Weekender: |wiːkˈɛndə|– noun – what to do in Dublin this weekend.
Dick Diver
Thursday 4 June | Bello Bar, Portobello | 8pm, €7
Potentially a real gig-o-the-year with a surprise visit from Alistair McKay and Rupert Edwards from Dick Diver, who combine being named after a great literary character with great, wise, sad, funny, smart songs that bear echoes of (easy touchstone alert!) the Go-Betweens. Support on the night comes from Myles Manley and Cian Nugent and the Cosmos (who are playing new material). Deetz here.
Summer Rising
Thursday 4 – Sunday 14 June | Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham | various
At the sumptuous grounds of the Kilmainham Hospital, Summer Rising debuted last year and was a tremendous success for IMMA, and happily it returns with a series of art happenings, music, performances and food events. The summer exhibitions at IMMA at the time include Stan Douglas and Etel Adnan, while Garden Rising runs from Saturday 6th with food workshops, artist talks and family-friendly activities. On the evening of the 6th, the Summer Party takes place with curated music, art, food and cocktails. A real fancy garden party.
Howth Midsummer Literary Arts Festival
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 June | Luytens Library, Howth Castle | from 11am each day, various prices
A new literary festival joins the fray this summer with the inaugural Howth Midsummer Literary Festival, which takes place on Friday 5th to Sunday 7th June in the Luytens Library in Howth Castle. For debutants, they have brought a strikingly strong line-up, with five ‘in conversation’ events as the main attraction. Speakers at these include Richard Ford and Michael Cunningham, as well as Irish authors John Banville, Roddy Doyle and Anne Enwright. Meanwhile there’ll also be a focus on children’s literature taking place at the nearby Burrow National School. For details, tickets and prices, see www.howthliteraryfestival.com
Póg Mo Goal No. 2 Launch Party
Friday 5 June | The Back Page, Phibsborough | 7.30pm, Free
Póg Mo Goal launched last year as the project of Kie Carew (no relation of towering Norwegian striker John, we assume) which brings together insightful writing about the beautiful game, very much in opposition to the game’s natural proclivity to antagonism and bragging amongst its fans. They tied this philosophical approach with some lovely illustrations (from the likes of Dan Leydon) and photography. The second edition, due out this summer includes contributions from Donal Fallon (of the ever excellent Come Here To Me blog), as well examinations of shirt number design, Robbie Robbie Keane-oh conquering the States and the eternal consideration from Johnny Hynes of LFC magazine of whether winning is all that matters, or does how you do count? Copies can be ordered from pogmogoal.com for €6. The launch night will be a celebration of all things Póg Mo Goal and all things football, which should get you nicely set up for the follow evening’s Champions League Final, unless you’re already at….
Girls Names
Saturday 6 June | Hangar, Andrews Lane | 7.30pm, €12
Fresh from having announced a new album (coming in the Autumn) and dropped the teasing, brutal Reticence to keep our appetites whetted over the summer, Girls Names arrive in Hangar at short notice to kick out the Leaving Cert jams. School Tour are on support duties. Full details here.
