Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical is reborn and Miss Saigon is on its way back to Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

This exciting new production will play from 13-17 January 2026 and tickets priced from €33.20 will go on sale on Friday 2nd May at 9am through Ticketmaster.

Dream Point, Ireland’s first multi-room immersive “world of dreams”, officially opens its doors in Dublin’s Docklands today.

Spanning 21,000 square feet and created with a €3 million investment, the high-spec Dream Point is a “one-of-a-kind experience designed to spark creativity, joy and wonder in every guest”. It invites “families, friends and fun-seekers of all ages to step inside a spectacular world where imagination leads the way”.

Find out more here.

Today, St.Bridget was chartered to ferry cruise-goers to and from Norwegian Pearl during its anchorage visit off Dun Laoghaire Harbour, from where it otherwise routinely operates cruises, among them to Howth Harbour. Prior to its Dublin call, the superyacht, built only last year by the Rossinavi shipyard in Viareggio-Lucca, Italy, had anchored off Lambay before rounding Howth Peninsula to make its visit to the capital.

With the crew ready at mooring positions, the Akula cautiously eased closer to Sir John Rogersons Quay, where quayside ropes were attended by dock personnel from the Hamilton Shipping Agency, which handled the requirements of the vessel’s visit with its 13 crew members and those onboard.

Find out more here.

The West End smash hit TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is rolling into the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for the very first time in Ireland, from May 27 to June 14 – and it’s bringing serious rock ‘n’ roll fire with it.

From the small-town streets of Nutbush, Tennessee, to the glittering heights of global superstardom, Tina Turner didn’t follow the rules – she tore them up. With 12 Grammy Awards, an unstoppable spirit, and a voice like no other, she became a legend.

Backed by a powerhouse soundtrack packed with her greatest hits – The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer, River Deep – Mountain High – this electrifying musical takes you deep into the story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s absolutely unmissable

Find out more here.

A new report from SumUp, the leading global financial technology company, has revealed the most underrated hotspots in Ireland – with 14 Henrietta Street to emerge as Ireland’s most underrated hotspot! Do you even recognise that location?

The study considered various metrics such as number of reviews, tourist traffic per landmark, and the cost of public transport. Whether it’s a charming village or an historical location, beyond their aesthetic and cultural appeal, landmarks are powerful drivers of economic activity, helping local economies and small businesses to thrive from a steady influx of tourists whilst also offering visitors a chance to experience something unique.

Find out more here.

For nearly a century, an elegant hotel built in 1883 on the eastern edge ofDublin by the London and North Western Railway Company served travelers arriving at and departing from its grand terminus at the city’s North Wall Quay. But in the mid-20th century, the fortunes of the station—and the hotel—waned as private automobiles and air travel supplanted passenger rail. And by the late 1970s, this stretch of Ireland’s capital became dangerously rough; the once-majestic hotel left to pigeons and squatters.

Find out more here.

Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind the iconic PlayStation gaming brand, announced it will open a new office in Dublin, with plans to hire 100 employees to staff the new operation.

As well as being the console manufacturer behind the PS5, PlayStation is renowned for its blockbuster games like God of War, Horizon, The Last of Us and Uncharted.

Find out more here.

The New York Times calls it ‘The best musical of this century. ’The Washington Post says, ‘It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals. ’And Entertainment Weekly raves, ‘Grade A:the funniest musical of all time. ”It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award and four-time Olivier winning Best Musical.

This outrageous musical comedy from creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get.

Find out more here.

The finalists of the 2025 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme have been revealed, with the 24 shortlisted entrepreneurs spanning a range of sectors including consumer, technology, media, health, life sciences, manufacturing, and financial services.

Collectively, this group of business leaders are already generating annual revenues approaching €1 billion and employing over 4,000 people.

Find out more here.

TUES. 8TH – SAT. 12TH APRIL 2025 – AMBASSADOR THEATRE

Following a sell-out show in Liberty Hall in 2024 where it received standing ovations, Gary Brown’s new musical play DOCKERS comes to The Ambassador Theatre Dublin for a limited run only from Tuesday, 8th to Saturday, 12th April 2025. DOCKERS is Gary Brown’s fifth play.

DOCKERS is a musical narrative of Dublin docks, its people, and its places with laughs, craic, tears, stories, practices and powerful new and original songs. It is a way of life but full of culture and traditions brought back to life on stage. Dublin Port and indeed ports around Ireland once employed thousands of people and due to automation and containerisation it has resulted in the loss of these jobs. This show brings the world of the docks and of dockers to life and will ensure that this way of life is not consigned to history.

Find out more here.

Almost 12,000 participants take to the streets of Dublin for inaugural event

The inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon took place on Sunday with just under 12,000 participants clocking up 13.1 miles around the northside of the city.

The event got under way on O’Connell Street, bringing racers through Ballybough, Drumcondra, Beaumont, Artane and Raheny before looping back into the city centre via Clontarf to finish on Guild Street.

Find out more here.

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is ecstatic to announce that the Broadway and West End multi-award-winning musical THE BOOK OF MORMON returns to Dublin on a mission next year!

Find out more here.

favourite memories of time spent in Dublin City, or ‘town’ as many Dubs like to call it!

‘Memories Made in Dublin City’ is a campaign by the Lord Mayor and Dublin City Council. It invites people from across Dublin City, around Ireland and all over the world to share their special memories.

Find out more here.

The inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon takes place 30th March.

The brand new race will take over much of the northside of the city, taking a vastly different route to its bigger brother in October.

Find out more here.

A Dublin city librarian has described this year’s choice for the One Dublin One Book initiative as “something for everybody”.

The special anthology ‘Dublin, Written In Our Hearts’ was chosen last month as the book to celebrate the 20th anniversary of One Dublin One Book.

The anthology was commissioned by Dublin City Council and features some of the best writing by Dubliners about Dublin from the last two decades.

Find out more here.

The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade really is the centre of the world on St. Patrick’s Day – a genuinely bucket-list worthy adventure in Ireland’s capital city, which lies at the heart of the global celebration of our Irish culture, heritage and people.

Join over half a million spectators who gather each March to witness over 4,000 Parade participants including marching bands from all across the globe in a thunderous display of music and pageantry, extravagantly dressed performers, troupes of colourful, cascading dancers and a spectacular display of extravagant floats as they wind their way through the historic streets of Dublin.

With a bursting sense of raucous celebration firmly at its core, the Parade proudly showcases the spark of creativity, imagination, laughter and joy that our wonderful people are so widely known for.

Find out more here.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain is delighted to announce the charities chosen for the Lord Mayor of Dublin’s Charity Ball 2025.  They are The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

Find out more here.

Today FM’s Big Busk for Focus Ireland has finally returned to Dublin.

