Things to do

Have you heard the story of the Irish Lighthouse keeper’s wife, who helped save thousands of lives on the Normandy coast? In 1944, along the west coast of Ireland, a lighthouse keeper’s wife sat down and recorded the weather. It was a routine report that fed into the Atlantic weather forecast. The kind of report filed every day at stations around the Irish coast. But this one was different.

Dublin’s greatest treasures emanate from her books, literary tradition, and the ancient art of storytelling. Her love affair with words is woven into the living fabric of life here, from the mountains to the sea.

Extend your stay to make the most of your time in Dublin with lots to do during the weekend after Pendulum Summit 2026! Keep the momentum and inspiration flowing with this curated weekend itinerary, blending culture, sights, history, food, and events on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January 2026. Start Saturday with Culture, Coffee & Curated Strolls Ease into the weekend with a nearby foray into Dublin’s Classic Cultural Quarter, a short walk from any city centre hotel. Enjoy the highlights of the city’s historic heart: Trinity College & The Book of Kells

Late in D8 2026 A late-night music trail, supported by the Night-Time Advisor, was part of this year’s Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival that ran from May 4th to 10th. The Late in D8 series saw churches, distilleries, pubs and cultural spaces across the district host a diverse programme of live music, performances and after-dark events. Highlights includ

Dublin Nights Help Zone “The Nee Naw” Impact Report The six month pilot, delivered by Dublin City Council and funded by the Department of Justice, provided a visible late night welfare and medical support presence in Dublin city centre from July to December. During that period, the service recorded approximately 2,000 engagements, including 141 medic

Dublin City Council Night-Time Economy Strategy The Dublin City Council Night-Time Economy Strategy is a comprehensive plan designed to cultivate a thriving night-time culture in our city. By focusing on transport connectivity, safety, and cultural diversity, we aim to make Dublin a vibrant and inclusive destination after dark—offering something for everyone, from live performances to safe social spaces. Let’s elevate Dublin to be one of the best cities in Europe for night-time experiences Download the Dublin City Night-Time Economy Strategy (2Mb) or

The fashion industry accounts for almost one-tenth of all carbon emissions worldwide, and the waste it produces significantly impacts our environment. With the problem on track to keep growing, we have a part to play in the solution.

This is a dedicated section relating to the Night-Time Economy in Dublin, where you’ll find updates on what Dublin’s Night-Time Economy Advisor has been up to, along with various initiatives Dublin City Council is implementing to enhance our city after dark. Dublin by Dusk

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

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. Today, Number 14 Henrietta Street has been restored as a museum. Recognised with a prestigious European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award in 2026, 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

The Book of Kells in Trinity is arguably Dublin’s most famous work of art, but what about all the famous Irish paintings and other international works of art in Dublin galleries? Here are ten of the major artworks hiding behind the doors you walk past every day. In the National Gallery of Ireland: With entrances on both Merrion Square and Clare Street, the National Gallery is the leading home of art in Dublin – and in Ireland. With the exception of some special exhibitions, admission is free for all. Here are just four of the masterpieces you can