Things To Do: Visit Richard Proffitt's Spent Dreams, walk the Poetry Trail, see The Graceless Age, hear a Song for Ghosts

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You're getting this because you usually get our regular weekly Dublin InQuirer newsletter, which had a Things To Do section in it, but that section has now outgrown that space and become its own separate newsletter.

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

Richard Proffitt in Kevin Gallery

The latest exhibition by painter, sculptor, video and sound artist Richard Proffitt is on now in the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery on Chancery Lane.

"Spent Dream of a Remote Wisdom" is a collection of works Proffitt made over the past year, comprising richly coloured abstract paintings, sculptures assembled from bird houses, popcorn boxes, twigs, tattered clothing, and an old television that softly plays rumbling post-punk style ambient music.

It’s like, as the title suggests, stepping into a dream with an array of uncanny objects, and is running until 24 May.

You can also pick up a zine, “an alternative catalogue”, that Proffitt made in conjunction with the show, and which comes with a cassette featuring two tracks composed by him. It’s on sale in the gallery for €10.

Poetry Trail in Drumcondra, Thursday

It is Poetry Day Ireland today, and –
To celebrate, DCU is collaborating with local businesses –
In Drumcondra by creating a poetry trail,
DCU’s poet-in-residence, Anne Tannam,
And Irish-language writer-in-residence Réaltán Ní Leannáin
Have curated the trail, reflecting themes such as:
Renewal, hope, abundance and solidarity.
Twenty four poems are on display –
In shop windows and community spaces.
If you’re in the area, keep your eyes peeled.

The Graceless Age: The Ballad of John Murry in the IFI

The life of the singer songwriter John Murry is a hard one to condense into a few sentences. But here goes.

Born in Mississippi. Adopted into the family of William Faulkner. Struggled with heroin addiction. Overdosed. Wrote one of the most acclaimed records of the 21st-century: 2013’s The Graceless Age. Moved to Kilkenny after stunning the city at that year’s Rhythm and Roots festival. Later moved to England following a 2021 Guardian interview, which turned out to be an elaborate way of proposing to his girlfriend. He's now settled in Ireland.

All of this barely scratches the surface, but it should encourage you to delve into his discography before Friday when the Irish Film Institute is premiering The Graceless Age: The Ballad of John Murry, a documentary chronicling his life.

Directed by Sarah Share, the 18.20 showing on Friday will also feature a Q&A with Share after the film. You can get your tickets here. And you can read Luke Maxwell's review of the film in Dublin Inquirer here.

Clara Kumagai in MOLI

Tomorrow is the first Friday of the month, which means, once again, the Museum of Literature Ireland on St Stephen's Green will be open late, and for free, as part of its First Fridays series.

One to pencil into the calendar is the 8pm slot, in which author Clara Kumagai will be reading from her second novel, Songs for Ghosts, while accompanied by musician Thomas Ranjo who will be performing on the Satsuma biwa, a plucked Japanese lute.

DDR Alternating Currents

Dublin Digital Radio is returning with their annual experimental music and performance festival, Alternating Currents, this weekend. Spread across the city with performances at the Pepper Canister church on Friday and then The Complex warehouse on Saturday and Sunday, this year’s theme, "Urban Scores", intends to ask those attending to consider their relationship to Dublin city and cities more generally.

Among those on the bill are E the Artist, Mel Keane, GÉIS, Gliogar, Ian Nyquist, JWY, Landless, Lara Gallagher, Louise Gaffney, Lúnasa and Mohammad Syfkhan.

Tickets are on sale at Resident Advisor here.

Community Action Archiving on Usher Street

Over in Usher Street Community Centre on Monday, students from the Art and Social Action master's course in the National College of Art and Design, in collaboration with the Liberties Community Project, are hosting a day of events looking at “community action archives”.

Starting at 10am, the day will include a talk by Josh MacPhee from Interference Archive, New York; a Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) workshop; and a discussion around potentially setting up a housing action archive at the South Inner City Community Development Association on Meath Street.

For more information contact odeat@staff.ncad.ie.

Liberation at the Back Lane Parliament

We’re entering into festival season, and over in the Liberties, the annual Culture Date with D8 is due to kick off on Wednesday, 7 May.

One event that is advisable to book quickly is "Liberation at the Back Lane Parliament", on Friday, 9 May, curated by journalist and Republic of Shame author Caelainn Hogan.

Starting at 7pm in Tailor’s Hall on Back Lane, "Liberation …" looks at what emancipation means in contemporary Ireland as the nation is set to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell, also known as the Liberator, later in August.

Hogan has planned an evening of storytelling in one of the last standing guildhalls, which will examine O’Connell’s ideas, legacy and impact through spoken word, music, art and performance.

Among those on the line-up are performance artist and writer Day Magee, poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin, artist and activist Osaro Azams, and artist 1EuroFiddy.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Noticeboard

Listings of events submitted by readers – you can submit yours for next week's newsletter, via this form.

• The Irish National Youth Ballet's 30th anniversary production. Featuring classic pieces such as Les Sylphides and Danse Macabre by resident choreographer Kilian O’Callaghan and a new anniversary piece choreographed by alumna Zoe Ashe-Browne, created especially for this celebration. On 30 April to 9 May at O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College. More here.
• Digging Up for Drumanagh, Season 5. Fingal’s Heritage Officer and Archaeologist Christine Baker is undertaking the fifth season of excavation at Drumanagh Promontory Fort, Loughshinny, with a team of professional archaeologists and volunteers from the local community and beyond. Between 14-28 May 2025. If you would like to take part go to or contact Fingal County Council’s Heritage Officer at christine.baker@fingal.ie.
• Calling all food vendors around Portobello. The Useless Project is looking for food vendors to join their monthly flea market in Portobello. If you or someone you know sells baked goods, fresh produce or homemade kombucha, this might be for you. For more info or to get in touch, visit them here.
• Hysteria Comedy's Friday Night Live. This weekly standup show bringing you the best of the best of Dublin's comedy scene is on tomorrow at Sin É on Ormond Quay. You can get tickets here.
• Behind the Scenes Bus Tour of Dublin Port. From towering container ships to bustling freight terminals, you'll uncover the hidden histories, landmarks, and rich heritage that have shaped the port and Dublin City over the past 300 years. You can get tickets here.
• Organise your own Street Feast with your neighbours. Join communities across Dublin gathering together as neighbours on 24 or 25 May to share food and enjoy some conversation and camaraderie. You can get tips and a starter pack on how to organise it all here.
• Stand-Up Comedian of the Year Competition 2025. Join the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival crew in collaboration with Dublin Liberties Distillery for a night of comedy and laughter on Saturday 10th May at 7pm at 33 Mill Street, D08 V221 Dublin 8. Tickets here.
• The Strange Case of Dr Dillon. Trans actors Cloud Quinn and Kay Elúvian are bringing the incredible life of Dr Michael Dillon, the first trans man known to have transitioned medically, to Theatre@36 at Club na Múinteoirí as part of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. The show runs from 5 to 10 May at 9pm, with a 4pm show on Monday 5 May. Tickets are available here.
• Marlay Park Audio Tour. A self-guided audio tour of Marlay Park, nestled in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Enjoy a warm and engaging narrative covering the park’s history, wildlife, and local attractions. The tour is hosted on the VoiceMap app, which plays audio automatically as you stroll, and narrated by a local audio producer.

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