Whether you’re looking for food or music festivals, a day out with the whole family, a health retreat or a day of yoga and relaxation with your dog, our event guide has something for you
Pink Ladies Afternoon Tea at the g: Throughout October
There’s nothing like gathering the ladies together for a stylish Afternoon Tea and even better when you’re helping to raise much needed funds for charity. The five-star g Hotel is in the pink again for the full month of October as they host their annual Pink Ladies Afternoon Tea in support of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
To support the charity and help highlight the need for breast cancer research, during October, the g is offering a very special ‘pink’ themed afternoon tea with a donation from each one going to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute in Galway. At the end of October, the g Hotel will match the amount donated by customers and present the full amount to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. To book, email events@theghotel.ie.
Autumn Fête with Irish Heritage Trust: 1 Oct
On 1 October, visitors to the Irish Heritage Trust managed properties, which include Fota House & Gardens in Cork, Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens in Wexford, and Strokestown Park in Roscommon can enjoy an Autumn Fête – a vibrant celebration of heritage and positive aging.
Designed to bring family generations together, the event will offer an impressive array of indoor and outdoor experiences, catering to both the young and the young at heart. Coinciding with Positive Aging Week 2023, the Autumn Fête embraces the spirit of aging and will feature a rich tapestry of activities including: lawn croquet, personalised tours, music, dance, funfair amusements, wellness activities, wildlife encounters, nature trails, scavenger hunts, and a medley of vintage and traditional activities. All Irish Heritage Trust properties are dog-friendly and staff and volunteers look forward to welcoming all members of the family to the Autumn Fête. Click here for more information.
FAUST by Irish National Opera, Dublin: 1 – 7 Oct
A highlight of the upcoming Dublin Theatre Festival, Irish National Opera’s new production of Gounod’s Faust has four unmissable performances at The Gaiety Theatre. Dealing with themes like the triumph of good over evil and whether eternal damnation is inevitable, you don’t have to be a fan of opera or classical music to appreciate this classic moral saga.
Featuring an incredible international cast (including three Irish female singers), the powerful opera shows a brilliant man turning to the dark side, compromising with evil. Visit gaiety.ie to book your tickets.
Tipperary Dance International Festival: 3 – 15 Oct
Grab your dancing shoes and get yourself to Tipp this month for the 14th Tipperary Dance International Festival! The immersive dance event featuring cutting-edge international dance artists Cocoon Dance and Gaya de Medeiros, new Irish works from artists including Liz Roche, John Scott, Isabella Oberländer and Fearghus O’Conchuir, specially-commissioned productions for young people, and an onscreen Carmen starring Paul Mescal, will offer audiences both artistic excellence and social meaningfulness at this much-loved event.
Festival activities will take place in venues in Tipperary Town, Thurles and Clonmel, including the Excel Arts Centre, the Source Arts Centre, STAC Chapel, schools, open-air spaces and online. For more information and tickets, go to tipperarydance.com
Space Week Ireland: 4 – 10 Oct
Space Week Ireland returns this month which is music to the ears of space enthusiasts, community groups, businesses and institutions organising events around Ireland!
The festival, which aims to ignite a passion for space science and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts, coincides with World Space Week and is the nation’s premier celebration of space exploration and science. Over the week, the public can explore a space-themed festival of events and a captivating series of workshops, lectures, exhibitions, throughout the country. Find out more at spaceweek.ie.
‘Persona’ Art Exhibition, Dublin: 5 – 31 Oct
Opening in the Oriel Gallery in Dublin, “Persona” showcases the profound and compelling works of former English rugby player Ed Williamson.
Williamson made the swap from premiership rugby to contemporary painting after moving to Ireland where he now lives and works as a professional artist. Following exhibitions in London, Paris, Monaco and New York, Williamson’s new work depicts his unique blend of vivid colours, intricate textures and evocative imagery, and leads audiences on a captivating journey. Click here for more information.
