HAPPENINGS: A few things worth checking out around the city

Live History in Dalkey 

Don’t miss the chance to meet medieval friends and learn about the history of Dalkey Castle this summer. Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre has announced that this summer Living History Tours will be taking place at the castle.

With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, the Living History Tour is the perfect opportunity to learn about Dalkey Castle and is the ideal activity to do with the children over the summer months.

The Living History Tour takes place every day except Tuesday. Tickets are €9 for an adult and €7for a child under 12. Visit: www.dalkeycastle.com/ or telephone 01-2858366.

98fm Big Slide Festival

Grab your swimsuits; 98FM’s Big Slide Festival is back and better than ever!

The two day free event, in partnership with Dublin City Council, comes to Winetavern Street on July 15 and 16. The festival will include a 260ft water slide, music, entertainment and food in the Wood Quay Amphitheatre.

After a crowd of 20,000 sliders and spectators last year, the Big Slide will give Dubliners an extraordinary and unforgettable way to travel through Christchurch.

Wannabe sliders will have to stay tuned to 98FM to hear when tickets will be available to register for online. A limited number of tickets will be released each day and will be available right up until the day of the Big Slide.

Morton Games

If you fancy seeing some of the top athletes in the world up close, get down to Santry this week. 

The annual Morton Games will take place at Santry Stadium this Wednesday, July 12.

This promises to be an exciting night of athletics packed into a compact international programme from 7pm until 9pm.

The most famous race in Irish athletics, the Morton Mile, will be the feature race at 9pm.

Dark Skies Festival

Following on from the success of its Futures Past season last April, the Irish Film Institute (IFI) will present ‘Dark Skies: A Festival of Science Fact and Fiction Film’ from July 13 to 16. 

Presented in collaboration with Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, the festival will include a selection of new and classic films, including a screening of Philip Kaufman’s Oscar-winning ‘The Right Stuff’ in 70mm and Emer Reynolds’s award-winning documentary ‘The Farthest’.

Tickets for the Dark Skies Festival are now on sale from www.ifi.ie and from the IFI Box Office.

Room

A new stage adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s international bestselling novel, ‘Room’, with a haunting score by Kathryn Joseph and Cora Bissett, has opened at the Abbey Theatre.

Previously adapted for the screen by Donoghue, the film won Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Kidnapped as a teenage girl, Ma has been locked inside a purpose built room in her captor’s garden for seven years. Her son, Jack (5), has no concept of the world outside and happily exists inside Room with the help of Ma’s games and his vivid imagination where objects like Rug, Lamp and TV are his only friends. ‘Room’ will run at the Abbey until July 22.

Irish International A Cappella Festival

The Irish International A Cappella Festival is a new three-day music festival celebrating the genre of modern a cappella, which is taking place across various venues in Dublin city between July 14 and 16.

Grammy-award winning a cappella group The Swingles will headline the festival with a performance at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on the final night of the festival, Sunday, July 16 at 8pm.

On Friday July 14 the festival will showcase some of the best Irish talent in an opening concert at University Church, Stephen’s Green featuring Ardú Vocal Ensemble, International Barbershop Champions 4 in a Bar and Ireland’s A Cappella Competition Winners 2016 The Apple Blossoms and The Ramparts Chamber Choir. Full programme details are available from www.irishacappella.com/schedule

Absolute Beginners

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot will be mounting the return of Absolute Beginners by Diane Crotty this July at the New Theatre, Temple Bar.

This wonderful piece written by one of Dublin’s newest female playwrights challenges the stigma surrounding mental illness in Ireland today. 

 From the company that brought you RISK (2016) and Spandex Blues (2016), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot brings back Absolute Beginners, a bittersweet comedy about finding help in unexpected ways.

It runs from Wednesday,  July 12 to Saturday July 22. Tickets: €12.50- €16.  Group Concessions of €10 (Groups of 10+)

GPO Witness History Junior Detectives

Calling all junior detectives! GPO Witness History has misplaced some key objects of historic significance. It’s with the greatest urgency that these must be located and GPO Witness History needs your expertise.

The search is taking place weekly on Sundays throughout July and August. If you are up to the task, register your participation by emailing [email protected].

This fun activity is available for children aged five to 12 and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. It costs €12 per adult, €6 per child or €26 for a family of four. After the experience, there’s a session of crafts and games from the Victorian era.

Stitched up Sundays

There’s a series of sew and print workshops taking place in Glasnevin every Sunday in July. The fun and creative workshops are suitable for all levels of ability and are being held in Three Sisters Craft, 187 Botanic Road. The next workshop shows how to make a cute fabric bucket and it takes place from 1.30-5pm on Sunday, July 16. The €45 cost includes materials, beverages and snacks. For details or to book call 086-8658197 or email [email protected].