Greetings from Third Castle
We hope you've a few evenings to spare, because the October bank holiday weekend comes with a Dracula-themed festival and a long run of gigs.
Bram Stoker Festival runs from Friday to Monday, with a Macnas parade through the north east inner city on the Monday, near where Stoker once lived. Earlier in the week, Manic Street Preachers play two nights at the Olympia, and the Abbey Theatre's world premiere of Animals, adapted from Blindboyboatclub's short stories, is on until 7 November.
J. Cole plays 3Arena on Thursday on his first solo headline tour in five years, and Jazzy plays her biggest headline show yet there on Saturday. Families have Boo at the Zoo from Saturday, where Count Dracula has put a spell on Dublin Zoo.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Bram Stoker Festival 2026
Friday 23 to Monday 26 October · Various venues, Dublin City Centre
Four days of gothic events built around Dublin-born Dracula author Bram Stoker, with interactive theatre, dark literary talks and late-night spectacles. Stitch is at Smock Alley Theatre every day, and a talk at Green Street Courthouse on Saturday looks at body snatching in Dublin graveyards.
The Macnas parade, Fiáin, goes through the north east inner city on Monday. Families have Stokerland in St Patrick's Park from Saturday to Monday, and Dracula's Disco in the Mansion House's Round Room on Monday.
Manic Street Preachers
Wednesday 21 to Thursday 22 October · 3Olympia Theatre
The Welsh rock band play two nights at the Olympia, with "A Design for Life" and "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" alongside songs from 2025 album Critical Thinking, including "Decline & Fall" and "Hiding in Plain Sight". They've been going since their 1992 debut, Generation Terrorists, and have four BRIT Awards.
Animals
Until Saturday 7 November · Abbey Theatre
A world premiere adapted from Blindboyboatclub's short stories, with Pat Shortt in the cast. Erskine Fogarty takes his fridge-freezer on a trip to Limerick, a vengeful woman becomes a dogman, and a poitín maker is haunted by a cormorant. Evening performances are Monday to Saturday at 19:30.
Autechre
Tuesday 20 October · Vicar Street
Electronic duo Sean Booth and Rob Brown are on a run of European dates this autumn, after a busy 2025 on the road.
J. Cole: The Fall-Off Tour
Thursday 22 October · 3Arena
His first solo headline tour in five years follows his seventh studio album, The Fall Off, released in February. The run takes in more than 50 cities.
Index: Interplanetary Criminal
Friday 23 October · 23:00 · Index Dublin
Runs until 03:00.
Romare (DJ Set) at Fidelity Studio
Friday 23 October · 22:00 · Fidelity Bar, 79 Queen Street
Romare makes his Fidelity debut with a DJ set.
Circles: Leftfield DJ Set
Saturday 24 October · 23:00 to 03:00 · Centre Point, Curved Street
Leftfield play a DJ set, with Pat Hyland and Aoife Nic Canna also on the bill.
Index: Belters Only
Saturday 24 October · 22:00 · Index Dublin
Runs until 03:00.
Jazzy: Peace & Patience
Saturday 24 October · 3Arena
It's the biggest headline show yet for Dublin dance artist Jazzy, with Routh 94 and Kayleigh Glynn in support, behind her debut album, Peace & Patience. She has two Irish number ones, a Calvin Harris collaboration in "Satisfy" and more than a billion streams in three years.
Shed Seven
Saturday 24 October · Vicar Street
English alternative rock band Shed Seven formed in York in 1990 and headline Vicar Street on the bank holiday weekend.
2manydjs
Sunday 25 October · Vicar Street
Bank holiday Sunday brings Belgian DJ duo 2manydjs for their first Dublin city show in several years, with Kormac's live audiovisual show on the bill.
Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine
Monday 26 October · 3Arena
Dublin is one stop on a run of shows with guest artists that starts in Europe, with Paris and London on the list too. All proceeds go to organisations including Anera, UNRWA USA and Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Take It To The Limit: A Celebration of The Eagles
Date to be confirmed · 3Olympia Theatre
Johnny Brady, Simon Casey and Nigel Connell front a 10-piece tribute to The Eagles, with The Sheerin Family Band, six brothers, on harmonies. Casey had the hit "A Better Plan" after You're a Star, and the songs include "Hotel California", "Take It Easy", "New Kid In Town" and "Desperado".