Kultured Club – A Gut Health Day Retreat, Dublin: 7 Oct
Looking to improve your gut health? If so, prepare to master your microbiome and reap the benefits of good gut health at this fun, feel-good event. BKultured’s Niamh Hegarty is coming together with dietitian Ciara McNulty for a day of wellness, delicious food and gut health goodness on 7 Oct, 10 – 1pm in the Fumbally Stables, Dublin.
This one-of-a-kind day retreat includes a food demo with dietitian Ciara, guided meditation, a healthy plant-based lunch, an expert panel talk and a gift bag worth over €60. Click here for tickets and more information.
Open House Dublin: 7 – 15 Oct
The annual free festival of architecture brought to you by the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) returns with 150+ guided tours and events taking place across the city and county this month.
With a focus on how lives are lived and stories unfold in the company of architecture and the built environment, for the first time all four Dublin local authorities are part of Open House Dublin, with events taking place in Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and, new for this year, South Dublin. Visit openhousedublin.ie for a the full list of events.
Shine A Light Sleep Out: 13 Oct
Shine A Light 2023 takes place on Friday, 13 October and aims to raise €1.2m to help end family homelessness. There are currently 1,839 families including children in emergency accommodation as of this July, an increase of 29% in the last year making this year’s event more important than ever.
Bord Gáis Energy and Focus Ireland are calling on people to sign up and host their own sleep out in their homes, communities or workplaces on 13 October. For more information on how to sign up or host your own sleep out, visit shinealight.focusireland.ie
Babaró Festival, Galway: 13 – 22 Oct
Get ready for an unforgettable journey into the world of creativity and imagination as the 27th annual Baboró Festival is set to take place over ten days this October. Baboró will unfold across various venues throughout Galway city and county, promising an exhilarating lineup of entertainment and engagement for families and individuals of all ages.
Expect a new show from Irish companies Fidget Feet and Ceol Connected alongside world-class theatre for older children by Australian company and festival favourites, Slingsby. Also from Australia, an engaging visual art exhibition will invite Galway families to be part of the exhibition in Galway Arts Centre. See babaro.ie for more information.
Hidden Hearth Festival: 14 -15 Oct
This gorgeous event, formerly known as the Lisnavagh Wellness Festival, invites visitors to tune into their inner creativity and find inspiration to lead meaningful lives. The diverse family-friendly programme features well-being classes, including the Planetary Health Plate, teaching the art of eating well and how to make winter wellness tinctures, all while being kind to our planet. The Wild Forest School for Children and the Experimental Bee Therapy also return following last year’s success.
There will be forest-bathing walks, lake swimming, cookery demos and lots more besides! If this sounds right up your street, click here for more details.
Irish Book Week: 14 – 21 Oct
Now in its sixth year, Irish Book Week is a nationwide celebration of Irish bookshops, Irish books, publishers, writers, illustrators, and poets. The campaign aims to encourage people from across Ireland to visit their local bookshops to discover and enjoy a range of exciting and interesting events, readings, parties, displays and much more.
For further information on this wonderful initiative and the events that will be taking place throughout the country during the weeklong celebrations, keep an eye on Bookselling Ireland’s social media platforms Twitter @BooksellingI Facebook @BooksellingIreland Instagram: @BooksellingI and use the campaign hashtag #IrishBookWeek in all of your posts.
IMRAM (Irish Language Literature Festival), Dublin: 18 – 21 Oct
IMRAM 2023 heralds the twentieth anniversary of the festival’s continuous evolution, with a programme of innovative events that are as cutting-edge as ever, predominantly taking place at Smock Alley Theatre from 18 – 21 October and 10 – 18 November. Highlights include the launch of Anna Heussaff’s latest page-turning crime novel, Sa Pholl Báite, a one-woman play Feisteas an tSaoil/Dressing the part, a bi-lingual poetic celebration of women’s lives through social changes of the 20th century, performed by its writer Áine Moynihan and Geimhreadh Anama/The Winterreise Project – Caitríona O’Leary’s stunning reworking of the Franz Schubert classic in a folk and traditional music format.
See imram.ie for more details on the festival programme.
National Menopause Summit, Cork: 20 Oct
Taking place during October’s World Menopause Month and on the same week as World Menopause Day, the National Menopause Summit Cork will be held in the historic and iconic venue of Cork City Hall on Friday 20 October.
