What's On in Ireland

December 5, 2010 to December 20, 2010.
Farmleigh, an estate within Dublin’s Phoenix Park, is the venue for this annual programme of Christmas events aimed at all ages, but with a specially good range of events for kids.

There are food markets and carol singers, horse & carriage rides and puppet shows, art exhibitions and concerts, most free to enter and all with a Christmassy theme.

December 26, 2010 to December 29, 2010.
For many people Christmas is not Christmas without a day or two at Leopardstown races. It’s a very festive event, with families very much in evidence.

For those serious about the racing, rather than just the major social event that it is, the cream of Irish and British National Hunt horses will compete for serious prize money.

December 31, 2010 11:59 pm to January 1, 2011 12:01 am.
For many Dubliners greeting the New Year means gathering outside Christchurch Cathedral at mid-night to hear the bells ring. It’s a loud and boisterous occasion, with big crowds!

It’s also a cold time of year – so if you are going along, dress warmly and bring a flask of something warming.

January 1, 2011 to January 30, 2011.
Each January the National Gallery of Ireland mounts an exhibition of watercolor paintings by William Turner. The 31 paintings are part of a bequest to the Gallery from the collection of the collection of Henry Vaughan, who stipulated that they be shown for only one month each year.

January 1, 2011;
An annual fixture on the New Year calendar in which the denizens of ‘Comer take to streets in outrageous fancy dress, before entering a highly competitive race, shod in wellies.

It’s terrific fun and a great way to work off the New Year’s Eve excesses and at the same time raise a little money for charity.

January 11, 2011 to January 15, 2011.
A hugely popular annual Science Fair for secondary School (ie High School) students, who display their scientific knowledge though projects which cover all scientific disciplines.

Previous winners have gone on the win European and International prizes and there is often very cutting edge and innovative work on display.

January 22, 2011 to January 24, 2011.
Based in Tralee in Co Kerry and in 2009 centered around the Ballyroe Heights Hotel, the Shindig Festival features great Irish music, singing and storytelling and gives a central place to set dancing and Sean-Nós dancing.

As well as ceilis each night, and lots of music, there are also singing and dancing workshops where you can hone your skills!

January 22, 2011 to January 26, 2011.
Traditional music takes Dublin over at the end of January for this festival that celebrates the music session. Most of the events are free, and there are special events for children.

The Tradfest has grown annually from small beginings and now, in its ninth year, literally hundreds of musicians will take part.

January 30, 2011 to February 1, 2011.
This is an annual event, conducted mostly through the Irish language, held in honour of the Irish poet Brian Merriman.

It tackles fairly weighty topics and is attended by some of Ireland’s foremost academics working in the Irish language, but also has a very lively social side.

May 1, 2012 to May 5, 2012.
Held every three years in Dublin, this highly regarded competition for young pianists has a strong track record in advancing the careers of the rising stars of piano.

All rounds of the competition are open to the public, so there is a real feast of piano music waiting for anyone in Dublin at the time.