OF ALL THE GIN JOINTS
Opened in 2023, Rick’s is inspired by a golden age of Hollywood and, of course, that ‘Café’ in the classic movie, Casablanca. While, today, Rick’s overlooks the super-modern Pero’s bridge to the city’s floating harbour and, by day, is flooded with natural light, its ‘40s inspiration is evident in rattan furnishings, lush greenery, a bespoke gin and fabulous cocktails. And now we’ve a new signature cocktail list to share, featuring seven brilliant creations from Rick’s bartender team, with names inspired by movies and every sip a delight. While Rick’s definitely has an old-school charm you’ll be saying ‘Play it, Sam’
to our DJs instead. Though we’re guessing it must have crossed our bartender’s minds to misquote the iconic line ‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she had to walk into mine’ when they saw (according to Pól Ó Conghaile’s review in the Irish Independent) “Stanley Tucci stopping by not once, but twice, since the … bar opened this spring. Tucci ordered a vodka martini … and a Secret Longings one of the bar’s signature gin cocktails, mixed with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liquor and Dry Vermouth (£11). But he tweaked the Vermouth. Of course he did.” instagram.com/ricksbarbristolhotel
CORK IN BLOOM
The River Club summer terrace is a Cork City destination, and this year we’re celebrating Cork in Bloom (along with our drinks’ partner, Boatyard Distillery) with an installation that takes its inspiration from white native Irish flowers in season, such as apple blossom, thistle and wild thyme, hydrangeas and white primrose, with a specially created cocktail menu on the same seasonal theme. theriverclubcork.ie
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Illustration: Steve McCarthy from The Coral Room's new cocktail menu. See page 14.
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When you hear that the V&A is to open the ‘first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to Cartier', you just know it’ll be one of the hardest tickets in town to get your hands on. Luckily, at The Kensington, we’re able to offer a limited number of tickets when you book our V&A Experience. The offer includes overnight accommodation, a full English breakfast and two tickets to Cartier at the V&A, without time or date restriction, meaning you can visit whenever it suits you, rather than having to pre-book your time slot. doylecollection.com/hotels/the-kensingtonhotel/packages/the-v-a-experience
CORK CURATOR
MOTHER'S DAY AT THE PEMBROKE
HIDDEN GEMS
Still on the Cartier tip, to mark the occasion The K Bar is launching a brand new signature cocktail menu, Hidden Gems, an homage to the gemstones that sparkle and glow in every Cartier piece. Inspired by the exhibition and nodding to K Bar’s own reputation as a hidden gem itself, our four signature cocktails are each named after a gemstone that features prominently in the Cartier collection, and crafted with ingredients of absolute luxury. doylecollection.com/hotels/ the-kensington-hotel/dining/k-bar
It's luxurious, it’s glamorous, it’s fun, and our brunch at The Pembroke has made it a DC destination for everybody’s favourite weekend meal, so what better place to celebrate Mother’s Day in the USA? While the menu will feature a few surprises they appear alongside some legendary dishes, from the superhealthy acai and avocado on toast to our signature smashed burger, (Maryland Chesapeake) Crab Benedict and lemon ricotta pancakes. Plus, there will be bubbles (if you want them). thepembrokedc.com
Latest in our elevated line of Cork natives sharing their favourite places in the city is, drumroll, Siobhán McSweeney. Whether you most enjoyed her as Sister Michael in Derry Girls, Della in Amandaland, herself in the Great Pottery Throwdown or for her fine work on stage, you’ll love her Cork tour. We’ve heard it takes in The Everyman Theatre, The Opera House, Triskel Arts, St Luke’s Church and Cyprus Avenue. Find out more at doylecollection.com/hotels/the-river-lee-hotel/slice-of-the-city/weekends-in-cork/meet-our-curators
for first after first as he shaped the future of fine jewellery, creating iconic pieces of the 20th Century. With no time for fleeting fashion, he worked purely on instinct. Fortunately his instincts proved astoundingly good. When Paris’ fine jewellery Maisons fell in love with Art Nouveau, creating oversized, structural pieces using many semi-precious stones, Louis decided to focus on real gems. But multiple stones set in gold or silver were weighty and he was determined to create pieces both ethereal and light. So Louis experimented with platinum – seldom used in jewellery back then. He visited mines, even creating his own bespoke mix (adding iridium and nickel) to fashion a super-shiny, light, strong variant, which proved incredibly popular and was used in Cartier’s signature ‘garlands’ with diamonds appearing to float around the neck.
