HAPPENINGS:

Ireland Skills Live

Ireland Skills Live will pack the RDS Simmonscourt from March 21-23 with hundreds of competitors, exhibitors and potential employers as well as thousands of visitors.

The event promotes skills in apprenticeship, traineeship and graduate courses through competition linked to WorldSkills International standards.

It will encourage students, their parents and in some cases teachers and careers advisers to engage positively with career choices that provide learning and earning potential from the first day of registration. For details see www.irelandskillslive.ie.

Exhibition and art auction

The Gerard Byrne Studio, Fine Art Gallery in Ranelagh, D6, is hosting an exhibition with art auction in aid of Peter McVerry Trust on March 22.

These events have been aimed at raising vital funds to provide solutions to people impacted by our deepening homeless crisis. Everyone can help to raise as much money as possible by simply buying a raffle ticket for as little as €10, with a chance of winning a €500 art supplies gift voucher. For a €25 raffle ticket there is a chance to win a painting worth €2,500.

Dublin International Choral Festival

The Dublin International Choral Festival, an initiative of the Dublin City Council Arts Office, takes place from March 22 to 29. Hosted by Aonghus McAnally, the Festival will celebrate choral music in all its forms by presenting a variety of choirs from Ireland and abroad in Dublin’s St Ann’s Church and St Patrick’s Cathedral. Creating a uniquely Irish experience to the visiting choirs, the festival aims to forge connections between the participants, focusing on the shared experience – the love and joy of singing.

O’Hanlon Acrobatic Showcase

An evening of entertainment in acrobatics, tap ballet and a hint of musical theatre is promised at the O’Hanlon Acrobatic Showcase taking place at Civic Theatre, Tallaght, on Sunday March 24 from 6.30-830pm.

Expect beautiful line leaps and turns from these students as they transport you to a world of wonderful things during their first Acro performance. It is an evening not to be missed.

Parkrun

All walkers and runners are welcome to take part in Parkruns every Saturday at 9.30am at a number of local venues including Tolka Valley Park, St Anne’s Park, Fairview Park, Poppintree Park, Rivervalley, Swords, 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

Free EU Roaming

Bewley’s Café Theatre in association with Rule of Three Collective presents ‘Free EU Roaming’ written and performed by Sinéad Brady, Caroline Galvis and Katie O’Byrne.

An Irishwoman, Englishwoman and German woman walk into a hostel bar in Barcelona where a fight for Catalonian independence rages on the streets outside. Aside from disrupted festival-going plans, all they hold in common is a mother of a hangover. Trapped, the travellers rip stereotypes into confetti. Grab your passport for a buzzing trip of laughs through the past, present and future of three nations. It opens on March 19 and plays until March 30.

The Children

‘The Children’, which runs at The Gate Theatre until March 23, tells the story of two retired nuclear scientists who hold up in a country cottage after a catastrophic event leaves their home inhabitable.

When an old friend arrives out of the blue, we’re left wondering if there is something more at play other than a simmering love triangle.

The strong three-person cast comprising Sean McGinley, Ger Ryan and Marie Mullen deliver solid performances and have fun with the sometimes comical and offbeat script, digging their acting chops into more serious environmental themes as the story progresses. For more information, visit www.gatetheatre.ie

Shamrocks and Shillelaghs

During the month of the feast of Saint Patrick the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin is hosting a special Irish plants and folklore tour at 2.30pm on every Saturday in March. Hear about the magical myths and legends surrounding Irish plants from ancient to modern times. Find out which plant is the ‘real shamrock’, meet the nobles of the wood and learn about fairies in the forests.

Tickets costing €5 are available on the day in the visitor centre.