Now in its fourth year, the nationwide event is set to raise vital funds to battle the rising homelessness crisis using the power of music. The Big Busk will take place in Dublin tomorrow, March 7, at Blanchardstown Centre from 12pm to 7pm and Dundrum Town Centre from 11am to 6pm.

This year’s Big Busk will be bigger than ever, with the chance to be named Ireland’s best up-and-coming busking act by Today FM. You can find out more on FocusIreland.ie.

There is life after Romeo!

Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as Juliet ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. Created by the Emmy-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asks, what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo?

After a phenomenal run in London’s West End, & JULIET is heading to Dublin and will have you singing, dancing and ROARING for more. Picking up three Olivier Awards and six WhatsOnStage Awards, & JULIET is “Glorious…you won’t find many better nights out’ ★★★★★ WhatsOnStage.

Find out more here.

The red carpet was rolled out at Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre on Thursday evening for the Irish Premiere of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove .

Seven-time BAFTA Award winner Steve Coogan leads  the first ever adaptation of the legendary film-maker’s work. Coogan is  joined by Olivier Award Winner Giles Terera plays the role of General Buck Turgidson.

This is the first Youth international to take place since March 2023, when Ireland took on England in a dual-nations following a training camp in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The last Elite international, when Ireland met Ukraine, took place in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, in April 2024, also following a training camp. 

Ireland last met Wales in a dual-nations in February, 2022, in a predominantly Youth programme. That ended in 5 wins, apiece, for each federation. 

The team have been in training at Dealgan BC, Louth and at the National Stadium, Dublin, and concluded their final training session on Saturday. 

Find out more here.

A 200 seater ‘Baby Vicar’ entertainment venue for Dublin’s docklands “will bring light and life to a dark place”.

That is according to the businessman most associated with the rejuvenation of Dublin’s docklands, Harry Crosbie in a letter accompanying his plans for a 4-star 35 bedroom hotel and the ‘Baby Vicar’ venue at Hanover Quay in Dublin 2.

The hotel and venue will be housed in a two storey glass box as part of an innovative design by PRC Architecture & Planning where the two level glass cube will ‘oversail’ the protected structure at 9 Hanover Quay.

9 Hanover Quay has been the home of Vicar Street owners, Harry and Rita Crosbie for the last 30 years and the planning application involves converting the Crosbie home to hospitality and entertainment mixed use.

Find out more here.

Ferry and coastal excursion tour operators were among the companies that took part in Tourism Ireland’s ‘Lunch & Learn’ events held in France this week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Of the 11 companies, three were marine leisure-based operators, which participated in the events hosted by Tourism Ireland in the southwestern cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse.  The trio were Galway-based operators, Aran Island Ferries (also Cliffs of Moher cruises), Dublin Discovered Boat Tours (Liffey and the ‘Docklands’ to the edge of Dublin Port), and  Killary Fjord Boat Tours on the scenic waters lined by the counties of Galway and Mayo.

Presentations about the island of Ireland as well as networking opportunities were held at the Lunch & Learn events. They represented a valuable opportunity for the Irish companies to connect with French travel agents and tour operators, who bring tourists to the island.

Find out more here.

Dublin City Council libraries have introduced a device to help tackle winter blues and Seasonal Affected Disorder.

The luminous panels, known as Lightboxes, are said to lift moods, boost alertness and help people feel energised and are being introduced as part of the Healthy Ireland programme.

The devices, which can be used in the libraries without a booking, have been rolled out in all 21 branches in the local authority area.

Ciara Ward, Senior Librarian with Dublin City Libraries says their use is part of a wider health initiative that libraries are involved in.

Discover more here.

THE IRISH ARM of US tech giant Google has lodged plans for a large public mural across seven storeys at its European HQ in Dublin that would incorporate interactive and virtual elements through Google’s own modern technology and AI tools.

In the planning application, Google Ireland Ltd is seeking planning permission for the 705 sqm ‘Urban Growth’ mural, at the northern elevation of South Bank House, Barrow Street in Dublin 4.

Find out more here.

If you are wondering if it’s too late to wish someone Happy New Year, don’t worry as the Lunar New Year is here! And, there are events taking place all over Dublin over the coming days to mark the occasion.

Dublin Lunar New Year 2025 has events for all the family as we celebrate the Year of the Snake. The celebrations will culminate on Sunday, 2 February with the festival’s flagship event, a day of free festivities in Meeting House Square.

Everyone is invited to take part and the programme includes workshops, art exhibitions, live performances, film screenings, storytelling, comedy, games, tasty food experiences and so much more. For full details see dublinlunarnewyear.ie.

Find out more here.

An exciting new play featuring music from well-known singer and songwriter Damien Dempsey is set to return to Dublin this April.

The acclaimed ‘Dockers’ by Gary Brown and starring George Murphy, will make its triumphant return to the stage at The Ambassador Theatre in April 2025 for a strictly limited run.

This follows a highly successful sell-out show in Liberty Hall in September of 2024.

Read more here.

Yahoo has officially opened its new Dublin office in the EXO building in The Dublin Docklands.

The company, which has been operating in Dublin for the past 29 years, said its new office will further enhance its services across its corporate functions globally, in Ireland, and across Europe.

Yahoo said it will use the 3,317 square metre / 35,703 square feet space to foster collaboration for engineering, research and development, legal, finance, sales, operations, customer care and security roles.

Read more here.

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and TheatreworX Productions presents All-New production of Little Shop of Horrors at The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from July 25 August 9.

This beloved musical, packed with unforgettable songs and quirky characters, is set to bloom like never before! This Broadway and Hollywood favourite has captivated theatregoers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind this charmingly tongue-in-cheek comedy that has played worldwide to international acclaim.

Find out more here.

Whether you’re a born-and-bred Dubliner, or want to retrace the footsteps of your ancestors, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is an inspirational day-out for visitors and locals alike.

The new season of Ireland’s Fittest Family is returning to screens this weekend after it was postponed following the death of one of its participants.

The 12th season of the programme was originally scheduled to air last October but the broadcast was delayed after a participant passed away following the completion of filming.

RTÉ said in a statement in October: “RTÉ and Kite/Animo productions wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and friends at this time.”

It has now been confirmed that the series will return on Saturday, 4 January.

Find out more here.

If you’d ever dreamed of being on the stage in a hit musical, then now’s your chance as the Bord Gais Energy Theatre has launched an open casting call for its upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors.

The Irish group, TheatreworX Productions, will be co-producing this adaptation, with their CEO Claire Tighe directing the show, and have said they are ‘are absolutely delighted’ to be working with The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on it.

If you’d ever dreamed of being on the stage in a hit musical, then now’s your chance as the Bord Gais Energy Theatre has launched an open casting call for its upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors.

The Irish group, TheatreworX Productions, will be co-producing this adaptation, with their CEO Claire Tighe directing the show, and have said they are ‘are absolutely delighted’ to be working with The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on it.

Find out more here.

