Greetings from Third Castle
This week has a book festival, a world premiere and plenty of comedy.
Dublin Book Festival celebrates 20 years from Wednesday, and the Abbey stages the world premiere of Animals, a stage adaptation of Blindboyboatclub's short stories with Pat Shortt in the cast.
Comedy fans have Kevin Bridges at 3Arena from Friday, plus Andrew Maxwell in Swords on Thursday and in Dún Laoghaire on Friday.
On the music side, Christy Moore is at Vicar Street on Sunday, and on Saturday Beatles Day is back at the Workman's Club for the first time since 2023.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the complete guide.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Animals
Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 November · Abbey Theatre
Blindboyboatclub's short stories get an absurdist stage adaptation in a world premiere. A man travels to Limerick with a fridge-freezer, a vengeful woman becomes a dogman and a poitín maker is haunted by a cormorant, and Pat Shortt is in the cast.
Evening shows start at 19:30, with an extra 14:00 matinee on Saturday.
Kevin Bridges
Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November · 3Arena
Here If You Need Me is Kevin Bridges's brand-new stand-up show, and his first tour since Overdue Catch-Up in 2022.
Dublin Book Festival
Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November · Dublin
Dublin Book Festival marks 20 years with author talks, poetry, workshops and family events, plus an after-dark strand and sessions in Irish. Louise Kennedy, Jan Carson and Sue Rainsford are in conversation with Róisín Ingle, and Patrick McCabe appears with storyteller Órla Mc Govern.
Rónán Ó'Snodaigh & Myles O'Reilly
Thursday 5 November · 20:00 · Vicar Street
Rónán Ó'Snodaigh, a founding member of Kíla, sings and chants in Irish over spacious, atmospheric soundscapes from composer and filmmaker Myles O'Reilly. The pair favour presence over spectacle, so the sound is intimate and hypnotic.
The Mersey Beatles
Thursday 5 November · 20:00 · 3Olympia Theatre
This Liverpool Beatles tribute band has been playing since 1999. This year's show marks 60 years of Revolver and the hits of 1966, and the set runs from the early hits to the psychedelic studio years.
Beatles Day Dublin
Saturday 7 November · 14:00 to 22:45 · The Workman's Club
Beatles Day is back in Dublin for the first time since 2023, with live sets from The Newspaper Taxi Men, Fiach Moriarty and Lenin & Lionel. There's also a staging of the short play Lennon v McCartney, and the Beatles Table Quiz is back for one last time.
DJ Poolboi & Sunflwr
Saturday 7 November · 23:30 · The Workmans Club
A late-night set of emotional melodic house from DJ Poolboi, mixing uplifting energy, nostalgia and quiet melancholy. Sunflwr's bright, dreamy house is on the bill too.
Make House Deep Again X Asylum
Saturday 7 November · Bewley's Grafton Street
Make House Deep Again and Asylum team up for a party in Bewley's Grafton Street.
Mik Pyro's Blues Cartel
Saturday 7 November · 21:00 · Arthur's Blues & Jazz Club
Chicago and Delta blues from a Dublin band that has played around Ireland for about 15 years. Mik Pyro, formerly the frontman of The Republic of Loose, leads it with Bressie on guitar.
Moving Pictures Tribute to Rush
Saturday 7 November · The Grand Social
This Rush tribute covers the full 2112 suite plus songs from every era of the band, in two sets with no support act. The show marks 50 years since the 2112 album.
Christy Moore
Sunday 8 November · 20:00 · Vicar Street
The expanded edition of Christy Moore's album A Terrible Beauty is out now, and the Irish folk singer-songwriter is back at Vicar Street.
Jon Hopkins with Maddie Ashman and Leo Abrahams
Monday 23 November · 20:00 · National Concert Hall
An improvised live set that moves between quiet, meditative piano and loud layers of noise, cello, guitar and electronics. Maddie Ashman and Leo Abrahams, a long-time Brian Eno collaborator, join Jon Hopkins on stage.
The Sound House Presents: Nova Dream, The Leeways, Dollmen, Silk, Matt Camillo
Date to be confirmed · The Sound House
Dracula
Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 November · Gaiety Theatre
Blackeyed Theatre's stage version of Bram Stoker's novel is set in 1897, as Professor Van Helsing leads a group of young men and women from London through provincial England to Transylvania. The staging pairs Victorian Gothic with a contemporary feel and a haunting soundscape.
There are also matinees on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Andrew Maxwell
Thursday 5 November · 20:00 · Peacocks, Swords
Friday 6 November · 20:00 · The Purty Kitchen
Comedian Andrew Maxwell is in Swords on Thursday, then on Friday he heads to Dún Laoghaire, where the bill also has Tania Edwards and Carmel Moore.
Deirdre O'Kane: All The Rage
Thursday 5 November · 20:00 · Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
The All The Rage tour makes a stop in Killiney.
Emma Doran: Dún Laoghaire Comedy Festival
Thursday 5 November · 20:00 · The Purty Kitchen
Foil Arms & Hog: Work in Progress
Thursday 5 to Friday 6 November · 20:00 · Draíocht, Blanchardstown
The Irish comedy trio try out new, unfinished sketches before their biggest world tour.
Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess
Thursday 5 November · 19:30 · The Helix
From menopause to mansplaining, teenagers to Tinder: Helen and Ellie have brand new songs, sketches and stand-up, and sparkly new catsuits to go with them.
Irish-Language Literature Festival (22nd edition)
Friday 6 to Sunday 15 November · Dublin
Dublin's Irish-language literature festival brings together music, poetry and contemporary writing. The programme has a gala poetry and music night, a Bob Dylan and Joan Baez project with songs in Irish, and Crann Mór, a staged performance directed by Adrian Dunbar with Chamber Choir Ireland.
Paul Howard (aka Ross O'Carroll Kelly), Dún Laoghaire
Friday 6 November · 20:00 · Royal Marine Hotel
The Last Pagans
Tuesday 17 November · 19:00 · Glass Mask Theatre, Dublin 2
A world premiere by Stephen Jones, directed by Rex Ryan. The run starts on 17 November and continues into December, Monday to Saturday.
Fermentation Workshop at Fairmental Lab
Saturday 7 November · Fairmental Lab & Deli
Make your own kraut, pickle slaw and more in a two-hour, hands-on class, and take a jar of fermented food home. There are talks, a Q&A and tastings along the way.
Flip
Tuesday 3 November · 10:00 and 12:00 · The Civic, Tallaght
A 40-minute dance show for children and adults who can't keep still. Two characters go from isolation to community, with breakdance, contemporary dance and everyday objects as props.
Minotaur Boy
Sunday 8 November · 13:15 · Royal Irish Academy of Music
Children's author Shane Hegarty gets monstrously funny about his brand new book, the story of Alex, a 12-year-old who is secretly part-minotaur. It's part of Dublin Book Festival.
The Shape of Water
Sunday 8 November · 15:00 · 1WML
Explorer Niamh Shaw takes families through ice, penguins and life on Mars in a hands-on Science Week adventure. Activities include watching ice melt and a blubber glove challenge.
Dublin Tattoo Convention
Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November · RDS
A tattoo art and lifestyle convention in Hall 1 at the RDS.
Dublin by Night Fest 2026
Saturday 7 November · 18:00 to 22:00 · Dame Street, College Green, Capel Street & Parliament Street
A family-friendly night-time festival of music, culture and performances across central Dublin, kicking off Winter in Dublin.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Dublin City check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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