National Classic Car Show

The RIAC National Classic Car Show is on in the RDS this weekend so if you or your munchkins are car enthusiasts this might be for you. Over 250 classic, post-vintage, vintage and veteran cars as well as motorbikes are lined up from over 40 Classic Car Clubs, many of Ireland’s leading Collectors, special Feature Cars, the Irish Grand Prix Pit Stop celebrating over a 100 years of motorsport, over 70 Commercial Stands and AutoJumble.

The Fastest Man on Earth – Former Land Speed Record Holder and Project Leader Richard Noble will be in attendance on Sunday. The Bloodhound SSC will be on display both Saturday and Sunday. You can try your skills at driving at 1,000 mph in the specially designed simulator and meet the team behind the 135,000 bhp Bloodhound.



Photo Source: http://classiccarshow.ie/bloodhound/ 

We ‘♥’ Books

As part of We ‘♥’ Books, over the course of five days (3rd-7th March), a team of twelve authors will tour Ireland with a view to sharing their love of books and enthuse school audiences with a passion for reading. Funded by the Arts Council, the tour will visit five regional venues, including the Draíocht Blanchardstown on the 5th March, hosting a line-up of best-selling and award-winning Irish writers, comic artists and illustrators. But tickets for the Dublin gig have already sold out.

On Monday 3rd March, there are tickets available for the event at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, which in itself looks like a fantastic place with loads of great kiddie and family oriented events on throughout the year.  

These events will see participating authors (including Judi Curtin, Michael Emberley, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Paul Howard, Derek Keilty, Celine Kiernan, Derek Landy, Oisín McGann, Debbie Thomas, Alan Nolan, Sarah Webb and Sheena Wilkinson) celebrate their favourite books and explore how their own work has been influenced by these titles. 

There will also be a chance to take a closer look at what it takes to be a writer, the future of books and what it means to be a young reader in the digital age. Plus, there will be plenty of opportunity for those attending to ask their own questions and even learn how to draw like the professionals! Click on the links above to book!

60th Texaco Children's Art Competition

The 60th Texaco Children's Art Competition is on at the moment and your munchkins still have time to enter before the 28th February, so get drawing, printing or painting! 

You can submit up to two entries and they can be about anything that interests you. Age categories apply.

Tibradden Wood

As it was such a gorgeous day yesterday we thought we had better make the most of the sun and get a bit of a run around, so we headed off to the Dublin mountains.   

This time we went to Tibradden Wood, which is a lovely walk through the woods and under Zipit's high-wire trail (which incidentally looks fab but kids need to be 7 to do it so we have to wait a while) and then up the hill over granite boulders and wooden pathways to the cairn and kist burial site. The site is a registered National Monument and a burial urn taken from it is housed in the National Museum in Dublin. It is a pity there is no more information about what it is on the sign.  You can go further if you want and link up with Cruagh Woods or Kilmashogue if you want a longer walk.

Pack a picnic and you will be up and down in an hour and a half ish. View are fantastic and kids should love bounding about like mountain goats if they are that way inclined, but if it is windy make sure to wrap up!

Russian Festival

This year Festival of Russian Culture “Maslenitsa” (Pancake week) is in its 5th year and will take place from 23rd of February to 2nd of March. To celebrate this occasion a week long programme of events has been prepared for all ages and tastes at different locations throughout the city.

Traditional music, dance, children’s drawing lessons and art workshops, quizzes, activities, lively performances, lectures and talks, informative exhibitions are just some of the events taking place during the week. The highlight of the festival is traditional Family Day, which this year will take place in the Ballsbridge Hotel on Sunday the 2nd of March.

The festival will encompass a selection of venues across the city, with activities certain to suit all cultural tastes in the Dublin City libraries, Trinity College, Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane, Russian schools and other venues. Following the success of the previous years which saw 7,500 visitors attending the Family Day and many more attending numerous events during the week, the festival has become a traditional feature of vibrant Dublin cultural life.

The Pine Forest Art Centre Mid Term Art Day

If you have crafty kids, the Pine Forest Art Centre outside of Glencullen might be of interest. It was founded in 1973 by Mary Carroll, an artist and teacher. The centre provides Easter, Halloween and Summer Camps/Courses. It welcomes school groups for Art & Craft/Environmental days during the school year and other interested groups throughout the year. Other various activities include School Tours, Teacher's & Student's Workshops, Halloween & Christmas Workshops for schools and groups, Term-time classes, Birthday Parties, a Mid-term Art Day, and a Christmas Art & Craft day. A private bus service is provided during the summer months to and from many South Dublin suburbs.

This week the Pine Forest Art Centre is running a Mid-term Art & Craft Day on Thursday 20th February. It is a fun art day for ages 5-12 years old and for ages 13-16 years old. Times: 10 am - 4 pm. Price: € 35.00. Lunchtime mountain walk (weather permitting).

Mid Term Art Break at the National Gallery

The Mid Term Art Break at the National Gallery coincides with the schools’ mid-term break. Daily one hour workshops for 5-10 year olds will be based on Springtime themes focusing on artworks in the collection by means of informal talks, discussion and creative projects. Workshops start at 3pm. Tickets €5 per class, or four tickets for €15 in advance.

