By Erin Lindsay
15th Mar 2019
15th Mar 2019
It feels like years since we last had a good, old-fashioned bank holiday, and thank God one has arrived to brighten up our spring weekend. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s not just any Bank Holiday — it’s a St Patrick’s Bank Holiday. Whether you’ve gathered the troops for a house party, or are heading to the local for some well-deserved downtime (the rugby kicks off at 2:45 pm on Saturday, just FYI), this is a weekend for fun — and we’ve got loads of ideas right here. Happy weekend from IMAGE!
Friday: Use your cúpla focail at the Pop Up Gaeltacht at the Bernard Shaw
What better way to celebrate a being Irish than using your mother tongue over a few drinks at the Shaw? The hugely popular Pop Up Gaeltacht project has taken the city by storm over the last couple of years, with sessions taking place all over Dublin to attract fun-loving and new mates-seeking Gaeilgeoirí. This is their St Patrick’s weekend special, so you know it’s not to be missed. Kicking off tonight at 8 pm, head down any time you like. Sláínte!
Saturday: See Dublin’s wares at the Spirit of Dublin St. Patrick’s Craft Fair at Teeling’s Distillery
Now in its fourth year, the Spirit of Dublin Craft Fair is a stalwart in the Patrick’s weekend celebrations in the city. Head to the Teeling’s Distillery in Newmarket from 10 am tomorrow to sample the best in Dublin city’s local food and drink producers, as well as plenty of Teeling’s whiskey too to go around. Free to all and a nice break from the madness that will be Dublin city centre this weekend.
Related: Six binge-worthy Netflix offerings out this month
Sunday: Giggle for charity at Paddy’s Night for Comic Relief
If there’s one thing the Irish do well, it’s comedy, and St Patrick’s Day sees some of the nation’s funniest individuals come together in support of a very worthy cause in the 3Arena. Spearheaded by comedian and national treasure Deirdre O’Kane, the night will see Irish comedy behemoths such as Tommy Tiernan, Pat Shortt, Jason Byrne, Mario Rosenstock, Waterford Whispers News, Colm O’Regan and David O’Doherty all taking to the stage to raise money for those most in need both at home and abroad. Incredibly, tickets are still available, and it’ll be a brilliant night to support Irish comedy and the vulnerable people that Comic Relief supports.
Related: The top 10 beaches in Ireland and why you should visit them
Monday: Take a tour of the city in the best way with History & Pints
If you’re just staying in Dublin for the weekend, chances are you’ll have seen the hundreds of brilliant activity listings on Airbnb from their friendly hosts, offering everything from hill walks to history lessons about the Emerald Isle. While many will be long sold out, one of the best we could find still has spots available for Monday and into next week. History & Pints is hosted by Nils, a Dublin native with a degree in history and time spent working at the Guinness Brewery under his belt (both equally useful for this activity, we’re sure you’ll agree). Nils offers a day of learning about the city’s history straight from the horse’s mouth, and finishes with a pint of Guinness (and a lesson on everything you need to know about the black stuff) included in the price. Just €22 for a brilliant way to finish your Bank Holiday weekend.
Photo: Unsplash
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