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Festival of World Cultures
The 2008 Festival will once again celebrate an incresingly multicultural Ireland, and given that one in every ten people living in Ireland now was not born here, it is certainly no exageration to say that Ireland has firmly left its monocultural past behind - Dun Laoghaire celebrates the cultural diversity that the change has wrought.
With more than 140 events taking place in 40 venues over the three days of the festival, and artists from 50 countries, there will be no shortage of things to see and do.
The very popular international food market returns, as does a Global Village Market featuring arts and crafts from a huge variety of countries, and a new addition this year is an environmental awareness fair and the Dún Laoghaire Mela, celebrating the diversity and brilliance of Asian cultures
Among the headline preformers will be Sa Ding Ding, whose hip-hop infused Chinese melodies have led to her being described as the Chinese Bjork. Also there will be the New York based Balkan Beat Box collective, who mix mediteranean modern dance, Middle Eastern gnawa groove and funky folk rhythms with Brooklyn rap to remarkable and unique effect.
The weekend will open with the Irish premier of the uncrowned kings of Abyssinian swing – Éthiopiques, who hae a cult following and will give Festival audiences a not-to-be-missed bug band soul and jazz work out.
There is so much more - Yungchen Lhamo from Tibet, a mesmerising and spiritual performer with an ethereal voice, the Orchestre National De Barbes who fuse Algerian Rai music and North African rhythms with deep funk and upbeat grooves, Banaya a 10 piece family band from Mali bring the ancient sound of a 4,000 year old oral tradition in and explosion of contagious rhythmic dancing and deep, emotive praise- singing.
That's still really only scratching the surface of this amazing packed three days - with music, street theatre, dance, club nights, markets, exhibitions, talks, workshops and activities for children, the Festival really is THE place to be on the last weekend in August.
As in previous years, many of the festival events are free of charge, but tickets for all events which require them can be had from the Central Ticket Bureau.
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What else to do in Dublin?
For a look at some other activities and attractions that we recommend within reach of this event, including tour itineraries and articles of interest, see our Dublin City Area Guide.
