Annual Events

January

    New Year's Eve / Day - celebrations throughout the city to welcome in the New Year

    Salmon and Sea Trout Season - starts January 1st and runs until September

    Irish Championship Hurdle - late January, major horse race at Leopardstown

February

Five Nations Rugby Tournament - February to April, Ireland play against England, Wales, Scotland and France. Two of these games are played in Dublin

Malahide Food and Drink Festival - late February, this festival also includes cultural activities

March

Celtic Flame - mid-March, a national festival of contemporary and traditional music, song and dance

St. Patrick's Day Festival - March 17th, numerous celebrations and street theatres fill the city, culminating in a parade

Temple Bar Fleadh - mid-March, three-day festival of traditional music in honor of St. Patrick, in the lively Temple Bar area

Irish Kennel Club Show - mid-March, annual championship dog show in Cloghran, County Dublin

Feis Ceoil - late March, this is one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious classical musical festivals

April

Colours Boat Race - first weekend, a rowing race along the River Liffey between Trinity College and University College Dublin

Howth Music Festival - Easter weekend, this attractive fishing village (Howth) on the outskirts of the city plays host to three days of popular music

Dublin Film Festival - third week of April , festival of new and classic films held at various Dublin cinemas, including the Irish Film Centre

May

May Day Parade - May 1st, celebrations and colorful parades through the city streets on this national holiday

Dublin Garden Festival - late May/early June, large four-day horticultural show at Ballsbridge

Laytown Beach Races- late May/early June, horse races on the beach, north of Dublin

June

Music in the Park - June to August, various city parks hold free open-air concerts at lunchtime on weekdays and also on Sundays

Photography Exhibitions - June to September, changing exhibitions on different themes in the Dublin Photographic Centre

County Wicklow Gardens Festival - held at both private and public gardens south of Dublin all month, including Powerscourt

Bloomsday - mid-June, walks, lectures and pub talks across the city to celebrate James Joyce's greatest novel, Ulysses

Maracycle - mid-June, thousands of cyclists race each other from Dublin to Belfast and back again

Music in Great Irish Houses - second and third weeks, classical music recitals in grand settings at various venues

July

Dun Laoghaire American Week - first week, US-themed jamboree with bluegrass music, a barn dance and 4th of July fireworks

South Docks Festival - third week, a community festival that centres on Pearse Street and City Quay, with shows and activities for all ages

Temple Bar Blues Festival - third weekend, three days of live blues music featuring international stars

August

Summer Music Festival - all month, St. Stephen's Green, free lunchtime concerts of both popular and traditional music, as well as sporadic Shakespeare performances in the open air

Dublin Horse Show - second week, RDS Ballsbridge, premier sporting and social event including dressage, show jumping and a chance for ladies to show off their hats

People's Photographic Exhibition - last weekend, St. Stephen's Green, displays of amateur photographers work on the railings around the green

September

The Liffey Swim - first Saturday, since 1920 Dubliners have turned out to watch swimmers brave the River Liffey's murky waters from Watling Street Bridge to the Custom House

Motorcycle Union of Ireland Killalane Road Races - second weekend, Skerries, road-racing final on the streets of this resort, north of Dublin

All-Ireland Hurling Final - second Sunday, Croke Park

All-Ireland Football Final - second Sunday, Croke Park, popular Gaelic football final

Irish Antique Dealer's Fair - last week, RDS Ballsbridge, the country's most important antiques fair

October

Dublin Theatre Festival - first two weeks, features new works by Irish playwrights and many foreign productions

Dublin City Marathon - last Monday, starting and finishing on O'Connell Street, the route takes in many Dublin landmarks, including Phoenix Park and Trinity College. Every year thousands participate

Hallowe'en (Samhain) - October 31st, children wear fancy dress and celebrations include a parade and fireworks

November

Opera Ireland - a week in the November, Autumn run at the Gaiety Theatre. Another short season is also put on in April

    Toy and Train Collector's Fair - last Sunday, Rochestown Lodge Hotel, Dun Laoghaire,

December

Pantomime Season - December to January, traditional pantomimes performed at theatres in Dublin and throughout Ireland

Christmas - December 24th to 25th, Christian celebrations include going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve

St. Stephen's Day - December 26th, on the day after Christmas, catholic boys dress up as Wren boys (chimney boys with blackened faces) and sing hymns to raise money for charities

Leopardstown Races - December 26th to 29th, this four-day meeting is the biggest in the country at this traditional time for horse racing

Arts and Entertainment

Concerts Dublin is a great town for live music. On a given night, you can find almost anything: rock, pop, jazz, blues, traditional Irish, country, or folk. Music and dance concerts take place in a many of Dublin's venues, including theaters, churches, clubs, museums, sports stadiums, castles, parks, and universities, where international performers often play.

Opera Ireland - a week in April/ Spring run at the Gaiety Theatre.

Another short season is also put on in November.

Smaller Concert Venues

Club Mono, 26 Wexford Street, Dublin : +353 (01) 475 8555

Eamonn Doran's, 3A Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin : +353 (01) 679 9114

Midnight at the Olympia, 74 Dame Street, Dublin : +353 (01) 677 7744

Temple Bar Music Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin : +353 (01) 670 9202

Vicar Street, 99 Vicar Street, Dublin : +353 (01) 609 7788