President to attend Stoneybatter festival

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins will be special guest of honour at the 2018 Stoneybatter Festival, which takes place from Friday to Sunday, June 22-24.

The Festival, which is in its second year, is a celebration of the community, culture and creativity that abounds at the heart of Dublin 7 in Stoneybatter.

An extensive programme of almost 100 events across the three-day Festival will feature music and entertainment, food and drink, arts, culture, heritage, family fun, sport and the environment.  

Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Aine Clancy (Lab) will open the festival on Friday with an evening reception in the Community Centre, Prussia Street, to be followed by a host of eclectic events in local pubs.  

Saturday June, 23 is Open House Day when museums, art galleries, local businesses and even private homes will open their doors with tours, talks and heritage events. 

Trad sessions, jazz, open mic and DJ sets will take place all day throughout various Stoneybatter venues.

President Higgins will be guest of honour on Sunday, June 24, when Manor Street will be closed to traffic to facilitate an action-packed family fun day featuring a Ceili Mor, the Great Batter Bake Off with Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle in Fr Ted) and the return of the hugely popular Wuffstock.

The Festival will conclude on Sunday night with a concert of music, song and dance for the senior citizens of the Stoneybatter area.

Joe Costello, Chairperson of Stoneybatter Pride of Place, said the local community has lots to look forward to from the festival.

“We are delighted with the range of events and activities planned for this year,” he said.

“The entire community is deeply engaged and all the businesses are participating.

Stoneybatter Pride of Place won the award for Best Urban Heritage Village in Ireland in 2016 and the Festival was introduced last year to build on that success. 

“It is a great honour for the community and all involved in the Festival that the President will join us at the second Stoneybatter Festival to celebrate this unique neighbourhood.”

The full range of events is available to view at www.stoneybatterfestival.ie. Almost all events are free and those that are not are marked € or B where booking is essential.