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And just like that… Day 7 marked the final day of the 2026 Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival💫 What an incredible week it’s been🙌 Huge thanks to everyone who came along, supported events, shared moments with us and helped make this year’s festival so special. We hope you all had an amazing time exploring everything D8 had to offer💙 The final day began with music, community and connection☺️ from the beautiful voices of @goilinsingers to the powerful We Belong community ritual at Tailors’ Hall, bringing people together through story, song and shared experience🎶 Across the afternoon, audiences stepped into Viking craft traditions at @dubliniamuseum , joined workshops and family events across the neighbourhood, soaked up the sounds of the brass band in @staudoensopw Park and experienced the chaos and fun of @over_the_top_wrestling Poetry Slam at the @nationalstadiumdublin 🥊 Later in the day we called into @lacatedralstudios for their open studio event, celebrating the artists and creative community that continue to make Dublin 8 such a vibrant place to be🎨 From historic tours and exhibitions to music, performance, talks, workshops and late-night moments… thank you for making the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival 2026 one to remember☺️ 📸 @patrickblue.ie 🎥Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8

Day 6 of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival brought another packed day of discovery across the neighbourhood💫 We started the morning exploring the stunning spaces of @christchurchdublin with tours through one of Dublin’s most historic landmarks⛪ while over at @iconicoffices The Masonry welcomed visitors in for a fascinating look at the history and art throughout the building👀 Across the afternoon, D8 was buzzing with music, stories and creativity🙌 From live tunes with @thebarradonovan at @libertymarketdublin to medieval tours in costume at @staudoensopw , the programme continued to bring the streets and spaces of Dublin 8 to life💙 We also stopped back into Valerie Gannon’s beautiful exhibition on Meath Street curated by @paulduanefilm and loved seeing the incredible drawings and responses visitors have been adding throughout the week🎨 At @pallas.projects.studios Brennan & Wells opened up their space, while A Matter of Time III continued to guide audiences through the Liberties in unexpected ways🚶 We also popped into @studio_ex_ for their Tattoo Flash Week🙌 As night fell, the Late in D8 energy took over⚡ with @bimm_dublin Music Trail lighting up @aloftdublincity , an unforgettable @sofarsoundsdublin show at @teelingwhiskey and a huge night at the @nationalstadiumdublin for In The Ring with Dan Donnelly featuring special guest @damiendempseymusic 🥊 And as always… this was only a glimpse of everything happening across D8👀 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8

A look back at Day 5 of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival💫 We kicked things off at @thedigitalhub for Integration Has Many Faces💙 before heading off for a day full of stories and exploring🙌 From Brendan Twomey’s walking tour through Swift’s Dublin📚 to Goldenbridge Cemetery tours by @glasnevincemetery ⛪ and a brilliant afternoon talk from @lizgillisauthor in Inchicore Library at @richmondbarracksdublin , there was history and conversation unfolding all across the neighbourhood! Later in the day we stopped by Kilmainham Mill with @dccculturecompany and @immaireland 🌿 another hidden corner of D8 full of incredible stories and atmosphere. While in the area we popped into @whynotflowersd8 to see The Heart of Inchicore bouquets💐 @flowerpop.ie transformed the evening with Floral Disco by @fionnualamoran 🌸 while @bo_dhearg brought the tunes to @thelibertybellepub as part of the @bimm_dublin Late In D8 Music Trail🎶 Across the city, audiences gathered for two very special performances ❤️ @camilleosullivanpics filled @christchurchdublin with pure magic ⛪ while @wearesimplethings lit up The Church of Saint Catherine and Saint James And then into the night 👀 Music, gigs and packed spaces from @teelingwhiskey to @fourthcornerdublin and late-night sessions in @nancyhandsdublin as part of the Late In D8 Music Trail🍻 Another brilliant day across D8🙌 and somehow there’s still more to come Day 6 is now underway💫 Full programme on our website, link in bio🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8

A look back at Day 4 of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival💫 We spent part of the day with @thelibertiesweavers 🧵 exploring stories, craft and history through their Pop Up Textile Museum, Walk & Talk, before heading across D8 for exhibitions, tours and events unfolding throughout the afternoon👀 From the Tenters exhibition at @aloftdublincity and botanical adventures at @stillgardendistillery 🌿 to @gallery_zozimus opening its doors for an evening of colour and conversation 🎨 there was something happening around every corner As night fell, the city came alive with music and performance✨ One of the biggest moments of the festival so far was @guinnesschoir presenting The City of Our Dreaming at @stpatrickscathedraldublin ⛪ bringing together the words of @paula_meehan1955 and music by @seandcomposer in an unforgettable performance Across the evening, audiences also gathered for @phelimdrewmusiccorner : Remembering Ronnie🎶 the Good Craic Choir in @portobellocommunityhall ☺️ DUETS Live by @irish_women_in_jazz at @teelingwhiskey 🥃 screenings, exhibitions and The Big Bag of Cannes Film Festival at @rascalsbrewing 🍿 And somehow… that still wasn’t everything👀 Day 5 is now underway🙌 Explore more events, booking info and the full festival programme on our website, link in bio🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8 #weloved8

