Festive Finale
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NYF Dublin, Echoes of Ireland Gig, NYF Fireworks, New Year’s Day Trad Gigs
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Hi!!
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Christmas is over for another year. The presents have been unwrapped, the leftovers are slowly disappearing from the fridge and Dublin is easing into that strange in-between time where the rush suddenly drops away. It is traditionally a quieter period, but not a dull one.
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While many of us are still enjoying time off, the city is already turning its attention towards what comes next. The New Year’s Festival is just around the corner and Dublin is warming up for the celebrations that will carry us into the next year. The calm after Christmas doesn’t last long.
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One of the nice surprises of this time of year is how many events are still happening. Even though late December is often seen as a slow period, there are plenty of free things to do if you know where to look and as a Dublin Event Guide reader YOU know where to look! ;-)
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This Wednesday night we will say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one. I’d like to take this moment to wish all Dublin Event Guide readers a very Happy New Year. Thank you for reading, sharing, supporting and sticking with the Dublin Event Guide week after week in 2025. Let’s make 2026 bigger, better and bolder again!
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PLEASE NOTE: In order to get some event information about Saturday events out to you sooner than the full Dublin Event Guide is completed, I post it on the Dublin Event Guide Facebook Page a few hours before you get the e-mail with the complete listings. But now it seems that Facebook is planning to forbid posts with more than TWO links, so that people won’t leave the platform immediately. If that becomes a rule, them Facebook is completely useless for the Dublin Event Guide. ? I will keep you up to date on developments.
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If you have friends or family or colleagues that also enjoy cultural events in Dublin, let them know that they can sign up for the free weekly Dublin Event Guide newsletter at https://getthislink.com/DEGSignup
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The working title for my video series on YouTube is the “Better You” videos, they are all about 5-7 minute long about how to better your life. Check out this video series if you want to achieve more in life, but are talking yourself out of it. https://www.youtube.com/@JoergSteegmueller
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Donations in January:
EUR 27
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(By the end of the month, this number has to reach or exceed EUR 200 to guarantee the continuation of the Dublin Event Guide.)
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If the Dublin Event Guide helps you to find out about free events in Dublin, please help with a donation.
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The counter here shows the current donation status. By the end of the month EUR 200 will be subtracted to pay the bills. If more money has been donated, the rest will be carried forward. If donations have stopped below the EUR 200, the missing amount will be carried over.
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This week the wonderful people who helped with a donation were Liam, David, Carrie, Joe and Vladimir. Thanks a lot! We made it! The December bills got paid and we are moving into 2026 with a small positive balance. That is a good start of a new year! Because we need EUR 200 every month, we will still happily accept “Christmas Gifts” for the Dublin Event Guide. ;-) Your help will be very much appreciated! All money will go to the cost for the Dublin Event Guide, not to me!
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With the above counter you know at all times where we stand and when donating is needed. Donations keep the Dublin Event Guide alive and all donors will also get some additional bonuses.
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Here are some more details about donations:
Any amount is appreciated, but if you are looking for a recommendation, then I suggest a donation of 12 Euro per year. – That’s just one Euro per month and you get FOUR Dublin Event Guides for that Euro! If your funds are limited, but you still want to help, you can buy a virtual coffee for just EUR 4. All donations will be used in full for the Dublin Event Guide.
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To donate, use the Dublin Event Guide Donation Page here: https://gturl.eu/DEGdonate. It is really easy to use and uses Stripe’s trustworthy payment processing. You can even sign up for a yearly subscription on the donation page! Yearly subscriptions will give some important financial stability and reliability to the Dublin Event Guide and are therefore very much appreciated! (Look for the RED subscription buttons at the bottom of the Donation Page.)
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In case the donation page doesn’t work for you, the old links are here: You can donate via http://www.paypal.me/DublinEventGuide or for Revolut users among you, just use @joergbrb or now also https://revolut.me/joergbrb
(If possible, please send your full name and e-mail address as a message with the payment via PayPal or Revolut so that I can tell you about bonuses for donors when available.)