The Broadway show and Hollywood film adaptation was helmed by Disney icons Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who created Little Shop of Horrors before they were asked to join the Disney family, and it will be taking to the BGET stage for the very first time when it arrives in July.

The Grand Canal Dock Residents Association(GCDRA) has cooked up a plan to turn the historic Graving Docks into the city’s next big thing.

The Grand Canal basin in Dublin, long a symbol of the city’s industrial heritage, is on the brink of a transformation. GCDRA is leading the charge, calling on Waterways Ireland to implement a ‘bold, vibrant initiative to breathe new life into the historic Graving Docks’. The proposal? A floating lido, saunas, food trucks, event spaces, and even a pocket forest—all set to create a cultural and recreational haven in the heart of Dublin.

Read more here.

Entries for the new Dublin City Half Marathon will open on Wednesday at 12pm.

The event, which is being organised by Dublin Marathon in conjunction with Dublin City Council, will take place on March 30th.

The race will start on O’Connell Street with the proposed route taking in Ballybough, Whitehall, Killester, Howth Road, Raheny, St Anne’s Park, Clontarf, Fairview Park and Seville Place.

The addition of a spring half marathon to Dublin’s running calendar is expected to attract high demand when entries open at dublincityhalfmarathon.ie.

The company that operates the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin has reported an increase in earnings for last year on the back of several high-profile productions including Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King which saw over half a million people attend shows at the theatre.

Recently filed accounts for Crownway Entertainment Limited show turnover rose to €14.2 million last year, up from just under €13 million previously.

Operating profit reached €4.4 million, up from €3.2 million in 2022, while the group’s pre-tax profit was €3.8 million, up from €2.7 million for the previous 12-month period.

Discover more here.

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to convert a permitted seven-storey office development in Dublin’s docklands into a 496-bed space tourist hostel.

The planning authority has given the green light to Patrick Crean’s Marlet Group for the scheme at Martin’s Terrace, Dublin 2 and adjoining lands at the corner of Macken Street and the newly realigned Hanover Street East, despite local concerns that the scheme would result in an over-concentration of tourist accommodation in the area.

The decision now paves the way for one of Europe’s largest tourist hostel operators, the Berlin-headquartered a&o, to establish its first tourist hostel in the Irish market.

A planning report lodged on behalf of applicants and Marlet subsidiary, Prime GP4 Ltd by planning consultant, Kevin Hughes of Hughes Planning and Development Consultants confirmed that the a&o chain is to operate the tourist hostel.

Discover more here.

Smart Docklands is delighted to announce the winners of its first Call for Pilots. The programme is delivered in partnership between Dublin City Council and the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks headquartered at Trinity College Dublin

Smart Docklands is one of Dublin’s flagship smart districts – a unique collaboration across academia, industry and local government to advocate for and pilot community centred technology innovations.

This Call for Pilots aims to tackle key community priorities identified through a community survey that was carried out in late 2023 and early 2024 where insights were gathered from over 300 responses. Smart Docklands ensures that smart tech is not just being deployed for ‘tech’s sake’, the programme works to engage directly with the community who live in, work in or visit the Docklands. This is done through in-person events and innovative approaches to community surveys.

After extensive community engagement, followed by a Call for Pilots four projects have now been selected out of 41 applications that were submitted to receive seed funding, with €12,500 allocated to each project. The winning pilots will tackle pressing challenges across environmental monitoring, community development, and antisocial behaviour, aiming to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and enjoyable Docklands for all.

Discover more here.

National College of Ireland’s campus has been buzzing with excitement over the amazing ideas that were put forward during the NASA Space Apps Challenge that the College hosted for the second time, acting as Dublin Mission Control.

Runtime Terror has just been announced as this year’s Dublin Mission Control NASA Space Apps Challenge Global Nominee. Already recognised by their peers with the Community Choice Award, this talented team created a visually appealing and accurately informative digital orrery to display near-Earth objects.

You Can View the Digital Orrery here.

Discover more here.

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre unveiled its spectacular 2025 season, packed with an exciting line-up of shows and exclusive events set to take the stage throughout next year.

The 2025 season will feature the very best of Irish theatre, magnificent musicals and opera, engaging talks, and one-of-a-kind events as well as emotional drama, electrifying live music and groundbreaking dance spectaculars. This specially curated programme of events from around the world delivers a diverse, exciting, and unparalleled experience for Irish audiences.

Discover more here.

Bord Gáis Energy has renewed its sponsorship of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin for another 10 years.

The new 10-year partnership with Crownway Entertainment Limited will see Bord Gáis Energy continue its role as the venue’s naming rights sponsor of the country’s biggest fixed-seat theatre.

Bord Gáis Energy has sponsored the theatre since 2012, making it one of the longest running arts sponsorships in the country.

The partnership has supported over 450 productions and over 3,500 performances including smash hit musicals such as Hamilton, The Lion King, Wicked and Mamma Mia, while over 5.5 million people have visited the venue for its productions.

Discover more here.

The Millennium Tower, designed by architects O’Mahony Pike, in the heart of Dublin’s docklands is wearing well, settling into its milieu as it was envisioned. The penthouse has come to the market and is, according to agent Owen Reilly, the highest apartment currently for sale in Ireland, with an asking price of €2 million.

Built by Zoe Developments in 1998, the Millennium Tower was one of Dublin’s tallest residential buildings until it was eclipsed by Capital Dock. It lies at the very corner of Charlotte Dock in the centre of the city’s tech hub, handy for forays into town or excursions to the Aviva on match days. Its setting is superb, directly on the water across from the Marker Hotel and the impressive architecture of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Grand Canal Square.

The lobby has two lifts and one of them will whizz you to the penthouse on the 15th and 16th floors of the tower. Utterly private and self-contained, the accommodation is a generous 167sq m (1,797sq ft) that runs over two floors. It has a C3 Ber.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms with dual-aspect windows that face the sea; one of the bedrooms has vistas as far north as Dublin Airport while the other bedroom takes in the snow-capped Wicklow Mountains, visible over the Dublin Mountains. Everything is there to see, the city a visual smorgasbord, from Howth and the wide expanse of Dublin Bay, to the Aviva and Sandymount strand, stretching as far as the East Pier at Dún Laoghaire.

Read more here.

Read more here.

From handmade pasta workshops to an Egyptian falafel pop-up, the next two weeks of November will see plenty of fantastic food & drink events taking place in Dublin. We’ve rounded up our top picks of what to book this month for a unique experience that you can really savour…

Dumpling Rolling Masterclass @ Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar

Tuesday November 19th

7pm

This fun dumpling making class is perfect for individuals and small groups looking for a unique experience. You’ll be guided through every step of the dumpling making process by Lucky Tortoise’s chef – the best bit is eating your creations!

This workshop costs €59 per person (excluding ticket fees), which covers the dumpling-making class, a welcome drink, a full meal, and prizes. See more here.