Hosted by menopause champion, journalist and broadcaster Gráinne Seoige and featuring renowned menopause awareness pioneer and one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and journalists Mariella Frostrup as the Cork summit’s much-anticipated international guest speaker, the National Menopause Summit will include advice from a panel of leading experts in crucial areas such as heart health, breast health, the importance of posture and so much more. For tickets and more details, visit nationalmenopausesummit.com
Downward Dog Yoga Event, Dublin: 21 Oct
Love dogs and love yoga? This could be the event for you!
Dog-friendly hotel, Conrad Dublin, is delighted to announce a unique Yoga event, perfect for dog lovers and their furry friends alike. Saturday, 21 October will see the 5-star hotel’s state of the art event space transform into a haven of zen, where humans can unwind with a premium yoga class, all while giving puppy pals some prime socialising time.
Laura Farrington, trained yoga, mindfulness and meditation teacher of Umbrella Wellness will be leading the class, utilising her extensive knowledge of dog-friendly yoga sessions to ensure the utmost comfort for all attending. Guests can melt away into a session of relaxation, restoration and comfort, followed by healthy refreshments, snacks and chats for both humans and doggies alike!
Even better, 10% of proceeds from each ticket going to the devoted dog rehoming charity, Milo’s Mission Rescue. Click here for more information.
Westival, Co Mayo: 25 – 30 Oct
This year’s Westport Music and Arts festival programme promises to have something for everyone with music, theatre, literature, film, visual art, family friendly events and hands-on workshops. Highlights include The Scratch, Gemma Hayes, Donal Dineen, Negro Impacto, Alison Spittle, the Bluegrass and Folk Festival and much more.
Visitors and locals are welcome to take in all the town has to offer, with events taking place in venues around the town of Westport. Selected events will be ticketed and available to book online. See westival.ie for more details.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival: 27 – 30 Oct
With 50,000 attendees at last year’s festival, Savour is back for a 15th year with a stellar lineup! Visitors can expect cookery demonstrations, dining events, talks, workshops and entertainment for adults and children. Zero waste, sustainable cooking and gardening for the future are topics of many of the events while a special workshop on how to preserve and restore our precious native biodiversity will also take place.
The four-day festival includes appearances from Irish and international chefs and food personalities including Darina Allen, Rachel Allen, Rory O’Connell, Kevin Dundon, Dylan McGrath, Jess Murphy, Arun Kapil, Nathalie Lennon, Conor Spacey, The Cupcake Bloke, Edward Hayden with Anne Neary, Irish Olympian Derval O’Rourke, singer Jake Carter, and Dancing with the Stars judge Brian Redmond. Journalist Siobhan Donohoe and chef Edward Hayden will return to the Savour Stages as MC’s. See savourkilkenny.com for more details.
October Nights Music Festival, Co Mayo: 28 – 29 Oct
The never predictable October Nights does its ‘all styles/ no barriers’ thing once again on the October bank holiday weekend in Ballina, Co Mayo. This year festival-goers will see some of Ireland’s brightest musical lights to Ballina including female Irish hip-hop artist and style queen Celaviedmai and American-born singer-songwriter Peter Broderick.
County Clare native Siomha and harpist Alannah Thornburgh will also be performing alongside Laurie Shaw and Ballina’s own hardcore heroes, YOP! See octobernights.ie for more details.
Dublin Zoo at Halloween: 28 – 30 Oct
Dublin Zoo is celebrating Halloween weekend with a spooktacular schedule of family fun activities, including themed magic shows, creepy crafts and ghoulish games, a special Spooky Trail, and much more! There will be a special offer for little ones in fancy dress, with free entry to Dublin Zoo for each child dressed in costume per full-paying adult* from Saturday, 28th to Monday, 30th October. Visitors can avail of this offer both online and at the gate.
Dublin Zoo is open seven days a week from 9.30am-5:30pm. For further information, visit dublinzoo.ie.
*One child in costume will receive free entry to Dublin Zoo per full paying adult on 28 – 30 October. Offer only applies to single adult tickets, not family tickets.
