Living in Ireland in 2026: Culture, Sport, The People & Where to Live

Ice Skating Blanchardstown returns to Millennium Park, bringing Ireland’s largest and most exciting ice rink to Dublin. Art Source is the most exciting art event of the year, featuring 175 Irish & International artists & galleries gathering together to showcase PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, ILLUSTRATION, P When love & tragedy collide … Based on Shakespeare’s tale of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Founded in 2022, it takes over stages in London, Melbourne, and New York every Autumn, giving audiences the chance to see their favourite fun

The play follows the life of George Bailey, a man with big dreams of travelling the world and building skyscrapers, who instead finds himself rooted in his hometown by duty and heart. Adapted by Mary Elliott Nelson and directed by Claire O’Reilly, this new version brings the beloved story of George Bailey to life with a fresh, theatrical spirit. This Christmas, the Gate Theatre invites audiences to step into the world of Bedford Falls with a stage production of the timeless classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.

GAA clubs actively welcome international members for hurling and football – you don't need to be Irish to play, and local clubs are highly sociable. Dublin has multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, a diverse international food scene driven by its multicultural population, and an outstanding brunch culture. There are also a number of Summer Schools on topics from traditional music to literature and the arts. Ireland is well supplied with museums and art galleries and offers, especially during the summer months, a wide range of cultural events. Ireland has also proved a popular location for shooting films with The Quiet Man (1952), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Braveheart (1995), King Arthur (2004) and P.S. Some of the most successful Irish films included Intermission (2001), Man About Dog (2004), Michael Collins (1996), Angela's Ashes (1999), My Left Foot (1989), The Crying Game (1992), In the Name of the Father (1994) and The Commitments (1991).

What’s On: October 2026 — Ireland’s Events Worth Exploring

For the first time since 2023, BEATLES DAY is returning to Dublin. The UK’s biggest and most popular day time club event Day Fever is coming back to Dublin on Saturday, November 7th at the Academy, Dublin! It serves as a showcase for various tattoo styles, including traditional, blackwork, and photorealism, offering live tattooing, competitions, and entertainment for all attendees

The Dead by James Joyce, a thrilling immersive theatre experience and a uniquely intimate way for small audience groups to experience Joyce's greatest short story. Trapped in a dreary marriage and humdrum life, Shirley wonders when she lost her hopeful, youthful self. Treat yourself to an evening of laughter and triumph, as Norma Sheahan, one of Ireland’s leading dramatic actors, breathes new life into Willy Russell’s effervescent and iconic character SHIRLEY VALENTINE. Nina, an aspiring actress and Konstantin’s newest obsession, draws everyone – including Boris -into her orbit and the tensions simmering beneath the surface of this idyllic countryside retreat begin to bubble over. A thunderstorm of fame.” Irina (Aisling O’Sullivan), a fading star of the stage, returns to her family estate to see her volatile son Konstantin with her lover Boris in tow.

• A High Court judge will this week hear a judicial review of an appeal by the Women of Honour for their Defence Forces tribunal legal costs to be paid on a continual basis.
• Keep up-to-date with Irish entertainment news, gossip, photos, video, and reviews featuring Irish celebrities and pop culture, film and TV, music, dance, theater, literature, and more.
• The 9 at 9 Election victory in Brazil, yellow weather warnings and social welfare payments.

Shocking moment cruise crashes into two container ships during storm

Beauty Boots' K-beauty Advent Calendar has the best brands and a saving of €340 Entertainment Liz Kavanagh's husband has found a touching way to honour her after death A not to be missed performance by professional musicians and dancers. The Irish Entertainment Group provides highly professional, authentic and interactive entertainment tailored to customer preferences.

The events, exhibitions, performances and experiences we think are worth your time. As the capital’s premier destination for festive family days out, school trips, and social gatherings with friends, our massive covered ice skating rink in Dublin offers an unforgettable experience on 100% real ice! Located in the heart of North Dublin, our rink offers festive fun for all ages, from family days out to seasonal date nights. The Big Scream Halloween Festival returns to Dublin’s North East Inner City for 13 days of spooky fun, community events and family-friendly activities under the theme The Undead – 13 Nights of Fright.

Decorated with numerous accolades, including an MBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours list and inclusion in the 2025 Sunday Times Young Power List, Anna has become one of the most visible and exciting figures in classical music today. Featuring Britain’s Got Talent finalist Tom Ball performing live, the show blends dance, music and voice into one driving, immersive experience.​ Defying convention and reimagining t Meet our professors and students, attend our course talks, take a campus tour and discover all that Trinity College Dublin has to offer. The park will be transformed for the first time with spectacular lighting, Christmas-themed carousels, and choral performances from Sing Ireland. Dublin City Council is delighted to announce today that there will be a second TwinkleTown Christmas event and experience. This unforgettable production of Joyce's masterpiece takes place in the rich historical interior and unseen rooms of UCD Newman House.

• The festival culminates on Saturday 31 October with the Big Scream Carnival, featuring a parade, Halloween activities, movies , Zombie Land and a sensory-friendly hour for families seeking a quieter experience.
• The festival draws inspiration from Stoker, his life, his work, the Dublin of his time and celebrates the Gothic, the supernatural, the after-dark and the Victorian.
• The decline is said to be linked to reports of Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Ireland.citation needed
• "Clubbing" has become a popular phenomenon amongst young people in Ireland during the celtic tiger years.

