St Patrick's Week Events in Dublin
Five-Day Event Guide to Festival
Wednesday March 15th
GE Money Oíche Smithfield Square
Komos is an ariel spectacle which will launch the 2006 St
Patrick's Festival in the heart of Dublin City in Smithfield
Square. Grupo Puja (Argentina & Spain) have developed a unique
style of spectacle which combines acrobatics, circus and
hair-raising choreography, all of which is performed overhead.
Eight performers attach themselves to a futuristic globe
which is attached to a crane and perform breath taking
choreography, 30-50 feet over head. The globe is beautifully lit
and the costumes and set are reminiscent of astronauts tumbling
inside a space shuttle.
Audiences will feel like they have been rocketed into space
watching this stunning blend of live music, lighting and
choreography. Winners of the Best Outdoor Show at the Fira
Tarrega, Spain, 2005.
A special opening night performance of music, song and
drumming will launch Cosmos and the Festival. One hundred
drummers from local Smithfield and other Dublin communities will
join together with the Dublin based world music group De Jimbe
in Baile, an Afro-Irish celebration of 'home'.
Directed by Brian Fleming and Bisi Adigun
St. Patrick's Festival Symposium
Dublin Castle, Conference Center
9:30am - 5:00pm
The St. Patrick's Festival Symposium in association with
Dublin City Development Board, now in its fourth year, provides
a platform for conversation and discussion on a wide range of
issues.
Building on the success of previous symposia, the theme for
2006 is "What is Public Space?" The Festival Symposium aims to
create an event which looks at the many faceted responses to
"What is Public Space?" and what this means for the changing
communities in Ireland and the public at large.
In 2006, the festival will increase the international scope
of the event; ensure an interactive day conducive to
participation making the event accessible and appealing to a
wide audience. Discussion topics on the day will include Public
Ownership & Civic Engagement, Corporate/Civic Development,
Public Art, Virtual Space, Urbanization & Heritage, and Public
Vs Private Space. A number of prolific speakers will be invited
to open discussion on each area.
Tickets are available through the Festival Shop for
concessions please call Carrie on 01 6763205.
Forty Shades of Green
Farmleigh
16th March - 17th April/ 10am - 5pm
Forty Shades of Green presents the work of 40 artists and
crafts people, comprising some of Ireland's most distinguished
fine art and craft practitioners. Work will be featured in a
variety of media including ceramics, glass, textiles, wood,
stone, metal, painting, and print.
Donkeys at Docklands
Custom House Quay
16th March - 17th April/ 10am - 5pm
An arrangement of 50 life size donkey images will be on
display for the five days of the Festival. The exhibition has
been created by Oliviero Toscani (creator of Benetton's
corporate image in the 90's).
Jeannie Johnson
Wednesday 15th - Sunday 19th
North Wall Quay, Docklands
11am - 5pm.
The
replica famine ship the Jeanie Johnston will allow visitors to
experience what life was like on the ship en route to America.
Thursday March 16th
GE Money Oíche
Smithfield Square 19:00-21:45
Hayes and Cahill
@ Vicar St
8.00pm
What better way to spend the eve of St. Patrick's Day than
listening to the renowned mix of traditional Irish music and
jazz from Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill.
Tickets €25 plus booking fee through ticketmaster.
Markets
Wolfetone Park
10am - 6pm
Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th March
In a
world of shopping malls and global retailers nothing beats
buying from source so the Festival is presenting an exciting
market offering the best of Irish local and organic produce,
arts and crafts, food and jewellery.
Friday March 17th
Parade
Parnell Square @ 12 noon
More than 700,000 people are expected to line the
streets of Dublin and a further 7 millions will watch the
International and Irish marching bands join performers, dancers
and street theatre companies march through the city centre.
Céilí Mór
Earlsfort Terrace 2.30pm - 5:30pm
From 2.30 to 5:30pm on St. Patrick's Day the Kilfenora Céilí
Band will be supported by Gerry O'Connor and Irish Dancers at a
traditional Irish Céilí.
Céilís feature a range of structured dances such as round
dances, line dances, and progressive line dances performed in
groups of varied numbers.
Funfair
Merrion Square West 6pm - 11pm
Sunday 12noon - 11pm
Relive your schooldays on one of the Festival Funfair's
magic rides like the Miami Drop Zone or grab a birds' eye view
of Dublin city from the top of the Ferris Wheel.
St. Patrick's Festival presents Birds 'Euro Show' fun-fair
the largest traveling fun-fair show in Ireland. Come and
experience Ireland's largest Ferris wheel, standing over 150
feet high, take a spin on Ireland's largest dodgems. New to 2006
is the exciting spectacular popular with all the family, the
Hollywood fun house.
Saturday March 18th
Concert for Children
The Ark, Temple Bar. 1pm.
Children of all ages are invited to share an hour in the
company of two of Ireland's most talented musicians. With their
own engaging brand of music both Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Mel
Mercier will capture the spirit of St. Patrick's Festival as
well as the hearts of their young audience. Tickets €8.50
available from www.ark.ie.
Treasure Hunt
Registration Time: 10am - 1pm
Starting Point: City Hall, Dame Street
An exciting free challenge in the city for all ages solving
riddles and discovering hidden gems. Spot prizes on offer for
the fastest, cleverest, wackiest team or having the best fancy
dress.
An Lá Gaelach
City Centre 11am 'til late.
Music, film, storytelling and dating - all 'as Gaeilge! A new
opportunity to engage with the Irish Language.
Workshops:
Language workshops All day from 10am €5 from
Sean nós song 11am-12 noon €5 from
Sean nós dance 12.12-1.15pm €5 from
Yoga 11.30-12:30 €5 from the Project Arts Centre
Storytelling 2-3pm €5 from the Project Arts Centre
Drumming 3-4pm €5 from the Project Arts Centre
Bellydance 4-5pm €5 from the Project Arts Centre
Film:
A double bill of the oldest and newest film made in the
Irish language. From noon at the Irish Film Institute.
Open Air Screening:
Harry Potter- (Chamber of
Secrets (as Gaeilge) 8pm, Meeting House Square. Temple Bar.
Club Óiche:
Ireland's first air bodhrán
competition & speed Dating. 10.30pm til late. Irish Film
Institute. €5. Tickets on door.
Terrafolk
O'Reilly Theatre 8pm
Terrafolk from Slovenia play in a range of styles from gypsy
to classical and everything in between.
Comedy Circus
Vicar Street 8pm
Comedians, Barry Murphy, Dave McSavage, Tara Flynn, Phil Kay
and many more bring laughter and mayhem to Vicar Street. Tickets
€25 plus booking fee through ticketmaster.
City Side Up
South King Street/ Henry Street 1 to 4pm
City Side UP brings European bands, acrobats and the best of
international street theatre to the city centre.
Sunday March 19th
Big Day Out
Merrion Square
12:00pm - 6:00pm
The Denny Big Day Out turns Merrion Square into an outdoor
circus with jugglers, trapeze acts, puppetry, music, dance and
walkabout performers. The infamous Fanzini brothers will perform
a side-splitting interactive comedy showpiece comprising a
skillful display of circus skills.
Film at the Festival
Irish Film Institute
Noon to 6pm
Selected films and a public interview by Scottish writer,
Irvine Welsh. Tickets €15 for the double bill - must be reserved
in advance at www.irishfilm.ie
St
Patrick's Day Index
