The one-day event will see interviews, workshops and family-friendly events across the town of Rush with Catherine Ryan Howard, Andrea Mara, Sinéad Gleeson, Anna Carey, Eamon Carr and more
Irish literary titan John Banville will be appearing in conversation with Kevin Curran (author of YOUTH, Beatsploitation) at the brand new literary festival, which takes place in the North County Dublin seaside town of Rush on April 25th 2026. As author of modern classics including The Sea, The Book of Evidence, his series of hugely successful crime novels under his Benjamin Black pen name, as well as Christine Falls - which is this year’s One Dublin One Book choice - it promises to be a varied interview examining one of the most fascinating writers of our time. Tickets are €15 and are on sale now via rushfestivalofwriting.com.
Fans of crime fiction will be delighted to see a double bill of bestselling novelists Catherine Ryan Howard (56 Days, Burn After Reading) and Andrea Mara (All Her Fault, It Should Have Been You) on the programme. They will be discussing their work, including the recent TV adaptations of 56 Days and All Her Fault, in conversation with Sinéad Cuddihy of Tired Mammy Book Club.
Alongside these two evening events taking place in the 140-capacity Millbank Theatre, the Rush Festival of Writing programme will see several free-to-attend events.
Irish cultural luminary Eamon Carr will be sharing stories from his life in writing - from his Tara Telephone performance poetry days, to his decades in iconic band Horslips and his career as a sports and showbiz journalist - in conversation with music writer Pat Carty, including some of the incredible tales from his journalism days recounted in his recently-published book Pure Gold: Memorable Conversations with Remarkable People Sinéad Gleeson (Hagstone, Constellations) and Anna Carey (Our Song, Love Scene) will also be dispensing their own pearls of wisdom in what promises to be an illuminating conversation for aspiring authors.
The youngest members of the family won’t be left out of this year’s programme. For the 5+ age group, former Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey (The Ravenous Beast, I’m a Happy Hugglewug) will be hosting a workshop at Rush Library based on her latest picture book, Penguin TV. Inspired by Dublin Zoo’s penguin cam, Niamh will host a reading and an interactive giant doodle based on the book, as well as a post-workshop signing - so be sure to bring all your books along!
Also taking place at Rush Library, children’s author, illustrator and comic creator Alan Nolan (The Grand Central Cinema Club, the Sam Hannigan series) will run a ‘Design Your Own Superhero’ workshop for ages 8-12, where he’ll talk about his favourite comics and superheroes from his childhood (as well as modern-day comic superstars like Dog Man, Bunny Vs Monkey and The Investigators). He’ll also show attendees how to draw one of his own creations and lots more. These events are free but space is limited, so booking is essential.
You can stay updated on programme and ticketing details, as well as the running order, on Instagram and via www.rushfestivalofwriting.com
The second annual Balbriggan LGBTQ Pride was held on George’s Square on June 7th 2025. Local musicians from the Sceal Collective played on a rainbow stage outside the Our Balbriggan hub from 2pm to 6pm. MC Eddie McGuinness kept the day going smoothly. There were also street performers from Circusful, entering the crowd with juggling and dancing.
Community gardai, local politicians and representatives of many local groups attended the day. There was the chance to learn about services in Balbriggan on the information stalls, such as the Outcomers social meet up for LGBTQ adults in Flemington Community Centre and the LGBTQ Book and Film club in Balbriggan Library.
The Balbriggan LGBTQ Committee group is a member of Fingal PPN and received funding from Fingal County Council for the day. The committee was set up with the assistance of Outcomers LGBT Support Services.
To get in touch please email: balbrigganlgbtq@gmail.com.
GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs
‘Peninsula Voices & Friends’, led by Áine & Tony, will host a Fundraiser Charity Concert in Aid of UNICEF - in Donabate Parish Hall on:
Friday 27th June (Doors Open 7 30pm), starting at 8 00pm
Available Tickets on Eventbrite - No Ticket Sales at the Door - Adult Only Event - Raffle on the Night!