Beaujolais Nouveau @ Hynes Bar, Stoneybatter

Thursday November 21st

7pm – 11pm

Join Lilith Wines to raise a glass to the wonderful Gamay grape as they celebrate Beaujolais season. The event will feature selections from six of their favorite producers, all for just €8 a glass. They’ll also shine a spotlight on Cru Morgon, exploring some of the best producers and cuvées the region has to offer and even pop a Jeroboam or two.

Complement your wine with delicious cheese from Sheridans, French saucisson sec, and other tasty snacks available for purchase.

Ticket entry (€15) includes your first glass of Beaujolais Nouveau and you can book here.

Sourdough Baking Workshop @ The Happy Pear, Greystones

Saturday November 23rd

12pm

We’re cheating slightly by pretending Greystones is in Dublin, but it’s worth the trip for this sourdough bread-making workshop at The Happy Pear. They will walk you through the essentials of building your own mother culture and baking a beautiful, crusty loaf at home, giving practical tips along the way.

The event is completely free to attend and you can sign up for the waitlist (people might drop out closer to the date!) here.

Fermentation Workshop @ Fairmental Lab, Dublin 4

Saturday November 23rd

4pm

Want to learn about the fascinating world of fermentation and elevate your food in taste and health benefits? Then this is for you! This hands-on workshop is led by chef Val who has over 20 years experience working as a chef in great restaurants in Dublin, UK, Asia and Scandinavian countries.

You will make your own jar to take home using seasonal high quality ingredients and enjoy lots of ferments tasting and snacks, coffee and beverages. There will also be a Q&A and participants will learn about the tradition of fermentation and how to use ferments in every day meals.

The workshop costs €85 and you can sign up here.

Fresh Pasta Making Workshop @ Coopers Cross, Dublin 1

Sunday November 24th

6pm

You’ll learn how to create delicious homemade pasta from scratch during this workshop, where Elisa from The Italian Pasta Project will guide you through the process of making two different types of pasta. You’ll discover the secrets behind crafting perfect dough and learn various techniques to shape and cut your pasta into mouthwatering forms. Whether you’re a pasta enthusiast or a complete beginner, this workshop is designed to cater to all skill levels.

You will go home with your pasta and two different sauces to enjoy at home.

The workshop costs €45 pus booking fee and you can get tickets here.

Contemporary Zimbabwean Dining @ The Fumbally Stables, Dublin 8

Sunday November 24th

5pm – 9pm

Zimbabwean Born, Chef Roland Mupotsa has carefully curated a menu that showcases the diverse and vibrant flavours and ingredients from Zimbabwe, southern Africa. Specialising in utilising seasonal, locally available ingredients, Chef Mupotsa will serve a Four-Stage Dining Experience with a Sweet Finish. The menu comprises of ingredients sourced from Southern African that are also indigenous to the region. Think dried meats, legumes, fresh vibrant flavours all prepared in a contemporary style.

The meal also features thoughtfully selected wine pairings by Pamwechete Collective and artisanal cocktails that are Chef Mupotsa’s own recipes.

Tickets for this pop-up dinner cost €65 and you can book here.

Champagne & Cheese Tasting @ The Wine Buff, Dublin 6

Friday November 29th

7.30pm – 9.30pm

This fantastic tasting event is taking place in The Wine Buff Rathmines by Ken Kinsella & Sinead Germaine Smyth. The tasting allows participants to “explore the harmonious interplay between the effervescence of champagne and the creamy, savory, or sharp profiles of various cheeses.”

Herve Mathelin & Guy Charlemagne are the producers featured for this event and all of the wines tasted on this tasting will be from these producers. Delicious cheeses are all sourced from Iciar Cheese Bar in Blackrock.

Tickets cost €90 and you can book here.

Read more here.

Read more here.

Robbie Williams is coming to Dublin.

Elbow are special guests.

The ‘Robbie Williams Live 2025’ tour will open in Edinburgh on 31st May.

The tour will then take in London, Manchester and Bath, before heading across Europe with dates in countries including Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Sweden.

The ‘Robbie Williams Live 2025’ tour is sponsored by FELIX from Purina, the best-selling cat food across Europe.

Tickets for Dublin priced from €77.25 to €152.25, subject to Ticketmaster service charge, go on general sale this Friday 15th November at 10am via Ticketmaster.ie.

Last week it was announced that Robbie’s forthcoming musical biopic ‘Better Man’ soundtrack will be released digitally on December 27 with a physical release to follow.

Every pre-order of the ‘Better Man’ soundtrack from the official store, until 6PM tomorrow (Tuesday 12th November) will include early access to pre-sale tour tickets from this Wednesday 13th November (UK dates) and Thursday 14th November (European dates).

Read more here.

The event will be an immersive experience, perfect for friends and loved ones to come together and create unforgettable memories.

Dublin Zoo will be hosting the first-ever adults-only Wild Lights event for the perfect date night or a magical evening with friends this Halloween.

You can embark on “A Journey Through Time” to discover the story of evolution and life on Earth on October 31 from 6pm to 10pm. For anyone who won’t be trick-or-treating this Halloween, they can still put their costumes to use and travel through time at Wild Lights, roaming among the dinosaurs and across the rise of ancient civilisations.

The event will be an immersive experience, perfect for friends and loved ones to come together and create unforgettable memories on All Hallows’ Eve. The adult-only event is open to all visitors aged 16 and over.

Admission to Dublin Zoo’s Wild Lights will range from €17.85 to €25.50 for adults, and from €16.45 to €23.50 for adults that are annual pass holders on October 31. All tickets must be pre-booked online, and tickets will not be sold at the gates.

Read more here.

Dublin’s north east inner city communities, their children and even their dogs will get together over the coming days to celebrate one of Ireland’s greatest exports, the festival of Halloween!

There’s more to shiver about with a doggy dress-up parade in Diamond Park, synchronised swimming spectacles in Sean McDermott Street Pool and haunting performances of “Hansel & Gretel” at Sean McDermott St Church — highlighted by a moving performance from the Ukrainian Soul Choir on October 30. Local schools will get a visit from heroes of the Fire Service, Animal Welfare, and An Garda Síochána educating young ones on fire prevention, harm reduction and animal protection.

An Art Exhibition will transform the entrance of Haunted Hall at St Agatha’s Hall on Dunne Street into a corridor of chills. This entire festival springs from the heart of the community, with a steering group leading the charge while youth and childcare committees meticulously prepare to entertain over 1,000 kids and teens.

Don’t-be-afraid workshop at Charleville Mall Library with Children’s Illustrator and author Úna Woods (relaxed, neurodiverse and not-so-scary).

Friday 25th October

Wichat and Walk spooky 90-minute walk starting in Mud Island, North Strand with Five Lamps Arts.

