Wondering what’s happening in your area over the coming weeks? We’re looking at everything from embracing Ireland’s rich literary history to watching out for rare birds by the sea in this month’s At a Glance with Glenveagh as we take a whistle-stop tour of what’s happening in Dublin.
There are few cities on earth that can match Dublin for its literary prestige, and you’re invited to share in that history and culture at this year’s Dublin Book Festival. With symposiums, readings, workshops and literary walking tours, there are no shortages of opportunities to engage with some of Ireland’s top writers, publishers and bastions of the written word. The festival kicks off in the first week of November and some of the events are already sold out, so if you’re interested in checking out what else is on, click here.
Those with an interest in our avian friends will certainly be enthusiastic about the chance to see wintering water birds along Dublin Bay as part of a walk led by Niall Hatch. Hatch iHead of Communications and Development with BirdWatch Ireland, as well as a regular panellist on RTÉ Radio One's Mooney Goes Wild and a frequent contributor to television programmes such as Today, Ireland AM, Nationwide and more. Leaving from Booterstown DART Station, participants are advised to wear a pair of boots and bring a pair of binoculars if you have them. The event is free and you can sign up here.
There is never a bad time to visit the National Museum of Ireland, easily one of the best things you can do for free in the city. The advantage of going in November is that there are specific events on that you can avail of — such as The History of Art in Ireland tour taking place on November 8th and November 29th. The tour invites visitors to see ‘megalithic art from the Stone Age on the replica passage tomb’ and ‘discover the techniques in gold of Bronze Age metalworkers on the lunulae and sun discs’. The tour is family friendly and wheelchair accessible, with no prior booking required.
As long as the rain is at bay, the Howth Cliff Walk is one of the most beautiful in Dublin. Doing in winter-time might mean that you beat the summer crowd’s but honestly, this trail — with its breathtaking views of the Irish Sea — never really gets any less popular. Get your parka on and enjoy the bracing winter air as you traverse Dublin’s coastline, with plenty of places to stop, have a sit down and take in the view. The best news is that, once you’re done, you won’t be too far from an abundance of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops to warm your tired bones.