HAPPENINGS: A few things worth checking out around the city

Knitting & Stitching Show

If you fancy having a ball this weekend, go along to the Knitting & Stitching Show, which takes place from October 20-23 in the RDS. 

The country’s biggest and most successful event for craft and textile enthusiasts attracted over 15,000 people last year and has been running in Ireland for 23 years. 

Over the course of the event, guests will get the opportunity to choose from hundreds of workshops, demonstrations and master classes, all led by industry experts. 

Inspiring creativity, attendees will be guaranteed to find essential supplies and all craft desires with over 200 exhibitors set to take part.

Visit www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/dublin/ to purchase tickets.

Frank O’Dea exhibition 

Dublin based artist, Frank O’Dea presents a new collection of his colourful paintings in his solo exhibition at the Athena Rooms @ Sol Art, 1st Floor, 8 Dawson Street, from Friday, October 21 to Thurdsay, October 27 (1pm-5.30pm). 

‘Musicians and Lovers’ offers an array of subjects in both ordinary and exotic locations. Frank’s use of bright, vibrant colours and textures has lent itself to his work in recent years. 

The musicians are observed, usually sporting a colourful hat, either blatantly or discreetly observing an attractive female or playing their guitar in a cafe or bar. Frank’s unique and recognisable style brings these subjects to life on the canvas.

Visit www.frankodea.net

Holding On

Exploring grief in two parts, a new dance production, ‘Holding On’, will be presented by Hues Productions at the Axis Theatre Ballymun on October 26 and 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost €15 and there are group rates available, visit www.axisballymun.ie

The piece will begin with those honoured in the sculpture called ‘The Dark Elegy’ by Suse Lowenstein, the mother of one of the passengers killed in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland, (Pan Am flight 103) in 1988. 

This revisits the tragedy of the terrorist attack, and delves into the ‘normality’ that this type of tragedy has become in today’s world. The performance will move into how we try to ‘hold on’ when life unexpectedly gets out of control.

Na Luchóga agus na hEilifintí / The Mice and the Elephants 

Inspired by a Panchatantra Hindu animal fable from India, simple paper sets and puppets are used to re-enact this gentle and imaginative bi-lingual (Irish and English) tale of the small saving the large. The children have a chance to respond to the piece through drawing at the end in this production by Púca Puppets.

It’s happening at Axis Ballymun on Monday, October 24 at 10am and 12.30pm and it costs €5. See www.axisballymun.ie for more.

Borderland

As part of Science Gallery Dublin’s Design and Violence series, there’s a free screening of Borderland, a short documentary that explores the Syrian refugee crisis along Europe’s borders – the result of the greatest mass migration since World War II. 

Screening at 6.30pm on Friday, October 21, in the Science Gallery, the film features interviews with refugees, volunteers, Colm O’ Gorman of Amnesty International, Sue Conlan of The Irish Refugee Council and Eva Schloss, holocaust survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank.

Dil Wickremasinghe of Newstalk’s Global Village will host a post-screening conversation with Paul Conor and Colm O’Gorman to dissect the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time.

Book tickets at https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/events

The Smoking Area Comedies

A trilogy of humorous and entertaining scenes set in the smoking area of a local pub in North Leitrim, as Hughie, Packie and Patricia bring us on a journey where stories are told, old rogues remembered, life’s almost triumphs and near disasters are recalled and so called plans for the future are made if not fully thought out.

The Smoking Area, full of one liners, laughs and punch lines is a great evening of comedy and entertainment.

It’s on at Draiocht in Dublin 15 on Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22 at 8.15pm. Tickets cost €14 from www.draiocht.ie or call 01-8852622 from 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

The Nightingale and not the Lark

The Balally Players Theatre Company presents ‘The Nightingale and not the Lark’ by Jennifer Johnson in the DLR Mill Theatre – The Maureen O’Hara Studio at 8pm from Wednesday, October 26 to Saturday 29.

Mamie, the caretaker of a performing hall, lives in its dusty attic. Taking little care of the building and less of herself, she spends most of her time and money on whiskey and cigarettes.

Mamie hears ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which is being performed and it brings back happy and sad memories. In an alcoholic haze she talks of their days in the theatre to her husband, Owen, rails at him for leaving her for another woman and is torn between hating and loving him. A poignant and thought provoking play.

Rebellion walking tour

The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour is one of Dublin’s longest running Rising tours, and with good reason. Guide, historian and author Lorcan Collins is witty, knowledgeable and an entertaining host.

The tours run at 11.30am Monday to Saturday from the International Bar on Wicklow Street and take about two hours at an easy pace. Sunday tours begin at 1pm. The cost is €12, but if you want to learn more about 1916 this is the best way to do it.

UPRISE Festival Ireland

The fourth edition of this hugely successful Amsterdam event comes to Dublin’s RDS on October 20 from 9am-6pm. It will feature 150 young companies from all over Europe with the aim of showcasing and promoting vibrant tech activity in Ireland and elsewhere.

The tech festival is about putting people first and technology second offering an entry point into fast growing companies from all over the world.

For those attending, the event is a hotbed of international start-ups designed to invigorate, inspire and cultivate connections. On the day, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and others will provide workshops and discussion panels. 

Full schedule and details from http://uprisefestival.co