Royal Canal Day 2013

On October 12^th, the Dublin City North Volunteer Centre is planning the Royal Canal Day, as a vibrant, fun, family friendly day along the banks of the canal.

It will include a large scale cleaning of the area coupled with activities and events related to the canal and its history, such as a family friendly walk with botanist Declan Doogue, a Pat Liddy Walking Tour and a social cycle. 

Since May, the centre has been facilitating monthly clean-ups on short sections of the Royal Canal.  Each month we have had over 30 volunteers, and at its August clean-up, over 40 volunteers removed over 300kg of rubbish from the canal and towpath in only 2 hours. 

its goal for the Royal Canal Day is to have clean up teams clearing litter all along the Royal Canal, from Dublin’s city centre all the way out to Blanchardstown – a distance of 10km! 

Great Irish Dog Walk

Join the DSPCA and 5000 waggly tails for the Great Irish Dog Walk in Phoenix Park on Saturday 28th September (9am-4pm).  A fun filled 3KM walk and doggie themed festival.   This event is open to all dog owners or people who love animals and wish to enjoy a fun day out, while supporting the lifesaving work of the DSPCA.

Attractions and free giveaways include:-

•             The Wetnose Studio Photo Booth

•             Free Dog Training and Agility by  King of Paws Training Academy

•             Doggie Fun zones and picnic areas

•             Irish Wolfhound Society

•             20th Century Fox featuring Turbo & The Snail Trail

•             Food & Entertainment

•             Dog Grooming by the DSPCA Pet Spa & Hotel

•             Lots of freebies, goody bags and much more!

Registration is €10.00 per dog or €10.00 per family if you do not own a dog

Lucan Festival Family Fun Day

The Lucan Festival is running from the 23rd to the 29th September.  The main event of the festival is the Family Day, which is on Sunday 29th.  Family oriented events on the day include a Garda Open Day; Dublin Fire Brigade Emergency Rescue Unit; Petting Farm; Birds of Prey; Lucan Tram & Bus; Magicians; Bouncy Castles; Puppet Shows; Face Painting and live music and entertainment on two stages.  

 

Rathfarnham Castle Park

Rathfarnham Castle Park is another great place in South Dublin to visit if you have not been already.  The castle itself dates back to the Elizabethan period and the OPW have done a great job refurbishing a good part of it.  We got a guided tour of it a while back and the kids loved it.  The Castle is currently hosting a 10 year exhibition of 18th and 19th period costumes, dolls and toys from the Berkeley Collection, which is also worth a dip into.  There is a really fab playground, which is managed by South Dublin County Castle, on the grounds of the castle and there is also a wooden playground hidden in the lovely woods of the grounds over by the pond.    The Stuart and Chambers Tearooms in the Castle itself is a nice place to pop into for a cuppa or an ice-cream if you have had the legs run off you at the park! 

 

Culture Night

Culture Night 2013 is taking place tomorrow on Friday September 20th from 5pm-11pm.

Now in its 8th year Culture Night is an initiative when cultural organisations transform Dublin by night and where the general public can experience the myriad of cultural possibilities Dublin has to offer for free, even on the move, with performances taking place on Dublin Buses and Trams throughout the city.

This year there is a ‘Family Culture Trail’ and just like all of the venues open on Culture Night, this trail is here to be enjoyed beyond Culture Night itself. So you can hold on to this programme and use it as a guide to explore, experience and enjoy on and beyond September 20th 2013. 

More info at http://www.culturenight.ie/event-category/family-culture-trail/

http://www.culturenight.ie/event-category

Granby Park Pop-Up Park

I am sure you have read about Ireland's first pop-up park, which opened recently on an empty Dublin City Council site at Dominick Street, where a demolished housing complex once stood. 

The Pop-up Park project has been funded from private sponsorship and is the collaboration of residents, architects, schools and volunteers led mainly by the vision of Upstart members and backed by the Council. The transformed urban Granby Park is open until this weekend. 

Granby Park is family-friendly, free to visit and open seven days a week. It consists of an amphitheatre constructed from wooden pallets, an outdoor cinema, benches, children’s play areas, trade school, mirrored artworks, multicoloured boot planters and a café. 

Free family events and performances are happening this weekend including a family capoeria class, maculele and samba performaces and a children's printed craft workshop. 

