The 106th Liffey Swim, the Pelican of London tall ship, walking tours, maritime talks and Viking tales are highlights of a Dublin City Council Liffey festival planned for September.
Vessel visits, an aerial spectacle, jet pack displays, activities on the water, live music, street theatre, fairground attractions, and a festival flotilla are also scheduled during the two-day event on Saturday and Sunday September 12th and 13th.
Pulling Together – Currach crews take to the River Liffey, where watersports and paddle activities will form part of Dublin City Council Liffey Festival.
The city council describes it as a brand-new festival for all ages” which will transform the river and its quays into “one continuous waterside celebration”.
Dublin City Council Liffey Festival will stretch from Sir John Rogerson’s Quay across to Custom House Quay and George’s Dock and onto the River Liffey itself.
The festival from 12 noon each is free for all to attend, with a small number of paid activities, some of which can be booked in advance soon at dublinliffeyfestival.ie
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron said the festival is “about reconnecting people with Dublin’s river and showcasing everything it offers today. I encourage everyone to come along, explore the quays, get involved and enjoy this unique celebration of the heart of our capital city.”
Paddle Along – Katakanus will be among the watersports available during Dublin City Council Liffey Festival on September 12th and 13th.
The story of Dublin is inseparable from the Liffey, the city council says.
“From Viking settlement and trading port to the development of the quays, docklands and maritime industries, the river has shaped the city for centuries. Dublin City Council Liffey Festival invites a new generation to experience that story for themselves, not simply from the banks, but on, beside and along the river,”it says.
One of Dublin’s great sporting traditions will open Dublin City Council Liffey Festival on Saturday September 12th as the 106th Dublin City Council Dublin City Liffey Swim takes to the water.
First held in 1920, the race will begin at Rory O’More Bridge, where the Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron and President of Swim Ireland Joe McCarthy will mark the start with a rendition of Dublin’s unofficial anthem, Molly Malone.
Swimmers who have to complete a series of qualifying events before being permitted to enter will then race through the heart of the city to the finish at the steps of Custom House Quay, where the medal ceremony will take place.
For those who want to experience the river themselves, HQ2O Watersports will offer discounted pre-booked opportunities to try katakanus, currachs and hydrobikes, the city council says.
Pedal Power – Hydrobikes pass beneath Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge, with visitors offered opportunities to get afloat during the two-day Liffey Festival.
Across the weekend, the water will feature a variety of paddle activities in conjunction with Canoeing Ireland, along with various water displays and spectacular jet pack performances.
At Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, the Class A Tall Ship Pelican of London and the RCC Cosaint, the Revenue Commissioners brand new cutter which patrols Ireland’s coastline, will be among the visiting vessels.
Festivalgoers will be able to step aboard selected ships for free public visits, while performances, talks and activity will bring the quayside to life. Further visiting vessels will be announced ahead of the festival.
A varied programme of talks will explore the many layers of the river’s story, from Dublin’s maritime and archaeological heritage to the lives and memories of its dock workers and the social history of the city
Lar Joye, Port Heritage Director at Dublin Port Company, will present “Dublin Port: Unlocking Our Maritime Heritage - Fostering Inspiration and Innovation”, while archaeologist Dr Niall Brady, director of the Archaeological Diving Company, will explore the archaeology of the river and estuary.
Declan Byrne of the Dublin Dock Workers Preservation Society and John Miley Walsh will share stories and memories of Dublin’s dock-working communities.
Renowned Dublin historian and tour guide Pat Liddy will present “The Liffey: The River that Made Dublin”, while historian, author and broadcaster Donal Fallon will present “Hidden Histories of Dublin’s Docklands: Diving Bells and Dockers and Dublin and the Great Hunger: The Jeanie Johnston and Other Stories”.
River Ride – The Liffey Ferry on the capital’s river, which will become the centrepiece of a weekend of vessels, watersports, displays and a festival flotilla.
The programme will also bring the past to life through storytelling with Candlelit Tales, alongside further sessions exploring themes including the biodiversity of the Liffey and Dublin’s Viking heritage.
At George’s Dock, guided tours will take the story beyond the stage and onto the waterfront. The Liffey Waterfront: From Boom to Decline and Back Again will reveal the characters, landmarks and hidden histories that have shaped the river and its quays.
Throughout the weekend, the quays will become festival spaces in their own right, with live music, street theatre, craft workshops, all ages activities, face painting, food and drink and fairground attractions, giving visitors plenty to discover as they move between the different festival hubs.
On the Sunday, the river becomes the main stage for the Dublin City Council Liffey Festival Flotilla.
Tentacles in Town – A giant octopus makes an eye-catching appearance above the River Liffey, where aerial spectacles and street theatre will feature during Dublin City Council Liffey Festival. Photo: Paul Kelly
Local boats, rowing clubs and community vessels will gather at Custom House Quay before travelling together along the Liffey towards Dublin Port, with Glasshouse Ensemble providing an eight-piece orchestral and vocal backdrop as citizens gather along the Quays in celebration of the communities who use, enjoy and care for Dublin’s River Liffey today.
The festival on September 12th and 13th from 12 noon to 6pm is free for all to attend, with a small number of paid activities, some of which can be booked in advance at dublinliffeyfestival.ie
Come down, get on the water, explore the quays and experience Dublin from the river that helped shape the city.
Further programme information, additional visiting ships and details of activities requiring advance booking will be announced at dublinliffeyfestival.ie
