FMC), Improvised Music Company (IMC), Music Network and Contemporary Music Centre (CMC). “When Dublin City Council came to us and asked ‘Do you want to programme some music for Thursdays during the summer?’ we said, ‘Why don’t we show all of Dublin’s music?'” said Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact. “Events like the Wood Quay Summer Sessions can help to bring artist