NOVEMBER Roundup: Best of Irish 2020
Welcome to the November edition of The Best of Irish with St. Patrick’s Festival.
Here, we curate a collection of happenings and wonderful content for the month ahead, bringing you the ‘Best of Irish’ from Ireland and worldwide. Join us in celebrating what the Irish do best, from music, dance, theatre and storytelling, to community fundraising, tutorials, interviews and other interesting things to do and enjoy. We hope you find something that interests you in our 'Best of Irish' things to do in Ireland this November roundup below.
03, 06 & 23 NOVEMBER: National Gallery of Ireland Online Talks
Online Talk & Tea: Shaw and the Gallery
03 NOVEMBER 11.00 - 11.30
Delivered via ZOOM, hear archivist and exhibition curator Leah Benson discuss GB Shaw and his relationship to the Gallery.
Tickets €5 from here
Library Lates: Sir Denis Mahon's 110th birthday
06 NOVEMBER 17.30 - 18.10
Join us for a special ‘Library Lates’ event marking the birthday of art historian, collector and philanthropist, Sir Denis Mahon (1910-2011).
Free event, details here
Apollo Project \ Creative Careers: Character Design Workshop
28 NOVEMBER 14.00 - 15.00
Tickets now available for this online event with Nick Roche.
Tickets €5 from here
SUNDAY, 08 - SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER : Cork International Film Festival
The 65th Cork International Film Festival is taking place online and the programme looks spectacular. CIFF is Ireland's first and largest film festival and they are excited to present some incredible films from across the island of Ireland abroad for 2020. For the very first time all films will be screened digitally and available to audiences across Ireland to enjoy.
Ticket capacities are limited for all screenings so advanced booking is advised. Log on, put your feet up, and join in for great films, Q&As with the filmmakers, and much more at #CIFF2020.
Visit the website or download the CIFF2020 App to browse the programme and book your tickets.
FRIDAY, 20 - SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER: Dingle Literary Festival 2020
The Dingle Literary Festival will take place online this year but still aims to celebrate and enhance the life of the Dingle Peninsula, already widely known for its creativity. The theme of the festival in 2020 is home and identity and there will be plenty of workshops, talks and activities to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Some authors to look forward to are Gabriel Byrne, Sara Baume, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Mark O’Connell, Sarah Moss, Caelainn Hogan, Brit Bennett, Michelle Dunne and Doireann Ní Ghríofa and many more.
The Dingle Literary Festival strives to be inclusive and accessible festival for people of all ages focused on the literary arts – fiction, poetry and non-fiction in English and Irish – and delivered through author events, workshops and performances.
Go to their website for the schedule and further information.
Just 10 days before we begin our festival! First event on Thursday 19th is 7pm with @DickMacksPub & @ThePeakyBlinder making cocktails & chance to win a PB hampers! Free to view, book your seat here https://t.co/r0YIBCFYtA @DinglePeninsula @DingleWhiskey pic.twitter.com/u6pna8NmBW
— DingleLit (@DingleLit) November 9, 2020
SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER: An Evening with Storyteller Mara Menzies
The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray are delighted to welcome Mara (pictured in the cover photo) to YARN for this online event and are thrilled that she will be introduced on the evening by storytelling legend Liz Weir. Mara is a narrative artist, drawing on her rich, dual Kenyan/Scottish cultural heritage, to create worlds that explore contemporary issues through legend, myth and fantasy.
Mara uses her own vision of the beauty, history and aspirations of people of African heritage, to fuse ancient and modern in an intoxicating experience. The audience takes centre stage leading to invitations to perform across the world and to create bespoke stories for those who dare to step into the world of fantasy. You can preview her exciting work in the video below.
Tickets are €5 from here
WATCH & LISTEN: Kilkenny Arts Festival 2020
The live events may have ended for this year's Kilkenny Arts Festival, but the organisers have decided to leave up plenty of content for us to enjoy in November and December. You can explore their 'Secret Garden Series' or the 'Secret Music Series' with guests such as David Keenan, Mick McAuley, Ailbhe Reddy, Martin Hayes and many more. There is also interesting talks across a range of arts and topics to choose from.
Check out the Watch & Listen section of their website and be sure to see the expiry details as some content is available for a limited time only.
SHOP LOCAL GIFT INSPIRATION
Here at St. Patrick's Festival, we are very much behind the shop local mindset and we will take any opportunity to support Irish businesses during this difficult time. In the run up to Christmas, we feel it is more important than ever to keep the smaller, local brands and businesses in mind when planning our gift purchases. Below is a couple of options to consider if you'd like to shop local for the coming holidays.
- ‘Go Anywhere Gift Card’ from Irelandhotels.com
This year, our nation embraced the 'staycation' life and many of us were lucky to see the island from a new perspective. How great would it be to give that as a gift? Launched by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) and accepted by hundreds of hotels and guesthouses throughout the country, this new gift card is exactly that. What better way to surprise friends, family and loved ones than with the gift of an amazing Irish break?
The gift card can be delivered by email or post in a special gift box and offers tremendous flexibility with hundreds of hotel and guesthouse options – whether for a family getaway, a luxury stay in a destination hotel or a mini-break.
Go to irelandhotelsgiftcards.com
- Hen’s Teeth Store Prints
Have an art lover in your life or someone who can't stop decorating their home with beautiful prints? Hen's Teeth have beautiful gift options including print collections that cater to every taste.
Check out the G’wan Ireland range from the Hen’s Teeth store. Here you will find monthly print releases from Ireland's up-and-comers and all-stars in art, design and photography.
- Craft Food Traders
Craft Food Traders have been in the Irish food industry for over 20 years and know all the best Irish suppliers and producers. Their speciality is sourcing good, natural, healthy food, drinks and snacks as deliverable packages, supporting local businesses and the environment along the way.
They also do gift sets and other interesting items, so check them out if you’d like to gift a health conscious person in your life. Go to their website for more.
- Mimi and Martha
This mother/daughter duo brings together a unique collection of design, inspired by the differences and similarities they’ve found in their own style, lives and experiences. You can find amazing products across various categories such as homeware, kids stuff, jewellery, art and so much more.
By using their platform, you are also supporting designers and reducing your impact on the Earth. Check out the full range of categories and products available here.
Feel free to share this article or Tweet us to let us know what you thought of our best things to do in Ireland this November roundup.
Know about something happening in December that deserves to be on our Best of Irish list? Submit your event/ content that will be available offline and/ or online in December by filling out the Best of Irish Event Submission form here.