Dublin's New Year's Festival - Three days of eclectic music and fun

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has officially launched the New Year’s Festival Dublin. Now in its third year, the three-day citywide festival will be bigger and better than ever with an amazing programme spanning three days from 30th December 2016 to 1st January 2017.
Participants in this year’s festival will be able to ring in the New Year at the 3Countdown Concert at St Stephens Green South, witness the incredible Sky Dance at the Custom House, a spectacular aerial outdoor performance by Fidget Feet, taking place on New Year’s Eve, watch in amazement over three days as the Custom House comes alive with the Luminosity 3D animations and continue the New Year’s celebrations by kick starting 2017 in style at the free New Year’s Day Concert at St Stephen’s Green. Other free events include the NYF Dublin music trail, walking trails, pop up street performances and amazing cultural events throughout the city.

This year the theme is ‘More than a Midnight Moment’ and there is a wide range of new and exciting events over the three days such as the New Year’s Day concert and many free arts, cultural, and pop up events taking place all over Dublin. 

The NYF Dublin Festival is an initiative by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Dublin City Council and produced and promoted by Holohan Leisure and MCD Productions.

The Programme includes:

Luminosity – December 30th, 31st & January 1st at the Custom House

Luminosity will spectacularly transform the Custom House into a magical story with stunning 3D Light projections. Watch one of Dublin’s historical landmark buildings magically change before your very eyes each evening!

3Countdown Concert - December 31st at St. Stephen’s Green
Ring in the New Year at the 3Countdown Concert at St. Stephen’s Green South with a star studded line up that will rock the city into 2017! Featuring Walking On Cars and special guests The Blizzards, Brian Deady & Little Hours. Tickets priced €27.90 incl. booking fee are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and www.ticketmaster.ie

Event - Subject to licence.
Sky Dance at the Custom House - December 31st at the Custom House

Witness an incredible spectacle by Fidget Feet with a jaw dropping FREE aerial outdoor performance taking place on New Year’s Eve at the iconic Custom House building. Watch in wonder as aerialists and abseilers integrate with Luminosity and fly across the building and overhead. 

New Year’s Day Concert – January 1st at St Stephen’s Green

Celebrate the start of the year with the soulful Dublin Gospel Choir and The Garda Band! Drop into the free family concert at St Stephen’s Green South from 2pm.

Ré with Tunes in the Church- 30th December at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Come and see some of Ireland’s most innovative and decorated musicians in the spectacular setting of Dublin’s famous 12th century Cathedral. Ré star studded line-up includes the hugely talented Dublin piper Maitiú Ó Casaide and Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni-K), a highly celebrated traditional singer and fiddle player. Founding members of the Hothouse Flowers, multi instrumentalists and singer Liam Ó Maonlaí and revered songwriter Peter O Toole will be joined on stage by Brendan Begley an outstanding singer and accordionist as well as Gary Hastings, one of the finest flute players in the country who will also be joined by Seamus Quinn an acclaimed fiddle player. 

Sunday Assembly in partnership with First Fortnight, 1st January at Christchurch Cathedral

Hosted by Sanderson Jones (Radio 4, BBC, CNN) with music from Paddy Cullivan (Late Late Show), the Mellow Tonics Choir join NYF Dublin and First Fortnight for an inspirational evening of music, comedy and poetry in the magical, spell binding surroundings of Christ Church Cathedral. Other First Fortnight events in partnership with NYF Dublin include Co-Motion and Hello Myself.

Lingo NYF poetry slam and Tongue Fu - 30th December. Venue to be announced.
The epic Lingo NYF Poetry Slam where top poets compete for the slam champ title. Hosted by comedian Colm O’Regan, the Slam will see top poets battle it out on the open mic. This high-energy event, described by critics as “must-see,” is an eclectic mix of everything from the comical to the contemporary, Poetry Slam in conjunction with LINGO fest (Ireland’s first and only spoken word festival) will bring some of Ireland’s best and most exceptional spoken word performance to the live stage.

Love the Spoken word? Then Tongue Fu is the gig for you...A riotous experiment in live literature, music, and improvisation. After sell out gigs at Dublin's Lingo Festival and Galway's Cuirt Literary Festival, it's clear that they have already whetted the Irish appetite. Witness some of Ireland’s top performance poets and slam champions perform to sublime improvised soundtracks from the genre-defying Tongue Fu band. Always unrehearsed, frequently surprising, sometimes poignant and often hilarious - this is an event not to be missed.
Other Highlights over the three days include, The NYF Dublin Music Trail, pop-up street performances, guerrilla gardening in the city, unusual walking tours, and look out for many other cultural projects throughout the city aswell as many many more events.
For additional information on all other NYF Dublin events please visit www.NYFDublin.com. Keep up to date with news about all upcoming events by using the hashtag #NYFDublin and following @NYFDublin on Twitter and Instagram.