More info at  http://www.tradeschool.coop/dublin/class

Forest Family Fun Day

Coillte Outdoors in association with Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) are holding a Forest Family Fun Day at Hell Fire Club Car Park in the Dublin mountains on Sunday, September 15^th 2013 from 12.00 – 4.00pm. 

 

There will be a  variety of activities for the family, such as den building, field archery, wildlife identification, orienteering and more. So if you fancy getting mucky, this might be your kinda thing.

I brought the kids for the walk up to the Hellfire Club during the summer and it is a bit of a pull up the incline, but it is a nice walk through the woods and there is a fab view at the top. But the ruin itself is in poor condition - full of broken bottles and nettles, so watch your step, especially if you have curious little people who want to explore the building itself.

World Parks Day, Phoenix Park

The Office of Public Works is organising a World Parks Day event on Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park on Sunday, September 15th from 2pm to 5pm.

100 swing dancers will perform a show and music will be provided by 'Long John Jump Band'. All age groups will have a chance to join in 10-minute interval classes of Charleston, Jive, and Swing.

Dublin's Vintage Cars and Harley Davidson clubs will add to the atmosphere, their members dressed in '50s Rockabilly style. 


There will also be food markets, Carnival Booths, Candy Floss, Popcorn and Roller Skates.  So if everything '50s is your thing, this might be for you!

Flavours of Fingal County Show

The Flavours of Fingal County Show is happening this weekend from the 14^th-15^th September in Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate, Co Dublin. 

It aims to combine the sights and sounds of an agricultural show with a foodie, horticultural and family fun experience. The farm section of the show features a livestock and sheep competitions, equestrian contests and other agricultural displays. The historic walled garden of Newbridge House (which I posted a blog about before and is worth a visit in itself) hosts the food producers section of the show and features cooking demos and all things foodie in Fingal.  

Also on offer over the course of the weekend is family and musical entertainment.  For the little ones, there will be face painting, crafts, interactive learning zone and biodiversity events, bouncy castles, dog agility show, funfair etc.

UCD Woodlands Walks Festival

On Sunday the 15th September, UCD Alumni is running the UCD Woodlands Walk Festival  from 11am to 3pm.  Family friendly activities include an Enchanted Forest Experience in the woodlands, a scavenger hunt, magicians, face-painters, party games, bouncy castles, picnic area, cinema and walks.

Cabinteely Carnival

On Sunday September 15th 2013 in Cabinteely Park, dlr Events is running the Cabinteely Carnival from 1pm to 5pm.  It is a free family fun day out featuring circus performers (eg Jack Wise and Squashed), activities and a chance to learn some circus skills (eg Juggling, Unicycling, Poi Spinning, Plate Spinning and Stilt Walking). 

there will be a variety of Inflatable Bouncy Castles, Slides and Obstacle Courses, a Soccer Skills school, a snag Golf Area,  Frisbees and beanbag accuracy test.

Co Co Markets will be open during the event.

All activities are free but parking is very limited at the park so organisers are recommending to people to please walk or use public transport where possible.  Dublin Bus serves the area with bus numbers 45, 84, 145., 63 from Dun Laoghaire and 46A to Foxrock Church.

September Events

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Updated 27th September 


Sunday September 1st 

• RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
• Phoenix Park Children's Art Workshop, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Easy Origami Workshop for 8 -12 years olds, National Print Museum (2-3pm)

Monday September 2nd 

Tuesday September 3rd

•  Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 

Wednesday September 4th

•  Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 
• Science and Magic with Wayne Houchin, Science Gallery, (6pm) 

Thursday September 5th

• Babble for Babies, Mermaid Arts Centre (1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm shows) 
• Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 
• Dublin Fashion Festival 
• Thursday Tactile Tour for Recent Parents/Guardians of infants/young children, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (11-11.45am)

Friday September 6th

• Babble for Babies, Mermaid Arts Centre (1oam, 11am, 12pm shows) 
• Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 
• Dublin Fashion Festival 

Saturday September 7th

• Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 
• Dublin Fashion Festival 
• Ama-Zone: for Children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, National Concert Hall  - multi-sensory installation created by sound artist Slavek Kwi (11am, 12.15pm and 2pm)

