Greetings from Third Castle
Grey days are here but there’s still plenty to get you out of the house having a good time.
This week Dublin Theatre Festival has Let Me In at Smock Alley from Tuesday to Saturday and Irish National Opera's new chamber opera, with a libretto by Colm Tóibín, at the Gaiety from Thursday to Saturday.
On the music side, Kate Nash plays The Ruby Sessions on Tuesday, and Friday has The Bluetones at Whelan's, The Wran at the Workman's Club and Onóir at the Helix.
Saturday's gigs include The Live Last Waltz at 3Olympia and a Rory Gallagher tribute night.
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
Let Me In
Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October · Smock Alley Theatre
Lola is a firefighter in every part of her life, and the city is on fire. She needs rest, but it is almost Seán's birthday and his friends are coming over. Esosa Ighodaro's new play is set in contemporary Ireland, where welcome is offered but belonging is negotiated daily, and it is billed as a comedy, a romance, a fairy tale and a tragedy. Dublin Theatre Festival and Dublin Municipal Theatre co-produce, and it runs 75 minutes with no interval.
Testament
Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 October · 19:30 · Gaiety Theatre
Irish National Opera's chamber opera follows Mary, mother of Jesus, in her final years, as she relives her son's last days while living in exile and silence. Tarik O'Regan composed it, and Colm Tóibín's libretto is adapted from his own novella. Rachael Hewer directs, Elaine Kelly conducts and the mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty sings Mary. It is sung in English with surtitles, and a post-show discussion on Thursday 8 October brings together Tóibín, O'Regan and Carty.
The Live Last Waltz
Saturday 10 October · 20:00 · 3Olympia Theatre
The Group, a Dublin rock'n'roll troupe, play The Band in a live re-enactment of the music from Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz. A ten-piece band with a full brass section is joined by guest musicians from the Dublin music scene.
The Ruby Sessions with Kate Nash
Tuesday 6 October · 20:30 · The Ruby Sessions
Kate Nash is playing a handful of intimate Irish shows this autumn, built around a new project that explores her Irish heritage. She debuted songs from it at summer festivals including Galway International Arts Festival, All Together Now and the Fleadh.
A Celebration of the Songwriting Genius of Barry Gibb
Wednesday 7 October · 20:00 · National Concert Hall
This one-night tribute looks past the Bee Gees' disco hits to Barry Gibb's collaborations with singers including Barbra Streisand (Woman in Love), Dolly Parton (Islands in the Stream), Diana Ross (Chain Reaction) and Dionne Warwick. Rebecca Storm, Melanie McCabe, The Runaways, Terence Taylor and Karen Black perform with The Sugarcubes Big Band under musical director Eugene McCarthy, and Aonghus McAnally hosts. Pat Egan presents, with the cast reuniting from his Remembering Burt Bacharach.
Crash Test Dummies
Thursday 8 October · Vicar Street
The Canadian band is on a 35-plus-year anniversary tour, with Gareth Dunlop as special guest. They had hits in the early 1990s with Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm and Superman's Song, and Brad Roberts's baritone anchors the sound. After a 20-year break they reunited in 2018, and original members Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge are still in the line-up.
Rhythm & Sticks
Thursday 8 October · 19:00 to 22:30 · Button Factory
Five-piece Irish folk band Rhythm & Sticks rework songs by acts including Mumford & Sons, Coldplay and Oasis, alongside their own material. After a run of shows around Ireland and more than 11 million streams, this is their debut headline show in Dublin, with The Vibes as special guests.
Songs That Shaped the World
Friday 9 October · 13:05 · National Concert Hall, John Field Room
Tom Cole Jr., "Mr. Sunshine Swing", sings the music of Sinatra, Monro, Bennett and Cole with the Shane O'Connor Quartet. Shane O'Connor plays piano, Adam Taylor double bass, Derek O'Connor saxophone and Gary O'Connor drums, and Linley Hamilton joins on trumpet. Cole also presents a Sunday night show on Sunshine 106.8.
The Bluetones
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · Whelan's Main Venue
The Bluetones mark 30 years since their debut album Expecting to Fly with all four original members: brothers Mark and Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin and Eds Chesters. They have also released their first new music in 14 years. Winemom support.
Onóir: Brotherhood Tour
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · The Helix, Mahony Hall
Tom McHugh, Declan Gaughan, Deane Connaghan and Diarmaid McGee formed Onóir in Donegal in 2020, and their video for The Auld Triangle has been seen by more than 3.5 million people. They sing modern Irish folk with a focus on male vocal harmony, and the Brotherhood Tour is the latest version of their theatre show.
The Wran
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · The Workman's Club, Main Room
Four brothers from County Waterford, The Wran put traditional Irish tunes together with a punkish attitude and a psychedelic edge. Moving Hearts, Lankum, Planxty and Mary Wallopers are among their influences, and the band plays banjo, accordion, harmonium, electric guitar, bass and drums alongside the brothers' harmonies.