Common Questions – Lifestyle in Ireland

John McAreavey makes kids proud as he completes first marathon in impressive time Boots' K-beauty Advent Calendar has the best brands and a saving of €340 Diptyque launches its Sapin Christmas collection and we want a bit of everything Liz Kavanagh's husband has found a touching way to honour her after death

Explore by neighbourhood

Dockers and Demons Halloween festival bringing the community together in the heart of Ringsend and Irishtown! Join us for Tallaween in Parthalán Place, Tallaght (Fri 30th Oct) from 12pm – 6pm & Spookdalkin in Brú Chrónáin, Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin (Sun 1st Nov) from 12.30pm – 5.30pm – frightful fun guaranteed! Get ready for a fang-tastic time in South Dublin! Each workshop is included with your admission ticket ZNAKI FM Launches Irish Edition, Expanding Its Global News and Entertainment Network and offers a hands-on way to explore the mystical side of Dublin’s past. Across four enchanted days, children and adults can take part in Spell Jar Making and Wand Making Workshops inspired by medieval traditions.

Get ready for a scorching Halloween night like never before! The walk concludes at the summit, where the sun will be setting on Halloween night! This Halloween, join guides and local farmers Philip and Daniel for a journey through the remarkable archaeological landscape on their farm at Newtown Hill. Attendees can shop from a variety of makers and small businesses, while enjoying a FREE fun-filled atmosphere designed for all ages.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere in pubs has changed greatly as a result, and debate continues on whether it has boosted or lowered sales, although this is often blamed on the ever-increasing prices, or whether it is a "good thing" or a "bad thing". A majority of the population support the ban, including a significant percentage of smokers. Belfast has a unique underground club scene taking place in settings such as churches, zoos, and crematoriums. Many larger pubs in cities eschew such trappings entirely, opting for loud music, and focusing more on the consumption of drinks, which is not a focus of traditional Irish culture. In tandem with these developments, the last quarter of the century saw the emergence of a new Irish cuisine based on traditional ingredients handled in new ways.

Golf is accessible and affordable by international standards at many public courses. Rugby clubs at all levels are very welcoming to newcomers (you don't need to be a hero to join a local club team). Rural areas and some religious communities hold more conservative views, but broadly Ireland is a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQ+ expats. Yes – Ireland was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote (2015) and has consistently progressive LGBTQ+ legislation.

Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

Join us for the annual #CivicSpooktacular this Halloween with more magic and mayhem than you can imagine! Learn about witches Carve your own pumpkin🎃 Make Halloween pottery Walking tours Catch fascinating lectures in Dublin pubs Hear spine-tingling stories Explore Halloween art workshops Live podcasts Wander the Halloween market Visit Join The Good Witch in weaving magic spells around her cauldron. The Good Witch with her magic lantern and the Archer with his fire arrow will banish the bad witches to the hills. The Bad Witch is up to mischief making gruesome dishes including her speciality, Witches’ Pie. Everyone faces highs and lows in life, and Myra’s Story is a compelling,

• Theatre serves here as a place to relate to our uncanny human existences addressing the collective unconscious at a time when violence and grief are undeniable aspects of our experiences.
• Join us at our in-person Open Day to experience what student life is like in Ireland's National Conservatoire.
• The event will feature a chilling House of Horrors Haunted house, live entertainment on the big stage and fun activities for young people, families, and the wider community.
• British and satellite-carried international television channels have widespread audiences in the Republic.

The entertainment experience they provide is next to none, showcasing the best of Irish entertainment. I have worked with IEG for over 5 years and highly recommend them. While we honour our treasured Irish traditions, we look to pave the way for the future of Irish entertainment as an inspired team of both traditional and contemporary professional artists. Scaling packages to suit your needs, we can also work alongside Northern Ireland’s leading audio visual companies to ensure your event is the best it can be.

Chapters Away: A New Reading Retreat in West Cork

The proliferation of fast food has led to increasing public health problems including obesity, and one of the highest rates of heart disease in the world. In addition to Irish food, meals eaten in Ireland may include pizza, curry and Chinese food, with some west African dishes making an appearance lately. In the 21st century, the modern selection of foods common to Western cultures has also to some extent been adopted in Ireland. The seeds of knotgrass and goosefoot were widely present and may have been used to make a porridge.citation needed Several other languages are spoken on the island, including Shelta, a mixture of Irish, Romani and English, spoken widely by Travellers.

Updated list of social welfare amounts following Budget 2027, and when you will actually see the €10 increase The changes were announced to little fanfare this week, but have set off alarm bells in the housing sector. How much would it cost to introduce an electricity price cap in Ireland? The 9 at 9 Weather warnings, Dublin Marathon causes road closures and the clocks going back.

The BBC and ITV families of channels are available free to air across the Republic and there is widespread availability of the four main UK channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel Four) but only limited coverage from Five. Today the Republic's main terrestrial channels are RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 which began broadcasting in 1998 and Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG), now called TG4 which started its Irish language service in 1996. Both the BBC and ITV have local regional programing specific to Northern Ireland produced and broadcast through BBC Northern Ireland and UTV. In Northern Ireland the main terrestrial television stations are the main UK wide channels BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. During the 1990s and particularly the early 2000s, dozens of local radio stations have gained licenses. Among the best-selling Irish magazines are the RTÉ Guide, Ireland's Eye, Irish Tatler, VIP, Phoenix and In Dublin.citation needed

Join us this Halloween at Dublinia for a family-friendly event full of history, magic and creativity. This Christmas, enjoy the magic of Swords On Ice at Pavilions Shopping Centre. With twinkling lights, cosy vibes, and plenty of space for family and friends, it's a winter experience everyone will love.

Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century popularised Halloween in the United States and Canada. Important Christian holidays include Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, St. Brigid's Day and various Marian observances, particularly within the month of May.citation needed While many Mincéirí in contemporary Ireland are now settled, including in urban areas, they often maintain rural traditions such as horseback riding, and attend traditional fairs and festivals in the countryside. Little of this had changed by the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. These uniquely Irish sports are deeply loved, with local pride on full display during the All-Ireland Championships.