HAPPENINGS:

City Spectacular for Dublin 

Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular will return to Merrion Square from July 6–8, with great fun for all the family guaranteed. The biggest summer festival in Ireland, which runs over three days, will showcase the best in international street performance, the world’s leading living statue artists, free family activities, delicious street food from around the world as well as a pet area with charity partner the DSPCA. And it is entirely FREE so don’t miss out! For the full programme of fun activities, visit www.cityspectacular.com

Magazine Fort tours

The Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park was for a long time completely neglected, but it is hugely rich in history. Many have seen it as a barred off concrete fortress in a corner of the park and even more don’t even know or have forgotten that it exists. Guided tours run every Sunday at 10am, 12midday and 2pm. Only 20 places are available on each tour and tickets are available at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on a first come, first served basis and cannot be pre-booked.

Nigel Mooney Sunday Jazz Session

Hailed by the BBC as Ireland’s King of Blues, Nigel Mooney fronts this intimate Sunday Jazz Session taking place in the historic United Arts Club in Dublin.  Mooney has long been established as Ireland’s leading jazz singer/guitarist, and has worked with some of the world’s greats including BB King among others.  This award-winning musician will showcase his charismatic and expressive style of performance this Sunday evening at the Nigel Mooney Sunday Jazz Session in Dublin’s United Arts Club.

Strolling Through Ulysses

Written and performed by Robert Gogan, Strolling Through Ulysses! tells the fun-filled story of Bloomsday – June 16th 1904 – the iconic day around which James Joyce’s Ulysses is based, and guides you through the curious events and quirky characters of the iconic novel in a humorous, entertaining and informative manner. Bawdy, irreverent and great fun, this one-man-show takes place at The Stag's Head, Dame Court, every Sunday. Tickets cost €15 and are available at Dublin Visitor Centres, from www.eventbrite.ie and at the door (subject to availability).

Exhibition at The Hugh Lane

‘Seamus Nolan: Traveller Collection at The Hugh Lane’ has opened at the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane where it will run until September 23.  Seamus investigates the idea of archive, deconstructing ideas on ‘heritage’ and engaging with the Traveller communities in Ireland and Traveller activists and archivists. Visit www.hughlane.ie for further details. 

Parkruns at local venues 

All walkers and runners are welcome to take part in parkruns every Saturday at 9.30am at a number of local venues including St Anne’s Park, Fairview Park, Poppintree Park, Darndale Park, Father Collins Park, Newbridge Demesne and Ardgillan Demesne. Parkrun is a timed 5k walk/run and is a completely free to participate community-based, volunteer-led initiative, and a great way to meet people and keep fit. Junior Parkruns for four to 14-year-olds take place on Sundays at a number of venues over a 2km distance. For further details and to register, visit www.parkrun.ie

Joxer Daly Esq

Bewley’s café theatre is proud to present the world premiere of ‘Joxer Daly Esq’. Directed by Karl Shiels, Sean O'Casey's playful scrounger from the classic, ‘Juno and the Paycock’, takes centre stage in this intriguing new play from the pen of Eddie Naughton (Inishfallen Fare Thee Well). ‘Joxer Daly Esq’ charts the journey from respectable member of The Foresters’ Association to a vagabond scraping by with only his wit to use as collateral, set against the backdrop of events that were to alter the course of Irish history. Brilliantly portrayed by veteran comic actor, Phelim Drew, Joxer's love of language, humour, literature and song, together with a drinker's purple recollection, make this a performance like no other.  ‘Joxer Daly Esq’ opens on July 11. Phone 086-8784001/visit www.bewleyscafetheatre.com

Humpty Dumpty and The Big EggVenture

For the first time ever, the classic nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is brought to the stage in this wonderful all singing and dancing interactive production. Humpty is on a big adventure to climb the highest wall in the Kingdom but he needs your help. Singalong, solve puzzles, and meet lots of famous characters including The Three Little Pigs, Little Bo Peep and the animals on Old MacDonald’s Farm! With amazing costumes, dazzling stage sets and a host of colourful characters. Recommended age suitability up to seven years. Admission: €12/ €40 family four €45 family of five. It’s on at the dlr Mill Theatre Dundrum, Dundrum Town Centre, on Saturday, July 7 at 12noon and 2pm.

Declan O’Rourke at Mill Theatre

Declan O’Rourke is a highly successful Irish artist, acclaimed by his peers, and having achieved many plaudits with his five albums released to date. Declan’s soulful music, rooted in folk and trad, has attracted the praise of countless industry giants, including John Prine and Paul Weller, among others. 

O’Rourke’s songwriting style moves faultlessly between impressionism and storytelling, and can be at home in almost any form. 

A dynamic performer, he is at once as comfortable fronting a 50-piece orchestra, as playing solo with a guitar. Catch him in the dlr Mill Theatre | Dundrum Town Centre, on Saturday, July 14 at 8pm.