DUBLIN: FREE FAMILY FUN ART CULTURE AND MUSIC
From the middle of September to the end of November, there are lots of free fun events in Dublin. Included are festivals highlighting our rich culture and heritage; street entertainment with live music; soulful church singing; celebrations of 1916; our architectural legacy comprising tours of Georgian townhouses and other delightful, structural designs, and our amazing visual art exhibitions. All things considered, there’s something for everybody in the audience (not just culture vultures) and it’s all free.
FREE FAMILY FUN
BlueFire Street Fest 2016(2pm to 8pm) is coming to the famous Smithfield Square on Saturday the 17th September. Festival goers should expect a wide variety of entertainment to suit all the family and admission is free.
“The centrepiece of our festival, this year's main stage line up is as strong as ever with leading national and international acts including Kila, Dublin Gospel Choir, Sami Moukaddem, Yankari Afrobeat Collective, All We Need is Love and more.”
Street artists and jugglers will also be showcasing their talents. And if you can muster your strength after all that revelling, there’s plenty of food market stalls with a tantalising range of foodstuff to re-energise. Sounds to me like the best thing since sliced bread.
CULTURE NIGHT
There will be 500 free events to enjoy in various venues in Dublin on 16th September, right up till 11pm. “Start off the night with Opera in the Open in Dublin's Amphitheatre, then move on to a majestic celebration of 1916 with RTÉ on the grounds of Dublin Castle. See the spectacular 3D animated light show at the Royal College of Surgeons or go for a tour of Mountjoy Square to hear about its captivating history. Celebrate the women of the Rising and the women of today with Herstory. Visit EPIC Ireland, newly installed at CHQ, that tells the story of 10 million journeys and the roots of 70 million of our diaspora!”
Also, keep an eye out for the 1916 Freedom Bus; it will ferry people around from venue to venue … and it’s free of charge on a first come first served basis! Without doubt, Dubliners and tourists alike are definitely spoilt for choice on Culture Night. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
For more details of this magnificent night of our culture celebration click HERE.
DUBLIN UNITARIAN CHURCH
Music For Inner Peace comes to the Dublin Unitarian Church on Saturday 29th October. Presented by Harmonyworks Trust, immerse yourself in a musical extravaganza with “a journey into the beauty, power and vastness of Sri Chinmoy’s musical compositions. Experience the resonance of mantric music, arranged with Eastern and Western instruments. A concert that will lift you heart, mind and soul performed by the music group Agnikana with members from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland. The group play a wide range of instruments including the Indian harmonium, guitar, concert and wooden flutes, santur and glockenspiel. Their music is soulful and ethereal blending angelic voices with acoustic instrumental arrangements of Chimnoy’s music to sublime effect.”
Sri Chinmoy has offered more than 770 free concerts in some acclaimed arenas, ranging from the Royal Albert Hall in London to Sydney Opera House, to name just two of his more high-status venues. Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa are some of the more distinguished personalities that welcomed him over the years. Meditative music can only be good and uplifting for the soul, so I’ll pay this one a visit; it’s near time some of my demons got a good kicking.
TEMPLE BAR GALLERY AND STUDIOS
Orla Barry presents a new live performance and video installation at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios from 29 September - 05 November 2016. “Endearing, humorous and challenging, Breaking Rainbows reflects on both our interdependence and disconnection from the natural environment. Made up of a series of vignettes, Barry’s new work brings us into a journey through time, conceptualisations and effects: from the realms of sheep farming traditions, ancient Greek shepherd’s singing competitions, contemporary consumerism and gender roles, to the intimate relationship of caring for a sheep about to give birth.”
Three hundred kg of wool, produced on Barry’s farm in 2015, will be used in this fantastic, artistic work. This imaginative, thought-provoking performance is well worth a visit, even for a woolly-head like me.
To book a free ticket, please click HERE.
OPEN HOUSE DUBLIN
From 14th to 16th October, “ Open House Dublin 2016 will focus on the theme of time, commemoration and celebration, titled The Presence of the Past. The past is full of possibility when we use it to help us make informed decisions about the future. The Presence of the Past connects time to buildings and uncovers how they reflect our priorities culturally, socially, economically and politically.”
As Ireland's biggest architecture festival, Open House Dublin will allow Dubliners and tourists to explore the splendid architecture of Dublin. With over 100 free tours and events, this golden opportunity to discover and enjoy our rich architectural heritage should not be missed. And you don’t have to spend a penny, so get out there to these free architectural events and raise the roof.
For more details regarding lottery and booking registration for some locations, please click HERE.
VISUAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Visual art lovers are in for a stimulating, free art experience in late November this year. “This visual arts festival will feature exhibition openings, artist and curator talks, walking tours, late openings, workshops and much more. If you’re interested in visual art and eager to discover the people and the artists behind Dublin’s many galleries, don’t miss this exciting weekend, 25 - 27 November, when Dublin’s galleries take over the city.”
I do appreciate good art, even though I couldn’t draw the curtains. I think those smiley little faces on the e-mails is about my strength. I’ll certainly attend one of those curator talks and walking tours.
Time and ticket details are yet to be announced, click HERE for more details.
There are other free events in Dublin that I did not cover in this piece; however, the ones I chose are interesting, intriguing , great craic and there are hundreds to choose from. A scan through 360Dublincity.com “Events” page will reveal other free events. Although all these events are free, some are ticketed and some operate on a first-come-first-served policy, please visit their websites for more information.
Enjoy our wonderful Art, Music and Culture.
Tomas O’hArgadain