Rhys Darby: Unhinged
Tuesday 20 October · 20:30 · The Workman's Club
You might know Rhys Darby as Murray in Flight of the Conchords or the pirate Stede Bonnet in Our Flag Means Death. His new stand-up show takes on middle age and AI, with plenty of physical comedy.
The Witness
Until Sunday 1 November · Glass Mask Theatre
Rex Ryan writes, acts in and directs this one-man show, adapted from Nicola Tallant's bestselling book about Joey "the Lips" O'Callaghan, the youngest person ever put into witness protection in Ireland.
Common Ground @ EPIC
Until Tuesday 1 December · EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
A multimedia exhibition on how Ireland's EU membership has shaped the country socially, culturally and economically, and what Ireland has given Europe in return. The stories on show include Equal Pay, Studying Abroad and An Ghaeilge.
After Hours at the National Print Museum
Thursday 29 October · 16:00 to 21:00 · National Print Museum
The museum stays open late on the last Thursday of each month from June to October, and this is the final evening of the season. Explore Ireland's printing heritage and learn how the printing press changed the world.
Dublin by Dusk
Thursday 29 October · 18:00 · Various locations, Dublin City
Venues and businesses across the city centre put on their own evening programmes on the last Thursday of the month, from late openings and tours to pop-up activities and food and drink offers. The James Joyce Centre has its own Dublin by Dusk event that night, The Write Stuff.
Craicademia
Date to be confirmed · Rascals Brewing Company
TED-style talks with an Irish twist, with less PowerPoint and more personality. A different speaker takes the floor each month on science, history, psychology, philosophy, politics, Irish culture, film or technology, followed by a live Q&A.
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Coffee Workshop with Fable Bakery
Until Thursday 31 December · Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Learn to make an Irish coffee, then build your own version in a guided session led by a whiskey expert. You taste four cask-strength Jameson Black Barrel whiskeys along the way, with two pastries from Fable Bakery. Sessions run Wednesday to Saturday at 11:00 and Sunday at 12:30.
Boo at the Zoo
Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November · Dublin Zoo
Count Dracula has put a spell on Dublin Zoo, and young Wildlife Witches and Wizards have to help break it. Follow the Zoo-pernatural Trail, which explores animals' real-life superpowers, and you could win a Junior Keeper Experience. Dracula and the Boo Crew are around from 11:00 to 15:00, Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
The Haunted Dublin Walking Tour
Friday 23 to Monday 26 October · 12:00 and 15:00 · The Old Storehouse
A two-hour walk through Dublin's darker history, from the medieval old city through Georgian and Victorian streets, taking in grave robbers, serial killers and satanic rituals. It is part of Bram Stoker Festival.
The Bram Stoker Walking Tour of Dublin
Friday 23 to Monday 26 October · 12:00 and 15:00 · Central Plaza
Visit the Dublin places where Bram Stoker lived and worked, with a focus on his early years and the upbringing that fed the imagination behind Dracula. The route is about 3 km and entirely outdoors.
Neon Painting: Halloween
Saturday 24 October · 16:00 to 18:00 · Pawn Shop
Paint a Halloween-themed canvas in fluorescent paint under UV lights, with an artist guiding you step by step. No experience needed, and there's music and prizes along the way.
Neon Painting: UV Pumpkin
Sunday 25 October · 17:00 to 19:00 · Pawn Shop
Sunday's session has a UV pumpkin theme, with the same fluorescent paint, music and prizes, and an artist talking you through each step.
The Dublin Ghostbus Tour
Date to be confirmed · 59 Upper O'Connell Street
A comedy-horror tour on wheels, with professional actors telling stories of body snatching, ghosts and notorious figures. The route takes in a hidden city-centre graveyard and the haunted steps of St Audoen's Church, and Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula comes into it too.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Dublin City check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Thanks for reading The Third Castle
If you enjoy the newsletter or you find it useful here are some ways you can help us:
💌 Forward it to a friend, neighbour, or your local WhatsApp group
📝 If you were sent this and want in on the action, sign up here.
See you next week 👋
P.S. Not feeling it anymore? No hard feelings. You can unsubscribe from the email footer below