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Dublin Events
January
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New Year's Eve / Day - there are celebrations throughout the
city to welcome in the New Year
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Salmon and Sea Trout Season - starts January 1st and runs
until September
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Irish Championship Hurdle - late January, major horse race
at Leopardstown.
February
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Five Nations Rugby Tournament - February to April, Ireland
play against England, Wales, Scotland and France. Two of
these games are played in Dublin
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Malahide Food and Drink Festival - late February, this
festival also includes cultural activities
March
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Celtic Flame - mid-March, a national festival of
contemporary and traditional music, song and dance
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St. Patrick's Day Festival - March 17th, numerous
celebrations and street theatres fill the city, culminating
in a parade
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Temple Bar Fleadh - mid-March, three-day festival of
traditional music in honour of St. Patrick, in the lively
Temple Bar area
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Irish Kennel Club Show - mid-March, annual championship dog
show in Cloghran, County Dublin
Feis Ceoil - late March, this is one of Europe's oldest and
most prestigious classical musical festivals
April
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Colours Boat Race - first weekend, a rowing race along the
River Liffey between Trinity College and University College
Dublin
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Howth Music Festival - Easter weekend, this pretty fishing
village on the outskirts of the city plays host to three
days of popular music
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Dublin Film Festival - third week, festival of new and
classic films held at various Dublin cinemas, including the
Irish Film Centre
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Opera Ireland - a week in the April, Spring run at the
Gaiety Theatre. Another short season is also put on in
November
May
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May Day Parade - May 1st, celebrations and colourful parades
through the city streets on this national holiday
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Dublin Garden Festival - late May or early June, large
four-day horticultural show at Ballsbridge
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Laytown Beach Races - late May or early June, horse races on
the beach, north of Dublin
June
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Music in the Park - June to August, various city parks hold
free open-air concerts at lunchtime on weekdays and also on
Sundays
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Photography Exhibitions - June to September, changing
exhibitions on different themes in the Dublin Photographic
Centre
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County Wicklow Gardens Festival - held at both private and
public gardens south of Dublin all month, including
Powerscourt
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Bloomsday - mid-June, walks, lectures and pub talks across
the city to celebrate James Joyce's greatest novel,
'Ulysses'
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Maracycle - mid-June, thousands of cyclists race each other
from Dublin to Belfast and back again
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Scurlogstown Olympiad Celtic Festival - mid-June,
traditional Irish music and dance fair with a selection of
festival queen, in Trim
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Music in Great Irish Houses - second and third weeks,
classical music recitals in grand settings at various venues
July
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Dun Laoghaire American Week - first week, US-themed jamboree
with bluegrass music, a barn dance and 4th of July fireworks
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South Docks Festival - third week, a community festival that
centres on Pearse Street and City Quay, with shows and
activities for all ages
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Temple Bar Blues Festival - third weekend, three days of
live blues music featuring international stars
August
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Summer Music Festival - all month, St. Stephen's Green, free
lunchtime concerts of both popular and traditional music, as
well as sporadic Shakespeare performances in the open air
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Dublin Horse Show - second week, RDS Ballsbridge, premier
sporting and social event including dressage, show jumping
and a chance for ladies to show off their hats
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People's Photographic Exhibition - last weekend, St.
Stephen's Green, displays of amateur photographers work on
the railings around the green
September
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The Liffey Swim - first Saturday, since 1920 Dubliners have
turned out to watch swimmers brave the River Liffey's murky
waters from Watling Street Bridge to the Custom House
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Motorcycle Union of Ireland Killalane Road Races - second
weekend, Skerries, road-racing final on the streets of this
resort, north of Dublin
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All-Ireland Hurling Final - second Sunday, Croke Park
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All-Ireland Football Final - fourth Sunday, Croke Park,
popular Gaelic football final
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Irish Antique Dealer's Fair - last week, RDS Ballsbridge,
the country's most important antiques fair
October
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Dublin Theatre Festival - first two weeks, features new
works by Irish playwrights and many foreign productions
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Dublin City Marathon - last Monday, starting and finishing
on O'Connell Street, the route takes in many Dublin
landmarks, including Phoenix Park and Trinity College. Every
year thousands participate
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Hallowe'en (Samhain) - October 31st, on the night when
spirits rise, children wear fancy dress and celebrations
include a parade and fireworks
November
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Opera Ireland - a week in the November, Autumn run at the
Gaiety Theatre. Another short season is also put on in April
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Toy and Train Collector's Fair - last Sunday, Rochestown
Lodge Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, with model cars, dolls, comics
and teddy bears. There are also other similar fairs in April
and September
December
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Pantomime Season - December to January, traditional
pantomimes performed at theatres in Dublin and throughout
Ireland
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Christmas - December 24th to 25th, Christian celebrations
include going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve
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St. Stephen's Day - December 26th, on the day after
Christmas, catholic boys dress up as Wren boys (chimney boys
with blackened faces) and sing hymns to raise money for
charities
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Leopardstown Races - December 26th to 29th, this four-day
meeting is the biggest in the country at this traditional
time for horse racing
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