We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

7 events celebrating diversity in Ireland (and how to get there on public transport)

From delicious food markets to family-friendly screenings.

AS THE HOTTEST summer in recent memory draws towards a quick close, it’s always worth planning a few events to look forward to for when we revert to thicker duvets and a few extra cups of tea.

And what better way to do it than being whisked away to other colourful cultures via the power of food, film and art? As Ireland becomes increasingly more multicultural, it means that we have even more opportunities to enjoy brilliant bits of every culture that makes up Ireland in 2018.

From tasting Polish pierogi to becoming absorbed in a fantastic French film to celebrating Chinese New Year, the world has truly become our oyster. And with so many different nationalities living among us in Ireland, there’s never been a better time to sample it all.

Here are a few wonderful events that celebrate international diversity in Ireland for you to enjoy over the next few months.

For the families…

1. IFI Family Festival 2018, August 31st – September 2nd

37609670_10156572567650421_3075907564232245248_n Facebook / Irish Film Institute (IFI) Facebook / Irish Film Institute (IFI) / Irish Film Institute (IFI)

One of the most powerful ways of teaching your little ones about world cultures is to completely immerse them in it through the power of cinema. This year’s festival will see the likes of Supa Modo, the wonderful story of a Kenyan girl who wants to be a superhero, while the tender Iranian story of The Skier sees a little boy try to save his goat by winning a skiing competition. Book tickets here.

And how do I get there? The IFI is located in Temple Bar so it’s within walking distance of Tara Street DART station and a host of bus routes that stop at Dame Street and will drop you even closer.

2. Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, October 15th – 21st

27503215_10156526079580681_7985405813837196217_o Facebook / Baboro International Arts Festival for Children Facebook / Baboro International Arts Festival for Children / Baboro International Arts Festival for Children

Taking place in Galway city, Baboró has over two decades of organising lovely events for kids and families under its belt. Although their official programme won’t be announced until early September, last year’s festival saw Dutch theatre, French dance troupes and English storytelling so expect plenty more international surprises this year. Book here.

And how do I get there? Irish Rail offer daily return services to Galway from Dublin, while Bus Éireann  have 30 routes that link every major town and city in the country, along with bus service within Galway city.

For the foodies…

3. People’s Park Farmers Market, every Sunday

13482951_1120028894728353_7387471732570364022_o Facebook / Food Fiesta Facebook / Food Fiesta / Food Fiesta

No matter which country’s cuisine you’re after, Dun Laoghaire’s People’s Park transforms each Sunday into a feast for the senses so you can find a delicious variety of international dishes. From crispy Lebanese falafel to giant pans of Spanish paella (pictured above), it’s a brilliant way to remind yourself of the joy of tasting flavours from around the globe.

And how do I get there? Dun Laoghaire is well-serviced by DART, which run around every half an hour on Sundays. Bus-wise, you can hop on one of these seven Dublin Bus options that service the coastal town.

4. Oktoberfest Dublin, September 14th – October 6th

21688468_1537240983029146_705778118536642576_o Facebook / Oktoberfest Dublin Facebook / Oktoberfest Dublin / Oktoberfest Dublin

For three weeks every year during late September, Dublin’s George’s Dock becomes a hotspot of German culture during Oktoberfest. You’ll get to experience Munich-inspired fairgrounds, traditional Bavarian dress and live music, and tasty German food and drink including bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels and beers. Have a look at the programme here.

And how do I get there? The area is very well-serviced by both DART (Grand Canal Dock is the closest stop) and Luas (get off at George’s Dock), while Dublin Bus serves these two routes to the area.

For the arts fans…

5. Dublin Fringe Festival, September 8th – 23rd

37022192_10156561885133777_635275287130537984_o Facebook / Dublin Fringe Festival Facebook / Dublin Fringe Festival / Dublin Fringe Festival

The Dublin Fringe Festival always brings with it unexpected and unforgettable performances and art. This year, you can expect Nigerian-Irish spoken word artists FeliSpeaks and Dagogo Heart (above) perform Boy Child, while there is a beautiful photo exhibition by 18-year-old Ayesha Ahmad entitled Epoch. See what else is on here.

And how do I get there? It depends which show you book, but Boy Child is on in the New Theatre in Temple Bar so it’s within walking distance of Tara Street DART station and a host of bus routes nearby, while Epoch is closeby on Curved Street too.

6. Culture Night 2018, Friday September 21st

35628240_1732318743523490_607461877785559040_o Itziar Telletxea Rocha Itziar Telletxea Rocha

Now in its 13th year, Culture Night has grown from Dublin’s cities to a countrywide celebration. The full lineup hasn’t been announced just yet (though the programmes just went to print), but there’s always lovely international events like Noche de Cultura en Español and Kultur Nacht auf Deutsch if you fancy giving your second language a whirl for the night, and meeting a few like-minded people of other nationalities.

And how do I get there? They’re on all around the country, so check Irish Rail, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Luas to check the best option for your chosen event.

For the film aficianados…

7. Dublin Greek Film Festival, October 18th – 21st

22540187_760916230767400_5151367235457865853_n Facebook / Dublin Greek Film Festival Facebook / Dublin Greek Film Festival / Dublin Greek Film Festival

Only in its fourth year this year, the Dublin Greek Film Festival this year takes place in The New Theatre in Dublin and the full schedule will be announced next month. The festival has been busy over the summer planning things like Colouring Words: Refugee Children Voices, so no doubt they’ll have some uplifting, positive films planned too.