Saturday 26th October

Samhain comes to town, history with Bob the Apple and the fairies, ghoulies and ghosties of ancient Ireland, Belvedere Youth Club

Doggy dress up parade pre workshop, Belvedere Youth Club – learn how to make your dog costume for the parade on Bank Holiday Monday – people only!

Find out more about the calendar of events here.

Dockers and Demons and Finglas Fright Night among family-friendly local events.

Read more about these Halloween events here.

A few years ago, when trying to buy a house, I focused my search on Dublin’s north inner city. I viewed homes on Bayview Avenue, Hawthorn Terrace, St Mary’s Road. Despite stretching my budget as far as I could, I was outbid for a beautiful Victorian on St Brigid’s Avenue. But it was when I visited a two-up, two-down on Emerald Street that my gran became really interested. ‘That’s our area,’ she said.

Listen to the full story by Éimear Arthur here.

For the first time in its 175 year history, the acclaimed  STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA comes to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in November 2024 with a full-length classic production of Swan Lake. All performances are accompanied by the RTE Orchestra.

Based at the stunning Opera and Ballet State Theatre in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, this company of “versatile and accomplished” dancers (The New York Times) has soared under the bold artistic direction of world-renowned, Georgian-born Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Ananiashvili, considered one of the all-time greats, returned home to her native country in 2004 to lead the company.

Comprised of a touring company of over 70, sumptuous sets, and magnificent costumes, State Ballet of Georgia’s Swan Lake is set to be spectacular!

From the first immortal bars of Tchaikovsky’s score, State Ballet of Georgia’s  Swan Lake beckons the audience to another world. Ballet fans, including those who will make Swan Lake their first experience at the ballet, will be captivated by Prince Siegfried’s love for the Swan Queen Odette and the drama of their battle against the evil sorcerer Rothbart.

From the unforgettable corps de ballet moving in magical unison as majestic, glimmering swans to the fiery and refined dances in the spectacular ballroom scenes, this romantic fable inspires awe and wonder.

Get tickets here.

“The research comes in when someone has a lumbar puncture which is a procedure where we take a sample of their spinal flu, take fluid, and we send it off to the clinical lab and test it for the different proteins and changes that you see in Alzheimer’s disease.

“We have been asking people who are having that procedure performed if they would mind us taking samples for research at the same time.

“We take a bit of extra spinal fluid and store that in the biobank and then we take blood samples as well. We process them on site, and we store them long term.”

It is hoped this will reduce the need for some future patients to have more invasive procedures such as a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, to confirm the presence of these proteins.

Currently, only a lumbar puncture test can detect “amyloid” protein which builds-up in the brain of individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr Dyer said the performance of a new blood test – to detect amyloid, one of the proteins that make-up “plaques” in the brains of people with early Alzheimer’s disease – “looks promising”.

Read more here.

The multi-disciplinary reputation, privacy and security consultancy currently has a headquarters in London, an office in Miami and a strategic alliance with law firms Clare Locke in the US and Giles George in Australia.

Partners Ben Hobbs and Phil Hartley, dual-qualified as solicitors in Ireland and England and Wales, will be dividing their time between London and Dublin.

They will be joined by legal director John Curtin, who is also dual-qualified and will be relocating to Dublin, and new consultant partner and digital resilience expert Viv O’Connor-Jemmett.

Mr Hobbs and Mr Hartley collectively bring a wealth of expertise in the privacy and reputation sphere to the new office.

With 15 years of litigation experience, Mr Hobbs specialises in guiding FTSE 100 companies and business-owners through high stakes reputational crises and opportunities.

Mr Hartley, a media lawyer and litigator who has worked extensively in defamation, privacy, data protection, counter-harassment, confidentiality and IP law, has a particular depth of expertise in complex and contentious data privacy cases.

Legal director Mr Curtin has substantial experience protecting the reputations of prominent individuals and global companies, and a deep knowledge of the Irish market, having previously been a commercial litigation solicitor in Dublin.

Meanwhile, new consultant partner Mr O’Connor-Jemmett is an expert in digital resilience and strategic communications. He has spent 15 years advising clients — including boards and high-profile individuals — on protecting, building and optimising their profiles online.

Read more here.

Chargebee, which provides subscription billing and revenue growth management solutions, has announced the opening of a new office in Dublin and the creation of 50 jobs over the next three years.

The company said the new Dublin office marks a significant milestone in its international expansion and reinforces its commitment to its thriving European customer base.

The move is being supported by IDA Ireland.

Chargebee said the decision to expand into Dublin aligns with its strategy to accelerate growth and enhance its market presence across Europe.

It said that over the next three years it will focus on serving and expanding its customer base brands here, including Pret a Manger, xSellco, Oddbox, Personio and Typeform.

As part of the expansion initiative, Chargebee said its chief marketing officer Guy Marion will relocate to Dublin, reinforcing executive commitment to the region.

“Dublin’s thriving tech ecosystem and access to world-class talent make it the perfect location for Chargebee’s European expansion. We’re excited to create a fantastic workplace for our new team members while driving growth in the region, and tapping into Dublin’s pool of skilled tech talent to drive our mission forward,” said Krish Subramanian, CEO of Chargebee.

Read more here.

Work is under way to identify the origins of three historic shipwrecks that were discovered on Portmarnock Strand in Dublin over the summer.

The wrecks were exposed due to a shifting sandbank, which also exposed another wreck, which has not been visible for seven years.

The National Monuments Service (NMS), which is responsible for recording shipwrecks around Ireland, said the number of wrecks off the coast of Portmarnock is “unusually high”.

The discoveries were made after a local underwater photographer and drone operator Nigel Motyer was recording footage on the beach in late July and noticed the shape of a ship protruding from the sand.

He alerted the National Monuments Service, which keeps a register of shipwrecks off the Irish coast, and its staff inspected the area.

They determined that the wreck Mr Motyer had captured images of had been previously recorded in the Wreck Inventory of Ireland. It was last visible in 2017 and prior to that in the 1990s.

However, during the investigation, carried out by underwater specialists from the NMS, they discovered three new shipwrecks that had not been previously documented.

Read more here.

Unfortunately not. Tickets for all four Dublin dates are completely sold out. However, if you’re lucky, you could bag a resale ticket at Ticketmaster.ie.

Who is the opening act?

Maggie Rogers and Dublin native Aby Coulibaly will both open for Coldplay.

When does the venue open?

Gates will be open from 5pm each night. Promoters MCD recommend that customers should plan to be in Croke Park 45 minutes before the gig starts.

What are the stage times?

Aby Coulibaly is expected on stage at 6.30pm, with Maggie Rogers performing at 7.15pm. Coldplay is expected on stage at 8.30pm and their performance will go on for two hours.

A fresh nightclub event exclusively for the 35 and over crowd is set to kick off in Dublin next week.

‘Let’s Dance’ will be a weekly fixture at SoHo on D’Olier Street, promising a comfortable and stylish clubbing experience. Taking place every Saturday night from 5.30pm until 10.30pm, attendees can enjoy a full night of dancing and still catch the last bus home.

