When it comes to planning your weekends in Ireland, you really are spoiled for choice. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Mastercard to bring you the ultimate event guide every weekend for the rest of the year. Your weekend starts here:
Dublin
Ireland’s spookiest cinema extravaganza comes to the IFI from October 26th to 30th, with classic and kooky horror movies shown every single day. Saturday flicks include Game of Death; where seven friends chance upon a board game that requires them to kill 24 people in order to save their own lives in this breathless slice of gore, and Our Evil; a Brazilian film which sees a father hire a serial killer to help protect his daughter from a demonic entity.
Sunday is when the eagerly-awaited ‘Surprise Movie’ will screen - see five freaky films at the Horrorthon for €45, or go all out with ten for €80.
In the beautiful fishing town of Howth you’ll find this charming food market, which has grown substantially in the last 10 years.
Open every Saturday and Sunday from 9am-6pm, there’s a vast array of organic produce, freshly baked goods, jewelry, clothing, and antiques available. Must-stop-by stalls include the Malaysian Food Stall, Frank's Germans Sausages and Bart's Belgian Chocolates, and there’s also a cafe attached in case of rain.
Walk off all the treats with a stroll along the pier and a browse in Doran’s Fish Shop.
A mysterious and mystical festival that celebrates Dublin-born Bram Stoker and his novel Dracula, the festival programme presents gothic intrigue by at family-friendly events, talks and interactive experiences. At night, the city will embrace the darkness as a host of venues deliver deadly adventures for festival goers in search of macabre thrills and late-night parties.
The programme includes performance, spectacle, visual arts and music celebrating Dublin’s gothic and supernatural traditions, the city itself, its gothic architecture and links to Samhain. Expect creative parades, live music, and intrigue at every corner.
Dublin’s slow food festival on Cork Street will highlight the flourishing Dublin food scene collaborating with local producers, community gardens, restaurants and chefs all of who live and breathe the Slow Food ethos every day in their work.
Talks, demo and workshops will kick off the festival on Sunday, with food stalls from some of Ireland’s best food producers providing the grub: think L Mulligan Grocers, Clonanny Farm, Bretzel Bakery, Klaw Dublin, Real Man Wines, This is Seaweed, Piglet Wine Bar, Jane Russell Sausages, Rifanos Crepes & Waffles, and many more.
Taste, smell, explore and most importantly - eat!
Galway
The world-famous Macnas parade returns to Galway on Sunday, 29th of October 2017, as giants and otherworldly performers descend on the city for a night of mischief and mayhem.
The Macnas parade is a must-see for everyone in Ireland, bringing stunning large-scale images and brilliant chaos to the winding streets of Galway. This year’s parade concept and design is an imaginative celebration of life in the West of Ireland.
Hundreds of colourful Macnas performers will depart from outside the main gates of NUI Galway campus and make their way through the city in this mesmorising display.
A multi-disciplinary festival now in its 30th year, Conamara Sea Week celebrates the wonderful marine heritage of Conamara.
Weekend events not to be missed include a talk at Kylemore Abbey on Saturday, ‘What’s In Store For Planet Earth?’, an exploration of the future with experts from Ireland and abroad, followed by live music later that evening in the Gothic church on the Abbey grounds.
Sunday will see a whole host of live music sessions, ranging from trad to American blues, as well as book readings and a guided shore walk on the scenic Glassilaun Beach.
Cork
Europe’s biggest jazz party takes place in Cork over the weekend, with over 1,000 musicians performing in hundreds of venues across the city.
Headline acts such as King Kong Company, Imelda May and Booka Brass Band will take to the stage over the weekend, while free jazz Fringe events will be keeping the city pumped of music, with an open top Jazz Bus touring the streets, a jazz parade and even a jazz gospel in St. Anne’s Church on Sunday night.
‘Taste Jazz’ will celebrate the fusion of food and jazz, with bespoke food experiences from some of Ireland’s best chefs and local food producers paired with Guinness and Diageo crafted cocktails in a series of events during the festival, including pop-up restaurants and jazz cafes.
This event guide was brought to you with thanks to Mastercard®. Register on Priceless.com today to discover exclusive experiences and get privileged access to sporting events, shopping, dining and travel.