Sounds + Visuals: The Next Generation of Sight and Sound
Friday 9 October · 23:00 · The Sugar Club
SPACES pair live electronic music with real-time digital art. The audiovisual artist SLOUCHO headlines, with DJ-producers 2step.png and Texas-Plant in support.
Music. Fashion. Brat.
Friday 9 October · 23:30 · The Workman's Club
A dance party themed on Charli xcx and the Brat era. The soundtrack runs from Charli's biggest hits to artists including Slayyyter, PinkPantheress, Addison Rae, The Dare, Kim Petras, Marina, Rina Sawayama, Tove Lo and SOPHIE.
The Amy Winehouse Experience
Saturday 10 October · 19:30 to 22:30 · The Grand Social
Plug Artists present a tribute concert covering the hits from Amy Winehouse's catalogue, the songs that defined the early noughties.
The 8th Annual Rory Gallagher Dublin Tribute Night
Saturday 10 October · 20:30 · The Workman's Club
Deuce, Mississippi Sheiks and Stephen Brennan's Coldshot perform at this annual night for the Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher, with Christian Volkmann as special guest.
I Love Reggaeton
Saturday 10 October · 23:00 to 03:00 · Button Factory
Dublin's reggaeton party returns with a Bad Bunny tribute that runs through his albums, from X100PRE and YHLQMDLG to Un Verano Sin Ti and Nadie Sabe. DJ Carlittos from Valencia and DJ Khriz from London are on the decks, with lights and lasers.
The Poet Geoff: Father 'less' hood
Tuesday 6 October · 20:00 · Whelan's Upstairs
The Poet Geoff is the name Geoff Finan uses for his spoken word poetry. He is also a painter and a primary school principal based in Dublin City Centre, and Father 'less' hood comes with special guests.
Neon Painting: Ha'Penny Bridge
Thursday 8 October · 18:30 to 20:30 · Pawn Shop
Participants paint a neon canvas under UV lights, with music and prizes. An artist guides the class step by step, and no painting experience is needed.
Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival
Sunday 11 October · 13:00 · The Sugar Club
The festival's 15th edition runs from 9 to 11 October, with the first two days at the Cinema Room @ Generator and the final day at The Sugar Club. Sunday covers programmes 5 to 7, ending with the Awards Ceremony at 21:30, where winners receive custom-painted trophies. The full line-up is 77 films from 18 countries and regions, including 49 Irish shorts and the Oscar-nominated A Friend of Dorothy, directed by Lee Knight.
The Dublin Supper Club
Thursday 8 October · 20:00 to 22:00 · Pickosito Northern Mexican Taqueria
Diners share a table and a meal with strangers at this informal supper club, which is set up to encourage genuine conversation. The listing says it suits people new to Dublin as well as anyone after a different kind of evening out.
Rocktoberfest 2026
Saturday 10 October · 13:00 to 22:00 · Rascals Brewery & Pizza Restaurant, Inchicore
Rascals' one-day lager and craft beer festival is back for a fourth year, with guest Irish beers and German lagers. Joe Donnelly, a former Phantom/TXFM presenter, plays classic and alternative rock, punk and garage, and Dan Cullen covers nu-metal, emo and pop punk. Kinnegar, Hope and DOT Brew are among the breweries, with pizzas, pretzels and beer games.
Vikings and Normans in Dublin
Saturday 10 October · 11:30 to 12:30 · Central Library, ILAC Centre
Lorcan McEvoy, Historian in Residence for Children, leads this interactive family workshop on life in Viking and Norman Dublin. There are Viking games, and the session covers the tools historians and archaeologists use to uncover the city's past. It is part of the Dublin Festival of History.
Wonder Walls Graffiti Workshop
Sunday 11 October · 13:00 to 15:00 · National Print Museum
Experienced artists lead this graffiti workshop for young people, which marks Ireland's EU Presidency. It runs over three Sundays, 4, 11 and 18 October, and covers the basics of graffiti with colour and lettering to experiment with. The sessions are outdoors, and no experience is needed.
I Said What I Said Live
Thursday 8 October · 20:00 · The Laughter Lounge
Go Loud presents content creator and TikTok personality Shane McCarthy, who takes his podcast on stage. The live show leans on one-liners, tangents and storytelling, from life and love to pop culture.
Paul Smith: Happy
Thursday 8 October · 3Arena
Crowd work, observational comedy and true stories make up Happy, Paul Smith's new comedy tour, which also visits the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Andrew Ryan: Honest Capacity
Friday 9 October · 19:30 · The Sugar Club
The comedian's show covers pet ownership, a constant inability to read a room and his frustration with the world around him.
Rory O'Hanlon: Morning Guys!!!
Monday 12 October · 3Olympia Theatre
Dublin stand-up Rory O'Hanlon performs as a D4 character who is a finance executive, property developer and self-help guru, with tales of privilege and a love of rugby. It is his first headline show at 3Olympia.
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.
💛 Consider supporting the newsletter with a monthly subscription (coming soon)
See you next week 👋
P.S. Not feeling it anymore? No hard feelings. You can unsubscribe from the email footer below