A look back at Day 3 of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival💫 Yesterday was one of those days where every corner of D8 felt alive🙌 from exhibitions and walking tours to music, history, conversation and late-night gatherings across the neighbourhood👀 We started the day with @ncad_studioplus_fineart Creative Communities at @immaireland 🎨 Across the afternoon, people explored hidden corners of the city through the Bully’s Acre tour with @heritageirelandopw 🌿 whiskey, walking and weaving in the Liberties with @thelibertiesweavers & @teelingwhiskey 🥃 and beautiful live music from the @westlandtrio_dublin.ie at @staudoensopw ⛪ There were stops into exhibitions and @marshslibrary 📚 conversations unfolding across the city and streets full of people moving between events all day long🙌 As evening arrived, D8 really came into its own! From Brendan Twomey’s Gulliver lecture at @stpatricksmentalhealthservices and the musical walking tours with @goilinsingers 🎶 to the Maryland book launch at @littleflowerpennydinners , AIRNEÁN at @marrowbonebooks , Reeling in the Years 1926 @anirishhistory at @thefumbally and a packed house for @fiachnatomandalan @tomdunnemusic & @alanconnormusic 🎤 The night finished with the @rialtocommunityartsfestival 2026 programme launch at @standrewscommunitycentre 💙 another brilliant celebration of local creativity and community spirit And somehow… that still wasn’t everything👀 Day 4 is now underway🙌 Explore the full programme on our website, link in bio🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8

Day 2 in motion🎥 and D8 did not slow down🙌 From the morning light out at the Magazine Fort in the @thephoenixparkopw , to a lunchtime tour at @staudoensopw ⛪ the day was all about seeing the city from new angles👀 Across the afternoon, we dipped into the archives at @nival_ncad 📚 before the evening took over with stories, conversation and connection all across the neighbourhood From Irish-language tours at @teelingwhiskey 🥃 to a quick stop into @flower_n_bean for @silentbookclubdublin ☕, and powerful talks from Liz Gillis @gillisliz and David Caron @irishstainedglass , there was something happening at every turn We wrapped the night at @artsbubbles #20 at @stpatrickscathedraldublin 🎤 a special way to close out another packed day in D8 And that’s still only a glimpse… there’s so much more happening across the festival✨ Day 3 is here🙌 Explore the full programme on our website, link in bio🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8📅 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8

A look back at Day 1 of the Culture Date with Dublin 8 festival💫 and what a start it was🙌 From the very first events, D8 was buzzing with conversation, creativity and community👀 We kicked things off at @stpatrickscathedraldublin The Deanery Mews with @paula_meehan1955 and @sjswords in conversation🎤 a powerful and thoughtful opening that set the tone for the week ahead! Across the afternoon, the stories of the Liberties came to life through local history talks with @catherinescuffil and @ireland_oldandnew at @hyattcentricdublin 📚 while walking tours and park explorations brought people out onto the streets and into the heart of the neighbourhood🌿 As evening fell, the doors opened to a series of brilliant exhibitions across D8 🎨 including @ducvanphamart at The Bank @thedigitalhub , Valerie Gannon on Meath Street and @camilla.hanney at Tailors’ Hall, each space full of energy, curiosity and connection☺️ And that was just a glimpse… there was so much more happening across the day👀 Day 2 is already underway🙌 so if you haven’t made it down yet, now’s your chance Explore the full programme on our website, link in bio🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 🎥 @patrickblue.ie 📸 Cover photo by @_patiguimaraes #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #makeadatewithdublin8 #weloved8

Rooted in Dublin 8, The City of Our Dreaming brings together poetry, music and the living voice of the city🌃 The poem by Paula Meehan @paula_meehan1955 , commissioned by @guinnesschoir for its 75th anniversary, is now available to listen to on our website(link in bio) 🎧 Read and heard in Paula’s own voice, it offers an intimate entry point into a work shaped by memory, imagination and place, moving through The Liberties and across the emotional landscape of Dublin 8📝 Across the festival, the poem unfolds through two key events👇 🎤In Conversation: Paula Meehan & Stephen James Smith @sjswords Join Paula Meehan and Stephen James Smith for a conversation exploring poetry, storytelling and the voice of the city at The Deanery Mews, @stpatrickscathedraldublin Campus✨ Together they reflect on how language holds memory, how place shapes writing, and how poetry continues to evolve in performance and in public life. 📅 In Conversation: Monday 4 May, 12pm 🎟️ Free event, booking required 🎶 The City of Our Dreaming: World Premiere Concert The poem becomes a new choral work with music by @seandcomposer , performed by The Guinness Choir at @stpatrickscathedraldublin ⛪ A large-scale performance bringing together choir, solo voices and poetry in a celebration of Dublin’s past, present and future🎶 📅 Concert Premiere: Thursday 7 May, Doors 7.30pm 🎟️ Tickets from €22, booking via link in bio Link in bio to hear the full poem 🔗 Make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 🎼 Music by @petercooneyvideo 🎨 Artwork by @mralanclarke 🎭 Illustrates by @jrooneyillustration 🎥 Video by @patrickblue.ie #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #thecityofourdreaming

