The Dublin Handel Festival is an annual event that takes place every April to bring to life the connections between Handel and the City of Dublin for Dubliners, Irish people and international visitors, through a week long programme that celebrates the cultural riches of the 18th century in a modern and contemporary context.

Our Lady’s Choral Society and the National Sinfonia, conducted by Proinnsías Ó Duinn, will once again open this year’s Handel Festival with a unique performance of ‘Messiah on the Street’, beside the original site right here on Fishamble Street where the Messiah received its world premiere in 1742.

2009 will be a very special year for our Handel Festival as it marks the 250th anniversary of his death.

The festival will take place from April 13th – 19th and will include a programme of FREE concerts, talks, tours, interactive activities and family events; including a concert of New Work based on the life of Handel performed by Our Lady’s Choral Society at the National Concert Hall.

Monday 13th:
11.00am Let's Walk & Talk Tour -Jervis LUAS stop
1.00pm Messiah on the Street Concert -Fishamble Street
3.00pm Handel Puppet Making Workshop -Gaiety School of Acting

Tuesday 14th:
6.00pm An Evening with Handel Concert -St Audoen's Church
8.00pm Handel 250 Commemoration Concert -National Concert Hall

Wednesday 15th:
11.00am The Classic Buskers, Woodwind & Ocarina Workshop -Chester Beatty Library
1.00pm Handel with Care -Chester Beatty Library
8.00pm The Golden Age of the Trio Sonata. Concert -St Audoen's Roman Catholic Church
8.00pm Acis & Galatea. Opera -Guinness Storehouse

Thursday 16th:
4.30pm Handel's Crossing. Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
6.00pm Handel's Crossing. Theatre -Liffey River Cruise/Jeanie Johnston
7.30pm Handel's Messiah. Concert -Christ Church Cathedral

Friday 17th:
4.00pm Fashion and Shopping in Handel's Dublin. Talk -The New Theatre
4.30 Handel's Crossing. Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
6.00 Handel's Crossing. Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
8.00 The David Rees-Williams Trio. Concert -Christ Church Cathedral

Saturday 18th:
11.00am Papier-Mache Workshop -SS Michael & John's
11.00am Living History Walkabout -Temple Bar Markets
2.00pm Handel and Dublin Talk & Tour -SS Michael & John's
2.00pm Dublin String Quartet Walkabout/Music -Temple Bar Markets
4.30pm Handel's Crossing Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
6.00pm Handel's Crossing Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
8.00 Solomon Concert -The Guinness Choir, St Patrick's Cathedral

Sunday 19th:
12noon Handel's Wardrobe Concert -City Hall
3.30pm Baroque Idol Family event Chester Beatty Library
4.30pm Handel's Crossing Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
6.00pm Handel's Crossing Theatre -Liffey River Cruises/Jeanie Johnston
8.00pm Anthony Marwood & the Irish Chamber Orchestra Concert -National Concert Hall

Further Info:
Temple Bar Cultural Trust
12, East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
T: +353 1 677 2255
F: +353 1 677 2525
E: info@templebar.ie
W: http://www.templebar.ie