Greetings from Third Castle
Bloomsday opens Tuesday with the JoyceStagers taking the ballads of Ulysses to the streets, while Kasabian land at Fairview Park the same evening.
David Gray follows Wednesday with The Divine Comedy in tow. Paul Brady takes up a three-night residency at Vicar Street. On Friday, Leinster face the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park in the URC Grand Final, the first time the decider has fallen on a Friday night in the competition's history.
To top if off the Stoneybatter Festival runs through the weekend and GCN's Roast Battle Royale fills the Abbey on Sunday.
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
United Rugby Championship Grand Final: Leinster v Vodacom Bulls
Friday 19 June · 19:30 · Croke Park
For the first time in the competition's history, the URC Grand Final falls on a Friday night. The Aviva was unavailable; Metallica had it booked. So Croke Park gets the rugby instead, and it might suit the occasion better than a midweek slot ever would. Leinster defend their title against the Vodacom Bulls, who have appeared in four of the last five finals. If you're not going, Premier Sports has the kick-off from 19:30.
Paul Brady X3
Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, Friday 19 June · 20:00 · Vicar Street
Three consecutive nights at Vicar Street from one of the most important figures in Irish music. Brady performs with his trio here, and the small-group format suits his songwriting better than any stadium slot ever has. He has been at this since the early 1970s; three nights in a row at Vicar Street is not something that happens on the regular. If you have been meaning to go for years, the week has handed you three chances.
Kasabian
Tuesday 16 June · 19:00 · Fairview Park
Kasabian open the Fairview Park outdoor season with Miles Kane as support. Gates are at 7pm, show from 8pm. The weather is not guaranteed; pack for both eventualities.
David Gray — Past & Present Tour
Wednesday 17 June · 18:30 · Fairview Park
The second of two consecutive outdoor nights at Fairview Park, this one with The Divine Comedy as special guest. Gray is touring his 13th album, Dear Life, released in early 2025, and plays the full back catalogue alongside it. Tickets from €69.90. The lineup alone makes this the better of the two Fairview nights.
Carole King's Tapestry: An Evening in Laurel Canyon
Tuesday 16 June · 19:00 · The Sugar Club
A live band tribute to Tapestry in a seated club setting, recreating King's 1971 album and the broader Laurel Canyon sound of its era. The Sugar Club is a better room for something like this than any theatre would be.
Paul McKenna Solo
Tuesday 16 June · 20:00 · Little Whelan's
The Scottish folk artist plays a stripped-back solo set at Little Whelan's, seated and standing. McKenna's songwriting carries a distinctly Irish trad edge despite the Glasgow postcode.
Theo Katzman
Tuesday 16 June · 19:00 · Button Factory
Katzman at Button Factory on a Tuesday that is already stacked with options. The Vulfpeck founding member mixes groove and storytelling in a way that holds up well in a live room.
Voivod + Midnight
Tuesday 16 June · 18:00 · Whelan's
Canadian prog-metal cult act Voivod with Midnight in support. Early doors at 6pm. Heavy, fast, and over by a reasonable hour.
Popular Hibernian Orchestra — Summer Gala Concert
Tuesday 16 June · 20:00 · National Concert Hall
The Hibernian Orchestra's summer gala at the NCH. A solid option if Tuesday feels more orchestral than outdoor.
Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving Live
Saturday 20 June · 16:00 · Marlay Park
The British singer-songwriter brings The Art of Loving Live to Marlay Park on Saturday afternoon. Dean released Messy in 2023 and has been touring to increasingly large rooms since. Marlay Park suits the scale of where her career is right now.
FOREVER 26 FESTIVAL
Saturday 20 June · 17:00 · Whelan's Main Venue
Just announced: a festival-format event at Whelan's from 5pm to late, €20 on the door. Good Saturday evening fallback if the outdoor shows are not your preference.
Mantle
Friday 19 June · 20:00 · Whelan's Upstairs
Emerging Irish act Mantle headline Whelan's Upstairs as part of the venue's regular original music programme.
Sister Brigid
Tuesday 16 June · 19:30 · Cobblestone
Live music in the Cobblestone backroom on Tuesday night.
Bloomsday 2026: Ulysses Ballads with the JoyceStagers
Tuesday 16 June · 18:30 · Dublin City
Bloomsday falls on June 16 every year. This year the JoyceStagers take it to the streets with the ballads woven through Ulysses. A low-key way to mark the day if the official events feel too tourist-adjacent.
Stories From Dubliners
Wednesday 17, Friday 19, Saturday 20 June · 20:00 · Smock Alley Theatre, Boys' School
Joyce's short stories adapted for the stage at Smock Alley's Boys' School space, blending humour and tragedy through contemporary characters drawn from the original collection. Three chances to catch it across the week.
The Whiteheaded Boy
Running from Wednesday 17 June · Abbey Theatre
Lennox Robinson's 1916 classic Irish comedy is back at the Abbey. The Whiteheaded Boy is among the funniest plays in the Irish canon, and you do not need to know anything about 1916 to enjoy it.
Wild Earth Exhibition
Opening Wednesday 17 June · 10:00 · Museum of Literature Ireland
Over ninety texts by Irish writers on how poetry and storytelling connect us to the natural world, opening at MoLI on St Stephen's Green this week.
DANNY BHOY: Dear World...
Thursday 18 June · 19:00 · The Sugar Club
Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy plays the Sugar Club with his current show. Good Thursday night option in a room that fits it.
Casual Choir
Friday 19 June · Button Factory
No-audition choir session at Button Factory. You show up, learn pop songs, perform them with the room. No experience needed.
GCN Roast Battle Royale
Sunday 21 June · 20:00 · Abbey Theatre
A fundraiser for GCN, Ireland's free LGBTQ+ media since 1988, in the form of a roast battle hosted by Brendan Courtney. On the panel: Emma Doran, Shane Daniel Byrne, Muireann O'Connell, Niamh Kavanagh, Louise McSharry, Gearóid Farrelly, Andrea Horan, and drag duo The Misses. Tickets from €45, with a €70 premium option including a post-show drinks reception. Seventy minutes of roasting on the Summer Solstice weekend.
Dublin Choral Festival
Saturday 20 June · 20:00 · St Patrick's Cathedral
Over 150 youth voices performing at St Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday evening. The cathedral is a hard room to beat for choral music.
Project Arts Centre — Open Day 2026
Saturday 20 June · 11:00 · Project Arts Centre
Free programme of performances, workshops, talks, tours, food, music, and dancing at the Project from 11am. Worth dropping in on Saturday morning.
Festa Junina 2026
Saturday 20 June · 12:00 · The Bernard Shaw, Dublin 1
Brazilian Festa Junina festival at the Bernard Shaw from noon: traditional food, music, and dance. Free entry.
Stoneybatter Festival
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June · Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
Three days in Dublin 7. Friday launches from 5pm, Saturday from 9am, and Sunday is the centrepiece: Manor Street and Prussia Street close from 11am to 4:30pm with three stages running simultaneously. Trad and céilí on Prussia Street, diverse acts on the Stoneybatter Stage, family activities on the Main Stage. A proper local festival.
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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