We’re big fans of Phibsborough here in IMAGE daily, what with a significant portion of the office choosing to make their homes in and about the area, so we’re pretty excited to see Phizzfest is a-happening this bank holiday weekend. *cheers, uncorks imaginary champagne* An annual community arts festival, it is a pleasant reminder of how great this oft overlooked neighbourhood can be with a mix of free and €5/?10 events on offer for the curious.
With so much to choose from, we line up our must-sees.
- Thursday evening sees the launch of 2014’s festival with Ireland Professor of Poetry – think our informal version of the UK’s poet laureate – and the Offbeat Ensemble in concert.
- Friday Acclaimed sitarist Joyeeta Sanya performs in the intimate setting of the Mater Hospital Chapel. Happenings will be bringing their outdoor cinema skills to the King’s Inns Park with a screening of Dublin classic The Commitments. We can’t think of a more perfect soundtrack to the weekend. Start listening to Mustang Sally, like, yesterday. Unfortunately Julie Feeney’s headline gig is sold out, but culture vultures can get their intellectual selves sated on at talks with Dermot Bolger and Carlo Gebler.
- While away your Saturday commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Brendan Behan’s death at “The Homer of the North Circular Road”, where the author’s nephew will be in attendance. If you’re feeling poetical “Boys and Girls”, the winner of Fishamble Best New Writing Award, is being staged. Or if you’d like to home those dramatic ambitions, look at attending a screenwriting Workshop with Ferdia MacAnna.
- Sunday sees John Colleary and Pat O’Donnell’s comedy gig in MacGowans. Pop into the Woodstock Caf? Sunday evening for some good eats and a screening of Dinner Rush or learn about Charles B Franklin, Ireland’s first major motorcycling star and the founding father of the modern motorcycle, at Cowboys and Indians.
- Glasnevin Cemetery Museum will also be getting in on the movie action and showing Shake Hands with the Devil on Monday, the first scene of which was filmed at the cemetery. The set designer for the movie was Phibsborough native Josie McAvin, who won an Oscar for Best Set Direction for Out of Africa and an Emmy for Scarlet, the sequel to Gone with the Wind.? Joise sounds already mightily impressive but when you hear she is the only Irish woman to have won both awards you’re going to feel like a massize underachiever? Bank Holiday Monday also sees McGeogh’s Bohemian Lounge on Doyle’s Corner welcome nothing but guitar. Ain’t no excuse not to get your flamenco, blues and jazz on before returning to office life.
For booking and information on all events, go to phizzfest.ie and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Jeanne Sutton?@jeannedesutun
