Greetings from Third Castle
Dalymount Park says goodbye to its old home this week
The Last Days of Dalymount brings four nights of music to the stadium before redevelopment begins, while Dublin City Council Liffey Festival launches a new two-day gathering on the Quays built around the Liffey Swim and a flotilla down to the docks.
Dublin Fringe Festival runs on too, with shows including Sweat and Kafka's Doll returning for a second date apiece at the Lir Academy and the Abbey's Peacock Stage.
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
Dublin City Council Liffey Festival
Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September · 12:00 to 18:00 daily · Custom House Quay, George's Dock, Sir John Rogerson's Quay & River Liffey
Dublin's newest festival opens with the 106th Dublin City Council Dublin City Liffey Swim, sending swimmers from Rory O'More Bridge to the steps of Custom House Quay. The Pelican of London tall ship visits over the weekend alongside aerial displays, watersports and walking tours, and the river itself becomes the stage for the Liffey Festival Flotilla, a procession of local boats and rowing clubs travelling toward Dublin Port with an eight-piece performance from Glasshouse Ensemble. Street theatre, fairground attractions and live music fill out both days.
The Last Days of Dalymount
Thursday 10 – Sunday 13 September · Dalymount Park
Four consecutive nights of music close out Bohemian FC's home ground ahead of its redevelopment. Thursday opens the series with Fontaines D.C. members Carlos O'Connell, Conor Curley and Tom Coll behind the decks for an F.D.C. DJ set, joined by live sets from THEATRE and Black Nylon, and the run ends on Sunday with Johnny Logan and the Eugene McCarthy Big Band for a Bohemian fan farewell. Friday and Saturday's line-ups are below.
MCD Presents: Issue 0.8
Wednesday 9 September · 20:00 · The Grand Social
MCD's live new music showcase puts three emerging Irish acts on one bill: Limerick shoegaze band Mother of Pearl, Epilogue and Grenade Sports.
Tengu Jazz: Michael Buckley Presents The Great Quintets of Jazz with Ryan Quigley
Thursday 10 September · 20:30 · Yamamori Tengu
Saxophonist Michael Buckley leads a band through material from jazz's great quintets, from Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan to Clifford Brown and Miles Davis. Trumpeter Ryan Quigley joins him alongside Scott Flanigan on piano, Ronan Guilfoyle on bass and Brendan Doherty on drums.
Last Days of Dalymount: Annie Mac
Friday 11 September · 18:00 · Dalymount Park
Annie Mac takes the second night of Dalymount's farewell series, joined by Mango and Sally Cinnamon.
Last Days of Dalymount: John Francis Flynn & Bricknasty
Saturday 12 September · 14:30 · Dalymount Park
Saturday's line-up gathers John Francis Flynn, Bricknasty, Gemma Dunleavy, Brian Brannigan of A Lazarus Soul, Paul Page of Whipping Boy and Róisín El Cherif for the third night at Dalymount.
KRS-One
Saturday 12 September · 19:00 · Button Factory
The hip-hop pioneer's My Philosophy European Tour stops at Button Factory, with a set spanning his catalogue including Sound of da Police and MC's Act Like They Don't Know.
The Jazz Room: Sinatra & Armstrong Tribute
Sunday 13 September · 17:15 · Button Factory
A live band works through the shared songbook of Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, including Fly Me to the Moon and What a Wonderful World, in an intimate club setting.
Michael Starring Ben
Sunday 13 September · 19:00 · 3Olympia Theatre
Ben Bowman's Michael Jackson tribute returns to Dublin for a second date, with a live band, costumes and choreography recreating solo hits and Jackson 5 classics.
Kurt Vile & the Violators
Monday 14 September · 19:00 · Vicar Street
Foggy Notions presents Kurt Vile & the Violators, with support from Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, following the release of Vile's new record Philadelphia's Been Good to Me.
Sweat
Tuesday 8 & 10 September · 18:45 · The Lir Academy – Studio 2
Ari Bhatti's dance-theatre piece imagines a climate-stricken 2045 Ireland where citizens must go unclothed to conserve resources, following one woman as she adjusts to mandatory nudity in her own apartment. Fringe describes it as a funny, sweaty look at Catholic guilt, shame and our relationship with naked bodies.