Frutti pieces (known at the time as ‘pieces de couleurs’) with their unusual carved gemstones. Royal patronage across Europe even saw Cartier nicknamed ‘Jeweller of Kings, King of Jewellers’, with their breathtaking tiaras fuelling the trend all over the world.
Louis’ hire of the style icon Jeanne Toussaint as Cartier Creative Director in 1933 (she stayed until 1970) saw the emergence of the panther (her signature) and an enduring symbol of the Cartier brand. While the brothers took the business global, it was eventually sold, and has continued to grow, create trends and adorn the modern era’s style shapers (from Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly while still owned by the family, to today’s Cartier afficionados, from Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal to Beyonce and Angelina Jolie). While Cartier’s work begs to be exhibited, it’s no easy task to choose which pieces to show – and with so many stories to tell finding the red thread and editing down the breathtaking pieces was far from easy. Cartier’s own archive is vast. Named the Cartier Collection, it features over 3,000 pieces from 1860 to the late twentieth century, and it was here that the V&A exhibition curators and the conservators at Cartier started their search.
Top right Panther skin wristwatch. Cartier Paris, 1914. Onyx, diamonds, pink gold, platinum and black moiré strap.
Right Crash Wristwatch, made by Wright & Davies for Cartier London, 1967. Sapphire, gold, blued steel and leather strap.
Left ‘Model A’ Mystery Clock, Made by Coüet for Cartier Paris, 1914. Sold to Count Greffulhe. Rock crystal, agate, diamond, sapphire, enamel, gold, platinum with eight-day movement.
When his great friend, eccentric Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont (who used to bob around Paris in his runabout airship, mooring it outside Maxims at lunchtime) was struggling to steer his craft with an eye on his pocket watch during a timed competition, Louis Cartier saw an opportunity. Intricate bracelets mounted with a timepieces, more decorative than functional, were sometimes worn by women.
To take a proper watch from pocket to wrist required lugs top and bottom on a slim gold timepiece (Louis had negotiated a partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre and they made the watch to his design), finished with a plaited leather strap and a blue sapphire winder. Louis named his wristwatch ‘The Santos’, and the aviator’s celebrity plus its stylishness ensured everybody wanted one. Cartier’s iconic Mystery Clocks followed (their mechanisms hidden in the base and hands appearing to float inside the clock).
Jacques Cartier’s travels brought back the inspiration, but it was Louis’ team that created their multicolour, hugely popular, signature Tutti
The story the V&A wanted to tell was simple, to explore the creativity of Cartier and the emergence of its signature style. To share the legacy of the brand’s technical ingenuity and craftsmanship, and to examine its sophisticated approach to image-making and maintaining its legacy and relevance in a changing world. The focus was also, naturally, on Cartier London and the exhibition culminates in a spectacular display of tiaras. To find out a little about the mind-boggling logistics and the thrill of seeing some of these pieces up close, we spoke to Rachel Garrahan, Project Curator, Jewellery at V&A;
KINSfolk
Dr Louise Smyth, founder of premier skin health clinic, KINS saw “the industry chasing quick fixes but skin doesn’t work that way” – a philosophy she practices daily at her new destination clinic in The River Lee
Even on zoom Dr Louise’s skin has a preternatural clarity and the kind of glow that looks almost backlit. It’s the kind of calling card everybody wants their skin therapy guru to bring to the party and while it’s reassuring and aspirational in equal measure, listening, as we did, to Dr Louise’s common-sense explanations, her practical, holistic approach to using some pretty serious treatments and her absolutely state-of-the-art-tech made it all feel extremely achievable too.
It all starts with a consultation. But not one of those department store analyses of skin where you look at a photograph on a computer, squinting to work out what it all means. According to Dr Louise, skin health is practical and very simple. For starters, she is firmly in the ‘prevention is better than cure’ camp. So there’s no waiting for damage to occur before it’s countered, instead Dr Louise busts myths with honesty (and positivity) and transforms faces with everything from the latest regenerative techniques to a reality check on what will work for your age and stage of life.
Above
to the spa.