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To buy one or two or even three virtual coffees for the Dublin Event Guide, come to the “Buy Me a Coffee” page here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DublinEventG
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And there is one other way to help and it is even free: If you come to http://www.DublinEventGuide.com and check out some of the ads and click on the ones that you find interesting, that also helps with a few cent! ?
Thank you!!
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Free events in Dublin this weekend…
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Saturday 27 December
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ Variety of Public Tours at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on
+ Variety of Tours and talks at the National Museums in Kildare Street and at Collins Barracks https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/eventcalendar
+ Airfield Estate Farmers’ Market 09:00-14:30 Airfield Estate, Overend Ave, Dundrum, Dublin 14 https://www.airfield.ie/farmers-market-at-airfield-estate
+ Supernatural Food Market – Food & Farmer’s Market 09:00-15:00 St Andrew’s Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse St., Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/thesupernaturalfoodmarket
+ Meeting House Square Food Market 09:30-15:30 Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 https://www.dublincity.ie/events/meeting-house-square-market
+ St. Anne’s City Farm – Visit this community farm, run by volunteers 10:00-15:00 St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 https://www.facebook.com/Stannescityfarm/
+ Chester Beatty Museum Tour 11:00 Chester Beatty Museum, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2 https://chesterbeatty.ie/whats-on/free-public-tours/
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin https://www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-17:30 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 11:30 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
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+ Game, Set, Match: The History of Sports in Irish Society – Tour 14:00 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Where the Elements Meet: The Poetic Ground of Seamus Heaney – Talk 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Bank of Ireland Culture & Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Co. Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/where-elements-meet-poetic-ground-seamus-heaney (Booking required)
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Symbols of Ireland in the National Museum’s Collections – Tour 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Live Gypsy Jazz – Gig 19:30-23:00 Mother Reilly’s, 26-32 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 https://www.facebook.com/events/772554088564616
+ Green Diesel Band – Ultimate Party Rock – support from Nihilis + Stone Storm 20:00 81 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 https://www.facebook.com/events/714970948327883/
+ Garth Brooks Tribute Night – Live Gig 20:30-23:00 The Old Orchard Inn, 74 Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1978275701878 (Booking required)
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Sunday 28 December
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ Variety of Public Tours at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on
+ Variety of Tours and talks at the National Museums in Kildare Street and at Collins Barracks https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/eventcalendar
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-17:30 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ St. Anne’s City Farm – Visit this community farm, run by volunteers 10:00-15:00 St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 https://www.facebook.com/Stannescityfarm/
+ Run Talk Run – Phoenix Park Run of Mental Health Peer Support Group for adults 10:50 Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 https://bit.ly/RTRDublin (Booking required)
+ St. Patrick’s Park Market – Books, gifts and crafts 11:00-17:30 St. Patrick’s Park, next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin 8 https://www.facebook.com/stpatricksparkmarket/
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin https://www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
+ Temple Bar Square Market 11:00-17:00 Temple Bar Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 https://www.dublincity.ie/events/temple-bar-square-market
+ Mother Reilly’s Record and CD Fair 12:00-17:00 Mother Reilly’s Bar & Restaurant, 32 Rathmines Road Upper, Rathmines, Dublin 6 https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1977581849547
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+ An Introduction to Collins Barracks, featuring Harry Clarke – Tour 14:00 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Chester Beatty Museum Tour 15:00 Chester Beatty Museum, Gardens of Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2 https://chesterbeatty.ie/whats-on/free-public-tours/
+ LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Karaoke latino: Noche de estrellas 18:00-23:30 Kalabasa Market,
60-61 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977767408559 (Booking required)
+ Jawbone: Acoustic Blues & Folk Commune 20:00 Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club, 28 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 https://www.facebook.com/events/2884885621692568/2884885678359229
+ The Comedy Crunch – Comedy 21:00-22:45 Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/thecomedycrunch
+ Mr Castle Blues Band – Gig 22:00 Fibber Magees, 81 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 https://www.facebook.com/fibbermagees.ie
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And the free events for next week….
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Please note: To speed up the creation of the weekday section of the Dublin Event Guide, I am experimenting with a few minor changes. One is that I am not adding the full address of the venue to all events anymore (for now). If you don’t know where the venue is, you will find it by checking the event link.