Monday 17th Feb - Flying Creatures, with Elaine Leader
Tuesday 18th Feb -
Wednesday 19 Feb - My Favourite Place, with Frances Coghlan
Thursday 20th Feb - Illustrating Fairy Tales, with Duffy Mooney
Friday 21st Feb - Shimmering Serpents, with Louise McGrath.

Babytalk Festival

Babytalk is a family-friendly festival for babies and their families, expectant parents and anyone thinking of starting or adding to their family. The festival is taking place on the 22nd and 23rd of February 2014 from 10am to 5pm daily in O’Reilly Hall, UCD, Dublin.

Exhibitors will be showcasing products and services; expert speakers will be giving short talks from respected expert speakers; face-painting, a children’s play area and music, stand-up comedy and children’s entertainers will provide fun for the kids. 

More family stuff at IMMA

Following on from the success of IMMA's family exhibition Action all Areas last autumn, it has announced a new exhibition opening for families and young people this Saturday 15 February. Here is some more information on the exhibition and related events.

Light Rhythms Exhibition (15 February – 6 April 2014) 

Light Rhythms is an exhibition about sound, light and line that is activated by families and young people of all ages. In this exhibition you will encounter artworks to view, alongside artworks and resources that you can interact with to make your own colour and sound installations. You are invited to consider how lines, sound, colour, textures and light influence our experience of space.

Over the course of the exhibition IMMA is running a series of Saturday drop-in workshops called Sound Bites, whereby different artists will add a new interactive element to the exhibition and test it out live with visitors.

This exhibition has been inspired by concurrent and upcoming exhibitions by artists Patrick Scott, Haroon Mirza and the site-specific neon work Line Writing by Vong Phaophanit.

Light Rhythms Events:

Sound Bites – a series of artist interventions (Saturdays, 12.00pm – 4.00pm)

15 February, Fionnuala Conway and Mark Linnane "A rainbow in the palm of my hand" - inspired by the Patrick Scott exhibition, you have a chance to create your own colourful light painting. Considering the different colours, shapes and forms that Patrick uses repeatedly in his work IMMA is inviting visitors to use torches to create their own unique digital image.

8 March, Sven Anderson

22 March, Slavek Kwi

5 April, Karl Burke and Russell Hart

Explorer

Sundays, 2.00 – 4.00pm
The weekly drop in Explorer family workshop programme will be responding to Light Rhythms for the exhibition’s duration.

Dorothy Cross, Ghost Ship, 1999 , Two light ship models, phosphorescent paint and u.v.lights, video, 10 minute loop, Collection Irish Museum of Modern Art, Purchase, 2003

February Events

From art to music, china to wetlands and song writing to teddy bears – a list of family friendly and child oriented events in Dublin during February.  I will update the list when I hear of more things.

Updated 21st Feb.

Saturday 1st February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

*Family Days: Colourful Creatures, Draíocht (12-3pm)
* Spring Show Shine Workshop for kids aged 7 plus, National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street (11am-12pm)
* Re-enactment: World War I, 1914-1918 – suitable for all ages, National Museum of Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks (2-4pm)

Sunday 2nd February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival
* Drop-in Activity “Explorer”, IMMA West Wing (2.00pm – 4.00pm)
* RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
* World Wetlands Day – family friendly activities around Dublin (postponed til March)

Monday 3rd February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Tuesday 4th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Wednesday 5th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Thursday 6th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Friday 7th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Saturday 8th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival
* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (10am-5pm)
* Teddy Bear Hospital, The Ark (1-4pm)
* Intercultural Tour in Mandarin - Mandarin language tour and family-friendly activities with Tiedong Yang, Chester Beatty Library (1pm)
* 19th Festival of Youth Orchestras, National Concert Hall (3 and 8pm) 
* Thor’s Hammer Drop-in activity for kids aged 6 plus, National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street (11am-12pm)

* Budding Artists– workshop for children aged 4-7, National Botanic Gardens (11am-12.30pm)
* Hardy Annuals– workshop for children aged 8-12, National Botanic Gardens (2pm-4pm)

Sunday 9th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival
* RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (12pm-5pm)
* Know Your Bears, a fun talk on real bears with zoologist Geraldine Breen (for kids aged 4+), The Ark (2pm & 4pm)
* Children’s Pottery Workshop - Make Your Own Cake Stand – suitable for kids aged 7 plus, Seamus Ennis Centre (1pm)
* Hansel and Gretel, Lambert Puppet Theatre (3.30pm)
* Drop in Family Explorer Workshop "Light Rhythms", IMMA (2.00 – 4.00pm)  

Monday 10th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Tuesday 11th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Wednesday 12th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Thursday 13th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

Friday 14th February

* Dublin Chinese New Year Festival
* Tiny Tot Workshop - Hearts & Flowers with Edel Campbell (for kids under 3), National Gallery of Ireland (2-2.35pm)
* Printfest, National Print Museum (12-4pm)  