In her own words “To treat your skin with respect is to honour it for all the protection it provides. At KINS, we work with our clients to navigate them through the healthy ageing process with tailored skin plans and advanced treatments that can be adjusted year on year as their needs change”. This combination of positive words and, for instance, the strongest LED light (to reduce inflammation and stimulate production of collagen) in the region, means you can enjoy skin that looks healthy as time passes, as well as wishing for agedefying results.
“With KINS I never wanted to be just another aesthetic clinic, plus the treatments we offer go far beyond what you’d find at a regular beauty salon. Because my background is as a GP, we always came at things from an holistic, whole skin point of view that’s much more in keeping with the medical spa world, more commonly found in America and some parts of Europe.”
“To treat your skin with respect, is to honour it for all the protection it provides”
“So, for us, it’s all about creating plans and tailoring protocols to the individual. Which means we do lots of combining and stacking of benefits. So, for example, we have a skin signature protocol (which is really popular) which offers the right mix for a person’s skin type, their skin age – which we always assess - and any concerns they want to have dealt with. And the protocol might offer IPL, then a second layer that might be a little injectable, and then a third layer perhaps involving an LED light treatment.” And, while pampering is always indulgent, these treatments are in a completely different league. “When we’re in Kinsale we offer more protocols that require a little bit of downtime for recovery – but at The River Lee, guests are less likely to have the time for all that, so there we offer a mix of transformative facials along with a selection of the more serious treatments.”
When it comes getting the most out of your skin, knowledge is power. “So we start with our Visia Skin Analysis. This gives us full visibility of what’s happening in all three layers – enabling us to create a treatment plan that proactively addresses issues before you physically see them on your face. We start with a deep dive into conditions past and present before targeting any
Dr Louise Smyth and Kevin Roche welcome clients
problems in a sustainable, strategic way, then we create a manageable and effective skincare treatment plan. Observing the skin this closely tells us exactly what it needs, so we can select the treatments and products that will make the difference.”
“We don’t just look at what your skin is trying to tell us. We also look at the factors that have affected it in the past. Eighty per cent of skin damage is down to lifestyle factors, from smoking to stress, lack of sleep to (the worst offender) sun exposure. Genetics only accounts for 20% of the damage, which means getting your dermis into the best possible shape is largely down to you.” Regardless of the condition of your skin at the outset, Dr Louise’s protocols focus on all three layers, treating everything from the most superficial damage to the distribution of fat cells under the skin. An approach proving popular with customers all over Cork – with testimonials from many clients celebrating the results Dr Louise and her team are able to deliver – whether their skin is crying out for microneedling or botox or whether it’s just about highly effective facials.
For now, the question we had for Dr Louise was “Why the River Lee?”. “Actually Bernie (Gallagher, The Doyle Collection
Chairwoman) got in touch with me to discuss possibly taking the space – which was previously a suite of spa rooms – at a time when I had almost given up looking for somewhere to expand into. It was a perfect space as it needed refurbishing (and I would have wanted to anyway, to get our sense of luxe minimalism into the space), but then I only had three months to make it happen, which of course was stressful – but worked really well as we switched, trusting our instincts. We were able to bring in state-of-the-art equipment, highly trained staff and high tech analysis machines. Then we transformed the space – into something modern and simple, but incredibly warm and inviting.
It’s sophisticated, it's luxurious and it’s comfortable – a great space to welcome existing clients, as well as for hotel guests that want a lasting treatment with zero downtime afterwards.”
“We don’t just look at what your skin is trying to tell us. We also look at the factors that have affected it in the past”
“We’ve created a menu of facials that deliver results made to last, with formulas, protocols and additional tech making all the difference. Take the Forma – it’s a hand-held device that uses radio frequency to achieve skin and tissue remodelling, with the kind of results that have made it a red carpet skincare must-have. Or our signature Hydrafacial, which uses VortexFusion™ technology to amplify the effects from gentle lymphatic massage (reducing the swelling, puffiness and inflammation), deep cleansing and exfoliation with optional, super-gentle acid peel, collagen boost for skin tone and elasticity, and hydration with antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid. While our CO 2 mask brings dry and damaged skin (perhaps after Morpheus 8 or microneedling treatments) back to (nourished, supple) life.”