Sunday September 8th

• RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
• Phoenix Park Children's Art Workshop, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Mountains to Sea Book Festival, Dun Laoghaire 
• Dublin Fashion Festival 
• Brats Kids Carnival, Smock Alley Theatre (2pm) (part of Dublin Fringe Festival)  
• Sunday Sketching for 7 + years olds "City and Country", Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (3-4pm)

Monday September 9th



Tuesday September 10th



Wednesday September 11th

Parent and Toddler Morning, Dublin Zoo (11am-12pm)  

Thursday September 12th



Friday September 13th 



Saturday September 14th 

• Brats Kids Carnival, Smock Alley Theatre (12pm) (part of Dublin Fringe Festival) 
• Dublin Harvest Festival, Wolf  Tone Square (12pm-6pm) 
• Children's Art Workshop for 7 + year olds "Mono printing workshop",  Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (3.30-4.30pm)

• Falconry Show, Kilruddery House (1.30pm) 

• Family Programme “Don’t Wake the Giant”, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm) 

• Flavours of Fingal County Show , Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate, Co Dublin

• Free Baby Chill Zone, Level 3, Dundrum Town Centre (12pm-4pm)

• Budding Artists Children’s Workshop for 4-7 year olds, Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens (11am-12.30pm) 

• Hardy Annuals Art Programme for 8-12 year olds, Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens (2pm-4pm)

  

Sunday September 15th

• Hands on History Drop-in Activity, National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, Decorative Arts and History (3-4pm)
• Flavours of Fingal County Show , Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate, Co Dublin  
• RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
• Phoenix Park Children's Art Workshop, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Sunday Sketching for 7 + years olds "Animal Safari", Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (3-4pm)
• Macnas Chaosmos Show - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (2pm and 5pm) 
• Enniskerry Victorian Field Day, Knocklinn Farm
• UCD Woodlands Walk Festival, UCD  (11am to 3pm). 
• Cabinteely Carnival, Cabinteely Park (1-5pm)
• Flightfest 
• The Forest Family Fun Day, Hell Fire Club Car Park (12-4pm) 
• World Parks Day, Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park Sunday (2pm to 5pm)

Monday September 16th



Tuesday September 17th

• Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (for kids aged 10 + ), Samuel Beckett Theatre - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (6.30 pm) 

Wednesday September 18th 

• Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (for kids aged 10 + ), Samuel Beckett Theatre - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (6.30 pm) 
• Parent and Toddler Morning, Dublin Zoo (11am-12pm)  

Thursday September 19th 

• Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (for kids aged 10 + ), Samuel Beckett Theatre - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (6.30 pm) 

Friday September 20th 

• Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (for kids aged 10 + ), Samuel Beckett Theatre - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (6.30 pm) 
• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Culture Night - Family Culture Trail (venues all over Dublin) 

Saturday September 21st 

• Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (for kids aged 10 + ), Samuel Beckett Theatre - part of Dublin Fringe Festival (3pm and 6.30 pm) 
• TeenCreate Programme for 12–15 year olds - "Discover the Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, with Felicity Clear", Studio 10, IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham (2-4pm) 
• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Family Capoeira, Frevo and Capoeira music, Granby Pop Up Park (11am-12.30pm)
• Maculele, Samba and Capoeira Roda, Granby Pop Up Park (12.30pm-2pm)
• Family Programme “Cartoon Fun”, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm) 

Sunday September 22nd

• RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
• Children's Printed Crafts Workshop, Granby Pop Up Park (11am-12pm)
• Artefact Detective!  Drop-in Activity - Ages 6+, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Archaeology (2-4pm) 
• Phoenix Park Children's Art Workshop, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Sunday Sketching for 7 + years olds "Dawn to Dusk", Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (3-4pm)
• Music for Fun, National Concert Hall (2 and 5pm)
• Skerries Soundwaves Festival

Monday September 23rd

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre
• Pop Up Play and Coffee Morning, Avoca Malahide (10am-12pm)

Tuesday September 24th 

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre

Wednesday September 25th 

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Parent and Toddler Morning, Dublin Zoo (11am-12pm)
• Moscow State Circus, RDS (5pm and 7.45pm)
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre

Thursday September 26th 

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Moscow State Circus, RDS (5pm and 7.45pm)
• Babies on Board: Inside The Thatched Cottage , talk for adults with babies under 12 months, National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, Decorative Arts and History (11.30am-12pm) 
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre

Friday September 27th 

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre
• Moscow State Circus, RDS (5pm and 7.45pm)
  
  

Saturday September 28th 

• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Great Irish Dog Walk in Phoenix Park (9am-4pm).
• Killruddery Film Festival presents The Thief of Bagdad, Kilruddery House (10.30am) 
• Moscow State Circus, RDS (2pm, 5pm and 8pm)
• Family Tour: Super Furry Animals! , National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street, Natural History (3pm-4pm)
• Public Tour: Viking Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street, Natural History (3.30pm-4.30pm)
• Family Programme “Underwater Gardens”, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm) 
• Baby and Toddler Week at Giddy Studios, Dundrum Town Centre
• The Dublin International Comics Expo (DICE) 2013, Pembroke Square, Dundrum Town Centre

Sunday September 29th 

• Irish Film Institute Family Screening"Spellbound", Irish Film Institute (11am)
• RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
• Phoenix Park Children's Art Workshop, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm
• Sunday Sketching for 7 + years olds "Wild West Dusk", Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (3-4pm)
• Skerries Soundwaves Festival
• Lucan Festival Family Fum Day  
• Nepal Day at Farmleigh - Experience the Culture, Food & Art of Nepal on the grounds of Farmleigh House (12 noon - 5pm) Entry is free
• Harvest Festival, Dublin Zoo
• Moscow State Circus, RDS (2pm and 5pm)
• My Museum: Swords and Dragons! National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Archaeology (3-4pm)
• The Dublin International Comics Expo (DICE) 2013, Pembroke Square, Dundrum Town Centre

Monday September 30th 

Dublin Festival Fever

Have been on hols, so have had a blog and tweet break.  Want to say thanks to all who have been so encouraging about this Dublin Munchkins lark.  Really glad you are finding it useful. 

So what to post about today...well how can I ignore the fantastic line up of Festivals that will awash our Dublin shores over the next two months during the Dublin Festival Season.

It all starts off with the Mountains to Sea Book Festival in Dun Laoghaire from 3rd-8th September.  The Schools and Family programme looks interesting with some of the biggest names in children's books participating in author led events.  From the Tuesday to Thursday there are lots of school events but on the Saturday and Sunday there are workshops etc to get your young un's creative juices flowing, such as T-shirt design, cup cake baking, creative writing workshops, monster family doodle and a family trail in People's Park.

Then there is the Dublin Fashion Festival from the 5th-8th September.  For your young fashionistas, there are a number of free fashion events that they might like such as fashion shows, a beauty bus, pop up shops, stylathons, modelling try outs, meet the designers, style workshops, kids dress up box etc.

Then there is the Dublin Fringe Festival running from the 5th-22nd September.  It is Ireland's largest multi-disciplinary arts festival which showcases new Irish and international arts.  It is a bit difficult to decipher what is appropriate for kids, but they might like the Brat Kids Carnival (recommended for kids 4 +), Tumble Circus Damn the Circus (recommended for kids aged 10 +) and the Macnas Chaosmos. 

Then there is Culture Night on the 20th September, when Dublin's museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, cultural centres and more will open their doors late for a free night of entertainment, discovery and adventure.  Have a look at the events on the Family Culture Trail, which features events in Croke Park, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, IMMA, James Joyce Centre, National Gallery of Ireland, the three National Museums, National Print Museum, TCD Old Library and Books of Kells and TCD's Zoological Museum.   

Soon after is the Dublin Theatre Festival running from 26th September to 13th October.  There are a five events specifically aimed at families as part of the Family Season.   

Open House Dublin is a celebration of architecture in Ireland and takes place from 4th to 6th October.  Over one weekend, almost 100 buildings of all types and periods will open their doors to allow the general public to snoop and explore the architecture of Dublin - all completely free. 

Another one of interest will be the Bram Stoker Festival, running from 26th to 28th October, which has events aimed at kids, families and teens such as storytelling, talks and writing workshops.

Down the road in Enniskerry, the Enniskerry Victorian Field Day will happen on Sunday 15th September at Knocklinn Farm.  Entertainment includes music, a dog show, classic cars and tractors, artisan market, kids tent and more.  

There is also the 10th Skerries Soundwaves Festival from the 20-29th September, which promises to have entertaining children's and teenager's events.