Right, issue number one. Thanks for being here this early.
Every week I go through the organiser pages, the booking sites and the half-dead event listings so you don't have to. What's left is the stuff I'd actually consider doing with my own family or solo, sorted by North, South, West and the City Centre.
If it's not worth leaving the house for, it's not in here.
Everything below was checked against the organiser's own page on Monday September 28.
Things do sell out and obviously certain events will need you to be on the ball when it comes to booking, so give any of the organisers' links a quick look before you head out the door.
12 PICKS · 4 AREAS
With The Kids
Three picks in each part of Dublin, with the town or suburb right beside each one. Skip to your area below if you're not interested in travelling far to find something worth doing.
City Centre
Bronntanas 2026: Ceardlann LEGO/LEGO workshop
City Centre · Kevin Street Library
Kevin Street Library, Thursday 1 October 2026 at 3pm. Free, for kids 5 to 12 with a parent, and no booking required. Check the library's own page for how to get there.
A free hour of LEGO on a Thursday afternoon, and nothing to book.
Explorer Family Art Workshops
City Centre · Kilmainham, Dublin 8
The Matheson Creativity Hub at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Sunday 4 October 2026 at 2pm, and it runs most Sundays, so check first. Free, for children and grown-ups together. It's drop-in with limited spaces, first come first served, and it's an 8-minute walk from the Luas at Heuston.
You make something together, and the grounds are there for a wander after.
Stargazing at Dublin Zoo
City Centre · Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 (via Chesterfield Avenue)
Dublin Zoo, Saturday 3 October 2026, 6pm to 9pm. Adults are €21.50 (€18.50 with an annual pass) and children €15.50 (€12.50 with a pass), so two adults and two kids comes to €74, or €62 with passes. A hot drink comes with it, and Dublin Zoo admission is not included. It's family friendly, and under 16s have to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on sale on the zoo's own page. If you're driving, the nearest car park is Lord's Walk, two minutes from the entrance.
The zoo after dark with a hot drink in your hand. And don't forget to wrap them up, it's October.
North Dublin
Pumpkins After Dark
North Dublin · Donabate
Newbridge House & Farm, from Friday 2 October 2026, with start times that change by date but are always after 5pm. Tickets are €23.10 to €46.82 depending on the date, and parking is €11 per vehicle on top. It suits families, friends, couples and Halloween lovers of all ages. Entry is time-slotted, so book ahead. If you'd rather skip the parking, get the DART to Donabate.
The big Halloween outing of the week. Book the slot before you mention it to the kids. One visitor last year said the parking was the stressful bit, with an hour's wait for the shuttle from the station car park, so leave plenty of time in case there's a similar experience waiting for visitors this year.
Bees
North Dublin · Glasnevin
The National Botanic Gardens, Saturday 3 October 2026 at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm, and Sunday 4 October 2026 at 11am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Free, for ages 2 and up. It runs 30 minutes and it's non-verbal, relaxed and outdoors. No booking required, and there's a car park on site.
Half an hour is about right for a two-year-old, and it costs nothing if they lose interest. If it's a cold one, a recent visitor points out the tropical glasshouse stays warm. Definitely a nice to know for your visit.
Details: https://ark.ie/events/view/bees-2026
Halloween Pottery Workshop
North Dublin · Balbriggan (Ardgillan)
Ardgillan Castle, Saturday 3 October 2026, 2.30pm to 4pm. €35.00 per person. It's a children's workshop, with no age range given, so ask when you book, and you book through runbabyrunpottery.com. It's a bit of a spin, so have a look at Ardgillan's website for directions before you set off.
Not cheap, but they come home with something they made. People who've been lately keep mentioning the big playground and the café, so the rest of the afternoon sorts itself.
South Dublin
Classical Kids at Music in Monkstown
South Dublin · Monkstown
The Schoolhouse at Monkstown Church of Ireland, Monkstown, Sunday 4 October 2026 at 11am. Tickets from €15.00 plus booking fees, for preschoolers up to 7 years, booked in advance through Billetto.
A first proper concert for the smallies, on at 11 before anyone's due a nap.
Lego Club
South Dublin · Terenure Library
Terenure Library, every Tuesday at 3.30pm, including Tuesday 6 October 2026. The price is not listed, it's for children aged 6 and up, and there are no booking details listed, so ring the library before you head over.
Worth a phone call if you're around Terenure on a Tuesday afternoon.
Féile Bronntanas 2026: Oíche Mhaith, a hUbh!
South Dublin · Dundrum
Dundrum Library, Saturday 3 October 2026 at 2pm. Free, for ages 3 to 6. You have to book, by email to [email protected] or by phone on (01) 204 7220.
Free theatre for the under-sevens. Booking's by email or phone only, so don't leave it to Saturday morning.
Details: https://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/event-calendar/feile-bronntanas-2026-oiche-mhaith-hubh
West Dublin
Lego Free Play
West Dublin · Ballyfermot Library
Ballyfermot Library, every Saturday from 10.30am to 12pm, including Saturday 3 October 2026. Free and drop-in. All welcome, and there's some Duplo out for younger builders. No need to book, just drop by. The library's page has directions.
The easiest one on the list. Turn up, let them build, leave when they're done.
Magic Storytime Gaeilge-Béarla le Sarah Sparkles
West Dublin · Clondalkin
Clondalkin Library on Monastery Road, Thursday 1 October 2026, 3pm to 4pm. Free, for ages 3 to 8 and families, all welcome. Get a free ticket on the library's own Eventbrite page. It's a 15-minute walk from the Red Cow Luas stop.
Storytime in Irish and English, so it works whether they've a cúpla focal or not a word.