“All our formulas come courtesy of medical skincare dermatology brand, Zo, chosen for its pioneering results designed to work wonders solo and alongside more invasive treatments. Your personal skincare needs are diagnosed in our custom consultation, during which your therapist will recommend the right treatments especially for you.”
KINS at The River Lee is open weekdays from 10am. kins.ie/our-space
Above Visia Skin Analysis gives an in-depth summary of your facial characteristics, telling you (and your therapist) all we need to know about your skin’s strengths and weaknesses and the condition it’s in.
Above, from left CO2 carboxy lift mask delivers enhanced circulation to enhance skin elasticity; Antioxidant ZO brightening mask helps even skin tone, soothe and protect; Facial rejuvenation treatment tightens, tones, firms and improves skin texture.
Above, from left CO2 carboxy lift mask, scientifically proven to help reverse visible ageing; Dermalux Tri-wave LED therapy stimulates collagen production for firmer, supple skin; Lumecca IPL helps counter age spots, rosacea, sun damage and broken capillaries.
“From up here the Parthenon frieze looks perfect as it is”, shouted Crosbie to a chisel-wielding foreigner in a tricorn hat. “Cool down with a Cypress-flavoured milk punch instead.”
Left A rare view from the 'bridge' high
The cocktail ingredients are those of a milk punch infused with the scents of a Greek hillside in Spring are served in a cup set in to the capital of a Greek column.
silver nymph
X Muse Vodka
Cucumber & Dill
Axia Extra Dry Mastiha
Mint Greek Yoghurt Lemon
silver nymph
X Muse Vodka
Cucumber & Dill
Axia Extra Dry Mastiha Mint Greek Yoghurt Lemon
TINY THEATRE BIG NOISE
It’s a Dublin icon (and good friend of The Doyle Collection), so we were delighted to chat cultural zeitgeist, some of the collossi of Irish theatre and upcoming productions with Róisín McBrinn, Artistic Director of the small yet mighty, Gate Theatre, Dublin…
If you had to name the one theatre in Dublin born out of a desire to bring “all the riches of the theatre … of all of the world and irrespective of nationality”, you might not immediately think, “Oh, that’ll be the 371-seater Georgian Assembly Hall, attached to a maternity hospital, in the north of the city”. And yet the Gate Theatre’s intimate little stage is “limited only by the limits of the imagination”.
The ‘why?’ was naturally the first question we asked Róisín. “Obviously part of that is down to our founders’ vision and the reputation we’ve built over nearly 100 years, but also the Gate Theatre is a really challenging stage for actors. There’s absolutely nowhere to hide and actors love that intimacy and the connection it gives…” It’s also worth remembering the Gate Theatre founders’ lofty ambition and the giants of stage and screen upon whose shoulders we all stand today. Or as Roisin put it, “the history in the air and the magic of the space”.
The Gate Theatre was founded in Dublin in 1928 by Hilton Edwards, an Englishborn Irish actor, singer and director, along with his partner, the actor, dramatist, director, designer and impresario, Micheál Mac Liammóir. Born Alfred Lee Wilmore in London, Micheál moved to Ireland as a young man, conjuring Irish ancestry along the way, changing his name and assuming his lifelong identity as an Irish patriot ‘from’ Cork. He and Hilton Edwards met on a 1927 tour of the South of Ireland. Living openly as a gay couple in the 1920s was unusual but if Edwards and Mac Liammóir were fearful, their strategy seems to have been simple. To take Dublin’s cultural identity by the scruff
Left For a heritage building the Gate Theatre is a surprisingly versatile space. Right Artistic Director, Róisín McBrinn.
Living openly as a gay couple in the 1920s was unusual but if Edwards and Mac Liammóir were fearful, their strategy seems to have been simple. To take Dublin’s cultural identity by the scruff of the neck and hang the consequences.
of the neck and hang the consequences. Of the many things they had in common was a passionate desire to open their own theatre - something new and different in Dublin at a time when the Abbey had been designated Ireland’s National theatre. While Mac Liammóir was an extremely vocal nationalist (and had campaigned for Sinn Fein in 1918) his and Edwards’ theatrical vision was for something much more international.
Well-travelled, they both wanted to attract the best plays and players from all over the world to the capital. In their first season alone, the bill featured Peer Gynt , Rossum’s Universal Robot (by Czech playwrite, Karel Č apek) The Adding Machine , Jeanne d’Arc (Shelley) and The Second Mrs Tanqueray, with Chekov, Brecht and Eugene O’Neil following shortly after.