And how do I get there? Again, the theatre is located in Temple Bar so it’s within walking distance of Tara Street DART station and a host of bus routes that stop at Dame Street.

No matter how you travel to these events, be patient and courteous to your fellow commuters, no matter where they are from. As part of the Join Us On The Journey campaign – which features hundreds of commuters standing in solidarity against racism - Transport for Ireland invites you to take a stand and show your solidarity against racism on public transport

Close
14 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mart_n
    Favourite mart_n
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 9:34 PM

    What a load of bollix. ‘Al Qaeda’s Second in command’ killed.. what does that even mean? I’m pretty sure the second in command has been killed a few times already. Right on the anniversary of the big day too… A lot of people must not have closed their eyes on 9/11, because their wishes for a better world aren’t coming true.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 10:02 PM

    Well I chose to believe he is Al Qaeda and I’m happy for him, that he has been granted his most fervent of holiest of desires. He has gone to meet his maker.

    It’s just a pity that with this one gone there are a dozen more to take his place.

    BTW I’m not saying who is right or who is wrong. I have not studied this unholy mess enough to be able to declare any sort of definitive statement.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Culligan
    Favourite Jason Culligan
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 10:24 PM

    Mart, can I ask you an honest question? If you’re running a business and one of your managers leave, are you going to replace him/her? Of course you are. The second in command has been killed a few times because they’ve killed a few across the globe and all were different individuals. They did kill the top, Bin Laden, in Pakistan so obviously they’re capable of promoting people.

    24
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan Geraghty
    Favourite Aidan Geraghty
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 10:45 PM

    But i see Mart’s point….

    But like, Al Queda are a bunch out of control nut cases so is there really a ‘second in command’ ? it’s silly talk.

    I’d have more faith in the announcement if they said ‘one of the biggest headers in Al Queda was bursted’

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:03 PM

    Well technically lads this is the No 2 in Yemen. I’m sure they have more no 2′s in other national branches like afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq , Sudan etc.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Tuohy
    Favourite Michael Tuohy
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:05 PM

    It means the 2nd in command was killed! luder

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian Nolan
    Favourite Adrian Nolan
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:06 PM

    I reckon they should just target the nasty human resources manager who keeps filling the top vacancy’s and be done with it.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin
    Favourite Martin
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:59 PM

    How can u have a second in command for organization that doesn’t excist except on database in the pentagon. Its ridiculous to say that there is any structure to islamic fundementalists its a patsy organisation.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
    Favourite Pádraig O'hEidhin
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 2:30 AM

    Al queda are a peacefull organisation. Its full of holymen and dogooders. Where did they get misunderstood along the way?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin
    Favourite Martin
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 9:06 AM

    It’s a phantom group created by the Americans in the 1980′s and used to keep a neverending war on terror going. For god sake the Bushes and the Bin-Laden families were in bussiness to-gether in a Oil company called Arbusco in the 80′s and 90′s.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin
    Favourite Martin
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 9:16 AM

    Please ignore misplaced hyphen above…thanks!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn Tiernan
    Favourite Éamonn Tiernan
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 9:16 PM

    Is Chandler alright?!?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Breen
    Favourite Paul Breen
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 11:13 AM

    Yes, this happened nowhere near Yemen Road.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alan
    Favourite alan
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:04 PM

    the real issue here isnt whether or they are killing the first second or third or hundreth in command. the real issue is the number of people being killed in afghanistan and iraq every day. the killing there, on both sides, continues unabated. so much for the success of the invasions

    and it is amazing the way that the americans won’t admit to al q not being a traditional military force. they surely cannot believe that headline grabbers like this will distract from a serious analysis of what al q actually areand how they operate?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stewie Griffin
    Favourite Stewie Griffin
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:54 PM

    your right alan. but i cant fault the usa in going to war in Afghanistan it had to happen really and could have been avoided by the Taliban and in a way it was good that the americans went in. Of course there are alot being killed. but its it more or less then if the Taliban (murders) were left in power. shooting woman and little girls for rumours ??

    Iraq thats different story that was completely wrong and i believe for this g.w.bush and tony blair should be held to account for the implosion of iraq and the descent into chaos . they expected a clean war like the first gulf war but like churchill said when you go to war you go into a world that unpredictable and you cannot control the outcome of events.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 1:43 AM

    Alan, you do realize that yemini troops killed this guy. Have you ask the govt of yemen why they are going after al Qaeda? Is because they pose a risk in Yemen?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edward Carr
    Favourite Edward Carr
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 10:53 PM

    I’m sure he was al qaeda but really every few weeks the second in command is killed they must be pumping them out on the factory line by the 100s

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stewie Griffin
    Favourite Stewie Griffin
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:02 PM

    true but your getting rid of the experienced guys at the top bit by bit that fought the soviets and organised the big terror events. Losing that experience is what matters, can always replace but what are you replacing with if you get me

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Sep 10th 2012, 11:22 PM

    Rehabilitation programme in Saudi Arabia?
    Well that didn’t work.
    The man must have had serious connections.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JP SHERRY
    Favourite JP SHERRY
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 12:40 AM

    Trial by bullet

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
    Favourite Pádraig O'hEidhin
    Report
    Sep 11th 2012, 2:33 AM

    I don’t believe a word of it. Bin laden was such a friendly looming chap.

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel