L-R: Púca, Baboró, Dublin Theatre Festival, Tipperary Dance Festival, Bram Stoker Festival
October Guide: 17 events happening across Ireland this month
The best in homegrown musical talent, theatrical performances that will leave you spellbound, and immersive Halloween spectaculars are among the best events happening around Ireland this October.
Ireland Music Week
1-3 October, venues across Dublin city, more info here
Irish Music Week continues to champion gender-balanced lineups and emerging voices, with 50 fresh names on the lineup to showcase their sound over the course of the event. Highlights include God Knows, Florence Road, Pôt-Pot, and Thanks Mom.
Tipperary Dance Festival
1-10 October, various venues across Tipperary, more info here
Heading into its 16th year, Tipperary Dance is an artist-led, non-profit organisation that acts as an international creative space engaging with artists and citizens while building and providing infrastructure(s) for the art form of dance. Highlights include a masterclass on The Conscious Body in Motion from Stephan Herwig, Dances Like a Bomb from Junk Ensemble, and Satiri, a powerful and poetic dance performance created by renowned Italian choreographer Virgilio Sieni.
Ballina Fringe Festival
3-12 October, Ballina, more info here
Ballina Fringe Festival celebrates creativity, community and place on the Wild Atlantic Way. Ballina will come alive with theatre, music, film, literature, and street art — showcasing local talent and welcoming artists from across Ireland and beyond.
IMAGE Wellness Project 2025 live event
4&5 October, Windmill Lane Quarter, Dublin, more info here
The IMAGE Wellness Project, hosted by IMAGE editorial director Dominique Mc Mullan, brings together leading voices in wellbeing, motivation, and mental health for a curated programme of talks, tools and takeaways designed to leave you feeling inspired, empowered and recharged.
Common Threads
10-12 October, The Burren, Clare, more info here
The breathtaking surrounds of The Burren North provides the backdrop for Common Threads – a three-day trail of musical and cultural discovery featuring performances from Martin Hayes, Morgana, Daithi, RÓIS, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Lullahush, Bantum, Aindrias de Staic, Sally Cinnamon, Graham Dolan, Sunday Spinners, Piqué and Common Threads DJs.
Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
10-19 October, various venues across Galway city, more info here
Ireland’s flagship arts festival dedicated to children and families, Baboró is a curated programme of high quality, engaging, provoking work from the best makers around the world and around the country. Highlights include a powerfully moving dance show, a theatrical adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novel, The Little Prince, and an intimate circus theatre experience.
Dublin Theatre Festival
Until 12 October, venues across Dublin city, more info here
Known for its commitment to showcasing world-class Irish theatre, the 2025 programme for Dublin Theatre Festival is utterly jam packed. Highlights include an adaption of Chekhov’s Three Sisters starring Saoirse-Monica Jackson; the world premiere of POOR by Katriona O’Sullivan, adapted by Sonya Kelly from O’Sullivan’s bestselling memoir; and The Boy: A Two-Play Theatrical Event starring Eileen Walsh and Frank Blake.
Red Line Book Festival
13-19 October, various venues across South County Dublin, more info here
The Red Line Book Festival returns with theatrical flair this year as performance is a central theme for the 40+ literary events and workshops. Highlights include a celebration of Jane Austen with Bridget Jones creator, Helen Fielding, Gavan Reilly’s exploration of The Secret Life of Leinster House, and Paul Lynch in conversation with Belinda McKeon.
IMAGE The Motherload presents: The Teen Toolkit
15 October, Avoca, Kilmacanogue, more info here
Join team IMAGE for our next IMAGE Motherload event, where we’ll give you the tools to prepare yourself – and your teen – for the years ahead. We’ll focus on how to prepare yourself as a parent, how to support your teen’s dreams, how to hold boundaries with love, and how to spot the signs when things aren’t quite right.
CRAICLY & Bewley’s – Ghost Stories
15 October, The James Joyce Room, Bewley’s, Dublin, more info here
CRAICLY is heading to Dublin to celebrate an evening of Halloween ghost stories, so prepare for an evening of Irish folklore, spiritual experiences and ghostly tales. After the cafe closes, you’ll have exclusive use of this historical room and building to share supper, and hear a variety of people share their knowledge, stories and personal experiences with visitors from the other realm.
Galway Comedy Festival
21-27 October, various venues across Galway city, more info here
Bringing over 70 comedians to Galway city for 69 shows across 16 venues over 7 nights, Galway Comedy Festival is, as you’d expect, a laugh a minute. This year’s lineup includes Rachel Galvo’s The Shite Feminist, Emma Doran and Deirdre O’Kane’s Keeping it Tight podcast live, and Aoife Dunne’s Good Grief.
Cork Jazz Festival
23-27 October, various venues across Cork city, more info here
Returning with a host of new acts, venues, and experiences to surprise and delight attendees, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will see some of the biggest names in jazz gracing the stage for what’s set to be their most magnetic instalment yet. The Pharcyde, Rejjie Snow, and JP Cooper are among those appearing over the bank holiday weekend.
Gut Fest
25 October, Bolands Mills, Dublin, more info here
A brand new one-day, evidence-based, community-focused event celebrating the science and culture of gut health is coming to Dublin, and is set to feature expert talks, hands-on workshops, and delicious food, all designed to make the emerging science of gut health accessible, inclusive and fun. Highlights of the programme include expert talks on the gut microbiome, food and mood and nutrition; interactive workshops on fermentation, movement, breath work and meditation; and a welcoming festival space with music, food and community connection.
Derry Halloween Festival
28-31 October, various venues across Derry, more info here
Join ghosts, banshees and mystical Celtic creatures as they come out to play on Derry’s 400-year-old walls. Marvel at stunning light shows, acrobats and circus performers. Feel the warmth of the Derry welcome and dance alongside thousands of costumed revellers, under a sky filled with fireworks. As Europe’s largest festival, this event takes place over four truly unforgettable nights.
Púca Festival
30 October – 2 November, Athboy and Trim, more info here
As the nights lengthen, the Púca Festival casts its magical glow upon Ireland’s Ancient East. Rooted in the mystical traditions of Samhain, yet brimming with contemporary energy, this immersive festival invites you to a realm where folklore comes alive. Dance with otherworldly creatures, revel in the richness of Irish music and storytelling and experience Halloween in its most authentic form. The line-up includes Young Hot Guys, Blindboy, and Block Rockin Beats & Groove Armada DJ set.
Bram Stoker Festival
31 October – 2 November, various venues across Dublin city, more info here
Dublin gets gloriously gothic for the Bram Stoker Festival, where the ordinary fades into the shadows and the extraordinary comes to life. The lineup features events and activities for gothic enthusiasts and families alike. Highlights include a parade from Macnas; an immersive night of music, myth and storytelling; and Seanchoíche at Bolands Mills.
BÁN
All month, The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, more info here
Written by Carys D. Coburn and directed by Claire O’Reilly, BÁN is a reworking of Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Like the sisters at its heart – bound tightly, neither open nor tender, mourning their father, surveilled by their mother. They long for escape, power, the local eligible bachelor. The question isn’t who can have which, it’s can any of them have any?
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