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Monday 29 December
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ Variety of Tours and talks at the National Museums in Kildare Street and at Collins Barracks https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/eventcalendar
+ Variety of Public Tours at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-17:30 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 11:30 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ From Revolution to Repeal: An Introduction to Changing Ireland – Tour 14:00 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Sliotars, Sashes and Symbols: Shaping Irish Identity – Tour 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Barry McCormack and Hugh Buckley – Jazz, Blue Note and American Song – Gig 20:30-22:30 Blind Pig Speakeasy, 18 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 https://www.jazzireland.ie/jazz-events/residency/barry-mccormack-and-hugh-buckley-22.html
+ Song Cycle – Singer Songwriter Night – Open Night with special guests – Little Whelan’s 21:00 Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2 https://www.whelanslive.com/event/song-cycle/
+ The Comedy Crunch – Comedy 21:00-22:45 Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/thecomedycrunch
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Tuesday 30 December
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ Variety of Tours and talks at the National Museums in Kildare Street and at Collins Barracks https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/eventcalendar
+ Variety of Public Tours at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-17:30 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 11:30 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Winter Highlights of the National Museum of Ireland’s Archaeology collection – Tour 12:00 National Museum – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology/Events/2025/Q4/February-Tours-at-NMI-Archaeology-(2)
+ The Vikings in Ireland – Tour 13:30 National Museum – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology/Events/2025/Q4/February-Tours-at-NMI-Archaeology-(2)
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ An Introduction to Collins Barracks, featuring Harry Clarke 14:00 & 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
++ Echoes of Ireland – Irish Folk gig with Cliffords, Madra Salach, Simple Things and Chubby Cat – Gig 15:30-20:00 Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2 https://nyfdublin.ie/event/echoes-of-ireland/
++ Guinness Music Trail – 27 performances across 10 pubs 16:00-19:00 various locations https://nyfdublin.ie/event/music-trail/
+ Songs In The Long Room – Acoustic Open Mic Session 20:00-23:00 Hynes Bar, 79 Prussia Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 https://www.facebook.com/events/472368905228630
+ Darkey Kelly’s Tuesday Singer Songwriter Night 19:00-22:30 Darkey Kelly’s, Harding Hotel, Fishamble Street, Dublin 8 https://www.facebook.com/groups/915434861959818
+ Downtown Blues Dancing – Weekly Drop-in Classes & Social Dancing 20:00-23:00 Mind the Step Cafe, 24 Strand Street Great, Dublin 1 https://www.downtownbluesdublin.com/blues-dancing
+ Ukulele Tuesday – Weekly Ukulele Meetup 20:00 Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/UkuleleTuesday/ (The Ukulele Tuesday is temporarily relocating to the Ha’penne Bridge Inn in Fownes Street Lower.)
+ The Comedy Crunch – Comedy 21:00-22:45 Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/thecomedycrunch
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Wednesday 31 December
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New Year’s Eve
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ Variety of Tours and talks at the National Museums in Kildare Street and at Collins Barracks https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/eventcalendar
+ Variety of Public Tours at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.ie/whats-on
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-15:00 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 11:30 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Symbols of Ireland in the National Museum’s Collections – Tour 14:00 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Recovered Voices: Stories and Experiences of the Irish during World War One – Tour 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2025/Q4/November-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks-(1)
++ Procession of Light 16:00-17:00 between Cork Street and Dublin Castle (details missing) https://nyfdublin.ie/event/procession/
+ Dun Laoghaire Markets 16:30 People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin https://www.dlrcoco.ie/dlr-events/event/new-years-eve-fireworks-dun-laoghaire-harbour
++ Firework Display in Dun Laoghaire and Howth – choreographed to music 18:30-19:30 View from Howth Pier Park and along Harbour Road for Howth Fireworks / View from Sandycover to Dun Laoghaire Town for Dun Laoghaire Fireworks https://nyfdublin.ie/event/fireworks-display-dun-l/
+ The Crush – Gig 22:00 Tolka House, 9 Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9 https://www.facebook.com/TolkaHousePubOfficial
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Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)
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Thursday 01 January
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New Year’s Day
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I am wishing you and your family all the best for 2026! May it be a new year full of happiness, great experiences, lots of laughter and high-quality free events with no hype.
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+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
++ NYF Family Day & Concert – Kíla, Chasing Abbey, Grooveline and Still Blue – family-friendly 13:00-17:00 Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2 https://nyfdublin.ie/event/free-family-day-concert/
++ Traditional Music Concert – Mundy, DUG, The Wran and The Awning – family-friendly 13:00-17:00 Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 https://nyfdublin.ie/event/trad-music-event/
+ 1913 – 1923: A Decade of Conflict – Tour 14:00 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2026/Q1/January-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks
+ Revolutionary Women: Exploring Women’s Roles in Conflict in Ireland
– Tour 15:30 National Museum, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Events/2026/Q1/January-Tours-at-Collins-Barracks
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Friday 02 January
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+ At this time of the year, regular events are often not so regular, so if you read about an event here on a weekly basis, please check if it takes place this week. Most regular events are back from 05 Jan.
+ The Moving Crib (27 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-17:30 St. Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 https://www.stmartin.ie/crib/
+ TwinkleTown – Christmas Market (28 Nov-04 Jan) 11:00-21:00 Smithfield Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 https://twinkletown.ie/
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 11:30 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Winter Highlights of the National Museum of Ireland – Tour 14:00 National Museum – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology/Events/2026/Q1-Jan-Mar/January-Tours-at-the-National-Museum-of-Ireland,-K
+ Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again – Tour 14:00 Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66 https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/daily-tours-seamus-heaney-listen-now-again-0
+ Prehistoric Ireland Tour 15:30 National Museum – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Archaeology/Events/2026/Q1-Jan-Mar/January-Tours-at-the-National-Museum-of-Ireland,-K
+ Turks Trad Night 19:00-23:45 Turks Head, Parliament Street, Temple bar, Dublin 2 https://www.facebook.com/events/1136787884561895/
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+++ NYF Dublin
New Years’ Eve Festivities in Dublin are year on year one of the most unreliable things you can imagine. One year they are good, big, bold and impressive. The next year they are unimpressive, seem cobbled together and are very disappointing. Consistent is not a word you would assign to “NYF Dublin”.
But there is always hope! The hope that this year will be good and that next year will pich up the good things and improve the no to so good things.
A lot has changed again this year, but a good few things are very promising, let’s hope it will be great!
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The Festival consists of
1) Echoes of Ireland – Gig – Free
This is a free gig at Dublin Castle on Tuesday 30 December from 15:30-20:00. It will be a gig with Irish Folk music from Cliffords, Madra Salach, Simple Things and Chubby Cat. The gig is family-friendly and you do not require tickets. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/echoes-of-ireland/
2) Guinness Music Trail – Free
On Tue 30 Dec from 16:00-19:00 a total of 27 performances will take place across 10 pubs in the city centre. Admnission is free and no tickets are required https://nyfdublin.ie/event/music-trail/
3) Procession of Light – Free
On 31 Dec from 16:00-17:00 a procession of light, music and marching bands will go between Cork Street and Dublin Castle. The map on the website is largely unhelpful, details are unavailable and we don’t even know the direction of the parade at the time of writing this. Hopefully the details will be added. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/procession/
4) Countdown Concert Matinee 16:00-18:30 (31 Dec) at Dublin Castle – Tickets required
At a price of EUR 11.90 per person and EUR 28 for a family of four, this concert with all-female trad band “Biird” and Irish indie rock band “Florence Road” will be a family-friendly event. Tickets are still available. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/countdown-concert-matinee/
5) Countdown Concert 20:00-00:30 (31 Dec) at Dublin Castle – Tickets required
For the grown-ups a gig with bands “Inhaler” (rock), Biird (trad) and Florence Road (indie rock) will follow. Tickets are EUR 67.40 https://nyfdublin.ie/event/countdown-concert/
6) Firework Display in Dun Laoghaire and Howth 18:30-19:30 (31 Dec)
Choreographed fireworks displays set to music. Visible from Howth Pier Park and along Harbour Road for the Howth Fireworks and from Sandycove to Dun Laoghaire centre for the Dun Laoghaire Fireworks. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/fireworks-display-dun-l/
7) Family Day & Concert 13:00-17:00 at Dublin Castle on 01 Jan
With a line up of Kíla, Chasing Abbey, Grooveline and Still Blue, this is definitely an interesting family-friendly way to start the new year with some cultural enjoyment. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/free-family-day-concert/
8) Traditional Music Concert on Meeting House Square on 01 Jan
From 13:00-17:00 Meeting House Square will feature the second free and family-friendly concert on New Years’ Day. Mundy, DUG, The Wran and The Awning will perform. https://nyfdublin.ie/event/trad-music-event/
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All in all, it looks like a good line up a nice mix of events with lots of music and plenty of free events. If it works, PLEASE hold on to the format for the years to come. We don’t need to re-invent the wheel year after year. https://nyfdublin.ie/schedule/
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+++ TwinkleTown did it deliver?