The evening begins with a complimentary glass of bubbly and features iconic tunes from the 80s, 90s and noughties, all played by Dublin’s legendary DJs and MCs who have been central to the city’s club scene for decades. Special guest performers, dancers and entertainers will keep the energy high throughout the night.

And for those who miss the excitement of the slow set, ‘Let’s Dance’ is bringing it back. This is expected to provide a unique opportunity to meet new people or rekindle old flames, without the pressure of today’s fast-paced dating scene.

The venue also offers a chic lounge area that serves as the perfect escape from the dance floor and is an ideal spot to catch up with friends, enjoy a drink and take in the atmosphere, reports the Irish Mirror. The organisers of the event have dedicated it to those who yearn for the golden days of Dublin’s club scene in a venue that feels like home.

They stated: “‘Let’s Dance’ is more than just a party-it’s a movement aimed at giving the night back to those who’ve watched Dublin’s nightlife evolve, yet often feel out of place in today’s club scene. This over-35s only event is all about creating a space where you can dance the night away surrounded by your peers, in a venue that’s been carefully designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s  WICKED imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

This award-winning production flies back to Dublin complete with all the spectacle and magic that make this “great blockbuster musical” (Irish Independent) such an unforgettable and unmissable experience.

Wicked features songs by multi-Oscar and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted). It is based on the multimillion-copy best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life). Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Get tickets here.

Read more here.

The Government has agreed to explore a bid to host The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.

In a statement, Minister for Sport Catherine Martin said hosting both championships would increase Ireland’s reputation as a world centre for golf.

The Department of Sport said that any final decision on hosting the championships at Portmarnock “is subject to a positive outcome to discussions that will take place with the R&A and Portmarnock GC over the summer period and to a positive economic impact assessment”.

The Open is returning to Portrush next year. Offaly golfer Shane Lowry picked up the Claret Jug on the last occasion it was hosted at Portrush in 2019.

Redeveloping Dublin barracks into housing would cost €1bn

The Cabinet will hear that the cost of relocating Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin and redeveloping the site for housing will come to around €1 billion.

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin will recommend against such a plan due to the high costs.

Feasibility studies for developing the Cathal Brugha site in Rathmines and moving the barracks were carried out.

It is estimated that the cost of relocating to a new barracks on a greenfield site would be in the region of €497m.

A separate study carried out by the Land Development Agency also examined the suitability of Cathal Brugha Barracks for housing development.

It indicates the full relocation of the barracks would allow for the development of approximately 1,300 homes, with the development costs estimated at €499m.

Read more here.

Dublin’s Poolbeg chimneys are getting a makeover with painting of the landmark stacks due to begin next month.

Preparatory work for the multi-million euro project is already under way and the paint job is expected to take until next year to complete.

A specialised team of contractors will apply the red and white paint to the iconic towers which stand more than 200m over Dublin city.

Painting of the upper part of the chimneys is due to take place weather permitting in August and September.

Painting of the lower section is scheduled to take place in the spring next year and be completed by the summer 2025.

Major Contracts Manager with ESB Asset Management Robert Laird said the painting is part of ESBs efforts to preserve the towers for the city of Dublin.

“These chimneys are associated with an oil-fired generation station which has now been closed for more then 15 years.

“In the normal run of events they would have been demolished by now but we know that they’re a very notable feature on the Dublin skyline.

“Over the years we’ve maintained the chimneys, we’ve capped them and over the past few years we’ve carried out significant investigation works into the concrete.

Read more here.

Great news for dog lovers!

Butternut Box, the fresh dog food company that delivers health and happiness to dogs, has announced the Butternut Bark Park, a two day dog play area at the popular Dundrum Town Centre.

The pop-up pup park will be placed in Pembroke Square for families to bring their four legged friends for fun, food and frolics.

Butternut Box, the fresh dog food company that delivers human-quality meals for dogs, full of freshly prepared ingredients, straight to customers’ doors, is excited to bring this interactive dog park to one of Ireland’s only dog-friendly shopping centres and allow shoppers to take a break with their beloved pets at the enjoyable play area.

The Butternut Bark Park offers an opportunity for dogs to socialise and have fun while their humans grab a coffee and mingle.

There are some exciting prizes and gifts up for grabs across the weekend for lucky dogs and their owners, including a Butternut Box prize worth up to €200.

The Butternut Bark Park pop-up play space will include exhilarating agility equipment in a safe, enclosed space covered in astro comfy enough to satisfy even puppy paws.

Alongside the substantial dog play area will be seating options for dog parents and of course the Butternut Buffet Bike. Dogs and their ‘pawrents’ will be able to sample a variety of Butternut Box meals for free to taste the difference a high-quality meal can make, and grab a water break.

To really see the difference, The Bowl of Truth will be at the Butternut Bark Park. One half of this oversized dog bowl will be filled with unrecognisable, mystery ingredients commonly found in dry kibble and wet food.

On the other side of the bowl, Butternut Box invite guests to compare this with the ingredients found in its own healthy meals. This is where guests will find things like quality meat, fresh vegetables, lentils and herbs, to transparently show the difference between Butternut Box and off the shelf brands.

The Butternut Bark Park will be open from 9am – 7pm on Saturday 27th of July and 10am – 7pm on Sunday the 28th of July on Pembroke Square in Dundrum Town Centre. The two day event will allow dog owners to socialise with one another while allowing their dogs to enjoy the interactive play area.

Read more here.

Never a dull moment for hospitality in this city

It’s been a busy week for hospitality news in the city, with our social channels chockablock with new openers, from Padel studios to matcha pop-ups. So buckle up and jump on in as we take you through all the openers, closures and food news of the week:

OPENERS

Chilangos Irlanda, South Circular Road, Rialto

Opened on July 3rd, on 568 South Circular Road where the Rialto Bridge Cafe operates, both businesses seem to be running in tandem with Rialto Bridge Cafe closing at 3pm and Chilangos Irlanda opening at 5pm. Anyone who has dined in Rialto Bridge Cafe knows they have some incredible Mexican breakfast options so it’s unsurprising that the street food menu in Chilangos Irlanda looks top-notch. It’s a varied menu, with items you might not have seen in this fair city before, options like pambazos, tostadas alongside the more familiar tacos and gorditas. We can’t wait to swing by and check this colourful little spot out!

The Lotus Eater, Nassau Street (where the Pig’s Ear was)

After an incredible 16 years and a Michelin Bib Gourmand thrown into the mix, The Pig’s Ear has called it a day “for now”. But the spot on Nassau Street hasn’t been gathering dust, it’s been reimagined as a casual dining restaurant called Lotus Eaters. Inspiration for the menu has been pulled from the dishes encountered on the owner’s travels, with a special nod given to the majesty of wagyu burgers. The Pig’s Ear officially finished up service on June 15th, the team took a break to refresh and kicked off service for Lotus Eaters a few days later. Fitting on one-page, this is an Asian-inspired menu dominated by small plates and customisation. You’ll find soba salad, oysters and a grilled scallop with pig head for starters, with customisable Japanese-inspired omelettes, wagyu burger and maitake mushrooms for mains with a short and sweet dessert menu of yuzu parfait and burnt chocolate cheesecake.