Saturday 15th February

* Chester Beatty's Creative Lab for Teens Chinese painting - suitable for aged 12-17 years, Chester Beatty Library (2-5pm)
* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (10am-5pm)
* Teddy-themed early years visual arts workshops, The Ark (10am & 11.30am)
* Darwin Day Family Tour for adults and accompanied children over 7 years, National Museum of History, Merrion Street
* Tiny Tot Workshop - Hearts & Flowers with Edel Campbell  (for kids under 3), National Gallery of Ireland (2-2.35pm)
* Hansel and Gretel, Lambert Puppet Theatre (3.30pm)
* Light Rhythms Events: Sound Bites – a series of artist interventions, IMMA (12.00pm – 4.00pm)
* Irish Angling Show 2014, National Show Centre Dublin

Sunday 16th February

* RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (12pm-5pm) 
* Hand on History suitable for all ages, National Museum of Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks (3-4pm) 
* Mr Foley the Radio Operator, The Pavilion Theatre (2pm and 4pm)
* Junior Slow Session, Seamus Ennis Centre (6.30pm)
* Hansel and Gretel, Lambert Puppet Theatre (3.30pm)
* Drop in Family Explorer Workshop "Light Rhythms", IMMA (2.00 – 4.00pm) 
* Irish Angling Show 2014, National Show Centre Dublin

Monday 17th February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark (10am-5pm). 

* Baby Workshop, National Gallery of Ireland (2-2.35pm)

* Children’s Mid-Term Art Break - Flying Creatures with Elaine Leader, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm)

Tuesday 18th February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark (10am-5pm).
* Teddy Bear’s Picnic early years music workshops (10am & 11.30am)
* Children’s Mid-Term Art Break - Young Curators, with Andrew Brown, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm)

Wednesday 19th February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark (10am-5pm)
* Teddy Bear’s Picnic early years music workshops (10am & 11.30am)
* Children’s Mid-Term Art Break - My Favourite Place, with Frances Coghlan, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm)

Thursday 20th February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark (10am-5pm).
* Soft Toy making workshops , The Ark (11am)
* Make a Memory Bear workshops, The Ark (2.30pm)
* Monk-ie Business suitable for kids aged 8 plus, National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street (11am-12pm)
* Children’s Mid-Term Art Break - 'Illustrating Fairy Tales', with Duffy Mooney-Sheppard, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm)
* Mid-term Art Day for for ages 5-12 years olds and for ages 13-16 years olds, Pine Forest Centre (10am-4pm) 

Friday 21st February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark (10am-5pm).
* Soft Toy making workshops, The Ark (11am)
* Children’s Mid-Term Art Break - 'Shimmering Serpents', with Louise McGrath, National Gallery of Ireland (3-4pm)
* Super Hero Workshop with Frances Coghlan, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (11am to 12pm) 

Saturday 22nd February

* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (10am-5pm)
* Family Teddy Bear making workshops, The Ark (10am, 12.30pm & 3pm)
* Junior Songschool, National Concert Hall (10am)
* Baby Talk Festival, O’Reilly Hall, UCD (10am to 5pm)
* Runic Riddle drop in activity for kids aged 6 plus, National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street (11am-1pm)
* Sports and Fitness Show, The RDS (11am-5pm)
* Hansel and Gretel, Lambert Puppet Theatre (3.30pm)

Sunday 23rd February

* RHA Art Cart in the RHA Atrium every Sunday (2.30-4.30pm)
* Production Talk: Costume and Set Design Workshop for 14-18 year olds, Draíocht (12pm-1pm)
* The V&A touring Teddy Bear Story Exhibition, The Ark, (12pm-5pm)
* Illustrate a bear character workshops, The Ark (12pm & 2pm)
* Baby Talk Festival, O’Reilly Hall, UCD (10am to 5pm)
* Viking Weaving-Wool You Join us? Suitable for ages 6 plus, National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street (3-4pm)
* Sports and Fitness Show, The RDS (11am-5pm)

* Hansel and Gretel, Lambert Puppet Theatre (3.30pm)
* Drop in Family Explorer Workshop "Light Rhythms", IMMA (2.00 – 4.00pm) 
* Drawing lessons for children, age 7+ based on Russian art (part of Russian Festival of Culture), Hugh Lane Gallery (3-4pm)

Family Days at Draíocht

Draíocht runs free Family Days on a monthly basis.  Today (Sat 1st Feb 12-3pm ), it is on the theme of "Colourful Creatures".  Families can explore and create  using chalk pastel techniques and sugar paper. Draíocht’s artists will show you how to use, blend and draw with chalk pastel techniques and sugar papers to create colourful imagined and real creatures.  

Family Day Notes: No booking necessary/ Dress for Mess/ Unless otherwise stated workshops are designed for children from 5-10 years, though younger and older siblings are welcome to take part/ Please be aware that Draíocht’s Family days are not designed for groups/ All children must be accompanied by an adult… and all adults must be accompanied by a child




On Saturday 8th March the Family Day will be called "Simple Paper Maker".  During this family day you will be shown how to make origami designs - go away with a paper boat that floats or a plane that flies … maybe even a frog that jumps!