Weekend events lineup: The Weir performance, Kilkenny Arts Festival, and top activities to enjoy in Ireland this week
Get ready for a cultural extravaganza as Ireland hosts a series of captivating events this August. From theatre and music festivals to art exhibitions and film festivals, there's something for everyone.
Theatre and Performances
Conor McPherson's acclaimed play, The Weir, is set to take the stage at the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, running from August 8th until September 6th. Directed by McPherson himself, the play revolves around a stormy night in an isolated rural pub in County Leitrim, Ireland, where four local men and a young woman from Dublin share folklore, ghost stories, and personal tales. The production features an ensemble cast including Brendan Gleeson, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Kate Phillips, Seán McGinley, and Owen McDonnell. Following its successful run in Dublin, The Weir will transfer to London's Harold Pinter Theatre from September 12th until December 6th.
On August 10th, Sam Perkin, Ciarán Hinds, Sharon Carty, and Charles Eisenstein will collaborate on a performance titled "The More Beautiful World" at St Canice's Cathedral, Dublin. Martin Hayes & Friends will also perform at the same venue on August 16th.
Music Festivals
The Howth Roots and Blues Festival, happening from August 8th until August 10th in Howth, Co Dublin, boasts an impressive lineup of both male and female performers. Muireann Bradley, Susan O'Neill, Mary Stokes, Bree Harris, Grainne Duffy, Susan Tomelty, Winter Wilson, Jam Tarts, Eeffaa, and several other women will take the stage, alongside bluesy/rootsy male performers such as Mundy, Brush Shiels, Rob Strong, Mik Pyro, Boye Papagee, Ben Prevo, Dermot Byrne, and more.
The "We've Only Just Begun" music festival in Dublin features over 30 performances across two stages. The almost exclusively Irish female line-up is a response to festival programmers who avoid gender balance. Highlights include Florence Road, Negro Impacto, Hotgirl, Winemom, Sarah Crean, Annika Kilkenny, I Dreamed a Dream, ShmoneyDoll, Hannahbella, Becky McNeice, and For Nina.
Film Festivals
The Boyne Valley International Film Festival (BVIFF) is taking place from August 8th until August 10th in Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Co Louth. The festival program includes Niall Duffy's Galar, Aisling Byrne's Turnaround, and Sonya O'Donoghue's Where the Old Man Lives. The Gala Screening at the BVIFF is Four Mothers, co-written by Drogheda brothers Colin and Darren Thornton.
Art Exhibitions
Art + Soul presents an exhibition of works by artists such as Tracey Emin, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Salvador Dalí, Bridget Riley, Andy Warhol, Picasso, and Joan Miró, among others, at Culloden Estate and Spa, Belfast until August 31st. Over 100 sculptures are on display throughout the 12-acre grounds of the estate as part of the exhibition. Art + Soul also includes artists' talks and daily guided tours at specific times.
FrielDays: A Homecoming 2025-2029
FrielDays: A Homecoming 2025-2029 is presenting five Brian Friel plays in five weeks, with the official opening featuring a performed reading of Dancing at Lughnasa in Glenties, Co Donegal until August 17th.
This August, Ireland's cultural scene is brimming with exciting events. Whether you're a theatre lover, a music enthusiast, a film buff, or an art aficionado, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out on these incredible experiences!
- The Weir play, featuring music and performance, will run at the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, offering an engaging blend of theatre and music from August 8th until September 6th.
- At the "We've Only Just Begun" music festival in Dublin, a lineup of over 30 almost exclusively Irish female performers, including Florence Road and ShmoneyDoll, will showcase their music, emphasizing the importance of gender balance in the music industry.
