It’s here! Boasting over 100 specially curated activities, Culture Date with Dublin 8, the annual cultural extravaganza, celebrates the history, heritage and contemporary life of Dublin 8. A packed programme features everything from walking tours and workshops to concerts, late-night parties, theatrical performances, and much more.
This year’s theme, ‘Songlines of the City,’ reimagines Dublin 8 as a place where the streets, stories, and songs reveal the neighborhood’s cultural DNA.
This year also sees the festival honouring the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels with a special series of events that reimagines Swift’s legacy with bold, playful events where myth, literature, and local stories collide.
Alongside the main programme, a vibrant strand of fringe and community-led events brings together grassroots creativity, local voices and shared experiences across Dublin 8.
Gulliver 300 Celebrations
This year marks the 300th anniversary of Gulliver’s Travels, one of the most influential works of satire in literary history, written in Dublin by Jonathan Swift. Culture Date with Dublin 8 celebrates this landmark with a series of events exploring Swift’s life, legacy and enduring relevance.
Highlights include a keynote lecture by Swift scholar Dr Brendan Twomey at St Patrick’s University Hospital on Wednesday May 6th, examining the themes and cultural impact of Gulliver’s Travels.
The speaker will set the major comic set pieces and the big themes of Gulliver’s Travels in the context of the life and times of its real author ‘Dr Jonathan Swift’ while also highlighting its quirky, satiric and comic take on life, and the continuing relevance of Gulliver’s Travels for our world.
The event is followed by a guided walk and rare access to the historic Board Room, where guests can view a selection of Swift artefacts including his writing desk and death mask.
Other events across the district see St Patrick’s Cathedral opening the Deanery, where Swift once lived, for special tours, while Marsh’s Library presents an exhibition of original copies of Gulliver’s Travels. A range of additional activities will bring the story to life for all ages, including Swift-themed walking tours, a hands-on Gulliver’s Swap workshop creating DIY luggage from reclaimed textiles, and a young explorers adventure tour through Dublin 8’s green spaces.
They really have thought of everything – including a special Gulliver 300 collectible postcard, illustrated by John Rooney, which will be available during the festival.
The Premiere of The City of Our Dreaming
The Guinness Choir will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a special concert in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday, 7th May. The title of the event, “The City of Our Dreaming,” comes from a poem commissioned by Paula Meehan to mark the occasion.
Accompanied by a new choral composition by Seán Doherty, the work brings together poetry and music in a powerful and contemporary reflection on Dublin.
Part of the programme on the night also includes selections from the choir’s repertoire, with performances by Paula Meehan, soloists Leanne Fitzgerald (alto) and Bren Berry (singer-songwriter), under the direction of Ciarán Kelly, in the magnificent setting of St Patrick’s Cathedral. Not to be missed! Tickets here.
Arts Bubble #20
No stage, no distance, human connection, and artistic experimentation…. Through music, poetry, movement, and visual arts, we embark on a collective journey into the architecture of our own perspectives, inspired by the tale of Jonathan Swift’s Lemuel Gulliver, a traveller who saw different worlds but lost his internal measure.
Among the tiny Lilliputians, he felt like a god; among the giants, he felt like an insect, in the process discovering the disturbing truth that our sense of self is often just a reflection of our surroundings.
Taking this realisation as its starting point, Arts Bubble #20 explores the theme, “Human Measures: A Voyage Through Shifting Perspectives.” In a world shifting between extremes, where can we find a human center, our measure, or what Aristotle called “Mesotes”—the Golden Mean?
Shoes off – they’re going deep! The three hour event takes place at at secret location in Dublin 8. More here.
Camille O’Sullivan at Christ Church Cathedral
Over the course of the festival, churches, distilleries and pubs across Dublin 8 will come alive with music, transforming the neighbourhood into a vibrant, multi-venue stage. A very special event on Friday, May 8th sees accomplished singer and actress Camille O’Sullivan perform live in the stunning surroundings of historic Christ Church Cathedral.
This unique evening promises a striking atmosphere, and a rare opportunity to experience one of Ireland’s most captivating live artists in one of the city’s most historic locations.
Renowned for her dramatic interpretations of artists such as Nick Cave, Jacques Brel, and David Bowie, Camille’s performances blur the lines between concert, theatre, and storytelling. She’ll be accompanied on the evening by special guest May Kay. The gig takes place at 8pm on Friday, May 8th. Tickets are available here.
