Things To Do: Hungarian Impressionism, the digital remastering of "Cal", and a poignant personal film from Gaza

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Our recommendations – no sponsored content, or adverts, just stuff we like.

A Common Place, Zsolt Basti

Zsolt Basti has a rare skill for capturing on canvas the haze of memories, combining defined figures with indistinct facial expressions, and it is a thrill to either stumble on one of his works at a group exhibition, or in this case, to find out that he launched a solo show in the Molesworth Gallery last Thursday.

Following up "Half Shy", his 2024 show in the Royal Hibernian Academy, and 2022’s "Memorizà", one of the highpoints from the now defunct Hang Tough Contemporary gallery, the Hungarian artist returns with "A Common Place". Once again, drawing from recollection, and abstracting these moments as he translates them to canvas, the results are distorted figurative works that will captivate anyone with a strong interest in impressionism.

"A Common Place" is showing in the Molesworth Gallery on Molesworth Street until 27 June. For more information, visit their website here.

Cal at the IFI

Opening in the Irish Film Institute on Friday evening is a digital remaster of Pat O’Connor’s 1984 film Cal.

Adapted from the Bernard McLaverty novella, and set during the Troubles, the film follows Cal, a 19-year-old member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, who acts as the driver during the killing of a Royal Ulster Constabulary member. Later, while he looks to separate himself from the IRA, Cal falls in love with the constable’s widow, Marcella, played by Helen Mirren.

Cal is a dark, occasionally humorous look at sectarian politics and disenfranchised Catholic youth in Northern Ireland during the 1970s. As well as being the first role for actor John Lynch, it also earned Mirren the title of Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984.

Tickets are available here.

What does it mean to know? at The Lab

Opening this evening in The Lab Gallery on Foley Street is "What does it mean to know?", an exhibition which examines the legacy of the Magdalene Laundries.

Created by artists Ethna Rose O’Regan and Sinéad McCann in collaboration with writer and sociologist Louise Brangan, the exhibition uses sculpture, and a light and sound installation to ask the audience how we are to make sense of these laundries today. Also being shown is O’Regan’s photo series "After Magdalene", which she shot at the former laundry on Sean McDermott Street in 2006, 10 years after its official closure.

"What does it mean to know?" opens today (Thursday, 12 June) between 6pm and 8pm, and will run until Saturday, 26 July.

For more information, visit the exhibition’s page here.

A Space on the Shelf

Over in Books Upstairs on Sunday, author A.M. Fagan is launching her debut novel, A Space on the Shelf.

A “humorous but tender” coming-of-age story set in Dublin, the story follows Jessie, a young woman who is minding a precious book for her ex-boyfriend, which contains a cheque. When the book goes missing, it unlocks a chain of events that forces the protagonist to face her personal and family issues.

The launch is at 2pm, and will be introduced by author and NCAD lecturer Denis Kehoe.

For more information, visit the Books Upstairs event page here.

The Phoenix of Gaza

In July 2023, the London-based Palestinian journalist and filmmaker Yousef Al-Helou returned to Gaza after spending a decade away from his home. With his camera, he reconnected with the places from his childhood, shooting a documentary about its historic buildings, recreational spaces and beach life, museums, mosques, churches and restaurants.

Unbeknownst to him, this exploration of its heritage and daily life would be some of the last footage of Gaza before Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel on 7 October, and Israel began its brutal retaliation the next day. Seen now, Al-Helou’s reportage has become an archive of Gaza’s past before its destruction.

The result is The Phoenix of Gaza, a personal reflection on Al-Helou’s childhood home, and on Friday, 20 June, it is going to be screened in the Abbey Tavern in Howth. As part of the event, Al-Helou will also be giving a Q&A with Veronica O’Keane from Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine.

Tickets are €17 and you can reserve a seat here.

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Fingal Clothes Swap

Fingal County Council’s Environmental Awareness section is teaming up with the sustainable fashion not-for-profit Change Clothes to offer free Clothes Swap Kits to community groups, schools, and local organisations across the Fingal area.

The kits are designed to make it easy for anyone to host their own clothing swap whether it's a fundraiser, a climate action event, or just a good excuse to bring people together.

To learn more and reserve a free kit, visit the Change Clothes website here.

Gaza Remains The Story

Gaza Remains the Story is an exhibition that highlights the land, people, and cultural heritage of Gaza amidst ongoing occupation and genocide. It seeks to educate global audiences by countering misinformation and presenting Gaza’s history, art, and daily life through various media.

The exhibition will be on at The Digital Hub from the 2o to 28 June. Tickets are available here.

An Exhibition of Jugs

Over in Throwing Shapes on Mill Street, this year’s Members and Teachers Summer Exhibition is a celebration of jugs. In aid of breast cancer, the exhibition will see fifty potters showcasing their works, with all proceeds supporting Breast Cancer Ireland.

"An Exhibition of Jugs" will be on between 5 and 9pm on Friday, 27 June.

Tickets are available here.

Continuum of Companionship

Bray artist Adam Connors embarks on a solo exhibition of his vivid paintings at Reds Gallery Dublin in June.

In Continuum of Companionship, Connors explores themes such as human relationships, physics and expressionism influenced by his travels, the people he has met and vibrant life experiences. 

The exhibition opens on Friday 27 June and runs until Wednesday, 2 July.

Send all enquiries to marginman1@gmail.com.

Argentina Day 2025

On 5 July, Dtwo will be hosting an Argentina Independence Party to celebrate the Argentinian day of independence. It promises a day filled with music, folklore, food and a craft market.

You can book your tickets here.

Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Grant 2025

Fingal County Council is running its annual Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Competition.

Activities can include litter clean ups, painting of estate walls, painting murals, introducing areas for biodiversity in places prone to litter and dumping and awareness campaigns for litter and cigarette butt disposal.

The fund of up to €1,500 is part-sponsored by the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communications, and if you have an idea for an activity that can help your community, you can send your applications here.

The closing date to apply is Friday, 11 July at 4.30pm.

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