It’s a jam-packed month of fun and activities for all the family
Amy Winehouse exhibition in Newbridge: 20 Mar -7 May
The enduring fascination with the life of sing-songwriter Amy Winehouse is a testament to the musical legacy she left behind. In honour of her incredible talent and style, the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge Silverware in Co Kildare is hosting a free exhibition dedicated to the tragic songstress. It features garments which have never been seen in public, including dresses designed by her personal stylist and close friend, Naomi Parry, who also wrote a book about Amy, her style, their friendship and real life. Amy Winehouse Beyond Black is a fabulous hardback book which has some wonderful stories and photos of Amy, her clothes and style.
Click here for more information.
Lessons in Kindness launch in Galway: 2 April
If you’re a fan of poetry, Dani Gill’s second poetry collection, Lessons in Kindness, is out this month and explores identity, sexuality, strength and vulnerability. The collection will be officially launched in The Mick Lally Theatre on Sunday 2 April, where Dani will be interviewed by writer Edel Coffey.
See danigill.com for more details.
The New Electric Ballroom at The Everyman in Cork: 4 – 7 April
Following it’s critically-acclaimed run in the Gate Theatre in Dublin, Enda Walsh’s award-winning play The New Electric Ballroom is coming to the Everyman Theatre in Cork for a short run. The story follows sisters Breda and Clare as they reflect on lost love and what might have been. As they reminisce, their younger sister Ada looks to re-ignite Breda and Clara’s spirits, and resurrect the smallest glimmer of love and hope in their remote fishing village home.
Click here for more information.
Auction of the Finnstown House Hotel collection: 4, 5, 6 April
Have you ever wanted to attend a live auction? Well, now’s your chance. Victor Mee Auctions, the Cavan based auction house, has been appointed to present The Finnstown House Hotel Collection to the auction block. Recently refurbished to the highest specifications and having closed its doors in December 2022, the contents of the famed Dublin hotel will now go under the hammer in this one-off event for hospitality professionals and the general public alike.
And don’t worry, there will be lots of items to choose from. Attendees can expect over 1800 individual and collective lots of fine and unique furnishings, both antique and contemporary, including a vast array of tables and seating from the hotel bar and lobby areas. See victormeeauctions.ie for more.
Abstraction art exhibition: 6-23 April
Art fans are in for a treat this month as an exhibition featuring four of Ireland’s most exciting abstract female artists is to go on view in Dublin. Abstraction, a group exhibition featuring work by Jane Rainey, Lola Donoghue, Megan Burns and Beatriz Elorza, will take place at Gormley’s Art Gallery from 6-23 April.
Drawn together by their interest in non-representational art and a preference for working in oils, the body of work shows the diverse nature of this genre and how colour, shape, space and composition can be used to express ideas and emotions.
See gormleys.ie for more details.
Family fun at Kildare Village: 6-16 April
Kildare Village has something for everyone this month. You can enjoy a fun day with the family with a host of activities taking place over midterm including the Junior Einstein Science event and the Lindt Gold Bunny Easter hunts. This, along with the wide range of boutiques and family-friendly dining experiences, makes Kildare Village the ultimate destination for a family day out.
Alternatively, you can visit the newly opened Elton John Pops Up! store, an exclusive pop-up store in partnership with the Bicester Village Collection. The Elton John Pops Up! boutique is open until 3 May and timed in celebration of his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. Click here for more details on these events and activities.
West Waterford Festival of Food: 13-16 April
With over 70 food events and activities, there is so much to look forward to for locals and tourists visiting the West Waterford Festival of Food this month. Highlights include celebrity chefs, popup events in unexpected locations, a three-day festival market, ‘Bia not Bluster’ panel discussions, and family-friendly events including a teddy bear’s picnic. We also love the sound of the ‘Clancy’s Kitchen’ event which will regale the audience with songs, stories, and music from the household of the Clancy Brothers.
If that wasn’t enough, the festival aims to be plastic-free and has brought in an autism mobile unit as well as having a Lámh-signed cookery demo all in a bid to make it as accessible as possible. See westwaterfordfestivaloffood.ie for more information.
Studio B Spring Fair: 15 April
If you’re looking for a great day out with the girls in Dublin’s city centre, check out this event from Studio B. It promises to be a very fashionable occasion for attendees who will have the opportunity shop predominantly online brands in person and enjoy a drink with friends. It’s also a brilliant chance for female-founded companies to connect, bring their audiences together and empower one another. Some of the brands on the day will include Sinead Keary: The Label, Gym+Coffee, Bellamianta, FemFuelz and more.
Tickets cost €15 but this includes a goodie bag worth €30 and a raffle entry to win a hamper featuring an item from every brand, worth over €400! Click here for more information.
Galway Food Tours – Meet the Maker program: Starts 20 April
A new addition to Galway Food Tours will combine food and the unique characters in the area who bring the best of what is on offer to life.
The Meet the Maker program kicks off on Thursday 20 April with Mike Browne, the charming oyster guy, who has had a stall selling oysters on Galway’s famous market for over 17 years. He will talk you through what is involved in getting the oysters from these shores to our plates…while serving you the freshest local oysters!
After meeting Mike, you will take a short walk to one of Galway’s award-winning restaurants for a delicious meal and wine pairing, finishing the evening off with a nightcap in a local bar. Tickets are €100 and are available from www.galwayfoodtours.com.
Brown Thomas Arnotts’ Postive Change Festival: 20 – 23 April
This is a must-attend event for beauty, sustainability and wellness enthusiasts! Over the course of four days, Brown Thomas Arnotts will host its first ever Positive Change Festival – a series of sustainable-themed store events, from panel discussions to beauty presentations. The festival kicks off on Thursday April 20 in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street with a panel discussion, “The Power of Positive Change”, hosted by sustainability journalist Jo Linehan.
Click here for more information.
Sisterhood Series in Dundrum: 21 – 23 April
If you’d like to find out more about manifestation, modern parenting or wellness as you age, this event is for you. Dundrum Town Centre will host the inaugural Sisterhood Series which is set to take place from April 21 – 23 at The Apartment in Brown Thomas. The event aims to bring together women of all ages for a weekend of expert-led panel discussions. MC Georgie Crawford will talk to inspirational women from the fields of healthcare, parenting and manifestation including Roxie Nafousi, Dr. Doireann O’Leary, Sarah Sproule, Laura Dowling, Fiona Parfrey and many more.
Click here for more information.
SkinSideOut health event in Dublin: 22 April
This is not your typical skincare event. This skin health event is for anyone with or caring for someone with a skin condition. It will include panel discussions on eczema and psoriasis moderated by Virgin Media News anchor Claire Brock; talks on acne, rosacea and skin cancer prevention; and “how to” sessions delivered by dermatology ANPs (advanced nurse practitioners) on emollient therapy, HS wound care and scalp psoriasis.
Throughout the day, attendees will have an opportunity to speak with skin care brands exhibiting at the event about their latest products available for managing different skin problems. Attendees will also receive a SkinSideOut gift bag to bring home. Click here for registration details.
Pups in the Park (Dublin and Cork): 22, 23 April and 29, 30 April
If you’ve got a dog in your life, you won’t want to miss this epic pawty! Following the unprecedented success of last year, Pups in the Park is back for 2023 in Dublin’s Marlay Park and for the first time, in Cork’s famous Showgrounds venue. The Marlay Park, Dublin event will take place on Saturday and Sunday 22-23 April, while the Cork Showgrounds event will be held the following weekend on 29-30 April.
Visitors will once again enjoy a fantastic lineup of doggy-inspired events and attractions including new additions such as ‘Dancing Dogs’ hosted by Crufts favourite Anne Shuker or returning favourites such as the Puppy Play Pen, the Leader Bark Park and the Hay Bale Race. The hugely popular Chin Wag Talk Stage is also back for 2023, where the dogs as well as the humans can learn some new tips and tricks.
Pups in the Park offers a range of ticket price concessions, including OAP rates, ensuring pups and humans of all ages can attend. See pupsinthepark.ie for more details.
Punchestown Festival: 25 – 29 April
The iconic festival is back and will feature many top-class horses who have clashed at other leading racing festivals. Prize money and prestige are set to be big, with the action starting in the late spring afternoon sunshine.
However, while we know the focus for many will be on the horses, we’re more excited to see the race day fashion – and in particular, who triumphs at the Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop competition. It is open to people of all genders and ages who catch the eye of the Style Council members by dressing with confidence and creativity whilst considering sustainability and appropriateness of their outfit.
See punchestown.com for more details.
National Poetry Day: 27 April
Are you or a family member the next Seamus Heaney or William Wordsworth? If so, this is your time to shine.
Now in its ninth year, Poetry Day Ireland is an annual celebration of poetry taking place on Thursday 27 April and this year’s theme is ‘Message in a Bottle’. Organisers are inviting everyone to share a poem, read a poem or speak a poem. All are welcome to get involved and with over 100 free events taking place across the country, there is something for everyone to enjoy. While all events are free, spaces are limited so early booking at poetryireland.ie is advised.
Click here for the full programme of events happening across the day.
Lá Mór na Gaeilge 2023: 30 April
Have you got a cúpla focail? Are you looking for an excuse to speak Irish for the day or just embrace our native language in general?
The Irish language street festival of free performances, workshops and more is back for a second year on Sunday 30 April between 12 – 5p.m. on Parnell Square. This year’s theme is “Irish Revival – 130 Years” and the programme includes a series of workshops on the evolution of Irish and how it has grown during this time.
Expect music and dance workshops, decoding old Irish text seminars, new communities on their journey with Irish, history walks, Yoga Oga, an Irish twist on the pop classics of Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush and Cher and 50 bodhrán banging children! All events are free (but most are ticketed). The street will be closed to traffic during these hours in celebration of the fun and inclusivity of the Irish language. Click here for more information.
SALT (Part of Galway Theatre Festival): 30 April – 1 May
Sea-swimming has become such an intrinsic part of Irish life that it was only a matter of time before it became performance art as well. This Bealtaine, as part of Galway Theatre Festival 2023, two multidisciplinary ritual beach performances that celebrate our ocean, will take place in Kinvara on Trácht Beach and Ladies Beach in Salthill, Galway City. People are invited to the beaches at dusk where they will be immersed in a performative ritual.
Inspired by the powerful personal stories of local swimmers gathered during the pandemic, SALT is about belonging, authentic connection, healing and empowerment. Click here for more information.
