TheCity

Tag: Events

  • Mixed night for the fighting Irish in Dublin as the UFC took over the 3arena

    Mixed night for the fighting Irish in Dublin as the UFC took over the 3arena

    In a night that proved to be a resounding success, the UFC left Dublin’s fair city on Saturday night with big plans on coming back next year.

    It was a mixed night for Irish fighters overall, with three wins from five fights. However, Paddy Holohan lost his main event fight with American Louis Smolka leaving the Dublin crowd inside the 3arena shocked.

    Holohan stepped up to the main event of the night after two fights were cancelled in the weeks leading up to it. Holohan – another big Irish hope from Conor McGregor’s SBG – entered the fight in confident fashion, but was beaten convincingly by the classy Hawaiian Smolka.

    After the fight, Holohan addressed the Irish crowd saying: “I never said I was born gifted. But I’ll tell you one thing. When I do come out, I give you everything. My number one love has been MMA and my son, and I just kept both of them close. No matter what happened, I kept trucking forward.”

    Holohan’s SBG teammate Cathal Pendred also suffered defeat via TKO on Saturday night at the hands of Englishman Tom Breese.

    Breese proved to be too strong for Pendred as he landed some heavy punches to the face of the Irishman resulting in his face being covered in blood. The referee was forced to intervene late in the first round as Pendred was no longer able to defend himself.

    Ireland’s sole female UFC fighter, Aisling Daly, got the Irish off the mark on Saturday after beating Brazilian Ericka Almeida by unanimous decision.

    Daly was perhaps the stand-out performer on the night as she showed relentless pace throughout the entire fight. Speaking after her victory, she said: “Somebody came into my life, a girl named Lindsey Doyle. She’s had me running like a Ferrari. You saw me out there, I didn’t take a backward step. She’s going to get me on that run for the belt.”

    The other two Irish fights saw Neil Seery emerge victorious in a flyweight fight against Jon Delos Reyes, and Northern Ireland’s Norman Parke claiming victory over Reza Madadi.

    Despite the criticism of the card itself, the night proved to be very successful and the atmosphere in the arena was electric.

    It’s almost a guarantee that the UFC will be returning to Dublin next year, and the hope is for a Croke Park sell-out with Conor McGregor leading the card.

  • Top three for free

    Top three for free

    Feel like the world is constantly asking you for something? We sure do and this is why we’ve put together this new feature of exciting things to do and see in our fair city. A breath of fresh air in the age of commidification of almost everything. Enjoy!

    Music
    For the musically inclined, All City Records and First Second Label celebrate a new EP from Dublin based electronic outfit, Minos with a party in The Bernard Shaw. Expect scattered rhythms and improvised electronics throughout the evening as a live audio visual performance is in store.

    Also on the bill is Irish artist Hubie Davison, known for putting out dreamy, ambient and ethereal house music on labels like Berlin’s Leisure System. Davison will share the music duties with First Second Label’s boss man Daire Carolan in a back to back fashion.

    Guaranteed to be an interesting night of music and free of charge as per usual for The Bernard Shaw. Need some fresh air? You can also check out the outdoor area around the back for a more laid-back atmosphere, play a game of pool, or get yourself a handmade pizza on The Big Blue Bus, but that’ll cost you!

    Check out their EP out now on First Second Label, streaming via Soundcloud.

    Art
    This week the free art tip goes to the annual Sculpture in Context exhibition which returns to The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The exhibition is celebrated as the largest and most prestigious outdoor sculpture exhibition in the country.

    A great idea for a day trip, with the delicate landscapes of the Botanic Gardens, along with the unusually warm weather that some would call our ‘Indian Summer’, it’s certainly an opportunity to enjoy some of Dublin’s nature before winter has us fully in its grasps.

    If you’re there on a good day you may find some of the artists of the selected works meandering around the grounds, who are, from my own experience, friendly, happy to talk and full of extra insight about the discourse of their work.

    The exhibition takes place both indoors and outdoors, running from September 3rd until October 16th. The gardens are open to the public on weekdays until 5pm and 6pm on weekends.

    Activity and discussion
    Want to further your Irish history knowledge? With 2016 marking the 100 year anniversary of The Easter Rising, now may be the time to impress your friends and to brush up on your knowledge by joining historian Fearghall McGarry on the launch of his essay The Abbey Theatre and Easter 1916 and subsequent discussion of the theater’s involvement in the rising of 1916.

    The launch and discussion take place in The Abbey Theater on Tuesday October 6th at 1pm.

    Tickets are free but must be booked in advance, you can do so here.

    .Facade_Abbey_Theatre_Dublin

  • Getting crafty at the Knitting and Stitching show

    Getting crafty at the Knitting and Stitching show

    Last Sunday, the annual Knitting and Stitching show in the RDS came to an end. The Knit and Stitch as it is more commonly known is Ireland’s biggest crafting event and is a must-see for every knitter, sewing and craft enthusiast.