Back with another highlight from Culture Date with Dublin 8 💫 Meet Terry O’Neill @tezoneill49 , actor, comedian and former boxer, stepping into the ring this May 🥊 Terry brings Rope-A-Dope to the iconic @nationalstadiumdublin , sharing a 15-minute segment that brings together his own journey in boxing with the wider history of the sport, the good, the bad and the ugly👀 This performance is a real full circle moment. Many of the stories he tells happened in that very ring, making his return to the National Stadium all the more special🙌 As part of In the Ring with Dan Donnelly & Dublin’s Boxing Legends, Terry joins an eclectic lineup including @damiendempseymusic , blending theatre, storytelling, music and live performance into one unforgettable night🔥 Hosted by @fallonist_ this is where Dublin’s fighting spirit meets creativity inside the ropes🎭 📅 Saturday 9 May, 8pm 🎟️ Booking required (link in bio) Make your date with Dublin 8 this May 📅 Video by @patrickblue.ie #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #dandonnelly

In the Ring with Dan Donnelly & Dublin’s Boxing Legends🥊 Step into @nationalstadiumdublin for a night that brings the legend of Dan Donnelly and Dublin’s rich boxing heritage to life🔥 This is not your typical show The ring becomes the stage for a powerful mix of live music, storytelling, theatre and spoken word, all inspired by Donnelly’s story and the fighting spirit of the city🙌 Expect a live set from @damiendempseymusic , whose voice carries the soul of working class Dublin🎶 Hear Brian Kerr reflect on a lifetime in sport and his deep connection to Dublin’s boxing world.Patrick Myler, the author of the book on Dan Donnelly, will also be joining the night guided by @fallonist_ @threecastlesburning 🎤 Experience the drama of Donnelly’s fights brought vividly to life as Barry McGovern performs and recites commentary from the bouts themselves, alongside a special in-ring performance from @tezoneill49 🥊 Plus new voices from @emmet_obrien_poetry and powerful traditional music from @niamhnicharra who composed the album “Donnelley’s Arm”🎭 From myth and history to live performance and raw energy, this is a one of a kind night where the past and present collide in the ring💥 Saturday 9 May Check out the full programme via the link in bio and make your date with Dublin 8 this May📅 Video by @patrickblue.ie #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8

Back with another highlight from Culture Date with Dublin 8 💫 Meet Niamh Ní Charra @niamhnicharra , award-winning musician and archivist, taking part in In the Ring With Dan Donnelly and Dublin’s Boxing Legends this May 🎻 Playing in the iconic @nationalstadiumdublin for the very first time, Niamh brings a unique personal connection to the story. After hearing about Donnelly while in her local pub, she was inspired to compose a tune based on the legend of his arm, a piece that went on to become Donnelly’s Arm, the title track of her acclaimed album 👀 She’ll be performing that music on the night alongside her partner Kevin Corbett, as part of a really eclectic lineup that includes Damien Dempsey @damiendempseymusic , all coming together to celebrate Dublin’s boxing heroes through music, storytelling and live performance 🥊 Hosted by Donal Fallon, this promises to be a fascinating and creative evening inside the ring itself 🙌 📅 Saturday 9 May, 8pm 🎟️ Booking required (link in bio) Make your date with Dublin 8 this May 📅 Video by @patrickblue.ie #culturedatewithdublin8festival #cultured8 #dublin8 #dandonnnelly

Ireland’s endangered birds will be the focus of a unique intergenerational performance taking place at DLR Mill Theatre Dundrum from May 15 - 16 ♥️ “The Conference of Birds” 🐦 will feature birds on the brink of extinction taking to the stage in the hope that humans will cherish their songs before it is too late 🫶 A powerful performance merging theatre, music, and visual art, the project is by The Elders, a Dublin-based participatory arts group for older people, in collaboration with the National Concert Hall’s youth choir, Cór na Nóg 🎵 👉Directed by Andrea Scott of @floatingworldproductions tickets for the show are on sale now from @dlrmilltheatre website 🎭 👉For press enquires: [email protected] @cultureheadpr 🧑🏻‍💻 🎥 Video: Patrick Blue @patrickblue.ie Proudly supported by @artscouncilireland 🫶