Such diverse programming brought in international talent; Orson Wells made his professional debut at 16, while James Mason’s stellar career was launched from this stage. For Irish actors, the venue was
a springboard for many an international career, think Stephen Rea, Cillian Murphy, Ruth Negga, Dónal Cox, David Shannon, Michael Gambon and the Cusacks.
As Róisín says, these days the reputation for performances of a certain calibre, the visceral closeness of the Gate Theatre and its pipeline of productions, collaborations and new works (they commission about six plays a year), is just as likely to bring big Irish names back, as it is to launch their departure. Take Northern Irish actor, Conleth Hill. A theatrical legend, serial awards troubler (Olivier, Tony, SAG), veteran of film, TV, radio and stage –and star of The Gate’s recent acclaimed production of King Lear.
“We would not have put the play on at all if we couldn’t have our Lear”, said Róisín.
“We really wanted to work with Conleth anyway, but we knew that he was the only one for King Lear (which, to add urgency, is on the schools' Leaving Cert this year) and we were so lucky he was able to join us. In fact, I felt that this was a perfect Gate
production, because so much of what we do relies on getting world-class artists into the organisation and bringing people in to watch them work up close.”
And those lucky enough to get a ticket were able to see every nuance of what The Stage described as Hill’s “supple combination of sweetness, pathos, menace and thundering rage” in a production that was all about the acting. While the size of the theatre brings the audience right into the action, and Lear was sparely staged to make that the focus, for some productions the intimacy and small stage demands greater creativity. According to the Irish Independent , when it came to 2024's Christmas show, The
Left Ben Morris, Claire O’Leary, Aoife Mulholland and David Rawle in The Borrowers by Mary Norton, adapted by Charles Way, music and lyrics by Fionn Foley. Above Chloe Cody, Killian Donnelly and Frances McNamee in Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s Fun Home. Both plays directed by Róisín McBrinn.. All
Borrowers , entirely successfully: “Róisín McBrinn’s spirited production has great fun with perspective, dramatising the size difference” (between Borrowers and ‘human beans’) “in an endless variety of ways: the Borrowers are sometimes little puppets; sometimes they are shown in shadow; sometimes projections. The impressive theatrical trickery is a combination of high-tech video and oldschool sleight-of-hand.”
This goes to the heart of Róisín’s passion for live performance (planted by childhood visits with aunties to the Gate Theatre).
“The things that make theatre unique have always interested me. Obviously, there’s the very simple factor of the live performance and that experience of communing together. And there’s the specificity of design – the sets, the staging, the costumes – all of which pushes the boundaries of how we can make magic out of so very littlewhich is just so different to film, to a novel, to any other medium. And I know that's kind of an obvious thing to say, but when I really dig into it, it's why I work in theatre.”
“We would not have put the play on at all if we couldn’t have our Lear. We really wanted to work with Conleth anyway, but we knew that he was the only one for King Lear and we were so lucky he was able to join us.”
“Rather than mimicking real life or taking up the space between an individual and a text, it’s about the power of the communal suspension of disbelief and the question of what it means to share the air with the person who is channelling the character on stage at that moment – bringing to each individual and the collective the world we're being invited to make the leap into. It’s that provocation of imagination that has always most inspired me. Because I think that's where the transformation is. Whether that's about transforming someone's mood in a moment or encouraging them to reconsider a political stance or a learned dogma. Or, as happened to my younger self, simply to make them feel part of something, rather than being lost in their own thoughts, and in doing so discovering unity in the common experience. The moment I discovered that I just knew what I wanted to do.”
We discussed the women in leadership roles in Dublin’s culture sector. “Lots of people speak about the emergence of more women heading up cultural institutions and to me that taps into a similar thing around gender. I’m asked about it a lot and obviously here in Dublin we have many inspiring women. I’m thinking of Caitríona (McLaughlin) Artistic Director and co-CEO at the Abbey, Sophie Motley (Artistic Director at Project Arts Centre), Róise Goan (Artistic Director and CEO of the Dublin Theatre Festival) and so many more. Just as I kind of found myself when I went to the theatre as a child, I also know that if you can’t see something it’s much harder to be it. So, not surprisingly, I believe passionately in the power of representation in my work and in our society - so I think today girls can see
themselves in this kind of role because women like us are doing it now.”