The Matcha Bar, (2nd floor) Powerscourt Centre

For all our over-caffeinated clean-living pals, enter the Matcha Bar on Saturday, July 13th—opening in the perfect location for a matcha bar, the very bougie Powerscourt Centre. Aside from developing her own matcha recipes, owner Elle has been on a journey that took her over to Japan, to source the very best matcha. Starting out as a pop-up location, but judging by the commotion it’s making on TikTok Dubliners are very excited about this particular opener.

Cat You Cafe, Ringsend

A dinky new cafe is opening up in Ringsend on Friday July 12th. We know very little about it apart from they’ve got a better indoor plant collection than us and they will be serving up Ground Work Coffee. BRB trying to figure out the ‘Cat You Cafe’ reference…

House of Padel, 5 Old Belgard Road, Cookstown Industrial Estate

Construction on the five-acre site, located 1.7km south of Dublin Airport, is set to begin in autumn 2024.

Planning permission has been granted for a 119,500 sq ft urban logistics park on a five-acre site near Dublin Airport.

Construction on Airport Trade Park on Swords Road, Santry will begin in autumn 2024. Once completed, it will house 14 units ranging from 3,600 sq ft to 22,370 sq ft in size with a projected gross development value of around €40m.

This is a joint venture between developer Chancerygate and specialist sustainable and impact investor Bridges Fund Management. The site is close to the airport, M50 and M1 arterial routes, several bus routes and a proposed future MetroLink station at Dardistown.

Read more here.

Read more here.

BIG NEWS! HUGE!

PRETTY WOMAN-THE MUSICAL is coming to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 02-13 JULY 2024

Hollywood’s ultimate rom-com is now “a dazzling stage show” (Daily Express). Make a date to see PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL live on stage at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, starring Amber Davies (9 to 5, Back to the Future), Ore Oduba (Strictly Come Dancing champion 2016), Oliver Savile (Wicked) and Natalie Paris (Olivier nominated for SIX).

Once upon a time in the late ’80s, Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Be swept up in their romance in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages – and get to know these iconic characters in a whole new way – in a sensational show that took London’s West End by storm, guaranteed to lift
your spirits and light up your heart.

With a blazing rock score from Grammy® winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (‘Summer of ’69’, ‘Heaven’), direction and choreography by Tony® Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and a book by the original movie’s director Garry Marshall & screenwriter J.F. Lawton, a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood and Broadway ensures you’ll have a pretty magical time at PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL.

Get tickets here.

Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan has been elected Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The 39-year-old, who is a father of three from Ranelagh in south Dublin, has been a Councillor since 2019.

He contested the last by-election in Dublin Bay South for his party.

The practising barrister is the 365th Lord Mayor of Dublin and will take up residence in the Mansion House with his wife Claire Cummins and their three young children Hugh, 6; Harry, 4 and Lila, 2.

Mr Geoghegan was elected by a coalition of Councillors on Dublin City Council which is made up of members from the Fine Gael, the Green Party, Fianna Fáil and Labour.

He won by a vote of 32 to 25 cast for the Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis.

There were four abstentions including from Independent candidates Councillors Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson.

He succeeds Fianna Fail’s Daithí de Róiste as the capital’s new Lord Mayor.

Speaking following his election this evening, Mr Geoghegan said he was ready to get to work on behalf of the people of Dublin.

He described the position as “an extraordinary honour”.

“I want to use it to help deliver for Dublin,” he said.

Mr Geoghegan said: “Our four political parties have come together to get a new deal for Dublin to properly fund our city services.

“It is over 30 years since Dublin was the European capital of culture.

“During that time, we saw a real focus on urban renewal in parts of our city that were previously run down, including Temple Bar.

“We need that level of joined up thinking and ambition today and we are determined to deliver that.”

Mr Geoghegan said one of his key priorities is to support the implementation of a strategy to make Dublin become the first autism and neurodiverse friendly capital city in the world.

“While the statistics vary, up to 5% of the Irish population are estimated to be autistic and I want to ensure that everyone in our capital city has the same opportunities to live, work and play and that we can develop a best in standard for others to follow,” he said.

Read more here.

Cross-Cultural Conversations hold classes to teach English and about Ireland, as well as social events in the city.

IN A MAKESHIFT classroom in north Dublin, a group of nine students sit having conversations in broken English.

The room has five tables, a small kitchenette, and shelves with board games and a small library of books, from children’s counting books and old Junior Cert workbooks to novels by Roddy Doyle and Frank McCourt.

The students fill in work pages, do word searches and crossword puzzles and even play Bananagrams, a game similar to Scrabble that uses tiles with letters to spell out words.

These ‘students’ are all asylum seekers. Their ‘teachers’ are a group of volunteers who have set up the classes where they come to learn, chat and socialise. A number of international protection applicants are also volunteering as part of the group.

Cross-Cultural Conversations was formed out of East Wall Here For All, a community group of people that came together to support asylum seekers who were moved to the area a year-and-a-half ago.

One of the initial focuses of the East Wall Here For All group was on collecting things that asylum seekers might need immediately after being moved into the area, like winter clothing and baby items.

Cross-Cultural Conversations has a core of around 30 volunteers, as well as many others who also come to help out.

Rebecca Kehoe is one of the volunteers who helps to organise and run the group. She has been there from its origins.

Speaking to The Journal, she said that after asking some residents what they needed, those living in the centre and elsewhere told volunteers that they wanted to learn English.

“That’s the biggest barrier to everything,” Kehoe explains.

“Some people had very good English [when they arrived], some people didn’t have a word of English, and many of the free classes were already oversubscribed even before the influx of I applicants newly arrived to the north inner city.

“So we felt that that was probably the most practical way we could do something supportive.”

The volunteers worked with Dr Peter Sheekey, who runs the Dublin Intercultural Language Service. Kehoe said he mentored the group and offered them training sessions on how to teach English.

After struggling to find somewhere to host the classes, management of the local Direct Provision centre offered them the use of a space in the building. While there were times when the classes were held in a corridor, they now have a dedicated room.

The two-hour classes began last spring. They are held for three evenings each week, and while they take place in East Wall, some people travel from across the city to attend, with new arrivals coming frequently.

When the classes first started, dozens of people turned up to learn English, something Kehoe said wasn’t sustainable.

“We were inundated. About 200 people were telling us ‘we want to come every day for English lessons’,” she said.

Making plans for who could attend on which days was difficult in the beginning, but the numbers became more manageable after people began working and had less time to come to every session.