Details: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/magic-storytime-gaelige-bearla-le-sarah-sparkles-tickets-2002117905551
Robo Riots Dublin 2026
West Dublin · Tallaght, Dublin 24
The National Basketball Arena in Tymon Park, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026, with shows at 12pm and 4pm each day. Tickets are €21.70 to €70.53 each, booking fee included. It's for robot fans of all ages, but there are flashing lights and loud noise, so bring ear defenders for anyone who needs them. Tickets are through TicketSource, so book ahead.
Robots fighting in an arena in Tallaght. It's a loud one, and that's the point.
Details: https://roboriots.ie/
2 IDEAS FOR A NIGHT OUT
With the missus
A couple of things for the two of you. Line up grandma or the babysitter first.
Improv Fest Ireland 2026, Festival Shows
City Centre · Parnell Square
The Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1, Friday 2 October 2026 at 7pm, a triple bill of Cinnamon Buns, An Evening with Sam & AJ and The Weekend Away Ensemble. The festival runs Wednesday 30 September 2026 to Saturday 3 October 2026. €12.00 a show, so €24 for the two of you. It's adult comedy, so check the listings, and tickets are through fienta.com.
Three improv acts for €12, and you're already in town for food before or after.
Friday Night Live at the Laughter Lounge
City Centre · Eden Quay, Dublin 1
The Laughter Lounge, 4-8 Eden Quay, Dublin 1, Friday 2 October 2026, doors at 7pm and the show from 8.30pm to 11pm. €31 a ticket, so €62 for the two of you. It's 18s and over, with ID checked at the door. Book at laughterlounge.com, card or contactless only, and it's smart casual, so no shorts or tracksuits.
A proper Friday night out in town, and someone else is doing the talking. People who've been there recently say travel light, because bags go in the cloakroom and some were charged for it, and you order drinks by QR code at the table.
4 PICKS · SOLO OR WITH MATES
Useful dad picks
For yourself, or with the lads.
BOWDEN, live at Whelan's (Upstairs)
City Centre · Wexford Street
Upstairs in Whelan's, Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 8pm. It's €14.00 a ticket plus a €0.50 online service charge. Tickets through whelanslive.com.
A cheap midweek gig, and an easy one to talk a mate into.
Dublin Simon Home Run 2026
City Centre · Phoenix Park (Furze Road / Chesterfield Avenue)
It starts at the junction of Furze Road and Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park, Saturday 3 October 2026 at 9.30am. Entry is €30.00 plus a €2.10 fee, or €75.00 plus a €5.25 fee for a family of four, so €80.25 all in for the four of you. All ages are welcome, and the family entry covers 4 people with children under 16. You register on eventmaster.ie. If you're driving, there's parking in the Phoenix Park, but none of it is reserved for this event, so the Home Run shuttle from Parkgate Street is worth pre-booking.
Do it on your own or bring the family, and it's a Saturday morning in the Phoenix Park for a good cause.
€8 bowling Wednesdays at Leisureplex
North Dublin · Blanchardstown (Dublin 15), Charlestown (Dublin 11), Coolock (Dublin 17) and Tallaght
Leisureplex Blanchardstown, Charlestown, Coolock and Tallaght, every Wednesday through October, including Wednesday 30 September 2026. €8 a person for a game, so €32 if there's four of you, for adults and kids alike. Lanes book at leisureplex.ie/bowling, but it's not clear the €8 rate applies online, so check before you book. Leisureplex's site has directions for each one.
A cheap game midweek, with the lads or the kids. People who've been tend to rate Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
Details: https://leisureplex.ie/
Marlay parkrun
South Dublin · Rathfarnham
Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Saturday 3 October 2026 at 9.30am. Free, and you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or just watch. No booking, but register once before your first one and bring your scannable barcode, or you won't get a time. The course page on parkrun's site has the bus and walking directions.
Free, early, and done before the rest of the Saturday starts.
Details: https://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/
1 PICK · COUNTY KILDARE
Worth The Spin
October Racing at the Curragh
West of Dublin · The Curragh, County Kildare (outside Dublin)
The Curragh Racecourse in Co. Kildare, Sunday 4 October 2026, first race 1.20pm and last race 5.25pm, and tickets from €15. There's no age guide listed, and you book at tickets.curragh.ie. Trains run to Kildare and Newbridge, and there's a free race-day bus from Kildare station, but the times for this one are still to come.
A proper day out if you fancy the spin, and the only pick this week outside the county.
2 IDEAS FOR HER DAY OFF
Just for the missus
Ideas for her day off. Mind the kids, send her the link, and don't ring her unless something's on fire.
Dublin Mind Body Experience
South Dublin · Ballsbridge
Hall 4 in the RDS, Friday 2 October 2026 from 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday 3 October 2026 and Sunday 4 October 2026 from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free, it's a wellness event for adults, and there's no booking link listed. It's a short walk from the Lansdowne Road or Sandymount DART.
Free in, so she can wander for an hour and leave whenever she likes.
Reset & Reconnect: A Wellness Morning for Busy Mums
North Dublin · Lusk, Fingal
Lusk Community Cultural Centre, Church Road, Saturday 3 October 2026, 10am to 1pm, doors at 9.30am. €52.44 a ticket with the current discount, or €70.67 without it. It's for mums aged 18 and up, beginners are welcome, and she's fine to come on her own. She books on Eventbrite, and there's free parking at the venue.
Three hours that are properly hers, and you've got the kids.
Know a dad who spends Friday evening scrolling for something to do? Forward him this. He can sign up at newsletter.thedublindad.com.
If you end up at anything from this week's list, hit reply and tell me how it went. Good, bad or a washout. It genuinely shapes what goes in next week.
Alright, that's a wrap. Talk to you next Monday.
Happy days,
Alan,
The Dublin Dad