Festival of World Cultures, Dublin

Today is the first day of the 2-day DLR Festival of World Cultures in Dublin.

Festival of World Cultures

The festival is an annual event full of colorful stages with performers from all over the world. There are always many interesting performances, both free and available for a small fee, and every day there is a lot more going on – you can learn more by attending a storytelling session or pick up some unusual art like African hair braiding or drum making or some form of dance.

Particularly popular are fairs and markets set up for the duration of the festival – a great chance to explore the art and food from many countries.

DLR Festival of World Cultures programme

There’s an extensive section of the official festival website,  which is probably the best way to learn more about the festival’s events: DLR Festival of World Cultures Programme 2009.

In addition to it, there’s a downloadable PDF of the festival pocket guide (I’m sure you can also get one once you arrive to the festival). A special events newspaper, Festival Times, is also available for both download (PDF here) and pick up at the location.

If you’re in Dublin this weekend – this is the place to be! And if you’re not – stay tuned for photos!

Russian Dolls by Gabriela Kiss

It’s been a wonderful sunny day in Dublin, and we had spent it enjoying a great arts event at Kilruddery House and Gardens – The Enchanted Garden.

The Enchanted Garden 2009

The Enchanted Garden is a Kilruddery Arts two-day event curated by Fionnuala Aston-Ardee and Rosie Lynch, taking place on the weekend of June 27th and 28th 2009.

This arts event celebrates creative play and attracts visitors of all ages for the second year in a row. Family oriented, The Enchanted Garden event hosts interactive installations and artist led workshops on the grounds of Kilruddery Gardens.

Food (it was BBQ today) and  drinks (natural juices and tea/coffee)  are available at the new Garden Cafe, and  picnics are also welcome.

Artists at The Enchanted Garden 2009

The following artists have provided installations for this year’s event:

• Bernardine Carroll
• Sinead Conlon
• Roisin Coyle
• “Culturstruction” (Jo Anne Butler, Tara Kennedy)
• Fiona Hallinan
• George Higgs
• Gabriella Kiss
• Ruth Lyons
• Jennie Moran
• Nina Tanis
• Kate Warner
• Jana Zitzmann

The series of interactive installations and participatory activities includes a family of life size Russian dolls, by Hungarian artist Gabriella Kiss; a musical tree by composer George Higgs; and a miniature child’s size version of Killruddery House, designed by visual art/architecture duo “Culturstruction”.

Tickets and opening times for The Enchanted Garden event

Tickets are sold on entrance. You can either get €7 individual one or get a family pass (2 adults and 3 children) for €25.

Opening Time: 12.30 – 5.00 pm

See also:

• Kilruddery House and Gardens
• The Enchanted Garden – Flyer (PDF)

Oxegen'09

See also:

• Oxegen 2009
• Official website for Oxegen’09

Oxegen Festival 2009

Just two weeks from now, Ireland will host the most exciting rock & roll weekend in Europe – Oxegen 2009!

Oxegen music festival

Oxegen is a top class music festival, held every summer in Puncherstown (Naas, County Kildare) since 2004. Although a very young event compared to some other festivals, Oxegen is already one of the most popular and eagerly awaited performance for rock fans all over Europe.

Oxegen 2009 festival will take place during the weekend of July 10th through July 12th.

Oxegen camping

Oxegen‘s campsites willl open at 12 noon on Thursday 9th July 2009 to providing various camping facilities to all the fans until the end of the festival. Camping areas will stay open 24 hours every day until 6pm on Monday 13th July.

Campsites correspond to different car parks, so if you plan on camping it probably makes sense to stay in a campsite closer to your car park. The car park pass does not guarantee the camping site preference though, so be sure to arrive early or you will be placed to the camping site available at the time of your arrival, and not necessarily the one closest to your car park.

Oxegen 2009 line up

This year will see some of the greatest bands play at Oxegen, here are just some of the names:

• Blur
• Snow Patrol
• Kings of Leon
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Nine Inch Nails
• Lily Allen
• Katy Perry
  and MANY, MANY more – please click here to look at the current Oxegen 2009 line up.

See also:

• Oxegen 2009 – official website
• Oxegen 2009 line up