In The Ring With Dan Donnelly
At the National Stadium on Saturday 9 May, author and podcaster Donal Fallon hosts In The Ring: Dan Donnelly & Dublin’s Boxing Heroes, a unique event celebrating the legendary 19th-century bare-knuckle boxer.
As one of Ireland’s premier sporting celebrities, thousands watched Dan Donnelly triumph over his formidable English opponents, in the process becoming the nation’s unbeaten underdog and a force to be reckoned with.
A nineteenth-century giant, Donnelly’s life was characterised by a constant pursuit of merriment, with a grave capacity for alcohol that would eventually lead to his demise.
Blending boxing history with poetry, music and live performance, the evening features contributions from Damien Dempsey, Brian Kerr, Barry McGovern, Kelly McLoughlin, Terry O’Neill, Niamh Ní Charra and Emmet O’Brien, followed on Sunday May 10th by a tag-team wrestling and slam poetry event. It’s gonna be a knock-out! Read more about the life of Dan Donnelly here. Tickets here.
Liberties Weavers Pop-Up Textile Museum
The Liberties Weavers present a pop-up textile museum at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, continuing the area’s rich craft heritage. Audiences at the Deanery Mews can look forward to an immersive experience that highlights both the working lives and skills of past generations, and the enduring cultural legacy of The Liberties.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a daily guided walking tour led by historian Liz Gillis, exploring the streets, buildings, and hidden histories that shaped Dublin’s textile tradition.
The programme also features Weaving in The Liberties, a special talk by historian Cathy Scuffil, offering deeper insight into the development of the textile industry in the area.
Exhibitions
Three terrific new exhibitions run throughout the festival, offering intimate portraits of people and everyday life in the area.
First up is Imaginationism the debut exhibition of works by artist Valerie Gannon. Curated by Paul Duane, the show features paintings that combine world events, local Liberties landmarks, religious and political imagery, opera, music, and personal fears, including the Pimlico resident’s many paintings of dogs.
Inhabiting the everyday spaces of the Liberties, the artist’s work ranges from Jack Roche’s fruit and veg shop, to Noel Fleming’s newsagents on Meath Street, and Oxfam on Francis Street.
The exhibition is open from 10am to 6pm at The old Books at One shop, 46/47 Meath Street, Dublin 8.
Drop in and enjoy!
The second sees Trowing Shapes artist in residence for Clay City, ceramicist Camilla Hanney, take a look at the area through a contemporary ceramic lens, where refinement and imperfection sit side by side, and history is transformed into something sensual, strange and deeply felt.exhibition.
A striking and immersive work rooted in local tradition, the exhibition is in essence a love letter to The Liberties. A Libertine Feast can be seen at Tailors Hall, 8 Back Lane, The Liberties, Dublin 8 until Sunday May 10th.
Meanwhile over at The Bank, ‘Celiberties’, an exhibition by Vietnamese artist Duc Van Pham. has been described as ‘A simple thank you to the Liberties and to Dublin’. The artist attributes the inspiration behind the show’s title to his best friend Seanie, who is what Van Pham describes as ‘a celebrity of the Liberties’.
“He’s worked in many of the bars in the area and grew up in Basin St. Flats. When we go out together so many people know and love him and I enjoy the easy Dublin banter I see. One day I called him a CeLiberty and we got a good laugh out of this. So, it was enviable when I was asked to take part in Culture Date with Dublin 8, that the title would call back to that”. The exhibition runs until Sunday May 10th at The Bank at The Digital Hub, 85 James’s St, The Liberties, Dublin 8.
Together, these events reflect the strength, creativity and generosity of Dublin 8’s communities, whose voices continue to shape and sustain the cultural life of the area.
The Lilliputian Morning Family Rave With DJ Billy Scurry
The final day of the festival kicks off with a joyful early-morning party for all agess. Start your day dancing as Dublin’s favourite DJ Billy Scurry spins family favourite hits in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Sepcially designed for parents, little ones and early risers alike, the event takes place at Cheeky Piglet Café at Fumbally Square, from 7.30am – 9.30am, on Sunday May 10th. Details here.
Feature Image: Comedian Terry O’Neill, wrestler BitterSweet Josh and musician Niamh Ní Charra pictured in Marsh’s Library at the programme launch for the Culture Date with Dublin 8 Festival 2026. Image Marc O’Sullivan
The Culture Date with Dublin 8 Festival will take place from Monday May 4th – Sunday May 10th. Many of the events are free or low cost but booking is required.
For full details see culturedatewithdublin8.ie
Culture Date with Dublin 8 is an initiative led by the Dublin City Council South Central Area and Curator Grace McEvoy in collaboration with their programme partners.