    I have been attending the event since the young age of six and since then it has always been one of the highlights of my year. When the trees began to turn crisp autumn colours and a bitter cold appeared in the air, I knew that this year’s Knit and Stitch was soon approaching.

    It was my talented Mammy who introduced me to the event and she is also the lady who taught me to sew. Every year at the end of October, we would leave Wicklow and head up to the RDS in Dublin. I will never stop being thankful to my Mother for bringing me to this crafty event as it due to her and the Knitting and Stitching show that I am now crazy about crafts. It has influenced every part of my life, even the topics I chose for writing articles.

    There is something magical about the Knitting and Stitching show. I believe the magic is released by the people who showcase their textile art, the skilled crafts people who give classes in their area of expertise and the entrepreneurs who sell supplies from their beautiful shops.

    If it were not for the Knitting and Stitching show, I would have never fallen in love with sewing, learned how to make dolls, clothes, bags and endless creations. I may have never had my eyes open to the art world and began my lifelong love for the arts.

    So now, after spending four proud days working at the event, I cannot help but smile when I see mother’s bringing their children to this wonderful textile show.  Some of these lucky children might just grow up to be Ireland’s next greatest artists.

    The City gathered a few pictures Of some of the great art displays and entrepreneurs at this years show.

  • Little Museum gives Dubliners taste of the Rare ‘aul Times

    Little Museum gives Dubliners taste of the Rare ‘aul Times

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    WHERE ELSE in the capital city can you be in the same room as objects such as Nelson’s Pillar, War of Independence Documents and a ‘I’ve Been To Switzer’s Santa’ badge? The Little Museum of Dublin, of course.

    Just over a year old, this new museum – housed inside a beautiful Georgian building on St Stephens Green – brings the rare ‘aul times to life.

    Spread over just two rooms, the Little Museum’s tall walls are packed floor to ceiling with artefacts telling stories of Dublin in the last century.

    Displayed chronologically, the artefacts are an eclectic mix of specialist and general interest objects: from original documents, photos and publications to furniture, food stuff and quirky domestic items.

    Some objects give you a glimpse of domestic Dublin – harking back to a time of Gold Flake cigarettes, elephant rides at Dublin Zoo and when Aerlingus offered a return “Rolls Royce powered” service across the pond for just £12.

    While other memorabilia – recalling famous visitors to the capital,  such as Pope John Paul II to John F Kennedy – appears alongside belongings of legandary Dubliner James  Joyce and politician and former President  Eamon De Valera.

    There is also political artefacts – like Bertie Ahern’s first election poster, and a dated Green Party poster from the 80s which claims “Others promise the moon, we only guarantee the earth”.

    The Little Museum of Dublin even has a couple of items from our not so distant past – a membership card from Renards Nightclub or a Ryanair ‘business class’ sticker will raise a few smirks.

    Meanwhile, downstairs there is a rotating exhibition space – which currently houses an excellent display on the life of Dubliner Bram Stoker.

    One gripe visitors may have when visiting the museum is there is scarce contextual information provided on the collection. Additionally, space constraints mean that some artefacts are placed very high up on the building’s tall walls, making them difficult to see up close without a ladder or a stiff neck.

    Fortunately, tours are run regularly by the staff and are included in the admission price. Experiencing the museum through a tour is definitely preferable; as discovering the story behind the objects on display can really bring the collection to life.

    Visiting this place won’t break the bank either – tickets are surprisingly affordable. On the door tickets are priced at €5, where concessions are available for students and senior citizens. Additionally, children under 10 and jobseekers can visit free.

    As an added bonus – if you visit the museum on a Wednesday between 1pm and 6pm – admission to the museum is free to all, courtesy of Johnston Mooney and O’Brien.

    At just two rooms – the Little Museum of Dublin certainly deserves its title, but regardless of its small size, this eccentric and unique mix of Irish memories is well worth a visit.

    After all, great nostalgia comes in small doses.

    All Pictures courtesy of the Little Museum of Dublin

    http://www.littlemuseum.ie/

    15 St Stephen’s Green
    Dublin 2
    Telephone +353 1 6611000

    By Aidan Knowles & Lynne Swan

  • The Bram Stoker Festival: Spraoi theatre group recreates Stoker’s Dublin!

    The Bram Stoker Festival: Spraoi theatre group recreates Stoker’s Dublin!

    Lynne Swan

    Dubliners were in for a treat this past weekend as the first Bram Stoker festival took place in the city. The festival provided, mostly, free, but, ticketed events celebrating the life and writings of one of our most beloved and well-known authors, Bram Stoker. The Spraoi theatre group recreated Stoker’s world as seen in his most well-known book, Dracula. Dublin Castle was transformed for the night and filled with terrifying looking creatures of the night and Stoker himself warned the crowd of the dangers of the world we had just stepped into from atop his wooden podium.

    This event took place on Sunday, 28th October, 2012