Regular readers of the Dublin Event Guide know that I am a big fan of a proper Christmas Market. TwinkleTown at Smithfield is trying to be a lot. They are mainly an ice rink and additionally have a range of activities that appeal to families with children (Ferris Wheel & Vintage Fairground). Then there is a pub (The Twinkle Tavern) and food stalls and frequent “Santo Panto” performances in the Spiegeltent.
There is one thing that they are definitely not, though: Twinkletown is NOT a “Christmas Market”. This year there were eight craft stands and a range of food stalls, but that is not anywhere near to make it a proper Christmas Market. The craft stalls themselves were looking nice and if there had been three times as many, nicely clustered together, it COULD have been a nice atmospheric Christmas Market, but that was not the case.
It is clear that the interest was not really there to create a wonderful Christmas Market, but in case that changes, they have the definite possibility to make it nicer. https://twinkletown.ie/
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+++ Dublin City Council Culture Company
Every week, the Dublin City Council Culture Company organises cultural events in venues in Dublin. They are events in addition to the normal events in museums, galleries and other venues. All events are free, but access is by registration only. And these events are POPULAR!! So when I get to checking them out on the Friday before they take place, the most interesting ones are usually already booked out. If you are interested, check them out here https://cultureclubdublin.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows (This week you only see a few, because every month a new batch is uploaded not in a rolling way, but in a month by month way.)
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+++ LEARN A NEW SKILL WITH ONLINE COURSES
Is there ever a wrong time for learning a new skill or enhancing what you are already interested in? Maybe it is a language or an instrument or some technical skills? Or something completely different? Nearly every subject is there! Check out Udemy via the link below, they have thousands of courses and there is good chance that what you are looking for is available. Nearly all the courses are REALLY affordable!
The lowest price most of the time is EUR 12.99. Sometimes it even goes down further to EUR 9.99 and when that happens (about once or twice a year), I will tell you. But even 12.99 is definitely a good price for what you get! – Check out the website at https://www.getthislink.com/Udemy22 And if you buy through that link, you also help the Dublin Event Guide! :-)
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+++ IKEA Crafting / Music / Cooking Workshops
Ikea in Ballymun runs a variety of crafting, music and cooking workshops it is always worh checking out. The workshops are free and usually go for 45 minutes. They are always for children, but the age is often not fixed. There are specific Toddler and baby workshops at times as well. Check them out on https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/stores/events/ikea-ballymun/
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+++ Some more events:
Find Library events here https://www.dublincity.ie/events and Trinity College Events here https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/events/?day=18&month=03&year=2024&search=week
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+++ Storytelling and Toddler Groups at Dublin City Libraries
The Dublin City Libraries have published a list of Storytelling and Toddler groups for age 0-4 across the Dublin City Libraries. You can find it here https://www.dublincity.ie/library/blog/storytelling-and-toddler-groups-dublin-city-libraries
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And this is it for another week! Have a great weekend and good new week.
Take care,
–Joerg (dublineventguide@gmail.com) |
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Copyright 2025 by Joerg Steegmueller |
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