This will be a great concert & is for a very worthy cause – children.
There will be a variety of musical genres over the two days e.g. pop, rock, trad & folk! something for everyone!
Friday 27th June
‘Peninsula Voices’ - see separate article.
Saturday 28th June
‘Music Makers’ will hold a special event for over 15’s to play & perform under their leaders, Noel Dowling & Seán Collins. From 2 - 4pm the younger performers will play & from 6 – 7:30pm the older performers will play.
These bands and soloists will include e.g.:
- Sophie Victoria & friends
- Either Side of The City
- Reminisce
- Nj & the Makers
- Graham Kenny
- And the one & only Adam Farrelly
From 4 - 5pm
‘Leithinis CCÉ’, our local Comhaltas group will play some Irish traditional tunes.
From 5 - 6pm
‘Festival in a Van’ will take to their outdoor moving stage, with their own performers from outside the area & with some local guests joining them!
From 8 - 10pm
Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich – see separate article.
It should be a great two days of music for a good cause & another chance to display some local talent. There can never be enough opportunities, especially for young people, to participate in Cultural events – e.g. music, singing, dance, drama, photography, art….!
School is over … so start the holidays with a bit of fun for all! Put the dates in your calendar now, on the phone & or at home.
We hope to have food and refreshments available on the day.
We wish to thank FCC in advance for their support for the ‘Music Fest’. We especially would like to thank Niall from The Music Outlet in Swords, near The Plaza, our music equipment supplier who sponsored extra equipment for the ‘Music Fest’.
Please note the events are aimed at older children, teens and adults. Parents, we ask you please to be present to celebrate your kids and/or keep an eye on them. Thank you.
We look forward to having a safe and enjoyable day!
Join us on Saturday June 28th at Donabate Parish Hall for an intimate concert with Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich. This special event in Fingal is part of a nationwide tour marking the launch of the famous Irish traditional accordion player Breanndán Begley’s autobiography. It is available in English as Of My People and in Irish as Clann na Seanmhuintire.
In this intimate and powerful memoir, Breanndán reflects on a life rooted in the wild beauty of Corca Dhuibhne and shaped by the rich traditions of the Kerry Gaeltacht. Born into a family of musicians, he shares vivid memories of a childhood steeped in song, music, dance, and folklore - and of carrying that tradition to stages around the world.
With warmth, humour, and fierce honesty, he recounts a lifetime of performance, adventure, and cultural activism in defence of language, land, and music.
This is a heartfelt celebration of Irish tradition and the community that shaped and sustained him throughout his life.
Tickets available on eventbrite. This is a unique event, in our Parish Hall, not to be missed!
When Brazilian indie folk artist Jean Lone returned home after spending a year in Malahide, the area captured his heart so much that he decided to write and record a new song titled ‘Sweet Malahide’.
Based in Mossoró, Brazil, Jean’s new track blends warm acoustic textures with nostalgic storytelling, capturing the beauty and emotions tied to the place.
“The production, recording and mixing of the track were carried out in my home studio, and the cover of the single is a watercolour painting handmade by my partner, Bruna Medeiros, visually capturing the poetic essence of the song,” Jean explained.
To listen to Sweet Malahide please visit: https://onerpm.link/103214560540
The Fingal County Council Arts Office has announced that there are now a number of awards and residencies available for 2025, providing welcome support for professional artists across a range of career stages and disciplines.
To help artists prepare their submissions in advance, a new calendar has been produced which showcases the various organisations that Fingal has partnered with and provides a time stamp for the opening and closing dates for each award.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh said: “Art cultivates a community’s sense of belonging and pride, which is why we want to support artists as much as possible so they can share their passion and creativity with the public. For over 20 years Fingal has been celebrating the amazing contribution of artists across the county, and we know that these awards and bursaries have really helped develop the careers of local talent in different disciplines.”
The awards and residencies include: The Performing Arts Forum; The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts; The Ardgillan Castle Studio Award; Tyrone Guthrie Centre and Age & Opportunity; The Graphic Studio Dublin Fine Art Print Residency; The Draíocht Studio Award and The MART Gallery and Studios Graduate Award.
Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neil remarks: “This showcase detailing our upcoming awards and residencies is essential for professional artists, as it offers both space and time in order to expand and strengthen their practice. These awards also offer a nurturing environment allowing artists to connect with their peers, which is one of our strategic goals of the Fingal County Council Arts plan 2019-2025, ‘Connecting People and Ideas.”
To view the awards calendar go to: https://ow.ly/EW6B50VftuW. More information on each of these awards and residencies will become available on our website and online closer to the time of applications opening. To find out more about current and previous awards, please see: www.fingalarts.ie and www.fingal.ie/arts
Celebrating 20 years this month, experience TradFest everywhere you go, from the Mountains of South Dublin across Dublin City and to the castles and coastline of historic Fingal.
Now in its third year in Fingal the festival will return to the many unique and historic venues across the region: Malahide Castle, Swords Castle Chapel, The Millbank Theatre, Skerries Mill, Draíocht Theatre and the iconic Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, while increasing its musical footprint in additional new venues: The Lark, Ardgillan Castle, The Abbey Tavern and Donabate Community Centre.
Fingal Acts for 2025 include: Karen Casey - The Women we will rise, Jacqui Martin & Derek Hickey, Tara Breen, Eoghan ó’Ceannabhaín, Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley, Luka Bloom, Ines Khai, Molly O’Mahony, Paudie O’Connor & Aoife Ni Chaoimh, Emma Langford, Stockton’s Wing -Voices from Fingal Mick Hanly with Anto Drennan and Eoin O’Neill, The Henry Girls, Bernadette Nic Gabhann, Frank, O’Rourke & John Feely, Molly Donnery, Brídín, Sorcha Costello, Evelyn Kallansee & Declan Sinnott
There will also be a special celebration of the actor, local resident and TradFest patron Stephen Rea. The Oscar-nominated and multi award-winning actor has for long had a global reputation for his exceptional skills on both stage and screen.
Over four nights in The Lark Theatre, Balbriggan, TradFest will honour Stephen through words and music. Joining Stephen over the 4 nights will be poet Paul Muldoon and musicians Neil Martin, Louise Mulcahy, Matt Molloy, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill, Paddy Glackin and Derek Hickey.
TradFest in Fingal will also celebrate the life of Barney McKenna, original member of the Irish band The Dubliners and Fingal resident across two days and nights in The Abbey Tavern, Howth in January 2025.
Mike Hanrahan and Stockton’s Wing will give a special concert in Donabate Community Centre where they will be joined on stage by the voices of Fingal Choir In line with its audience development objectives, TradFest also will deliver an expanded community programme later this year which will outline a series of new exciting, free community-led events in Fingal.
Whether you’re a fan of live music, or just looking for a night of Irish culture and craic, TradFest is where you want to be in January 2025.
Lions Clubs of Ireland have recently launched a partnership with Childhood Cancer Ireland who support hundreds of families affected by childhood cancer. All funds raised will be used to ease the burden of treatment and help to provide emotional and practical support for families and survivors. Many local and internationally
well-known artists are exhibiting, all generously giving a percentage of their sales to the charity. A range of amazing paintings are on offer. Raffle tickets for €10 will be on sale during the exhibition for paintings by Alan Kenny and Jean Lowndes.
The Exhibition takes place on Sat 18th Oct and Sun 19th Oct from 12-6pm each day in the Malahide Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (K36TD90)
Free Entry. All are welcome. Further info contact: malahidelionsart@gmail.com and see ‘Malahide Lions Art’ on Facebook and www.malahidelions.com
Malahide Musical & Dramatic Society are delighted to announce the return of Pub Theatre!
Join them on October 18th and 19th, in St Sylvester’s GAA club for a night of guaranteed entertainment!
Tickets are €10 on the door. Doors at 7.30pm for an 8pm start!
For more information email malahidemusicalsociety@gmail.com