HAPPENINGS

Baldoyle Mayfest

Baldoyle Mayfest will take place in Baldoyle Racecourse Park this Sunday, May 13. This free event has drawn thousands to the park every year to enjoy the bouncy castles and games, and watch the non-stop stage show that runs from 1pm to 6pm. 

This year there are bands and acts from Baldoyle, Howth, Portmarnock, Donaghmeade and Swords, and there’s also a Tug-of War for strong adults.

Bealtaine Festival 

The month of May belongs to the Bealtaine festival, celebrating creativity as we age.

The festival, which runs from May 1-31, gives everyone the opportunity to discover a new talent or find a new way to use an old skill. It is an opening to make new friends and connect with your community. 

There are hundreds of events taking place all over the country. For a full list of events in your area, visit www.bealtaine.ie

Friday night soccer

The longer evenings make Friday nights perfect for soccer and this weekend all roads lead to Tallaght on May 11 for the tasty clash between Shamrock Rovers and high-flying Waterford. A trip out to Bray will be rewarded with a game between struggling Wanderers and Bohs. There’s one First Division match in the capital featuring Shels against Finn Harps at Tolka Park.

Sendiana

An Irish celebration of Palestine through dance, music, spoken word and theatre is taking place in Liberty Hall at 8pm on Friday, May 11.

Sendiana – the acorn in Arabic – marks 70 years since the Nakba in 1948 when three quarters of a million Palestinians were forced to flee their homes.

Dance, music, poetry, live theatre and spoken word tell the story of Palestine from a uniquely Irish perspective. Live Irish and Arabic music fuse and Irish dance meets Palestinian Dabke. Organised by PalFest, tickets cost €20 from takeyourseats.ie.

Dublin May Choral Concert

The Goethe-Institut Choir is performing in the annual concert in aid of the Carmichael Centre for Charity Groups at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday, May 12 at 8pm.

The programme will include works by Schutz, Grieg and Bach along with the wonderful Mozart Requiem, under conductor John Dexter. Tickets cost €25 from carmichaelcentre.ie.

Clontarf Book Fair 

The Holy Faith Clontarf Parents’ Association Fundraising Book Fair will take place in the school hall, Belgrove Road, on Friday, May 11 from 7pm-9pm; Saturday, May 12 from 10am to 2pm; and Sunday, May 13 from 10am to 2pm. This is a great opportunity to stock up on your summer reading.

Chris Wilson – ‘Alignments’

Gormleys Fine Art, Dublin, is hosting a solo exhibition ‘Alignments’ by acclaimed Irish artist Chris Wilson. The exhibition will open on Thursday, May10 at 6.30pm and will run until June 6 at 27 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2. This exhibition will consist of new works completed over the past two years, continuing the artist’s interest in landscape from a contemporary perspective.

Bringing Bands Back to Baggot Street

The Alternative Sunday Social Club at Toners presents Eamonn Dowd & The Racketeers on Sunday, May 13 at 4pm.

Eamonn Dowd paid his dues playing with long forgotten bands throughout the 1980’s and early ‘90s in his native Ireland. In 1996 he formed The Racketeers and embarked on a never-ending adventure bringing his fiery brand of country to audiences far and wide and releasing 10 albums along the way.

Nashville legend, Gary Carter plays pedal steel on the album. Gary, a veteran of the Grand Ole Opry has played with countless country stars including Faith Hill, Marty Stuart, Randy Travis and Glen Campbell.