Kafka's Doll
Tuesday 8 September · 18:00 · Abbey Theatre – Peacock Stage
Friday 11 September · 18:00 · Abbey Theatre – Peacock Stage
Theatre Lovett builds this family piece around a real encounter from Franz Kafka's life: a distressed child he met in a Berlin park, whom he wrote to for weeks in the voice of her lost doll. The correspondence becomes a gentle meditation on loss, hope and storytelling.
I Want Your Sex
Tuesday 8 – Wednesday 9 September · Irish Film Institute
Gregg Araki's first feature in over a decade follows Elliot, already in a relationship, as he becomes a "sexual muse" for the artist Erika Tracy. The IFI screens it Tuesday at 16:00 and Wednesday at 17:00, calling it a frank, entertaining snapshot of contemporary sexual politics.
Dead In Here
Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 September · Smock Alley Theatre (The Black Box)
Theatre Giovanni's new production follows a group of friends who escape to a countryside manor for the weekend, dancing, drinking and fighting to distract themselves from the state of the world, until something starts listening from below.
The Dublin Story Slam – Educate
Wednesday 9 September · 19:00 · The Sugar Club
Storytellers take the mic with personal true stories on the theme Educate, from classroom memories to lessons learned outside it. Poetry, spoken word, fiction and music are not part of the format; the night runs on true stories only.
Dublin Independent Fashion Week
Thursday 10 – Wednesday 16 September · Various Locations
A week-long programme of runway shows, exhibitions, workshops and community-led events supporting homegrown Irish design talent, opening with the Postmarked ceremony at the GPO on Thursday.
Exhibit A: Imposter
Thursday 10 September · 18:00 · Bewley's Café Theatre
Justine Megan traces her own path from a Dublin council estate through Trinity College to a corporate law firm, using comedy and music to examine class, accent and the effort of trying to belong.
Growing Pains
Thursday 10 September · 18:00 · The New Theatre
Carley Magee's play, directed by Seón Simpson and performed by Annie McIlwaine and Vicky Allen, follows two friends through the chaos and contradictions of 2010s girlhood.
Dublin Comedy Festival
Friday 11 – Sunday 27 September · Various Locations
Now in its third year, Dublin Comedy Festival brings comedy, music and entertainment to communities across Dublin and beyond throughout September.
For The Love of Dolly: Celebrating The Life of Dolly Parton
Sunday 13 September · 15:00 · The Workmans Club
An afternoon built around Dolly Parton opens with a screening of 9 to 5, followed by a rundown of favourite Dolly moments, a drag cabaret hosted by Breda Larkin as Joe on the Dolan, a sing-along and live musical guests. Proceeds go to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, administered by the Childhood Development Initiative.
Creativity on Tap: An Evening With Emma Doran
Tuesday 15 September · 19:00 · Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Emma Doran headlines this Dublin Fringe comedy night at the working brewery venue, joined by a line-up of guest comics for the evening.
Matilda The Musical
Opens Tuesday 15 September, running to Sunday 18 October · Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel follows Matilda, a girl with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, as she takes a stand against the adults around her. The run includes matinee and evening performances throughout its five-week stay.
Baking Classes w/ Emily Voortman
Wednesday 9 September · 18:30 to 21:00 · The Fumbally Stables
Head Baker Emily Voortman runs a hands-on sourdough workshop covering starter maintenance, mixing, shaping and baking, with a look at how different grains and flours change a loaf's flavour and texture.
Sensinema: Song of the Sea
Saturday 12 September · 15:00 · Herbert Park
This outdoor screening of Cartoon Saloon's Song of the Sea is built for accessibility, with adjustable headphones, relaxed audience conditions and a neurodiversity discussion alongside live music from members of Kíla.
Mexican Day 2026
Saturday 12 September · 15:00 · The National Stadium
Ireland's annual Mexican festival marks the 216th anniversary of Mexican independence with an El Grito de Independencia ceremony held with the Mexican Embassy, alongside live music, dance, food stalls and market vendors.
Slow Game
Monday 14 September · 19:00 · The Grand Social
Forside launches Slow Game, an evening centred on reclaiming creative skills and traditions.
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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