Greetings from Third Castle
This week in Dublin City Centre (4-12 May), the music calendar is working overtime in rooms that suit it. Camille O'Sullivan brings her Loveletter show to Christ Church Cathedral on Friday, and the Dublin Dance Festival opens its 2026 run next Tuesday across venues in Dublin 2 and beyond. From a lunchtime Sinatra session at the National Concert Hall to a three-day wildlife festival at Dublin Zoo, this is a full week in the city centre.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Camille O'Sullivan — Loveletter
Friday 8 May. 20:00. Christ Church Cathedral
€32.50 (20% off with code CULTURE20) Book tickets
The show is called Loveletter, and Camille O'Sullivan uses it to reimagine Nick Cave, David Bowie, Radiohead, and Jacques Brel through her own dramatic lens. This isn't a covers night. It's closer to theatrical performance that happens to use songs as its vehicle, and Christ Church Cathedral is about as good a room as Dublin has for exactly this kind of thing. Special guest May Kay is on the bill; book ahead.
These Charming Men: 40 Years of The Queen Is Dead
Saturday 9 May 19:00. 3Olympia Theatre Tickets
They've been doing this since 1995, and Morrissey himself has praised the level of detail involved. On Saturday, the 3Olympia hosts a show built specifically around 40 years of The Queen Is Dead. Tickets are in low availability; worth moving on this now.
George Fitzgerald — All Night Long at Fidelity Studio
Friday 8 May. 22:00
Fidelity Bar & Studio, Queen Street Tickets
UK producer George Fitzgerald makes his Fidelity debut on Friday night, doing it the proper way: all night long, from 10pm through to Saturday morning. The kind of set you clear the diary for. Twenty-one plus.
Chósta
Thursday 7 May. 20:00 (doors 7pm) Curveball, Button Factory
Chósta hasn't headlined in three years, so Thursday at the Button Factory is carrying some expectation. Full live band, old songs, new songs, unreleased material, and covers. Support from qwasi, an experimental electronic project by Eric Fitzgerald. The kind of night you'll be glad you made the effort for.
Moonlight Sinatra with Sean Hession
Friday 8 May. National Concert Hall. Book Tickets
Sean Hession performs classic Sinatra at the National Concert Hall on Friday afternoon, with orchestral backing to match. A civilised way to ease into the weekend.
Bó Dhearg — BIMM Music Showcase
Friday 8 May: 17:00. The Liberty Belle, 33 Francis St. Tickets
Part of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 music trail this Friday. Bó Dhearg play Irish trad at The Liberty Belle from 5pm - free in, Francis Street.
Dublin Dance Festival 2026
From Tuesday 12 May. Various venues, Dublin. Programme
The Dublin Dance Festival runs May 12-16 across venues in the city. The centrepiece is Emma Martin's Soft God, with Silvia Gribaudi's Suspended Chorus opening Tuesday and Wednesday and the Irish National Dance Company's The Fifth Sun running Thursday to Saturday. Worth getting into the programme before the good seats go.
Linocut Relief Printing with Caroline Byrne
Sunday 10 May. 14:00. National Print Museum. BookTickets
A Sunday afternoon hands-on workshop at the National Print Museum: linocut relief printing led by artist Caroline Byrne. You cut the block, you ink it, you print it. A great, relaxing way to spend a couple of hours.
Moonlight Dream: A Baby's Cosmic Odyssey
Thursday 7, Saturday 9, Sunday 10 May. 10:00 @ The Ark. Tickets
The Ark and Dublin Dance Festival have teamed up to take babies to the moon. A sensory performance designed specifically for very young audiences and their grown-ups, running three mornings this week
Native Species Festival
Saturday 9, Sunday 10, Monday 11 May. Dublin Zoo. Book Tickets
Three days focused on Ireland's native wildlife at Dublin Zoo — talks, demonstrations, and activities running Saturday through Monday from 9:30am. Good family day out.
WellFest Dublin 2026
Saturday 9 May. IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham. More info.
The outdoor health and fitness festival returns to the IMMA grounds at Kilmainham this Saturday. Yoga, fitness classes, wellness talks, food. All day from 9:30am. The Royal Hospital grounds are well worth it on a decent May day.
Irish Fashion & Designer Showcase at EPIC
Wednesday 6 May. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Custom House Quay. More info.
An evening of Irish fashion and design at EPIC on Custom House Quay this Wednesday. An exclusive evening celebrating Ireland’s most exciting design talent, in collaboration with the Council of Irish Fashion Designers (CIFD).
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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