While shows at the Gate Theatre are the main attraction, and Róisín’s career has taken her from a life-changing first job, as resident assistant director at the Donmar Warehouse, to the National Theatre, The Crucible, The Young Vic and Sherman Theatres, among many others, the community aspect of her work is ever present and something she has made a focus of throughout her career. In fact, Róisín’s previous leadership role was as Artistic Director and CEO of the Clean Break Theatre Company, ‘dedicated to transforming the lives of women who have been in prison or are at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system’. And it’s impossible to come closer to the healing power of live theatre than supporting women who have been incarcerated through part of their rehabilitation back into society.
So, what’s next? “I’m always looking at what’s going on, watching productions, checking out performances. So I go to London and to New York, of course. I see a lot of plays and I’m always looking, always thinking how can that inspire us, what stories can we tell and who can we bring here to tell them? Obviously, the best job is always the next one and we’re just getting started on pulling together a new production of Abi Morgan’s Lovesong. It’s a beautiful celebration of love, of a marriage and a consideration on ageing –with the older couple and the same couple when young played by different actors on the same stage. It’s directed by David Bolger, he’s a very important Irish artist and a choreographer so we’re telling this tale really powerfully with movement as well as the words. I’m really excited about how it will come together.”
Lovesong is at The Gate Theatre from 9th May to 15th June. gatetheatre.ie
Right Niamh Cusack, Marty Rea, Imogen
Doel, Hazel Doupe and Risteárd Cooper in Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation, directed by Róisín McBrinn.
is put on in a ‘breathtakingly chic production’ (according to the New York Times), with a book by David Ives in a joint venture between The National Theatre and The Stephen Sondheim Trust, it’s a must visit.
Here We Are
The National Theatre 23 rd April – 28 th June nationaltheatre.org.uk
OPEN AIR THEATRE
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of London’s best-kept secrets – and watching fabulous Shakespeare under a felted blanket clutching a cup of hot chocolate a rite of passage for many young Londoners. In 2025 it’s Noughts + Crosses theatregoers will be flocking to see (based on Marjorie Blackman’s brilliant novel of the same name).
Noughts + Crosses
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
28 th June – 26th July openairtheatre.com
Bristol
FESTIVAL OF FOLK
Bristol is the beating heart of music in the west country – and in early May gives folk the big city treatment with a fantastic, super eclectic festival of folk and roots music, from classic harpists, fiddlers and ceilidhs,
to the kora music of West Africa, all human life is there.
Bristol Folk Festival
Venues around the city 2nd – 4th May bristolfolkfestival.org
GARDEN OF COMEDY
It’s not every day you get to see everybody who is anybody on the comedy circuit in one place, but Bristol’s summer comedy festival is the exception. 2025’s bill is topped by Frankie Boyle, bottomed by Mark Watson and features everyone from Ed Gamble and Sara Pascoe to Bridget Christie and Mike Wozniak in between.
Bristol Comedy Garden Queen Square 4th – 8th June bristolcomedygarden.co.uk
BRISTOL SOUNDS
More music fun as we turn to Bristol’s legendary harbourside open air outdoor festival, Bristol Sounds is just a short walk from The Bristol and brings in some of the biggest bands of the noughties and tenties, featuring (among others) Supergrass, the Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis and Olly Murs.
Bristol Sounds Canons Marsh Amphitheatre 25th - 29th June bristolsounds.co.uk
BRISTOL PRIDE
You can’t mention Bristol in summertime without talking Pride and its two weeks of events, Queer Vision (film) plus the festival proper with its main stage, cabaret stage, Pride Day on the Downs and the parade, drawing hundreds of thousands to the city. Some serious headliners have already been signed – so get your wristband and go.
Bristol Pride All over the city
28th June – 13th July bristolpride.co.uk
The Westbury
WILDE ALOUD
Marking the 125th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s passing, Dublin’s Museum of Literature is celebrating De Profundis, his only work completed in prison and “One of the greatest love letters ever written”. “At times deeply philosophical, at times white with rage, at times heartbreakingly tender”, the piece is movingly read on film by a gathering of voices.
