Weekend Guide: 10 great events happening around Ireland

Dublin International Film Festival

From 22 February to 2 March, across Dublin

Providing an elevated cinema experience and creating unique and unforgettable memories for film fans, filmmakers, and everyone in between, Dublin International Film Festival’s 2024 programme includes world-premiers, special screenings, Irish and International features, shorts, industry events, documentaries, Q&As, celebrations, and the highly anticipated DIFF Award ceremony. There’ll also be a Seanchoíche event centring around the theme of childhood.

The Making of Mollie

From 23 February, The Ark, Dublin

The Ark presents a bold new adaption for children aged 8+ by author Anna Carey of her first historical novel, The Making of Mollie. In 1912 Dublin, 14-year-old Mollie Carberry’s life is pretty boring. That is, until she discovers that her older sister Phyllis is a secret suffragette! Mollie starts to realise just how unfair the world can be – and she wants to do something about it. When Mollie and her friend Nora get involved in the movement, they must face an important question: just how far should a girl go for her beliefs?

All Tvvins at Cyprus Avenue

23 February, Cyprus Avenue, Cork

Irish indie-electronic duo All Tvvins, whose debut album ‘IIVV’ shot into the Irish charts at #2 and earned a Choice Music Prize nomination for Irish Album of the Year while smashing the 20 million streams landmark, are back with their latest EP ‘Your Country’. Playing dates across Limerick, Dublin and Galway, their Cork date is one to look forward to.

Jason Byrne at Vicar Street

23 & 24 February, Vicar Street, Dublin

Jason Byrne, half man, half natural disaster. Over the course of his accident-prone life Jason has been rebuilt from the ground up. Bits removed, metal pins, new knee, and an eye that’s been treated, over the years, by the medical profession like a game of Pong. This all culminated last year with heart surgery, twice! He enjoyed it so much he went back for more.

Arthur Griffith Walking Tour

24 February, 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin

By the time of his death on 12 August 1922, Arthur Griffith had packed much into his 51 years. Printer, journalist, editor (the first to publish work by James Joyce), political thinker, Republican, founder of Sinn Féin, President of Dáil Éireann, and signatory of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, he remains an enigmatic figure to this day. Join John for a 90 minute stroll through Griffith’s Dublin with stops at his birthplace, his school, his grave, exploring along the way people and places in the North Inner City which helped shape one of our capital’s most controversial sons.

Sister Act at the Bord Gáis

Until 24 February, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

A brand new production of the Broadway and UK award-winning musical Sister Act direct from London, Ruth Jones (star of Gavin and Stacey) will join the Sisterhood as Mother Superior alongside West End star Landi Oshinowo, as diva-in-disguise Deloris van Cartier.

Sive at the Gaiety Theatre

Until 16 March, the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

Gaiety Productions presents John B Keane’s classic masterpiece, Sive. This theatre production tells the story of greed and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman, forcing a young girl to marry a much, much older man.

Scene + Heard: The Festival of New Work

Until 2 March, Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin

A veritable smorgasbord of unique ideas, this festival offers a unique opportunity for artists across all artforms to try new things that they believe will inspire audiences. The 112 featured presentations, showcasing over 600 performers, designers, directors, producers, creators and writers, and based in all four corners of the country, have been selected from over 500 submissions. Expect a truly diverse programme for 2024.

Galz Gone Wild Rise & Salt

25 February, Jungle Beach Break Cafe, Galway

If you’re a West of Ireland based sea swimmer seeking connection with some like minded individuals, this free monthly event will help you find your tribe. Meeting at 8am sharp at the kiosk on Ladies Beach, there’ll be an opening circle to set intentions and get to know one another, a dip in the sea, and a delicious cup of Nibbed Cacao to warm you up.

They Gave The Walls A Talking

Until 18 March, EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin

A very special pop-up exhibition dedicated to The Pogues and Shane MacGowan, They Gave The Walls A Talking illuminates the evolution of The Pogues, the rise of punk rock, and the role of the Irish diaspora on the British music scene – as well as the genesis of the marvellously iconic ‘Fairytale of New York’. It features contributions from Victoria Mary Clarke, Siobhan MacGowan, Jem Finer, Nick Cave, Damien Dempsey, Cáit O’Riordan and the family of the late Frank Murray, the band’s original manager.