St Patrick’s Day Parade
Almost every Dubliner has fond memories of the St Patrick’s Day Parade so why not create some more for this event that gets bigger and better every year.
‘Home is Where the Heart is’ is the theme for the 2018 Festival Parade, which will weave its way through the heart of the capital city in a flourish of colour and flair.
Ireland’s finest street-theatre companies will be swirling by with fantastical pageantry and raucous performances.
City At Play
From waltzers to family attractions to the carousel, there is something for everyone at the St Patrick’s Festival Funfairs.
Dare to be suspended upside down, turned over or whisked through the air.
A firm festival favourite, the Funfairs at Merrion Square, Dublin 2 and Custom House Quay, Dublin 1, will light up the city with colourful carnival fairgrounds. Whether you are young or young at heart, go along for some craic!
Daddy Long Legs
The Irish Premiere of ‘Daddy Long Legs’ The Musical takes place from March 20-24 at 7.30pm at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin (also, matinee performance on March 24 at 2.30pm).
Based on the classic novel, which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire, ‘Daddy Long Legs’ is a beloved tale about Jerusha Abbott the ‘Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home’ and her mysterious benefactor who decides to send her to college to be educated as a writer.
Required to write him a letter once a month, she is never to know the benefactor’s identity – so she invents one for him: Daddy Long Legs.
Where We Live
THISISPOPBABY, with St Patrick’s Festival, is continuing with ‘Where We Live’, a two-week programme of theatre productions, work-in progress showings, music events, live art and a major exhibition that began on March 6 and ends on March 18 in The Complex in Smithfield.
‘Where We Live’ is a kaleidoscope of stories about what it feels like to live in Dublin and Ireland today, told by some of the best storytellers on the island.
Tickets for ‘Where We Live’ events are on sale at www.thisispopbaby.com
Traditional Slow-Session
A traditional slow-session takes place on Monday evenings in the Sandyford Community Centre. This would suit beginner to intermediate traditional Irish musicians who would love an opportunity to play with fellow troubadours but don’t quite yet have the skill or confidence to take that jump.
Lots of fun playing jigs, reels and other musical delights with fiddles, concertinas and banjos aplenty! Contact 0874340019 or traditionalslowsession@gmail.com.
World Poetry Day
This World Poetry Day (Wednesday, March 21) creatives and coffee lovers in Dublin can swap out plastic for prose and claim a free coffee at locations across the city.
The Pay With A Poem initiative inspires people around the world to try their hand at poetry, using their favourite songs for inspiration.
Those who get creative can pay for their coffee with a poem at Baked Dundrum on Sandyford Road and Baked Rathmines on Lower Rathmines Road.
To get involved, customers need only write a poem at either location to claim a free coffee or tea.
A Little Gem
Cast Eimear Smyth, Doris Cullen and Lisa Walsh of the Balally Players star in ‘Little Germ’ a wonderfully funny play at the Mill Theatre on March 16.
Three generations of women tell the story of one extraordinary year in their lives.
Party girl Amber has brutal indigestion the Sambucas won’t shift, Lorraine has lost it at work and is shipped off to see the head doctor and Granny Kay is minding Gem and wondering about an itch she can’t fix…all told with love and humour.
Be prepared to be beguiled and enchanted by this moving and entertaining play.
Aware Harbour Walk
If you are feeling energetic on St Patrick’s Day, you are invited to take part in the annual Aware Harbour2Harbour Walk, from Howth Harbour to Dun Laoghaire (or vice versa).
The 16.2-mile walk will take participants along the scenic Dublin Bay route with a ‘Halfway Hooley’ hosted at Dublin Port Company’s public plaza.
Participants can register at aware.ie/events at a cost of €25 per person. All funds raised will go towards Aware’s nationwide support, education and information services. Visit www.smockalley.com for more information.
St Patrick’s Festival 5K
This fun event takes runners through the heart of beautiful Georgian Dublin and is suitable for families, fun runners and dedicated athletes.
There’s a guaranteed lively atmosphere as street performers, face painters and musicians will be on hand to entertain, and spectators line the route to cheer the runners on.