De Profundis Museum of Literature 7th March – 1 st October moli.ie
LEST WE FORGET
It’s a sobering experience but when a small nation lost well over a million of its people to an entirely preventable famine, it should never be forgotten. This excellent mobile exhibition tells the story in rare 19th century photographs, witness accounts, contemporary sketches, as well as maps and statistics. Irish Famine Exhibition 2nd Floor, St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre 1 st April – 30 th September theirishpotatofamine.com
MODERN ARTS
Right now, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is having a moment. For May-July, we’re particularly looking forward
to unpicking the art of the Alabama quiltmaker showcased in Kith & Kin, and the group show featuring over 40 Irish or Ireland-based artists inspired
2 nd May – 27th
Left, Top Bristol's harbourside festival Bristol Sounds.
Left Premiered at The Shed theatre, New York last year, Here we are - Sondheim's last musical, opens at The National Theatre, London in April.
Right, Top Daphne Wright, Stallion, 2009, IMMA, Dublin
Right De Profundis at Dublin's Museum of Literature
FESTIVAL OF WRITING
With over 60 speakers, from Rupert Everett to Carole Cadwalladr, Margaret Drabble to Merlin Sheldrake, the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas (we’re a proud sponsor) will certainly fulfil its modest commitment to a weekend of “stimulating dialogue and discourse, gathering together intriguing international minds”. And in 2025 there is much to discuss. Festival of Writing and Ideas
Borris House 6th – 8 th June festivalofwritingandideas.com
by Donna Haraway’s seminal work, Staying with the Trouble. IMMA
October imma.ie
The River Lee
CORK HARBOUR FESTIVAL
Cork is home to the second largest natural harbour on earth (after Sydney) and celebrates its rich maritime history annually with the Cork Harbour Festival featuring everything from music, art, poetry, workshops and family-friendly events to the flagship Ocean to City – An Rás Mór, Ireland’s premiere long-distance rowing race.
Cork Harbour Festival
24th May – 2nd June corkharbourfestival.com
MARKING MIDSUMMER
In Cork, Midsummer is celebrated in a cavalcade of some of the most exhilarating theatre, dance and music in the country, along with cabaret, comedy, food, street performers, as well as debate, exchange of ideas and conceptual art, in venues and outdoor spaces all over town, many of them free.
Cork Midsummer Festival
All over the city 13th – 22nd June corkmidsummer.com
THE BEACON
The Beacon is by prolific BAFTA-nominated playwright Nancy Harris and is a thrilling and darkly funny family drama that asks, can we ever really know the truth of a thing – a person, a place or a work of art? And if we could, would we want to? Head to the Cork Everyman to find out more.
The Beacon The Everyman 4th – 19th July everymancork.com
PRIDE IN CORK
It’s Ireland’s second city, and Cork certainly pushes the boat
out, especially in 2025 when they’re celebrating 30 years of pride. It’s the last week of July into August and takes place all over town – with performances, parades, music, dancing, street food and something for everybody at every age.
Cork Pride
27th July – 3rd August
All over the city corkpride.com
The Dupont Circle
PASSPORT DC
Passport DC is that month (May) when visitors get to take a journey into the city’s thriving diplomatic community to discover diverse cultures showcased in a fascinating programme of events including street
festivals, performances, exhibitions, workshops, food tastings and the super popular Embassy and Consulate open days, bringing everyone together. Passport DC
join in and show their support.
