Heritage Week 18th - 26th

So Heritage Week starts on the 18th.  It's a bit of a misnomer because it's actually 9 days of activities but I suppose we'll let them off.  There is quite literally too many events, even limiting ourselves to Dublin and county to mention them all.  However, the website is great and easy to use: you can search by a whole range of types of events to narrow it down.  One thing to remember, a lot of things are on in the day time and family friendly, so it's ideal if you need last minute activities before the kids go back to school.  There really is something for everyone here.  I've picked out a couple of notable things below.

I did a random Fingal search and found an interesting looking talk in Blanchardstown Library on 25th August (sadly, in the afternoon) on the Phoenix Park Assassinations And Trial Of Invincibles 1882 - 1883.

If you've any interest in Glasnevin cemetery, they'll be doing tours during Heritage week.  They're normally only a fiver but free next week and well worth doing.  I did one last year during Heritage week and it was fascinating.

The Royal Hospital in Kilmainham is doing a range of guided tours of the building inside and out every day during Heritage Week.  Even if IMMA's not your thing,just seeing inside this building is a treat on its own.

Dublin Castle is the venue for a talk entitled "A Very Dublin Death: The Plague In Ireland, 1348-1400" on 24th and that is on at 18:15.

Everything appears to be free, though some things will require booking.

National Heritage Week has begun

National Heritage Week runs from 20th August to 28th August. Information is available from www.heritageweek.ie.

On Tuesday 24th

Mouth to Mouth begins in Project Arts Centre today, Tuesday 24th August. "A modern day ghost story and sharp tragi-comedy Mouth to Mouth follows the fate of a group of friends haunted by the past. Suitable ages 16+. Contains some strong language and sexual references." (Is that a warning or a promise?)

Also on today, as part of Heritage Week, the National Library will give a behind-the-scenes view of the Library. Details: 1 pm, Seminar Room, National Library, Kildare Street. Admission is free.

August - highlights

Here are a few of the things I'm most looking forward to in August. I think it'll be a good month.

As I'll probably not be at the Dublin Horse Show (starting tomorrow) I'll skip straight to "Opera in The Open", starting on Thursday 5th August at 1 pm in the grounds of the Civic Offices in Wood Quay and running every Thursday for the rest of the month. Now I've a confession to make: for someone who writes about culture, I sure know very little about opera. Bad first experience, very dull Russian opera about boredom. (I certainly empathised with the characters though.) Opera in The Open should be much more fun, although "The Open" does suggest rain might be a problem... this is Ireland in August after all...

The Northside Music Festival continues as well, with an event on Thursday 5th in St Canice's Church (Tonos), Sunday 8th in Griffith Park (Txutxukan & Discovery Gospel Choir), Thursday 12th in the Sean O'Casey Community Centre (The Henry Girls), Sunday 15th in Fr. Collins Park (Masamba & Afro Cuban Groove) and finally Tuesday 17th in St Pappan's Church (Callino String Quartet).

On Tuesday 10th 'Vincent River' opens in Project Arts Centre. This play got good reviews from previous runs elsewhere.

Friday 13th sees Meeting House Square in Temple Bar getting covered over. First up, on Friday 13th, is Funky Seomra. OK, I'll admit my first reaction to their slogan - "alcohol and drug free festival nightclub" - was to think it sounded worthy and not much fun, but as I read more I became increasingly interested. I'll definitely be there. There'll be plenty of other events in the days after that too, as the square remains covered until August 22nd.

National Heritage Week starts on Saturday 21nd and runs through to Sunday 29th. There's so much on that week I'll not even attempt to summarise it.

Also starting on Saturday 21st and running over that weekend is the Dublin Viking Festival. I'd strongly suggest trying out the walking tour. There'll be music, lectures on weaponry, a movie screening and... "Available at the festival will be different types of local made and foreign food; including hog roast, breads and Danish pastries. Also, drink stalls with apple cider and mead." Food + Alcohol + Weaponry. I am so there.

On Monday 23rd Project Arts Centre presents 'Mouth to Mouth', "a modern day ghost story and sharp tragi-comedy Mouth to Mouth follows the fate of a group of friends haunted by the past".

Leaving perhaps the best until last, the month ends with Salute!. "Salute is a multi-period military vehicle and re-enactment event which will take place on August 28th & 29th 2010." Hell yes it will, with tanks and guns and airsofters and reenactors who drill using Latin. One of the main reasons I started blogging about culture was a firm but unproven belief that Dublin was full of fascinating subcultures, so to find an excellent event with so many diverse hobbies all rolled together... awesome.

Oh, and I'll be drinking and writing about coffee, and finding nice places for weekend brunch. This could be a very fun month.