“We never fully went back to the hundreds of people, which is probably just as well,” Kehoe said.

“We held our first class in late February and we’ve been running sessions ever since then. We haven’t stopped for Christmas or during the summer months.”

The ability of learners varies, but many have progressed in leaps and bounds since they first began attending. “There are people who couldn’t say their own name over a year ago and now you can have a conversation with them,” Kehoe said.

Read more here.

Smart Docklands, a project funded by Dublin City Council and Trinity’s Connect Research Centre, is looking for pilot projects to address local needs using tech.

The Docklands have become somewhat of a microcosm for the rapid progress Dublin has seen since the 1990s, and today it features frequently in posters of the city thanks to iconic landmarks such as the Convention Centre, the Samuel Beckett Bridge and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Today, it is also the centre for a smart cities initiative that has turned the neighbourhood into a testbed for urban innovation.

Smart Docklands is a smart city programme funded by Dublin City Council (DCC) and Connect, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Future Networks based in Trinity College Dublin. Founded in 2018, the initiative describes itself as an “honest broker” between the government, universities and industry to make Dublin a “smarter” city by using technology to solve some of its problems – or just enhance the cityscape.

From 4G to IoT

Making Dublin a smarter city has been a priority for the DCC in recent years, a recent instance of which has been the Portal in the city centre that links local Dubliners to residents and visitors in New York. It also secured deals with OpenAI to leverage AI for smart tourism in the city. And just last week, the DCC published its first strategy on drone technology that will see the creation of a dedicated drones unit to oversee their use in emergency services and building inspections.

In general, there is considerable global interest in creating smart cities of the future. According to Statista, the smart cities market worldwide is expected to witness a significant revenue growth, projected to reach nearly $105bn by the end of this year.

DCC hopes that Smart Docklands can be the perfect testbed for the city thanks to its size, local ecosystem and connectivity. Darach Mac Donncha, programme manager at Smart Docklands, told SiliconRepublic.com that it all started as a connectivity testbed.

“It started as a conversation between Jamie Cudden, who is the DCC Smart City Lead, and Prof Linda Doyle, the provost of Trinity who at the time was director of the Connect research centre,” Mac Donncha said.

“It was about the city getting objective academic expertise about telecoms, primarily around the development from 4G to 5G. Since then they’ve hired a number of people and as time has gone on, they’ve developed from specifically connectivity testbed to IoT [internet of things] pilots and different IoT deployments.”

But its not all about the technology. Since Mac Donncha joined the project in late 2021, he said the engagement side of the initiative has grown legs.

“We do an awful lot of engagement in schools, both primary and secondary, with local communities and with local authority staff. In schools, that’s done through a thing called Academy of the Near Future to promote STEM courses, primarily in DEIS [underprivileged] schools, and trying to get higher female participation in STEM,” he explained.

“The idea is to teach them the importance of telecoms and technology in general, and maybe opening their eyes to the opportunities that might be in their future lives.”

Open call

Smart Docklands now has an open call for pilot projects focusing on a range of areas relating to smart cities: from environmental monitoring, urban greening and biodiversity to antisocial behaviour, safety and community development.

Similar to the Smart D8 open call last year, Smart Docklands is looking for people in academia, public and private organisations and local community members to apply with ideas that help address the local community’s needs.

“The themes for this call align with the focus of our existing engagement initiatives,” Mac Donncha said. “By providing a platform for innovation to thrive we’re hopeful that these pilots can help support wider community development, smart cities and climate action plans of both the DCC and Trinity College Dublin.”

Mac Donncha says that the call, which is open for applications until 13 June, is intentionally vague because the team is open to “anything and everything” in terms of ideas. A funding pool of €50,000 serves as an incentive.

Read more here.

Read more here.

Dublin City Council have teamed up with BÁC le Gaeilge to launch TurasÓir, a new support programme to help businesses in the capital make the most of the growing global interest in the Irish language. Launching the initiative with a splash this week, were Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste, Cathal Furey (City Kayaking Tours) and students from Notre Dame who are doing semester abroad in Dublin studying the Irish language.

In recent years, over 5 million people have started learning Irish on Duolingo outside of the island of Ireland. However, it is recognised that opportunities to engage with the Irish language and the story of the Irish language in Dublin are very limited in the city.

A first of its kind, TurasÓir is a pilot developmental programme which will support five small businesses or community groups to develop tourism experiences which bring the Irish language and/or the story of the Irish language in Dublin to life for tourists.

The programme will see Dublin City Council award €2,000 to 5 businesses or groups to develop and launch pilot projects.

With the language continuing to flourish and increase its profile globally and culturally, DCC have seen a gap between the expectation of visitors to Ireland who expect to encounter the Irish language and the availability of visitor services and experiences which are delivered partially or completely through the Irish language.

City Kayaking Tours have been pioneering this space. Speaking about his experience of using the Irish language as a resource with which to grow his tourism business City Kayaking Commercial Director Cathal Furey remarked “We were noticing that when tourists found out that some of our guides could speak Irish, they were fascinated. They had a real hunger to learn more about the language, its history and Dublin’s current relationship with the language. This is why we’ve developed ‘The Hidden Language Kayaking Tour’ which is proving a real hit with tourists, school groups and Dubliners alike”

Speaking at the launch, Lord Mayor Dáithí de Róiste said “As Lord Mayor of Dublin, I am proud to unveil the TurasÓir programme. Dublin tourism is flourishing, but many of our visitors only scratch the surface of what our city has to offer and in time we hope to have scores of options for travellers who have a broader interest in our language and the story of Irish in our city. The language has boomed in the capital since the turn of the century and we’re looking forward to many more following in the waves of City Kayaking and joining the TurasÓir programme.”

Read more here.

New unit will assist clients looking to navigate impending EU rules governing the technology.

Professional services giant KPMG has opened a European artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Dublin, with plans to create 200 jobs over the next three years to support clients looking to implement the technology in line with new European Union rules.

The Big Four accountancy and consulting firm said on Friday it plans to hire across regulatory, risk and cyber security functions at the unit, working out of its innovation hub at the Irish Financial Services Centre in Dublin 1.

The new unit will help clients looking to navigate the impending EU AI Act, KPMG Ireland said, a new regulation seeking to establish a common legal framework for the technology across the bloc. The proposed regulation was adopted by the European Parliament in March and is awaiting approval from the EU Council.

KPMG said the hub will provide for the gathering of information about current AI capacities as well as the creation of new tools to help developers and businesses implement the technology reliably.

Speaking at the opening of the hub, Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services Neale Richmond said the hub will help Irish businesses navigate the complexities of the increasingly disruptive technology. It will also lead to the creation of 200 jobs over the next three years, he said, “underpinning both KPMG’s commitment to Ireland but also the role that AI will have for Irish businesses in the coming years”.

Read more here.