World Pride 2025
All over the city 17th May – 8th June worldpridedc.org
FIFA CLUB OF CLUBS
All over the city 1st – 31st May eventsdc.com/passportdc
WORLD PRIDE
Already one of the largest Pride events on earth, three million people are expected to visit Washington DC's month of celebrations, which have been planned to celebrate Pride Month’s 50th anniversary. Featuring events, awards, lectures, performances, parties, pageants, club nights and, of course, its epic parade, it’ll be a month to remember for anybody that wants to
founded by Arthur Ashe, Donald Dell and John A. Harris, is DC’s opportunity to watch the world’s best tennis players competing in an actual public park. Past champions include Connors, Evert, Navratilova, Lendl, Hingis, Roddick, both Williams sisters and Agassi (five times) Mubadala Citi DC Open Rock Creek Park 19th – 27th July mubadalacitidcopen.com
The Croke Park
BACON’S WOMEN
Head to the Hugh Lane Gallery but particularly for John Deakin’s evocative photographs of some of Francis Bacon’s favourite women from 1960s Soho, featuring Colony Club chatelaine, Muriel Belcher, artist, model and designer, Isabel Rawsthorne and ‘uncrowned Queen of Soho’, Henrietta Moraes. Bacon’s Portraits of Women Hugh Lane Gallery 18th February – 13th July hughlane.ie
two different moments in one couple’s life, It's directed by David Bolger, esteemed choreographer and Artistic Director of the CoisCéim Dance Theatre. Lovesong The Gate Theatre 14th May – 15th June gatetheatre.ie
To the country that calls it soccer, FIFA’s brand new club world cup competition brings 32 of the world’s best teams from every continent in a gladiatorial contest to find football’s club of clubs. Will the old order triumph? Or the new? Matches will be played in 12 different venues across the US including DC. Go. Holler. FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Audi Field DC 14th, 22nd and 26th June fifa.com
DC OPEN
It’s a sporty summer in Washington DC – and the Mubadala Citi DC Open,
LOVESONG
Lighting up Dublin’s iconic Gate Theatre this summer is Abi Morgan’s poetic, nostalgic “story of our beginning and our end”, mapping a loving 40-year marriage told from
Left An Rás Mór, Ireland's long distance rowing race at Cork Harbour Festival.
Right, Top Embassy of Haiti open day as part of Washington's Passport DC.
Right Dublin Pride flags and umbrellas on Ha’Penny Bridge, Dublin.
DALKEY BOOK FESTIVAL
There’s a coastal informality as the great and the good descend upon Dalkey to celebrate the written word and music all over town. Probably best summarised by recent attendees: Salman Rushdie (“the best little festival in the world”), Marlon James (“expansive conversations in intimate settings”) and Bono (“Gigantic ideas”). Go. It’s wonderful. Dalkey Book Festival All over Dalkey 12th – 15th June dalkeybookfestival.org
DUBLIN PRIDE
Dublin Pride draws over 60,000 people to the capital, making it one of the largest rainbow celebrations in Europe. There’s a Pride Village (the festival bit), a market, performances (check out the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus), the legendary Block Party and, of course, the parade.
Dublin Pride Festival 2025 20th – 28th June dublinpride.ie
24 HOURS
WITH FURRY FRIENDS
Small dogs are welcomed at The Kensington with treats, cosy bed, blanket and bowls. We’re just minutes from Hyde Park (AKA Dog Heaven) but what about those days when you want to shop and sightsee, too?
8.00 COMFORT BREAK
Pop outside for the handsome, handy trees. Feed pooch. Enjoy a Full English on room service.
10.00 BAD APPLE
You’ve got big plans today, but you’ve cracked your smartwatch. Luckily, there’s an Apple shop close by, and it’s dog friendly. As is Peter Jones, if you need a replacement. apple.com, johnlewis.com
10.30 AND, BREATHE
Grab a coffee at Farm Girl. They’ll even do a little dog face on top. thefarmgirl.co.uk
10.45 TO BATTERSEA!
A 20-minute stroll down Old Church Street takes you to the river – take in Cheyne Walk, and cross Albert Bridge to Battersea Park. Let your pooch run free. friendsofbatterseapark.org
12.00 POWER SHOP
The iconic Battersea Power Station is the capital’s latest destination for shopping and dining, and welcomes all dogs (as do most of the stores within). batterseapowerstation.co.uk
2.00 FLOAT YOUR BOAT
You can easily spend the day in Battersea but if you’re whistle-stopping hop on a Thames clipper and sightsee enroute to Tower Bridge, before lunch at Butler’s Wharf Chop House. chophouse-restaurant.co.uk
3.30 BRIDGE’N’BONE
The don’t really hand out bones but the Tower Bridge Museum is fascinating and one of the few that welcomes dogs. towerbridge.org.uk
5.00 FOAMING PINT
Sail back and stop off for a pint on the way. angleseaarms.com
7.00 EVENING AIR
After all that, normal dogs would disappear into bed, but if yours is a bundle of energy we can book a dog walker while you enjoy cocktails at the K-Bar. townhousekensington.com/k-bar
GALLERIES, BRITISH MUSEUM, 1875
