St Patrick's Festival

When: Mar 2008 (annual)

Where: Dublin

Cost: Free

Opening Hours: Various; parade starts at 12pm

The St Patrick's Festival in Dublin is the country's largest annual event, lasting for five days with activities including street theatre, fireworks, music, dance, comedy, film, a treasure hunt, visual art exhibitions, family fun and, of course, the St Patrick's Parade.

Diversions Temple Bar

When: Jun - Aug 2008 (annual)

Where: The Ark

Cost: Free

Opening Hours: Various

Diversions 2007 is a summer-long festival of contemporary arts featuring an international line-up of stars in the worlds of dance, theatre, film and visual art. There's something going on each day in the public spaces of Temple Bar, so there's no excuse for not getting down there.

Christ Church Bells

When: Dec 2008 (annual)

Where: Christ Church Cathedral

Cost: Free

Opening Hours: Before midnight!

There's no mistaking when the New Year arrives in Dublin's centre. The bells of Christ Church Cathedral (the Holy Trinity) have been clanging in the year's best party night for a very long time. Wrap up warm and grab your patch early, as people gather outside (it's very difficult to get a place inside and a near-impossible privilege to be in the bell tower).

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