If you’re planning a trip to Dublin this month, here’s one for your itinerary that won’t cost a cent.
The National Library of Ireland has unveiled its October programme — a full calendar of free exhibitions, after-hours tours, and talks. The lineup explores Yeats, Irish folklore, and Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that Halloween grew out of.
October in Ireland hits different. The evenings draw in, the light turns golden, and there’s a particular energy as we approach the season when the veil between worlds was said to thin. Experiencing that through the lens of Irish literature and folklore, in one of Dublin’s great cultural institutions, feels like the right way to do it.
For visitors watching the budget, free cultural programming like this is gold. There are no admission charges for the events listed. Some talks and workshops may need to be booked in advance, so check nli.ie before you go. Just proper immersion in the heart of the city.
Worth building an afternoon around if you’re in town.
Upcoming free events worth checking
- Open House Dublin: 17 October, 1pm–4:30pm, Kildare Street
- Supernatural: Ireland’s Fairy Tradition: 27 October, 6pm, Kildare Street
- Samhain and the Thinning Veil: 29 October, 6pm, Kildare Street
- Dublin by Dusk Twilight Talks: 29 October, 7:10pm, Kildare Street
Check opening hours before you go. The reading rooms are closed on Monday 28 October, and they open 9:30am–1pm on Saturdays 3, 17 and 31 October.
For more detail, see our guides to the free Yeats exhibition tours, the free evening events at Dublin’s National Library, and the real Irish origin of Halloween.
Originally reported by travelextra.ie
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