Southside DART Events
Hello neighbours,
From Bray and Greystones through Shankill, Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire and into Dublin city centre, there is a lot happening over the next few months. With Woodbrook DART Station now open close to the estate, many of these events are easy to reach without needing the car.
March
☘️ St Patrick’s Festival Dublin
Date: 14–17 March 2026
Location: Dublin City Centre
DART: Pearse / Tara Street / Connolly
Ireland’s national festival runs across four days with city events, performance, pageantry and a brilliant atmosphere across the capital.
Website: https://stpatricksfestival.ie/
🎺 St Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: Tuesday 17 March 2026
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: Dublin City Centre
DART: Pearse / Tara Street / Connolly
The National Parade is the centrepiece of the weekend, running from Parnell Square through the city to the Cuffe Street / Kevin Street junction.
Website: https://stpatricksfestival.ie/the-parade-map-and-route/
🎡 City Funfair
Date: 14–17 March 2026
Location: Custom House Quay, Dublin
DART: Connolly / Tara Street
Part of the St Patrick’s Festival programme, the city funfair adds a family-friendly carnival feel to the long weekend.
Website: https://stpatricksfestival.ie/event/city-funfair-dublin/
⚓ Dún Laoghaire Harbour Market
Date: Sundays through spring
Location: People’s Park, Dún Laoghaire
DART: Dún Laoghaire
A favourite local Sunday outing with artisan food stalls, coffee, produce and a gentle harbour-town feel.
Website: https://www.dunlaoghairetown.ie/peoples-park-market-dun-laoghaire
⛵ Goat Boat Tours
Date: March & April 2026
Times: Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 and 14:30
Location: Dún Laoghaire
DART: Dún Laoghaire
Weekend sailings add a fun seasonal activity on the harbour through early spring.
Website: https://goatboat.ie/
🏇 National Hunt Finale
Date: 2–3 March 2026
Location: Leopardstown Racecourse
Access: DART + short onward connection
A strong early-March option for racing fans, with two days of action at Leopardstown.
Website: https://www.leopardstown.com/quinnbet-national-hunt-finale
April
🐣 Easter Weekend
Date: 3–6 April 2026
Key Days: Good Friday 3 April · Easter Sunday 5 April · Easter Monday 6 April
Locations: Dublin City / Dún Laoghaire / Bray / Greystones
DART: Multiple southside stops
Easter is one of the best weekends for family days out, harbour visits, coastal walks and city trips along the line.
Website: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/ireland/easter
🏇 Ballylinch Stud Classic Trials
Date: Sunday 12 April 2026
Location: Leopardstown Racecourse
Access: DART + short onward connection
Leopardstown’s opening flat fixture of the season with racing and family entertainment.
Website: https://www.leopardstown.com/classictrialsday
🎹 Evgeny Grinko
Date: Sunday 12 April 2026
Location: The Pavilion, Dún Laoghaire
DART: Dún Laoghaire
A notable live music date in Dún Laoghaire as part of the spring programme at the Pavilion.
Website: https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/evgenygrinko
🎓 Student Race Day
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Location: Leopardstown Racecourse
Access: DART + short onward connection
A lively spring midweek fixture at Leopardstown.
Website: https://www.leopardstown.com/student-day
May
🏃 Dublin City Half Marathon
Date: Sunday 3 May 2026
Time: 08:30
Location: O’Connell Street, Dublin
DART: Tara Street / Connolly / Pearse
One of the city’s most visible spring sporting events, with runners and spectators bringing a real buzz to the centre.
Website: https://dublincityhalfmarathon.ie/
📚 International Literature Festival Dublin
Date: 15–24 May 2026
Location: Merrion Square and Dublin venues
DART: Pearse
A strong companion literary event ahead of Dalkey Book Festival, with talks, readings and city-centre programming.
Website: https://ilfdublin.com/
🏇 Derby Trials Family Day
Date: Sunday 10 May 2026
Location: Leopardstown Racecourse
Access: DART + short onward connection
Great racing with family entertainment, attractions and a strong day-out feel.
Website: https://www.leopardstown.com/derbytrial
🌍 Africa Day
Date: Sunday 17 May 2026
Location: Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Access: DART + Luas / short onward connection
A major multicultural event with music, food, family activity and performances.
Website: https://www.ireland.ie/en/africa-day/
🌿 Bord Bia Bloom
Date: 28 May – 1 June 2026
Location: Phoenix Park
Access: DART + Luas / bus connection
Ireland’s best-known garden and food festival, and one of the big seasonal markers that summer is on the way.
Website: https://www.bordbiabloom.com/
June Highlights
🏇 Bulmers Live at Leopardstown
Date: 11 & 18 June 2026
Location: Leopardstown
Access: DART + short onward connection
Racing and live music make this one of the better summer-evening combinations around Dublin.
Website: https://www.leopardstown.com/bulmerslive
🎉 Bloomsday Festival
Date: 11–16 June 2026
Location: Dublin / Sandycove / Glasthule / Blackrock
DART: Sandycove / Blackrock / city centre stops
One of Dublin’s most distinctive literary festivals, with Joyce-themed events across the city and the southside coast.
Website: https://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/
📚 Dalkey Book Festival
Date: 18–21 June 2026
Location: Dalkey Village
DART: Dalkey
One of Ireland’s most respected literary festivals returns to Dalkey, bringing writers, journalists, historians and thinkers to venues across the village.
Website: https://www.dalkeybookfestival.org/
🎶 Metallica – M72 World Tour
Date: 19 & 21 June 2026
Location: Aviva Stadium
DART: Lansdowne Road
A major two-night concert weekend, very easy to reach from the southside DART line.
Website: https://www.mcd.ie/artists/metallica
🎤 Lewis Capaldi
Date: 23 & 24 June 2026
Location: Marlay Park
Access: DART to Blackrock / Dún Laoghaire + bus or taxi
One of the biggest summer concert dates around Dublin this year.
Website: https://www.mcd.ie/artists/lewis-capaldi
🚆 A New Local Advantage
With Woodbrook DART Station now open, Shanganagh Castle residents can easily reach village festivals, harbour events, concerts, race days and city-centre celebrations all along the southside line.
Easy access to: Bray · Greystones · Shankill · Dalkey · Dún Laoghaire · Blackrock · Dublin City Centre
